Episode One starts exactly where Half Life 2 ended. Freeman escapes from the final boom together with Anyx, continued by a couple of hours chase in order to get out from City17, in danger to explode. If the story of part second has let you down, the present expansion is not too bright either. Freeman is still mute, 0 cut scenes, 0 story exposition.

It is somewhat compensated by Alyx's comments, who is next to you through the game. Plus, there are some funny lines that occasionally made me chuckle. Alyx is a very fine sidekick. He does not grates you, he doesn't get lost, he doesn't annoy, he is a real help and he makes the way to the end of the game more enjoyable than if you were all by yourself.

Game comes with a commentary mode that should sound familiar to those who know Lost Coast and have ''set loose" several comments of the producers in different locations. As for the making of the level, the initial design, how has Alyx been conceived, the puzzles, the special effects, are utterly cool and entertaining.

As to the game play, with Episode one, we experience a more rational play style than in Half Life2.The game is full of highly intuitive, fun and rewarding puzzles. Not very difficult, but it makes you think and be inspired with the gravity gun. From this point of view, it is above Hl2. Basically, there are very little areas in the game where you are only walking and shooting, most of the time you have to solve a puzzle. Or, we have rooms where you are marching into complete darkness and you know how long the flashlight's battery lasts.

We also have battles with striders or with gun ships placed very cool in different areas of the level. Not often have I had the chance to get into a boss from a FPS so well made, well thought out and fun to defeat as the one in Episode One.

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