One of the more impressive things, for me at least, in both HL and HL2 is the lack of cutscenes. The story unfolds before your eyes and actions, not as some disembodied viewer.
The scripts depend upon you being there, but accept the fact you don't say anything. In fact, the scripted sequences can be interrupted by your actions (think to the area where you first meet Alyx and her father - did you try wandering around the room as everyone else was speaking?).
The immersiveness (sp?) of the experience depended upon good gfx, physics and storyline. Sure, the storyline isn't Shakespere, but it isn't a "scientists created metal hybrid aliens and dumped them on a remote planet, and now you have to fight them to defeat their powerbase" either.
The scripts depend upon you being there, but accept the fact you don't say anything. In fact, the scripted sequences can be interrupted by your actions (think to the area where you first meet Alyx and her father - did you try wandering around the room as everyone else was speaking?).
The immersiveness (sp?) of the experience depended upon good gfx, physics and storyline. Sure, the storyline isn't Shakespere, but it isn't a "scientists created metal hybrid aliens and dumped them on a remote planet, and now you have to fight them to defeat their powerbase" either.