Half-Life 2: Episode One is a great installment in the series and argues favorably for episodic content.
Episode One starts off right where the previous game left off. Though not everybody is bound to like the opening sequence, it does provide the necessary link between Half-Life 2 and Episode One. What follows is a journey through the ruins of City 17, which is going to be devastated by the citadel’s self-destruct sequence.
Gameplay: Like its predecessor, Episode One involves a mix of shooting and problem solving. During one moment, you’ll be finding yourself shooting hordes of zombies with your shotgun, and then have to manipulate wrecked cars with your gravity gun during the next.
The challenge in Episode One has been kicked up enough to make a noticeable difference. For the most part, the number of enemies has been increased. Additionally, some familiar enemies from the first game fight you on different terms in Episode One, forcing you to think of different strategies to take them down. It is a refreshing change from Half-Life 2, in which most battles could be won using the same strategy.
That said, I have a couple of complaints. There is an escort sequence in the game that got old after a short time, and some players may find themselves frustrated at not having a weapon besides the gravity gun for such a period of time. For the most part, however, the gameplay is excellent.
Graphics: The graphics for Episode One are nearly identical to Half-Life 2, which is starting to show its age. However, the details of the facial expressions merits mentioning and it helped to inject some life into the characters.
Sound: Episode One sounds great, with good environmental sounds, explosions and gunfire during battle, and the occasional phrase from Alyx. I laughed when I heard her yell, “oh snap!” after a zombie had been head-shot.
Value: I knew what I was getting into when I bought an episodic game, but that doesn’t entirely negate the feeling of shortness once I was through (“that’s it?”). Additionally, aside from two new enemies (one of which is only around briefly), there isn’t much new stuff to see in this Episode. However, the addition of a commentary mode is an extremely positive one, and I look forward to the feature in new titles Valve produces.
Overall, Episode One is a good game that shows that episodic games can be great after all. Let’s hope Valve continues to produce games like this.