Almost Brilliant
Great art, good shooting, fun special abilities and weapons, and a smart powers-upgrade system that almost precisely nails the increase in destruction you'll need as the bad guys grow in strength and number. It's got a solid story that engages but doesn't lecture (too much), and uses all the best tropes and mechanics of similar games and adds in some new ones that feel right at home in this weird wasteland. Everything was clicking for the team that made this, and the game reflects that happy achievement. I literally re-started right after finishing--it's that fun. Really nails the right emotional notes throughout the game, from full-on firefights to creepy sewer slogs to careful environmental maneuvers. And the art and graphics: AAA all the way, for almost the whole game. Lots of spaces worth staring at and exploring. Really top-notch work from some people who cared about this game.
Especially as a now-bargain title (used or new) it's a great, long campaign of fighting and thinking that's worth every cent and outshines many more successful titles. Maybe Valve could hire these guys to help get HLE3 out before the cockroach overlords subjugate us.