The game really does throw you right back into the thick of things, resuming the story and exact feel that Half-Life 2 ended on. You do not need to own the original Half-Life 2 in order to play Episode 1, although I wholeheartedly recommend playing through Half Life 2 before playing Episode 1 in order to get the full impact of exactly what is going on, and to make any sense of the intro sequence at all. It is the first of three 'episodes' released by Valve, taking right off where Half-Life 2 ended. Given that this is a sequel, of sorts, Half-Life 2: Episode 1 does a fantastic job at what it was meant to do. With that out of the way, what I will elaborate on are the noticeable differences between the two games and the improvements made upon the first installment. In addition, the game introduces new ways to interact with the environment and includes a number of other surprises.įirst off, let me start by saying that for the sake of repetition, this is not a review of Half-Life 2, so I'm not going to rehash all of the aspects of Half-Life 2 and its engine, graphics and game play mechanics. Though the add-on's length is shorter than the campaign found in Half-Life 2, offering an estimated four to six hours of play, the narrative addresses lingering questions and fleshes out the storylines of the principal characters in greater detail. The expansion pack also focuses on freedom fighter Alyx Vance and her robotic companion, Dog, as they team up with Freeman to defeat the oppressive alien race known as the Combine. Gordon Freeman to engage in more alien and mutant battles from within the decaying walls of City 17. Players slip on the battered spectacles of Dr. Half-Life 2: Episode One continues the single-player story from the critically acclaimed Half-Life 2.

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