Just a little review, (POSSIBLE SPOILERS}
First off, i'll start by saying that when i went to buy the game at Best Buy, it was only in DVD-rom format. Also at target ect ect. So if you only have CD-rom (like me) just download it off steam. (if you don't have steam yet, you can download it at http://www.steampowered.com/
The story continues right after where you left off from in Half life 2 (Hl2). You awake to dog (Alyx's robot dog) picking you up out of rubble right outside of the combine citadel. The explosion that had happened at the end of Half-life 2 has left debri falling, along with a mix of a storm, fire, and smoke at the top of the citidel. With, a reactor inside about to blow. And you must go back inside to the citide. This is really about as far as the story gets in episode 1, other than the evacuation of City 17. Oh, and doctor Kliener has took up position on where Breen was, broadcasting through the monitors / tv sets around the world.
Some have said things about '' no real story progression '' and such from episode 1, but i disagree. First look at the episodes, instead of releasing a huge 'Half-life 3' Valve is releasing 3 episodes, to get the game out faster. So obviously it's not all going to be there. The whole point so far was to get out of City 17, and that's what gordon and friends have done. What's next? One can only speculate from watching the episode 2 trailer. (does Alyx die?)
The combat in Hl2: e1 involves mainly 3 types: Fighting combine, fighting zombies, and fighting zombine. Zombine are a mix of zombies and combine. Wich, are actually pretty fun to fight considering they somtimes pull out a grenaide and run towards you while still holding it! Basically a suicide bomber, but a zombine. Fighting with the combine is as usual, they'll pull out a apc or two, some striders, and snipers. The combat stays pretty much the same from Hl2, and you'll use the same weapons.
Other than the main combat there are some bit of puzzles in the game, that do require you to think a little. A couple of wich i thought had me stumped..
On a side note, i did notice a little more stuttering during gameplay in episode 1 than half life 2. Possible not as optimised? I dunno, but some others have also seen this aswell. (Note, i only have 512 ram, so this could just be a ram problem, wich is most likely is)
The graphics have been turned up a bit for Episode 1, the lighting mainly. HD lighting adds the effect from where you first look at somthing bright, it's really bright, then slightly becomes less bright until your eyes have adjusted. Some new shine, but, that's about it. The graphics were never bad to begin with, so i wasn't expecting so much. Still amazing textures. This little HD add on makes the game even better. I must say though, Hl2 has alwase looked much more believable than other games out there to be said of '' great graphics '' such as Doom3 or Call of duty 2 or Perfect dark zero, wich all have way to many surfaces that shine for no reason, and wouldn't shine in real life.
The physics, still intact, are also still fun to use. If you've never played Half life 2 (shame on you, lol) you can pretty much pick up any little object lying around. Wich may be boxes, a picture, table, desk, chair, bench, glass, rock, crates, bricks, just about anything. You can also use your gravity gun to pick up enemy soliders (well, the manipulated version) and throw them at your enemies. With the regular version of the gravity gun you can still shoot away things like cars.
Alyx does make a good companion throughout the game. And unlike Hl2, does make good company, other than roaming through the world basically by yourself. I've found some instances she can get in the way, but she moves almost instantly when you move in her direction. She can fend for herself (mostly) so i wouldn't worry about that aswell. On another note, the voice acting was really good. With Alyx and just about every other character.
Complaints? A little short. I beat it in 5 hours, but that was on normal difficulty, so i'm guessing on hard it might take maybe an hour or two more. Still, a little short. Half life 2 took me around 15 hours. But, this episode was only $20. The ending wasn't so spectacular either, but i'm not going give anything away with a little hint... who do you think i am? *Cough* F.e.a.r. *Cough* And don't expect to be playing through this over and over with a new experience each time, like Hl2, it's scripted. I probably won't play it through my second time for maybe a month or two.
zombine v
Overall:
Story progression: 8
Sound: 8 (i know i didn't say anything, they're the same)
Graphics: 9
Replay value: 7
Gameplay: 9.5
8.3
If you're a fan of Half life, Half life 2, sci-fi / first person shooters, great stories, do yourself a favor and pick this game up! Does not require Hl2 to run , but i highly recommend buying Hl2 and beating it before moving on (that's optional though
)
First off, i'll start by saying that when i went to buy the game at Best Buy, it was only in DVD-rom format. Also at target ect ect. So if you only have CD-rom (like me) just download it off steam. (if you don't have steam yet, you can download it at http://www.steampowered.com/
The story continues right after where you left off from in Half life 2 (Hl2). You awake to dog (Alyx's robot dog) picking you up out of rubble right outside of the combine citadel. The explosion that had happened at the end of Half-life 2 has left debri falling, along with a mix of a storm, fire, and smoke at the top of the citidel. With, a reactor inside about to blow. And you must go back inside to the citide. This is really about as far as the story gets in episode 1, other than the evacuation of City 17. Oh, and doctor Kliener has took up position on where Breen was, broadcasting through the monitors / tv sets around the world.
Some have said things about '' no real story progression '' and such from episode 1, but i disagree. First look at the episodes, instead of releasing a huge 'Half-life 3' Valve is releasing 3 episodes, to get the game out faster. So obviously it's not all going to be there. The whole point so far was to get out of City 17, and that's what gordon and friends have done. What's next? One can only speculate from watching the episode 2 trailer. (does Alyx die?)
The combat in Hl2: e1 involves mainly 3 types: Fighting combine, fighting zombies, and fighting zombine. Zombine are a mix of zombies and combine. Wich, are actually pretty fun to fight considering they somtimes pull out a grenaide and run towards you while still holding it! Basically a suicide bomber, but a zombine. Fighting with the combine is as usual, they'll pull out a apc or two, some striders, and snipers. The combat stays pretty much the same from Hl2, and you'll use the same weapons.
Other than the main combat there are some bit of puzzles in the game, that do require you to think a little. A couple of wich i thought had me stumped..
On a side note, i did notice a little more stuttering during gameplay in episode 1 than half life 2. Possible not as optimised? I dunno, but some others have also seen this aswell. (Note, i only have 512 ram, so this could just be a ram problem, wich is most likely is)
The graphics have been turned up a bit for Episode 1, the lighting mainly. HD lighting adds the effect from where you first look at somthing bright, it's really bright, then slightly becomes less bright until your eyes have adjusted. Some new shine, but, that's about it. The graphics were never bad to begin with, so i wasn't expecting so much. Still amazing textures. This little HD add on makes the game even better. I must say though, Hl2 has alwase looked much more believable than other games out there to be said of '' great graphics '' such as Doom3 or Call of duty 2 or Perfect dark zero, wich all have way to many surfaces that shine for no reason, and wouldn't shine in real life.
The physics, still intact, are also still fun to use. If you've never played Half life 2 (shame on you, lol) you can pretty much pick up any little object lying around. Wich may be boxes, a picture, table, desk, chair, bench, glass, rock, crates, bricks, just about anything. You can also use your gravity gun to pick up enemy soliders (well, the manipulated version) and throw them at your enemies. With the regular version of the gravity gun you can still shoot away things like cars.
Alyx does make a good companion throughout the game. And unlike Hl2, does make good company, other than roaming through the world basically by yourself. I've found some instances she can get in the way, but she moves almost instantly when you move in her direction. She can fend for herself (mostly) so i wouldn't worry about that aswell. On another note, the voice acting was really good. With Alyx and just about every other character.
Complaints? A little short. I beat it in 5 hours, but that was on normal difficulty, so i'm guessing on hard it might take maybe an hour or two more. Still, a little short. Half life 2 took me around 15 hours. But, this episode was only $20. The ending wasn't so spectacular either, but i'm not going give anything away with a little hint... who do you think i am? *Cough* F.e.a.r. *Cough* And don't expect to be playing through this over and over with a new experience each time, like Hl2, it's scripted. I probably won't play it through my second time for maybe a month or two.
zombine v
Overall:
Story progression: 8
Sound: 8 (i know i didn't say anything, they're the same)
Graphics: 9
Replay value: 7
Gameplay: 9.5
8.3
If you're a fan of Half life, Half life 2, sci-fi / first person shooters, great stories, do yourself a favor and pick this game up! Does not require Hl2 to run , but i highly recommend buying Hl2 and beating it before moving on (that's optional though
)
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