Minimum Tempo

There are slight, but negligible spoilers in this review.

This article was originally published on Gamer7.com which is now defunct. July 2006.

Valve Software, the studio responsible for the critically acclaimed Half-Life and Half-Life 2, sure likes to take its time when developing titles. Half-Life 2 took a good six years to develop, and this “expansion” took another eighteen months. It’s about damned time too; the wait has been too long for gamers eager to discover what happens to Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance. This game was initially planned as an expansion (HL2: Aftermath), but Valve decided to change it to the first part of a trilogy. This method lets gamers experience the next instalments a little at a time, on the basis that it’s better getting a few episodes over about two years than waiting several years for the next full instalment. Also, because Episode One is not necessarily an expansion pack, the game can be played without the original Half-Life 2.

Dr. Breen was defeated at the end of Half-Life 2, and gamers were left with a cliff-hanger ending: A huge explosion at the Citadel, and Alyx and Gordon possibly dead within it. Episode One starts exactly where HL2 left off, with the G-Man attempting to put Gordon (you) back into stasis. However, the G-Man did not count on the Vortiguants freezing time and helping Gordon and Alyx escape the explosion. Unfortunately for the pair, the Citadel’s core will still detonate and destroy all of City 17. Your goal is to delay the destruction so the Resistance and other citizens can escape.

The first half of the game is basically you and Alyx entering the Citadel and fighting the Combine so that the core’s destruction can be delayed. The second half revolves around the two of you escaping City 17 to avoid vaporization. Luckily, Alyx will accompany you for the majority of the game, and she will help kick some Combine ass and even assist you in puzzle solving.

Much of the game is the same basic Half-Life 2 gameplay: Run-and-gun with some puzzles in the mix. There are no vehicle missions, but they won’t be missed too much as you play through this game. The gravity gun is heavily used as you proceed towards the Citadel’s core, and the rest of your arsenal primarily comes into play during the second half. The puzzles are slightly more difficult than in Half-Life 2, and gun fights will come directly after the puzzles to keep you on your toes. It’s a nice formula that works well, but it does get just a tad boring - maybe even a little predictable - after a while. The game starts to feel too similar to Half-Life 2 during the second half, when you spend the bulk of your time shooting zombies and headcrabs.

Alyx is definitely the biggest change you’ll notice in Episode One. NPCs in other shooters are slow, unresponsive or annoying, but Valve has done a great job with the AI coding in Episode One. She will be a major asset to you because she actually does a good job of keeping you and herself alive. When you’re frantically busy solving puzzles with your Gravity Gun, she’ll be covering your back by shooting the enemies. You’ll rarely ever have to check on her because she’s quite capable by herself (a lot of health and unlimited ammunition). The humor and emotions that Alyx provides makes her feel like a real human instead of the usual ‘bot’ that tags along. As you advance through the game, you’ll find yourself genuinely enjoying her company.

In terms of technology, the Source engine still delivers an awesome, immersive experience like no other. The graphics look noticeably better than Half-Life 2 with some new lighting effects and the realistic HDR lighting (high dynamic range lighting). Valve’s new facial animation system really contributes to a life-like feel for the characters. The textures are as attractive and sharp as ever, and the detail into the environments and characters is mind-bendingly brilliant. Despite the improvements in the graphics, Episode One can still run perfectly well on older systems, but perhaps without HDR and high-setting effects. Its audio is high-quality and really adds to the engaging gameplay experience. The voice talent in this game is still top-notch, and the new Developer Commentary (just like in Half-Life 2: Lost Coast) explains the game in detail, offering viewers a sort of ‘inside look’ on how Episode One was created.

At the end of the day, Half-Life 2: Episode One serves a rich, thorough playing experience hindered only by a touch of predictability, and the fact that it is quite short. The average gamer will finish Episode One in a matter of five to seven hours, with more experienced FPS fans reaching the end within a mere four hours. Episode One is a stunning package that, doesn’t quite match up to Half-Life 2, but still is capable of producing a fun yet deep gameplay experience. The lack of new locations, enemies, and weaponry may be a little disappointing to some, but they do not noticeably diminish from the gameplay. The Half-Life 2: Episode Two trailer shown at the end of the game, will be more than enough to whet your appetite for more. New locations, new enemies, and improved graphics (even newer dynamic lighting and shadowing system) can be seen, and it looks set to provide an equal - if not better - gameplay experience than Episode One.

(Verdict:) Due to its short duration, Episode One could perhaps be accused of feeling more like a ‘prologue’ than a standalone chapter, especially once you’ve glimpsed the obvious enhancements that Episode Two will bring. But even so, as prologues go, this is surely among the best, and the chance to return to the Half-Life universe - even for a relatively short while - is something not to be missed!

Rating: A

This post is tagged Episode One, Half-Life 2, PC, Review, Valve

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