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HL2 Episode One, what did you think?
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warcrow
Lifer
HL2:E1
Well guys, I'm about 2.5-3 hour in and I am amazed. I am blown away. I don't know what to say, man, but I'm so impressed. I consider HL2 to be one of the best games (including all genres) I had ever played. I mean, I really did love it. So, loading up E1 and starting to play really was like a breath of fresh air. Which sounds weird to say, I know, because it's not really a brand new game. Its like an expansion pack.
As I'm playing through E1, I have been continually thinking:
- Valve (I will generallize since I dont know who's responsible for creating specific events within the game) *knows* how to make a real game. I mean, everything has been so polished and so well thought out. Nothing **feels** stagnat like FEAR where you were in the same office building and visiting the same room over and over again even though its all the same stuff from HL2.
- Valve knows level design.
- Valve knows how to inject this game with personality. Depsite the fact that alot of the models and textures (albeit updated and prettier) are recycled from HL2, it felt fresh and new.
- I LOVE where the game picks up from in the beginning.
- Voice acting is phenominal for a video game.
I'm so so happy with this so far. (if you could tell) Oh and....
"eeeeeww! Whats that! Oh! Its a combine....but he looks like a zombie.......must be a zombine...get it? Zombine...because he's a combine....and.........eeeh....ok, never mind." -Alex
Incrediblly funny.
Well guys, I'm about 2.5-3 hour in and I am amazed. I am blown away. I don't know what to say, man, but I'm so impressed. I consider HL2 to be one of the best games (including all genres) I had ever played. I mean, I really did love it. So, loading up E1 and starting to play really was like a breath of fresh air. Which sounds weird to say, I know, because it's not really a brand new game. Its like an expansion pack.
As I'm playing through E1, I have been continually thinking:
- Valve (I will generallize since I dont know who's responsible for creating specific events within the game) *knows* how to make a real game. I mean, everything has been so polished and so well thought out. Nothing **feels** stagnat like FEAR where you were in the same office building and visiting the same room over and over again even though its all the same stuff from HL2.
- Valve knows level design.
- Valve knows how to inject this game with personality. Depsite the fact that alot of the models and textures (albeit updated and prettier) are recycled from HL2, it felt fresh and new.
- I LOVE where the game picks up from in the beginning.
- Voice acting is phenominal for a video game.
I'm so so happy with this so far. (if you could tell) Oh and....
"eeeeeww! Whats that! Oh! Its a combine....but he looks like a zombie.......must be a zombine...get it? Zombine...because he's a combine....and.........eeeh....ok, never mind." -Alex
Incrediblly funny.
hans030390
Diamond Member
For those who think 5 hours of gameplay is "bad," maybe you should check it out. Time isn't everything in a game.
thebigdude
Senior member
I second that.
thebigdude
Senior member
If lost coast worked Ep 1 will work too.
ArmchairAthlete
Diamond Member
Sounds like it's worth the $20, which isn't much. All I needed to know, thanks!
Didn't run into any spoilers in this thread either, phew.
Didn't run into any spoilers in this thread either, phew.
Ryland
Platinum Member
You also need to remember that the $20 isn't for a game that you can resell for $10 when you are done with it since it gets locked to your steam account. There is no resale value thus a "normal" boxed copy of a game which you buy for $20 can be resold for at least $10 if it was decent thus the game cost you $10 in the end. Not so with Episode 1. I haven't had a chance to run through Episode 1 yet (I had it preordered and is sitting waiting for me to get time to play) but I still think that $20 for a 4-6 hour game with no resale value is not going to be worth it in the long run, but thats just me.
Thats the thing, people complaining about the price should really buy this one before they say anything. This is top notch game and honestly plays better then anything I have played before (including HL and HL2). I feel Like I got my moneys worth and most people who played it will agree, so the people who say they are getting ripped off haven't actually seen the product in hand.
Regs
Lifer
The visuals looked incredible. Everything has its own surface and vibrant texture. Just amazing how detailed the enviornments are. The rays of light entering roof tops is the highlight and icing on the cake. Game play is really fluid and always changing with the surroundings. Though I spent a little to much time than I wanted in dark areas underground, it ended up balancing well in the end.
What I liked more is that the episode actually explained black mesa. I didn't have the opportunity to play the first HL so at least now I'm on track.
I would say the game was pretty good. The only real thing I don't like about the game, as well with many other games, is the lack of gore or realistic guns. Each bullet has the same effect while rockets blow enemies a mile in the sky....intact. Enough of the string puppets! I understand overkill is overkill and it's all a matter of ones taste. Valve obviously does not want to make the leap beyond desensitization.
I think the game would be replayable x1000 if the gravity gun ripped off limbs and smashed heads into walls....perminitily. How about if the gun bullets ripple the body and the enemy has a realistic stun reflex to it? How about a grenade blowing blood and entrails everywhere? Even better... a close range shot to the head with a shot gun blows the guys head off.
Maybe I'm just psycho or the next member of the Manson family but that's entertainment to me.
What I liked more is that the episode actually explained black mesa. I didn't have the opportunity to play the first HL so at least now I'm on track.
I would say the game was pretty good. The only real thing I don't like about the game, as well with many other games, is the lack of gore or realistic guns. Each bullet has the same effect while rockets blow enemies a mile in the sky....intact. Enough of the string puppets! I understand overkill is overkill and it's all a matter of ones taste. Valve obviously does not want to make the leap beyond desensitization.
I think the game would be replayable x1000 if the gravity gun ripped off limbs and smashed heads into walls....perminitily. How about if the gun bullets ripple the body and the enemy has a realistic stun reflex to it? How about a grenade blowing blood and entrails everywhere? Even better... a close range shot to the head with a shot gun blows the guys head off.
Maybe I'm just psycho or the next member of the Manson family but that's entertainment to me.
In the first one, body parts did go flying when you used explosives. It was pretty much the same few pieces no matter what you killed... human or alien... but it is a 7 year old game. you could actually smash up the parts that flew out after, too. But they really just squirted blood then mashed up and disappeared.
I sort of agree on the guns, but I think the weapon set was kinda cool when I was playing HL2... I just wish there were a couple new weapons in this. Maybe a stage where Gordon gets to use the sniper rifle. Overall, I think the puzzles were too few to enjoy. Either I've just gotten good at predicting half-life puzzles, or they just weren't challenging. I like it when I die 3 or 4 times trying to figure out what I have to do. Not when I can look at a room for a minute and figure it out exactly.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
I really hate that you only have to shoot down 1 airship. There was at least one at every turn in HL2. I really hate that the last big challenge for you is a lousy stryder. I thought for sure something like a hoard of 100 combine with limited ammo was going to be waiting right before the train. I also didn't like that you spend the first 1/3 of the game in the citadel with only the super-gravity gun. It's fun, but sometimes you just want to unload on everything that can break. As for specifics, I like that they added flares for all the dark parts, but they burnt out too quick and weren't that bright. A flare in a pitch dark room would at least show basic shadows of everything in the room. Could you imagine how sweet it would be to have cast shadows of the pillars and fences in the garage all over, with shadows of zombies move through them... not knowing how close or far they are? It might freak me out to see zombie shadows moving everywhere in a room.
*END SPOILERS*
Despite my complaints, I'm happy with the purchase.
PseudoKnight
Senior member
Shadows don't work that way in the Source engine. Still, you'd think that flares in pitch black would have lit up more.
As for puzzles, since these cannot be automatically adjusted to difficulty, they have to balance across all players. Some gamers just don't like puzzles.
As for puzzles, since these cannot be automatically adjusted to difficulty, they have to balance across all players. Some gamers just don't like puzzles.
CalvinHobbes
Diamond Member
Been a while since anyone posted in the thread, guess everyone's finished the game.
One complaint I have about the puzzles deals with the ant-lion puzzles. I mean really, how many times did they have to play that one out.
I liked having Alyx around for some additional firepower but there were a few times where she got in my way and wouldn't move. Her unlimited health and ammo is nice but kind of unbalanced. Guess it would be a PITA if she was able to die and you had to constantly protect her.
I would love for them to re-do the save system. I'd like to be able have to multiple quick saves, not one slot. Each time I press F6, it should have the date and time and let me keep X number of quick saves. Having to ESC out to do a save is a pain and ruins the continuity.
I'd like a few more auto saves as well. Some were spaced out too far.
I would also like the LOADING to happen at door ways and not right in the middle of a room. Maybe that's difficult with the way the levels are designed.
Other than that, I'm still having fun, I guess I'm almost done with this episode.
One complaint I have about the puzzles deals with the ant-lion puzzles. I mean really, how many times did they have to play that one out.
I liked having Alyx around for some additional firepower but there were a few times where she got in my way and wouldn't move. Her unlimited health and ammo is nice but kind of unbalanced. Guess it would be a PITA if she was able to die and you had to constantly protect her.
I would love for them to re-do the save system. I'd like to be able have to multiple quick saves, not one slot. Each time I press F6, it should have the date and time and let me keep X number of quick saves. Having to ESC out to do a save is a pain and ruins the continuity.
I'd like a few more auto saves as well. Some were spaced out too far.
I would also like the LOADING to happen at door ways and not right in the middle of a room. Maybe that's difficult with the way the levels are designed.
Other than that, I'm still having fun, I guess I'm almost done with this episode.
NYHoustonman
Platinum Member
Unless you sell the account it's tied to, no. In any case, it's a great game, at least try it 😱.
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