Other powers provide the ability to mess with the minds of the enemy and turn them on each other, or raise them from the dead to form your own little private army. If all this wasn't enough the usual array of secular weapons is available. Originality takes a little rest at this point, but all the old favourites are present and correct. After all, everyone loves a good session with the Railgun.

As you'd expect, the graphics are fantastic. While the levels might not be the colour extravaganza that was Unreal, they do try to produce the feel of a city in the 21st century. Some levels are a little rough around the edges but the character animation certainly makes up for it. Normal citizens lean against walls, and drink at the local bar while the police force wander around kicking the locals. A good blast from the shotgun knocks any aggressor to the floor in a chillingly realistic fashion.

The icing on this already delicious cake is the plot. Half-Life was the first to laugh in the face of tradition and include some semblance of a storyline and Requiem is no different. There are plenty of people to talk to and missions to perform and you really get the feeling that the world is getting on with its business around you.

Surely it couldn't be better? Well, sadly it could. While the single-player game is a masterpiece, the multiplayer aspect, which some people regard as the main selling point in this genre, is a disappointment. Some bland deathmatch levels, an eight-player limit and some cut-down powers just don't cut it against the might of Half-Life. Turn a blind eye to the multiplayer aspect and Requiem is definitely an equal for Half-Life and well worth breaching the confines of your wallet for.