Half-Life 2: Episode One - A Review

Playing Half-Life 2 was an interesting experience for me. It was one of those games that, after playing it, it was hard for me not to compare all future FPS games to it. For me, it didn't just raise the bar, it became the bar-and although I probably liked it a bit more than most, it's hard to deny that it was one of the best FPS games of all time. Months of anticipation later, Valve has finally released Half-Life 2: Episode One the next chapter in Gordon Freeman's fight against the Combine, and for the most part it keeps up the standard that Half-Life 2 set. Since this game is Episodic, it is significantly shorter than the previous games in the series, while adding nice little touches to nearly perfect the formula

Episode One begins right where it's predecessor left off, with Gordon and Alyx surviving the explosion at the end of Half-Life 2. Gordon has been freed from the G-man's control, and the story mostly revolves around Gordon and Alyx fleeing from City 17. Valve's storytelling is still as cryptic as ever, though, since you never get a full explanation as to who the G-Man is, or his relationship with Gordon, and there are plenty of new questions left unresolved at the end of this chapter.

While the story may leave you wanting more, the gameplay more than makes up for it. You'll find all of the same great action from previous Half-Life games. All enemies from Half-Life 2 are here, as well as two new additions: Stalkers, which are physically mutated humans--think the Borg but less cybernetics--and Zombines, which are Combine soldiers who have been zombified by head crabs. The Zombine are an interesting breed, since they'll come at you with grenades kamikaze style. The Combine soldiers are also a bit sharper this time around, with increased variations in their tactics, making it harder to telegraph their movements.

However, the combat in Episode One is made significantly unique by having Alyx accompany you throughout the entire game. Valve's use of NPC AI really shines here. While Alyx's main job is to cover your back, she very rarely gets in the way. She has her own unique set of moves, is always aware of what's going on around her, but isn't invincible, which creates a nice balancing act throughout the game while never feeling like she's getting in the way. The half-assed squade battles from the end of Half-Life 2 are perfected here.

One of the hallmarks of the Half-Life series has been its scripted events, and this is no different in Episode One. There are plenty of memorable moments and scenerios in the game that provide a constant sense of danger and action. All of the original voice cast has returned, and there is a lot of great anhumorousus dialogue. Having Alyx there to comment on each new situation is a simple touch that brings a surprising level of depth to the story and all around gameplay.

The game also looks and sounds as great as Half-Life 2 did, except this time Valve haincorporateded High Dynamic Range (HDR) lighting into the engine. Essentially, this gives each type of light source in the game it's own strength and range of lighting, with the intention of accurately representing the wide range of intensity levels found in real scenes, ranging from direct sunlight to the deepest shadows--so light from the Sun will be stronger and have a wider/longer range than light from, say, a candle, and the form and shade of shadows in a given environment are directly affected by the type of lighting. This new addition does wonders for the look of the game, and basically perfects the already incredible graphics engine of the series.

If there's one real beef I have with Episode One, is that, despite all the nice new touches, it often times feels like more of the same. Since the game is mostly played in the Citadel and inner City 17, you're getting about the same level design as the last five-or-so hours of Half-Life 2--which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just not al that new. This makes sense, since it's only about a five hour game, but it's paced so well that it doesn't really feel like it's over to quickly. It's definitely a nice addition to the franchise, and a must have for fans. Hopefully the next episode will add a bit more variety to the level design.