Half-Life 2: Episode One

I feel like a TOOL for buying and 100%-ing it when the Anniversary update wiped out everything, RIP to my one perfect game

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Purchased: Sep 10, 2022 BST

Half-Life 2 is fun. So, more Half-Life 2 is more fun, right? Well, disregarding all tedium from the 3 hour runtime would validate that proposition, but something occurred to me having watched the Half-Life 2 documentary recently. There is such a thing as asset/feature fatigue. Shooting the same weapons at the same enemies, interacting with the same physics in the same environments is not as engaging after a while. They throw in some new things like Alyx accompanying you for the whole duration, some fancy new shaders and slightly different levels, but to me it barely scratches the free dlc mark, which thankfully now it has become (although the whole Half-Life series has been laughably cheap on steam for a long time, so this was a non-issue to start). The ending bit of going back and forth on the train station with slightly more Combine spawning in each time turned finale into finally, and left the whole thing on a sour note. While I remember being much more impressed with Episode Two, this really proved to me that nothing less than a full blown sequel would have really done justice to the series as a whole.

it was really fun to play and very nostalgic too! episode one was shorter but I still enjoyed it.

its aight
beware of the bug where alyx just decides to go braindead and not move or talk at all. no clue why that happens. good job valve.

Where do i read about the things they are talking about. Sometimes they talk as if we know all about it. Game is good but the story makes me feel like i missed a game.

this game is good of yes and yes of the good because is good of the yes yes good yes nice

Some people kinda just gloss over on how good Half life 2 episode 1 is i mean ye its not as hype as ep2 but it still deserves love

After playing through this for the first time in almost two decades, I feel this one is undoubtedly the worst entry in the Half-Life saga. Valve has proven quite capable in their other entries, so one misstep isn't so bad, but what a misstep it is. In this chapter, you accompany Alyx as you attempt to escape City 17 before the Citadel blows. However, it was poorly executed on all parts.

Alyx Vance goes from a spunky and capable companion to an often times obnoxious and cowardly AI sidekick. Her dialogue is terrible, filled with many gee-golly-gosh moments that add nothing of substance to the gameplay. Often standing in the way and almost mocking Gordon for his efforts to survive become annoying very quickly. Her inexplicable ability to knee zombies so hard in the gut that they double over is funny once as it looks like she's planting a knee in their crotch. But it keeps happening, and despite Gordon's superior armaments, is far more powerful than he is though she can die if overwhelmed.

Half-Life 2 is known for its sudden plot twists, using cleverly timed moments and good writing to put the player in jeopardy in ways that feel organic to the world around you. That concept goes out the window here. In one scenario early in the game, Dog signals to Gordon and Alyx to climb into a decommissioned van so he can throw them across a chasm into a Combine structure. While this moment proves entertaining and consistent with moments that came before, Gordon and Alyx just happened to land on a weak floor panel that hides an all-too-convenient slide that whisks them down to the lower levels. What purpose did it serve? In many areas, you face obnoxious swarms of zombies, often times coming out of areas where enemies were cleared or not there at all and no way for them to hide or get into the room. The game is filled with many more of these kinds of events.

Is it trash? Nah, but it falls way short of the standard set by its predecessor and is vastly overshadowed by Episode 2 in terms of everything. I don't blame them, though, as they had lofty expectations to meet and were probably burnt out from the HL2 development gauntlet. All in all, I can't recommend it as a necessary play through. For completionists and perhaps just to fill in some gaps in the story? Sure. But they will likely walk away with few, if any, memorable moments and may just be happy they're done with it. Or maybe I'm just being too harsh.

Thankfully, Valve hit a home run with virtually everything else, except finishing Gordon's story.

DO NOT GET THIS: Theres not much of a point in getting this seperately from half life 2, considering that in its most recent update, it just added episode 1 and 2, This chapter is great, its just that you might as well buy HL2 and HL2 only.

only took me 3 hours to complete this game, the only confusing part Is the strider on the last chapter, I really like It when I just bought one game called half life 2, I get 2 games. Excellent valve!

oh my gosh this is driving me crazy the way the first one ended left so many questions and this is completing the puzzle love this game

10/10 boring slow pacing. it'd be more interesting to watch paint dry or grass to grow

why yeet the games out of everyone's library...
Even if you merged them, why not keep the standalone? this was an antique sitting in my account

Casual reminder that anyone who says that this doesn't exist anymore is wrong, they just made it so instead of being listed as a game, it was listed as a tool. What this means is that you can not only still install it but you can also still play it. if you want to find the game again search for the game in your library and look in the tools section👍
(same also goes for episode 2 and lost coast)

It starts with one, one thing I don't know why
It doesn't even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind, I designed this rhyme to explain in due time
All I know, time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down to the end of the day, the clock ticks life away
It's so unreal, didn't look out below
Watch the time go right out the window
Tryna hold on, did-didn't even know
I wasted it all just to watch you go
I kept everything inside and even though I tried, it all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time when
I tried so hard and got so far
But in the end, it doesn't even matter
I had to fall to lose it all
But in the end, it doesn't even matter
One thing, I don't know why
It doesn't even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind, I designed this rhyme
To remind myself how I tried so hard
In spite of the way you were mockin' me
Actin' like I was part of your property
Rememberin' all the times you fought with me
I'm surprised it got so far
Things aren't the way they were before
You wouldn't even recognize me anymore
Not that you knew me back then, but it all comes back to me in the end
You kept everything inside and even though I tried, it all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time when
I tried so hard and got so far
But in the end, it doesn't even matter
I had to fall to lose it all
But in the end, it doesn't even matter
I've put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
For all this, there's only one thing you should know
I've put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
For all this, there's only one thing you should know
I tried so hard and got so far
But in the end, it doesn't even matter
I had to fall to lose it all
But in the end, it doesn't even matter

If you own Half-Life 2: Episode 1 or 2 separately, then you can still find them under the tools section of your library!

As of November 15th, 2024, In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Half-Life 2, Episode 1 and 2 have been delisted and are now included with Half-Life 2. Half-Life 2 is free to keep until the 18th.

It's honestly too bad episodes one and two don't have their own steam pages anymore. I think the best thing Valve could have done is applied the update to all three games separately instead of combining them all. IDRC that they are all in one bundle now, I think that's the way it should be, so good on Valve for that. I think overall the update really does show the love Valve and the community have for Half-Life 2, but Episodes One and Two have their own legacies to uphold, and mixing them with HL2 doesn't do this. It's like how ID made DOOM I + II and removed DOOM II standalone from Steam. I've seen people complain their achievements are gone but, like... they're all still there, you just need to launch Half-Life 2.

While the first episode to the groundbreaking FPS is rather samey, it offers a short and sweet campaign that's enjoyable from start to finish.

"short" in comparison to the rest, but still enjoyable af!

The game is a continue part of half-life 2. I liked the game idea and the story.

The Good
- Exciting and fast-paced action ride with some of the best Half-Life gameplay to date
- New team dynamic is fun and a welcome change of pace from the traditional lone-wolf gameplay
- Sharp writing, witty dialogue, and some of the best characters in a game
- Top-notch production values from the still-impressive Source engine
- Hollywood-quality voice acting

The Bad
- Incredibly short, featuring only four to six hours of gameplay
- No new multiplayer content

Overall 8/10

Half-Life 2: Episode One — это как тот лучший друг, который всегда готов прийти на помощь, когда у тебя завал на работе, и при этом еще и смешит до слез! Эта игра — настоящий шедевр, который сочетает в себе захватывающий сюжет, умопомрачительную графику и, конечно же, Гордона Фримена, который, как всегда, выглядит так, будто только что вышел из подвала с последней вечеринкой на научной конференции.

Сюжет начинается прямо там, где закончилась Half-Life 2, и ты сразу понимаешь, что это не просто "продолжение". Это как если бы твоя любимая сериальная драма решила сделать спин-офф с еще более интригующими поворотами сюжета и, конечно же, еще большим количеством зомби! Да-да, зомби, потому что кому не нравится разносить их в пух и прах с помощью физики?

Игра радует разнообразием локаций: от мрачных подземелий до ярких улиц, где ты чувствуешь себя не просто героем, а настоящим суперменом с рюкзаком и дробовиком. А еще не могу не отметить, как хорошо работает искусственный интеллект напарницы Аликс. Она не только помогает тебе в бою, но и делает это с такой грацией, что даже кажется, будто она танцует в стиле "вальс с зомби".

Графика на высоте: даже спустя годы после выхода, игра выглядит так, будто она только что вышла из печи. И все эти детали — от капель дождя до взрывов — создают атмосферу, в которую хочется погружаться снова и снова.

А если говорить о юморе, то я не могу удержаться от смеха, когда вижу, как Гордона Фримена сражается с врагами, используя все подряд — от ящиков до взрывных бочек. И, конечно, не забудем про знаменитую фразу "пока, зомби!" когда ты просто мимо проходишь мимо стаи противников, как будто у тебя есть VIP-пропуск на вечеринку.

В общем, Half-Life 2: Episode One — это не просто игра, это настоящая находка для любителей экшена и хорошего юмора. Так что, если у вас еще нет этой игры в коллекции, бегите в магазин, пока не поздно! И помните: как говорил сам Гордона Фримен, "сначала мы расстреляем зомби, а потом будем думать, что делать дальше!"

Tell me why i spent the whole game on normal and not realise it until the last strider battle

yes very cool and 20th anniversary in 5 days very cooler but really short and underrated :c

This game was quite challenging for me (not an expert haha).
The ending seemed a little abrupt (like oh we're done now?) but it was a good extension of HL2.

Even though it’s not as memorable as Half-Life 2 or Episode 2, it’s still a good game. It takes place immediately after the ending of Half-Life 2 and entirely in City 17. My favorite part of it is probably that Alyx is with you the entire time.

Its fun its good and a great game after half life 2
But Half life ep 2 so much better.

An Absolute MUST!!!!
This game has been played so many times by me when growing up this is something of a pinacle of gaming I believe and feel a bit offended when someone does not know what these gaming series are. This is just absolute blast playing. This is about a story of Gorden Freeman and he is on the brink of destruction that he worked for a company called Black Mesa and it is your job to stop the turmoil that is happening around him in a experiment that went wrong facing numerous amount of enemies along the way with the help of your friends Alex Vance and many other along the way. These games were made ahead of their time during the release of it and still surprise me when I do replay them again. This is something of a master piece in it self. This is most definitely replayable. Just for the fact that this has been out for so long I would strongly recommend on a bundle sale that I have seen for these games before.

a bit short but good new mechanics and zombine

Half-Life 2: Episode One is an exciting sequel to the cult story, which masterfully combines dynamic gameplay and a deep storyline. Interaction with Ellie adds new tactical elements to the battle, and the atmosphere of tension and great graphics immerse you in a world where every step can be the last. The game skillfully develops the plot, leaving behind a desire to find out what will happen next. If you like adventures with elements of science fiction, Episode One is a must-play!



Half-Life 2: Episode One — это захватывающее продолжение культовой истории, которое мастерски сочетает динамичный геймплей и глубокую сюжетную линию. Взаимодействие с Элли добавляет новые тактические элементы в бой, а атмосфера напряжения и великолепная графика погружают в мир, где каждый шаг может стать последним. Игра умело развивает сюжет, оставляя после себя желание узнать, что будет дальше. Если вы любите приключения с элементами научной фантастики, Episode One — обязательный к прохождению!

Simply a good game. I feel like Urban Flight is my favorite chapter, and not just because of the hospital fighting sequence. And I like the fact that it's a shorter Half Life game.

its good, the chapters that are located inside of the citadel are not that interesting though. its just half-life 2 with a half-life 1 feeling kind of

It's actually better than i remember, quite an achievement for a typical "nostalgic" game.

Playability / Enjoyability 7/10
Graphics / Sound 7/10
Wokeness / ESG Score 0/10
Story / Writing 7/10
Replayability 3/10

Although this episode is obviously a money making filler, it is still a good mixture of puzzles and action with great voice acting, a companion who is actually helpful and never gets in your way; basically a straight continuation of the base game. It may not add anything new, but is still fun, interesting and absolutely worth playing.

100% - 4.5 hrs

Achievements - 13

Review - 8/10

Difficulty 2/10

Hardest Achievement - The One Free Bullet

Barnie wants me to fuck Alyx, but Gordan is like twice her age, I think. May I fucketh the pusseth?

Shorter and way more focused on narrative than the previous games. Shooting sections feel like cutscenes between the story. However, it is still a good story. It's essentially an epilogue of Half-Life 2 and a prologue of the story to come.

Off to playing episode 2

i recomed highly the game great story but one issue its rlly short

Finally played episodes 1 & 2 after the original 2nd HL. Fun expansions. Great lore.

Despite what people say about Half-Life 2: Episode One, for me, it's almost as good as Half-Life 2 and Episode Two.

(but still, fuck the the elevator battle. flashlight runs out really fast, and takes too long to fully regenerate.)

Solid add on. Doesn't reach the highs or the lows of the main game but it makes a solid add on.

A fantastic followup to HL2, despite it feeling like a DLC. It continues the story immediately following the events of the second game and even introduces a new enemy. Still waiting for part 3 Gabe!

very fun, worth the purchase (I havent finished the game yet)

Talk about Lard Farquaad levels of short. This is pretty much a filler episode in game form but it's still the same talented team who made the main game and the platforming is better so that's something.

Episode 1 Continues where The base game left off, I played through the game on Hard difficulty and will have to admit it was challenging sometimes. Overall a great continuation and doesn't lack in regards of story progression or fun gameplay

I liked it a lot. It continued the cliffhanger that was left at the end of the previous game, and it set a precedent for what was to come. Mechanically, it's practically the same as the previous game, but I don't see that as a negative because Half-Life 2 was a masterpiece.

This game was as chaotic to fully complete, but still fun. Gordon had his own seven hour war to do this all.

Half-Life 2: Episode One – A Seamless Extension of a Legendary Journey

Half-Life 2 has sold over 4 million copies worldwide, and earned over 35 Game of the Year Awards. Episode One is the first in a series of games that reveal the aftermath of Half-Life 2 and launch a journey beyond City 17. Also features two multiplayer games. Half-Life 2 not required.