Old mate, Joab "Joaby" Gilroy recently swung by and decided to drop a hefty, in-depth and at times, philosophical, Half-Life: Alyx review on us. And it landed with a thud. But, his take on this Half-Life 3 Half-Life gap-filler is poignant, apt and incredibly informed. And we've published it in full.

I mean, why wouldn't we? Here's a snippet:

The attention-to-detail on show is second-to-none. The Citadel — the mighty monolith at the centre of Half-Life 2 — is being constructed in the distance. There are small objects all around for you to grab and throw, and because you're playing in Virtual Reality there's a tactile element that enhances the impact this has. A pigeon flutters away when I peg an empty can at it. I can grab a dry eraser and clean a nearby window. I can draw a penis on that same window.

It's breathtaking.

It feels like everything is interactable. Before long, you're making your way through the backroads of the quarantine zone, the Combine losing its shit all-around you about some unknown alarm. They're a multi-dimensional occupying force, who knows what sets them off, right? All that matters is that you're there, sneaking over rooftops and through buildings as you try to reach your dad. Things don't work out that way, of course. You reach Eli Vance, the leader of the resistance (and your father), but only in time to see him being captured by the Combine,

The required links are in the review proper. Click here for our in-depth Half-Life: Alyx review.