Half Life 2: Episode 1 review by Termite
Game Review: Half Life 2: Episode 1
Half Life 2: Episode 1 was released in 2006, and is the first part of a three part trilogy that essentially are meant to be Half Life 3. Several major changes to the Source engine such as better facial animation and graphics overall make the graphics seem like HL2, just given a little boost. While it can be bought and played without having HL2 installed, the game is so story driven that you are really missing out if you don't play the original HL2.
The story picks off right where HL2 ended. You have done critical damage to the Combine citidel and get whisked away by the G-Man. However the Vortigaunts, some alien friends you who were killing in Half Life 1 but became friends with in HL2, enter the G-Man's realm and muck up his plans, teleporting you back to the real world.
The story is just as good as the other Half Life games, great. The voice acting gives it a real good atmosphere and overall makes the game more appealing.
This time around however, you have a companion to tag along with you every step of the way. And that companion is Alyx Vance, Gordon's friend/love interest. She is designed perfectly, and unlike those pesky rebel soldiers you have helping you out later in HL2, she isn't annoying either. There are lots of cool nuances to the A.I as well. For instance, there are some points in the game where if you turn of your flashlight, she will make zombie noises to scare you. She also packs a punch with the gun she is toting, so there are several instances where it is she who is doing the shooting and you who does something like solve a puzzle.
Alyx Vance really adds a lot to the gameplay in my opinion, and she is a really great addition to the gameplay.
The weapons are the same as before. This is one area that I wish they could have done better in. I expected at least a few cool new weapons for Episode 1 but they decided not to add any. That's fine given the fact that all the HL2 weapons are superb, but just for the sake of putting more in they could have tossed us a mega super sound emitting gun or something....
Graphics are an improved version of those found in HL2. There were several big updates to the source engine made after Half Life 2 was released, such as HDR and also improved facial animation technology. This makes Episode 1 a slightly better looking game that HL2 was.
Sound is the same as Half Life 2, no better no worse. Voice acting is good as usual.
Overall the game is great, but is not quite as good as HL2, perhaps only because it is a whole lot shorter. Half Life 1 is like half the length of a regular game, but it is also far cheaper. It is part of a trilogy that as a whole can be considered "Half Life 3" so it is forgivable. In the end, it's not the greatest the series has been but it does set up nicely for the superior sequel, Half Life 2: Episode 2
I'll give this game a 4.5/5
