Title: Half-Life 2: Episode One

Date: 06.16.2006

Genre: FPS

Platform: PC

Developer: Valve

Publisher: Electronic Arts

The original Half-Life 2 may have been the most brilliantly constructed story-driven FPS of all time, finally putting its predecessor into the back seat. Nearly every aspect of the game drove the intensity and immersion through the roof, from the brilliant voice acting and the uncanny character models to the gorgeously realized settings, from the rooftops of Ravenholm to the streets of City 17. An expertly paced and plotted game, HL2 was a linear experience that nonetheless never felt like your hand was being held, and always gave you, at the very least, the very convincing illusion of free will.

Half-Life 2: Episode One is the first of a trilogy of direct follow-ups to the HL2 story, which ended on a tremendous cliffhanger. What Episode One does not offer is an entirely new experience -- you'll find all the same guns, sound effects, and most of the same textures surrounding you in each chapter. What Episode One does offer is some brilliant - if short - gameplay designed by a team that now knows better than anyone else how to work with its own resources. The enhancements to the Half-Life formula are certainly more subtle than they were in the jump from original to sequel, but they still exist, and some of them will leave as permanent a mark on the FPS genre as either game did.

GRAPHICS

One of the most amazing things about Half-Life 2: Episode One is not just that it is beautiful, but that it is designed to be beautiful no matter what system you are playing it on. Even on a rig that was a little behind the times back when HL2 was first released will be able to realize Episode One's improved world.

Most of what you see in Episode One is what you saw in Half-Life 2 - the game takes place in the towering Citadel and the sewers and streets of City 17, never venturing into particularly foreign territory (though some old locales have seen some dramatic alterations). Therefore, many of the textures and models are reused - which is only a slight complaint, as those textures and models were all excellent in their own right.

There are two notable graphical improvements in Episode One: the inclusion of HDR ( High Dynamic Range) lighting and the enhancement of the Alyx character model. Both of these have their moments to shine throughout the game; a sequence where Gordon takes on a gunship from the rafters of a mostly destroyed building gives you the best idea of how HDR can add to the realism of a given scene, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to watch Alyx react through a stunning new variety of body gestures and facial expressions.

It should also be mentioned what kind of effect HDR lighting has on the game. Here are three sets of screenshots showing a scene from the game with and without HDR lighting. We feel the results speak for themselves. Valve's ability to deliver this type of improvement with little performance hit is fantastic.

SOUND

The voice work is once again the best that can be found in the gaming universe. All of the actors from the original Half-Life 2 reprise their roles, but a special mention must go to Merle Dandridge, the voice actress for Alyx. Dandridge does a spectacular job conveying the full range of emotions Alyx goes through within Episode One; it is her talent combined with the power of the model that make Alyx such a fully realized and realistic character.

The sound effects remain unchanged from their original counterparts. Music seems to be even scarcer than it was in Half-Life 2, but when it does play, it is as appropriate and effective at ratcheting up the tension and intensity as any Half-Life soundtrack.

GAMEPLAY

This is all of the tension, intensity and fun of Half-Life 2 streamlined into a five to six hour gaming experience. Valve makes some uncommon but brilliant decisions here - keeping the guns unaltered, while not typical of an expansion pack, simply makes sense in the context of the game universe, and already having that instinctive feel for each of the weapons as you use them adds to the immersion factor - not to mention that there's nothing more satisfying than finally getting that old crowbar back again.

However, Episode One does not necessarily have the same feel as its predecessor. The constant presence of Alyx is one of the most important changes to the fundamental gameplay. Valve has described this game as "single-player co-op", and they have managed to realize this idea more successfully than anyone before them. Alyx is a useful and intelligent companion - she follows you without the awkward pathing problems that most AI suffer, she gives you covering fire when you need it, and she even cheers you on or pokes fun at you, all in ways that seem fully organic.

The dependency between you and Alyx drives large sections of the game - early on, you are equipped only with your Gravity Gun, relying primarily on Alyx to protect you when the Combine comes to stop you while you use the Gun to solve puzzles and progress through the chapter. Later on, in the underground sections of the game, your flashlight becomes the only way for Alyx to see and target her enemies. There are no vehicles, little unnecessary backtracking, and every objective is easy to recognize even if it is difficult to complete - in terms of pacing and balance, the game is a significant improvement over its predecessor.

OVERALL

The only thing that's disappointing about Episode One is that it's so short - six hours may be as much as you're going to get out of your first run through. The option of commentary nodes adds incentive to a second play-through, but even if that doesn't appeal, these six hours of gameplay are some of the most tightly and expertly constructed of any you can find in a FPS. This is well worth the $20 investment, and looks to be the beginning of a more than worthy successor to the Half-Life throne.

Game Score

9.2

Reviewed By: Contributed