Episode One is the continuation of, in my opinion, the best first
person shooter of all time. The gameplay engine remains simply the most
enjoyable to just run around and shoot things in, and Valve's level
design is impeccable. Everything here is created with the intention of
making a good video game combined with a strong narrative experience. I
love the way Half-Life presents its story, it's just a much more
immersive world than almost anything else.
I miss exploring the
wide open countryside around City 17, and the game is a bit short even
for only being 1/3 of a game, so it might not have been as good if it
weren't for one thing - Alyx, thanks to a combination of great voice
acting and the best facial animation I've ever seen in a game, is one
of the most endearing and likable game characters ever. I really care
what happens to her, and it wouldn't be the same if she wasn't around,
watching my back. This is one of the times where graphics actually
matter in pushing a game over the edge. I can't wait to battle Hunters
out in the wilderness in Episode Two.
