Game mods are a great way to bring new exciting experiences to a old stale game such as Half-Life 2. The mods that have sprouted from Half-Life 2 have been almost as numerous as the stars in the sky, changing the game from everything to a role playing game to a real time strategy game. One of my particularly favorite mods kept with the first person shooter style, but gave a number of HUGE tweaks to liven the gameplay.Dystopia, a mod that can be found through Steam, takes place far in the dystopian cyber-punk future, where corporations rule and freedom fighters rebel against the para-military security forces of large companies. Every map tells a different story, of a world rich with detail and interesting locals, but it is the game play that truly makes this game an experience worth visiting. Customization is a huge feature in Dystopia. With three classes to choose from, four unique weapons for each class, and fourteen usable enhancements, the amount of variety is truly staggering. Nearly any fan can cater to his or her interests with the flexible and simple system. Anything from a fast-moving and infrared seeing sniper to a tanky shotgun wielding brick wall can be created, and each has perks and drawbacks.The missions are always varied, the matches taking place in PvP "stories" in which one faction has to complete one specific grand goal, hacking the enemies missile silo to self destruct as an example. Along the way, the team must break through digital security, fight their way past checkpoints, disable turrets, destroy generators, or any number of other objects in order to unlock a path to victory. Along the way, other tertiary goals can be pursued, perhaps moving a team's spawn up farther toward the goal, or closing off a flanking route from the enemy. A fun mod that breaths new life into your old copy of Half-Life 2 is sure an interesting change of pace, and it just goes to show, if you look in the right places, any "old and boring" thing can become something new and exciting.