Half-Life's genius was that it never cut away from Gordon Freeman's perspective. No cutscenes, no loading screens between levels, no loss of player control. The story happened around you while you played. This 'always in the player's perspective' approach influenced every narrative shooter that followed. Half-Life proved that the first-person viewpoint was the most immersive storytelling tool in gaming, and it turned developer Valve into one of the most influential companies in the industry.