EXACTLY the same as HL2?

[Glo-Boy]

Okay - does anyone here else feel that they've been charged 20 dollars for nothing? Yes, I'm a huge half life 2 fan. One of the most amazing games of all time, but seriously, I feel we were just charged 20 dollars for exactly the same thing as half life 2, only I (and probably many others of you) beat it in an hour and a half.

Come on, Gordon! See if you can figure out the physics trap! Okay, now run back for 10 minutes and get the object then run back and put it in it's spot so you can get to the next area. Repeat.

Oh, and the dialogue sucked.

So, HL2 forever... but seriously, episode one makes me really miss that 20 dollars. In my opinion, the episodic content is a waste and they should get to work on HL3.

Flame if you feel the need but I'd appreciate some sensical responses.

 

[RezDude]

Half-Life 2 probably made more of and impact but I think Episode 1 did alot of things better than Half-Life 2. Alyx AI was really good, and I enjoyed her fighting along side with you, and I thought the dialog was great. Best in any of the half-life games so far. I just don't wanna wait 5-6 months for the next game...

 

[Roland Deschain]

The game mechanics were very simillar, I agree totally. But as Episodic content is simply an expension, I did not expect anything else. Expensions usually just add on an existing game and they do not change it in any radical way.

However, as expension goes, I think that Episode 1 did some really good things. It changed the lone worf theme of Half Life, introduced some nice graphical goodies, furthered the plot line, introduced commentary (which I really cool) and overall entertained me with Half Life type gameplay. I was severly dissapoined that there were no new weapons and that only one new fightable monster.

If you were expecting Half Life 3, well sorry to be the one to tell you, but you'll have to wait.

See no flaming.

 

[Asknoone]

Oh, and the dialogue sucked..

Sorry, but that's the most hilarious thing I've heard all day.

And no, I completely disagree. Episode 1 is probably the best shooter I've ever played.

 

[Cpl_Facehugger]

Okay - does anyone here else feel that they've been charged 20 dollars for nothing? Yes, I'm a huge half life 2 fan. One of the most amazing games of all time, but seriously, I feel we were just charged 20 dollars for exactly the same thing as half life 2, only I (and probably many others of you) beat it in an hour and a half.

It took me but three hours to beat it the first time... but I don't feel ripped off at all. I feel that learning the story and playing the very fun gameplay more then makes up for the short length and somewhat sameness of elements of E1 and HL2.

Come on, Gordon! See if you can figure out the physics trap! Okay, now run back for 10 minutes and get the object then run back and put it in it's spot so you can get to the next area. Repeat.

Physics traps were one of the more interesting things about HL2, not least, in my opinion. I much prefer the physics traps in E1 too. Mainly because they tend to involve some aspect of danger, like 'cover that antlion hole before they crawl up and kill you' as opposed to 'you need to jump your airboat over this wall. Unfortunately the ramp is in the lower position. Figure out how to get it up using physics.'

Oh, and the dialogue sucked.

I disagree. I felt the dialog was spot on. See, human beings aren't perfect, and this is reflected in our speech. Further, Alyx isn't some Ivy-League graduate. Expecting her to say everything perfectly is a mistake, in my opinion.

Indeed, it was her rather cheesy Zombine joke that helped endear her character to me because it made her seem more genuine and real to me. She actually slipped up.

That, along with her facial expressions and her very emotive voice acting (major kudos to whoever her voice actor was) are a major reason why I liked her interactions with me in E1 as opposed to HL2, where I felt she was a mindless meat-robot, except for the end in the Citadel where she finally got some human characteristics.

Flame if you feel the need but I'd appreciate some sensical responses.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. And at least you didn't post drivel about Gabe's sexual orientation or Valve's competency or the other crap that is often posted in threads of this nature.

 

[Asknoone]

The dialogue was fantastic. It was human, and no other game out there can quite match it. How many games can you cite a characer as being embarrassed? Not many, let me tell you.

 

[Black Op]

You probably looked at EP1 the wrong way Glo-Boy. EP1 is not a normal expansion pack like Op4, but rather a 'storyline continuation' of HL2 along with being a testbed for certain features like character interaction. I'm not sure how you think the dialogue sucked, you must refer to the lesser amount of exposition scenes which is a natural consequence of a Half-Game(TM).

Overall it's obvious the primary focus of VALVe in EP1 was to create a uber-NPC appreciated by most people for not being just a robotic fighting machine. In that regard, EP1 was a great success. Keep in mind that while EP1 may have taken about a year to develop, developing a new full-sized game with an entirely new engine took about 5 years for VALVe. The wait will surely be very long for another Full-Game(TM) knowing how VALVe is quite content with spending as much time as possible polishing their products. The people that realize this like I will be able to appreciate better the value of episodic games. Within a few years, the art of Half-Game(TM) creation will be fine-tuned enough to make it somewhat common.

 

[DevgruSeal]

I'm waiting to see what Samon has to say. This should be good...

Edit: He has spoken. The thread was raided before I posted

 

[Asknoone]

I couldn't be bothered to write a drawn out explanation as to why I disagree.

 

[Lemonking]

its a good game...but its to damn short D:

 

[Asknoone]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If you think it's too short, you are a moron.

 

[Loke]

In my opinion, the episodic content is a waste and they should get to work on HL3.

Are you sure you want to wait, say, 6 years until Half-Life 3? Ugh, I get a headache just thinking about it.

 

[TheDan]

If you look at how long it took them to develop Half-Life 2, and then the amount of time it took them to develop Episode One; you're getting a fair amount of gameplay for the amount of total hours put into development. When you say the game only took three hours to complete it is going to sound very short. But considering exactly how much effort has gone into the game - really, they've made, remade, and remade again probably all sections of the game. Listen to the commentary! They mention on several occasions past design choices which were scapped because playtesting arose issues with that particular design.

They've put a hell of a lot of effort into getting each part of Episode One just perfect, that it's an awesome way to spent those three hours. Some of you people need to be more appreciative.

 

[Mugato]

There was more excitement and variety in episode one then there was in the whole of Fear, even though fear lasted alot longer. Say 6-7+ hours.

For me, anyway.

Although i will always have a soft spot for the last part of that game.

 

[jondy]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If you think it's too short, you are a moron.

its a good game...but its to damn short D:

Well, that slotted into place nicely.

 

[kupocake]

Okay - does anyone here else feel that they've been charged 20 dollars for nothing?

No.

I beat it in an hour and a half.

No you didn't

Oh, and the dialogue sucked.

No it didn't.

 

[PvtRyan]

One and a half hours? Did you ****ing bunnyhop through it or something? No wonder you think it sucks, tard.

 

[^Ben]

U so cool! Just find some things to complain about and you will be the envy of your friends.

 

[Asknoone]

One and a half hours? Did you ****ing bunnyhop through it or something? No wonder you think it sucks, tard.

Who knew you could be so awesome!?

 

[secret friend]

Okay - does anyone here else feel that they've been charged 20 dollars for nothing?

Yes. It feels like nothing happened in Episode One. In fact, nothing new happened in Episode One. It ended exactly where Half Life 2 ended. For all I know, this **** should have been included with HL2, or not at all.

Yes, I'm a huge half life 2 fan. One of the most amazing games of all time, but seriously, I feel we were just charged 20 dollars for exactly the same thing as half life 2, only I (and probably many others of you) beat it in an hour and a half.

I spent about 8 hours beating it, but that's because I like to explore every inch and refight most battles until I get them right.

So, HL2 forever... but seriously, episode one makes me really miss that 20 dollars. In my opinion, the episodic content is a waste and they should get to work on HL3.

Flame if you feel the need but I'd appreciate some sensical responses.

Episodes are a good way for Valve to make money off of suckers like us.

I won't be buying Episode Two. If I can't download a working copy, I'll just watch a speed demo.

 

[Asknoone]

Ahh, Henry welcome back :thumbs:
Say, did you cut your testicles off in the end? Just curious.

 

[^Ben]

You don't like the game but you want to steal it?

Or are you just trying to justify yourself to yourself? If so go get a paper round and save up for six months and you will have scraped the money together for EP2.

 

[Mugato]

How can you say the dialogue sucked? How can you watch the scenes between dog and alyx and say it sucks? it's insane, Valve really went above and beyond with digital acting.

 

[secret friend]

it's not the dialogue sucked, it is that Dr. Kleiner, by his own admission, is not a very good public speaker. I personally found his abandon City 17/go have sex monologue hilarious

Still, not worth the $20.

I should have bought a large pizza with that money, or a large bucket of chicken from KFC.

 

[Asknoone]

Exactly the point - you get these episodes every 6 month yet you ain't able spare £12? When you could of course buy a bucket of KFC...

I'd like to know if you cut your testicles off.

 

[secret friend]

I didn't cut them off, but they are itchy as hell!!!!!!!!

 

[WeeViL]

I love the dialogue, they give you little insights into the relationships between the characters. The little things throughout HL2/EP1 make them more believable, the way alyx touches her neckless when she talks about her father, when she touches the screen or when she puts her hands on the door as you descend.

This extra layer in my opinion adds so much and I certainly don't feel cheated out of £12

 

[kupocake]

Paying £12 for something that lasts a little while and you can go back to and play as much as you want, or Paying £12 for something that you eat once and can't play with again unless you're seriously f***ed in the head.... ?

 

[Hypnosos]

Episode 1 is probably the best shooter I've ever played.

Agree. Just the wait on Episode 2 is going to drive me nuts. Seriously. I'm already in this hype feeling. The fact that it is at least 5-6 months to go is driving me nuts.

 

[kupocake]

Episode 1 is probably the best shooter I've ever played.

As much as I love it, I still love Half-Life 2 more. I know that the two aren't comparable because of length / price, but if I took most Ep1 sized chunks and played them off against HL2, HL2 would still come out top. I think I have a higher "pro:con" ratio for Ep1, there being more about it that disappointed me. But... well. It's probably still the 3rd best FPS I've ever played , better than HL1 even and certainly better than any expansion that ever came for the original game.

 

[secret friend]

this is why I feel Episode One was the same as Half Life 2:

it didn't add any new level to the game.

The first two levels were more of the same from the end of Half Life 2 (going back inside the Citadel, what a bore), and the remaining 3 levels more Follow Freeman.

The only original thing here was the level lowlife, but it sucked as hell.

 

[Cpl_Facehugger]

it didn't add any new level to the game.

By levels, you of course mean terrain sets, right?

The first two levels were more of the same from the end of Half Life 2 (going back inside the Citadel, what a bore),

The Citadel had undergone some pretty significant changes however, and we saw areas of it that we hadn't seen before, like the reactor.

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

Are you sure you want to wait, say, 6 years until Half-Life 3? Ugh, I get a headache just thinking about it.

Considering Half-Life's current stage of development, I don't think it would have taken 6 years for HL3. Maybe 4 absolute maximum, but probably closer to 3.

 

[^Ben]

this is why I feel Episode One was the same as Half Life 2:

it didn't add any new level to the game.

The first two levels were more of the same from the end of Half Life 2 (going back inside the Citadel, what a bore), and the remaining 3 levels more Follow Freeman.

The only original thing here was the level lowlife, but it sucked as hell.

Keep trying to justify the theft of EP2 for yourself.

 

[Asknoone]

As much as I love it, I still love Half-Life 2 more. I know that the two aren't comparable because of length / price, but if I took most Ep1 sized chunks and played them off against HL2, HL2 would still come out top. I think I have a higher "pro:con" ratio for Ep1, there being more about it that disappointed me. But... well. It's probably still the 3rd best FPS I've ever played , better than HL1 even and certainly better than any expansion that ever came for the original game.

I found it a far greater experience than HL2. It's not exactly miles ahead, not at all - but putting them together, I think Episode 1 is definately the better game. Except, it's a little Breen-less.

 

[Captain M4d]

Episode 1 gave me a better experience than HL2, and HL2 was hawtt.

 

[kupocake]

The first two levels were more of the same from the end of Half Life 2 (going back inside the Citadel, what a bore), and the remaining 3 levels more Follow Freeman.

The game is about escaping City 17, and it would have suffered for being about anything else once it explained how you got out of a City that was going to be chaotic at the end of C17. The level types you mention are really the only possible combinations in a post retaliation C17. If you are so reductive that you measure the game's merits on what kind of levels it has, you're missing out on a multitude of other things it is doing completely differently to the last game. Alyx most obviously. Then more subtle things like the order weapons are given to you, forcing you to play a hell of a lot differently. I'll agree it's not majorly different, but anything too different would have messed with the formula for what was a tense game about escape. The next episode looks about as far from "more of the same" as possible anyway.

 

[DevgruSeal]

it's not the dialogue sucked, it is that Dr. Kleiner, by his own admission, is not a very good public speaker. I personally found his abandon City 17/go have sex monologue hilarious

You just shot yourself in the foot, dude.

That's the WHOLE point! He's not a good public speaker. He's a scientist. He even said it himself! "I'm not a very good public speaker..But I'll do my best..."

 

[secret friend]

The next episode looks about as far from "more of the same" as possible anyway.

Yup, the next level apparently is going to take place out in the woods. Whether that's good or bad I am not sure. It's not like the Source engine is anywhere as good as the Far Cry engine when it comes to rendering vegetation, but I am sure it can still do a decent job, just look at cs_militia.

You just shot yourself in the foot, dude.

That's the WHOLE point! He's not a good public speaker. He's a scientist. He even said it himself! "I'm not a very good public speaker..But I'll do my best..."

The point I make is that the dialogue is deliberately bad, so there is no point in bashing it.

 

[Asknoone]

Yup, the next level apparently is going to take place out in the woods. Whether that's good or bad I am not sure. It's not like the Source engine is anywhere as good as the Far Cry engine when it comes to rendering vegetation, but I am sure it can still do a decent job, just look at cs_militia.

The point I make is that the dialogue is deliberately bad, so there is no point in bashing it.

You've hardly seen the Source engine attempt it.
How can you say it's bad? Kleiner is an eccentric guy, it's not bad on purpose, it's just how he speaks.