My Half-Life 2 Episode 1 Review! Plus Vote!

[Asuka]

SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS


Story

Pros:

1. The continuation of the Half-Life story, universe, characters and gman.
2. I love how they answer just enough to keep us satisfied but open up so much more for Episode 2 and 3.
3. Alyx and the other characters reappearing was great, but more so Alyx/D0G.

GFX:

Pros:

1. Source is looking good, very good.
2. The new effects added by Valve are insane. Especially the core.
3. Shader improvements (Bumpmaps etc)
4. Texture improvements (Alyx/D0G detail etc)
5. HDR is holy shit implemented very well.
6. Hero Lighting (Really adds to Alyx)

Neutral:

1. Only Alyx and D0G had major texture/shader/model improvements. Most of the other things still had improvements but no where near Alyx/D0G.

Cons:

1. Shadow bug still there (i hope Valve fixes this, i know it must be a hard bug to crack if they haven't fixed it yet, so all we can do is wish them luck)
2. Whats with the branches of some tress. (They are like that in HL2/CSS) They look horrible.

Gameplay:

Pros:

1. The puzzles where great as always
2. Nice return of all the weapons
3. Seemed like the AI was better and harder
4. Alyx being with you the whole game BIG PLUS!

Length:

Neutral:

1. Took me 4/half hours to beat. Everyone knew this was the length so nothing to complain about. I will always want more tho. Cant wait for Episode 2!!! Plus the commentary is going to give me another 4 or so hours or play time.

Ending:

Pros:

1. WOW. All i can say is WOW!

Neutral:

1. It didn't look as destructive as F.E.A.R's ending but it had its own tone and feel to it. I wouldn't say ether was better or worse just they had a different target.

Music:

Pros:

1. Amazing music

Neutral:

1. More more more more more more more!!!!!!!!

Commentary

Ill post what i think when i listen to all the tracks.

Description:

Valve has done it again! All i can feel now is how much MORE they will do, how much further they will take it. I mean after seeing the Episode 2 teaser i seriously went crazy.
At the start of Episode 1 i seriously shed a tear, couldn't believe i was playing a Half-Life game again. It reminded me of the wait for Half-Life 2 and i experienced more Half-Life with a great community once again! Valve you have done it again!
The improvements to the graphics, gameplay, and general Half-Life universe were vast and plenty. Right now I'm thinking of the new story and GFX updates to come. The new games Valve is planning. Everything Valve!!! I hope valve makes a lot in return so we keep seeing these updates and this greatness from them. Major support to you Valve and thank you for such great games!

97% for my Final score and i cant wait for Episode 2!

I know I'm missing some key points but ya if i remember ill edit.

The vote has multiple voting options.

Pick 2.

If you agree with my score/Review. Yes or No
If your buying Half-Life 2 Episode 2. Yes or No, Maybe

Screenshot Pack:

http://files.filefront.com/FILE_VOTE/;5104038;5;/fileinfo.html

---

My SiN Episode 1 review (incase you missed it)

http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=105725

My other screenshot packs:

SiN: http://files.filefront.com/SiN_Emergence_Screenshots/;5055776;;/fileinfo.html
F.E.A.R: http://files.filefront.com/FEAR_Screenshots_1/;4301567;;/fileinfo.html
Day of Defeat Source: http://files.filefront.com/DODSource_Screenshot_pack_1/;4748692;;/fileinfo.html
Half-Life 2 Lost Coast (2 packs): #1 http://files.filefront.com/Lost_Coast_Screenshots_1/;4301073;;/fileinfo.html #2 http://files.filefront.com/Lost_Coast_Screenshots_2/;4301462;;/fileinfo.html
cs_militia Source: http://files.filefront.com/cs_militia_Screenshots_1/;4634672;;/fileinfo.html

(Check the description for details on the screenshot packs)

 

[Lemonking]

nice review

 

[Ikerous]

Holy shit I'm jealous T_T
The game looks beautiful on your computer

Agreed with the review

Is that what the core is supposed to look like?
I should show you how mine looked XD!

 

[Cyan Leader]

Let me guess, a ball of white lines?

 

[Asuka]

Holy shit I'm jealous T_T
The game looks beautiful on your computer

Agreed with the review

Is that what the core is supposed to look like?
I should show you how mine looked XD!

Id like to see a Screenshot

 

[Cyan Leader]

As you could have guessed from my post, the core didn't even showed up on my PC (g4). It was a ball of white lines.

Meh, gotta wait until my main gaming PC gets back from repairs.

 

[Kouler]

Raziel, you speak the truth. I totally agree with you
Except that the tree branches didnt bother me that much, as i was paying more attention to the action and the citadel (greatest background scene ever!).

 

[bigburpco]

Raziel, can you put up an image of your core on Imageshack? I've only finished up to the core part, so I want to avoid spoilers and not download your screenshot pack.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Asuka]

Here you are

 

[Deleted member 56031]

Nice!! :thumbs:

 

[UltraProAnti]

hey anyone notice the lasers come out of the stalkers' heads now instead of their feet? it's an improvement

one thing that's always freaked me out about the citadel was the long drops. i'm not good with heights, even virtual heights

 

[99.vikram]

Short, to-the-point, and just the right amount of fanboyism ...great review!!

 

[3ssence]

Raziel - How does the performance compare with lost coast, like for like graphical options wise ?

Would like to get a feel for how it runs.

 

[JNightshade]

It looks better than lost coast, and plays WAY better. By the look of it, I'm running it at the same graphical levels as Raziel (1600x1200, everything maxed, 4xAA and 8xAF) and I get a consistent 30-50 fps. In Lost Coast, I get maybe 20-30. It's astonishing how well-optimized it is

 

[BeaverMon]

Ohh most defentally I will buy EP2. I agree with this review.
I wasn't able to see all the HDR goodness that EP1 provided, but it has still some awesome graphics.
The swirling clouds around the citadel was something that shocked the hell out of me when I saw it. That my video card can have that beauity.

 

[Asknoone]

Nice review, Raz

 

[Asuka]

Raziel - How does the performance compare with lost coast, like for like graphical options wise ?

Would like to get a feel for how it runs.

It runs crazy. Very high fps no lag. I am running it on a good comp tho.

Nice review, Raz

thx

 

[3ssence]

It runs crazy. Very high fps no lag. I am running it on a good comp tho.

Awesome !!!



Should run quite nicely by the sounds of it. Cheers for the info

 

[kupocake]

It looks better than lost coast, and plays WAY better. By the look of it, I'm running it at the same graphical levels as Raziel (1600x1200, everything maxed, 4xAA and 8xAF) and I get a consistent 30-50 fps. In Lost Coast, I get maybe 20-30. It's astonishing how well-optimized it is

Remember though that Lost Coast wasn't just HDR. The textures and normal maps were more detailed than in Aftermath.

Must say though, I was thrilled to be playing with HDR on my Radeon 9800Pro. I thought this thing should be past it, but it held its own while playing at 1280x1024 with high details and top reflections, No AA / AF, but I can live without them and the big performance drop they create (and no I won't reduce res. Everything below 1280x1024 looks minging on an LCD screen.)