Half Life 2: Episode One

     Reviewed By: Colonel Link
     VOLUNTEER GUEST REVIEWER

Overall Rating:
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Christian Rating: 4 of 5 (good)
Gameplay: 5 of 5 (excellent)
Violence: 2 of 5 (heavy)
Adult Content: 4 of 5 (barely present)

Half Life 2: Episode One is the third game in the Half Life series, and the first in the new Half Life Trilogy, which will consist of 3 “episodes”. It is available on Steam and in certain retail packages.

The episode takes place immediately after the end of Half-Life 2, in and around the war-torn setting of City 17. Episode One continues to follow scientist Gordon Freeman and his companion Alyx Vance as they deal with the events of Half-Life 2 and humanity’s continuing struggle against the Combine.

Story:
Half Life 2: Episode One takes place immediately after the events of Half Life 2, with Alyx finding Gordon buried under a pile of rocks. There is no explanation given as to how they survived the explosion, other than that the Vortigaunts were somehow involved. You are immediately thrown into the action, when you realize you have to go BACK into the citadel and stop the core from exploding (strange, since you had to make it explode in HL2). Why? Because at the rate it’s going, it will destroy all of City 17 before the inhabitants can escape.

Gameplay: Pretty much the same as Half Life 2, but better in many ways. Alyx stays with you through most of the episode, which adds whole new layers of depth to the game. Alyx is smart, funny, and you find yourself genuinely caring about her. She is also great help in a fight: She uses cover, ducks when she has to reload, kicks, whacks, etc. You immediately start out with the gravity gun, and it gets super-afied pretty quick, but luckily, the rest of the game remains balanced.

Enemies are all the same, except for the addition of the combine zombie. These headcrab controlled soldiers will rush at you with a live grenade, making them an immediate priority.

Violence: The same as in Half Life 2: Zombies are still bloody and can be cut in half, and there are some blood sprays from gunshot wounds.

Language: Alyx says “D**n!” a few times.

Sexual Content: None.

Graphics: Everything Half Life 2 was and much more. Simply stunning environments, weapons, and facial expressions. The physics are just as good as ever.

Sound: Every weapon sounds different: Pistol sounds like a pistol, magnum sound like a magnum, and combine assault rifle sound like something punching a big bag of meat.

Overall: A great addition to the Half Life series, even though it only lasts about 4-6 hours.

Half Life 2 | Half Life 2: Episode Two

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Year of Release — 2006