   Half Life II: First impressions [spoilers]
  If you have been living under a rock for the last 6 months, you probably weren't aware that Valve had released the first episode of the Half Life 2 sequel. The game costs $20 dollars, and does not require HL2 to run.This game is short. It takes about 3.5 hours on normal to play through and beat. The majority of the game is spent with Alyx, and as bad as everybody hates escort missions, she can hold her own, and you will learn to rely on her to provide cover fire.The game plays and feels more like Doom 3, than anything else. Lots of flashlight action and sparse ammunition certainly do the trick. This is about 45 minutes worth of gameplay. All of the physics puzzles are right in the beggining in the citidale. The uber gravity gun makes another appearance, but the effect is temporary, and wears off at the end of the citidale.There are no veichles this time around, and that can be a blessing or a curse. Personaly, I hated them. So, take that as you will. No new weapons either, and they actualy took out the mines and pheropods. Who used those anyways?Final verdict, 3/5. The graphics were good, the levels were good, but I wanted some new weapons, and it needed to be a lot longer. I don't feel ripped off, it was definitely worth the $20, but it still leaves me longing for more. Also needed more G-Man.   
Quote:Also needed more G-Man.Ahmen brother.Quote: It takes about 3.5 hours on normal to play through and beat.It is a bit on the short side but maybe somebody will get around to making a good mod and add a few more hours onto it :).   ;Quote: It takes about 3.5 hours on normal to play through and beat.It is a bit on the short side but maybe somebody will get around to making a good mod and add a few more hours onto it :).Somebody = ValveGood mod = Episode 2[wink]   ;  May be some spoilers, so read with caution.Playing through the first minutes made me happy to be back in the Half-Life 2 world, but soon there were things that needed attending to.  You are not plunged into action as I thought you would be (thinking a dash from the Citadel on foot following from Half-Life 2 was in order) but a brief cinematic explaining (sort of) what happened and then Dog digs you out of a pile of debris.  I enjoyed most all of the puzzles, especially in the Citadel, though some challenge you to think a bit, which gives you a sense of accomplishment upon completing the task, so it was good.I have seen that a lot of people have beaten the game in 2.5 - 4 hours, but I just don't know how.  For one thing, I took my time and looked around the environments (which are amazing) and explored a lot, which ate up a lot of time.  I guess I played a full 5 hours, but it only made me want more.  I knew the episodes would pick up from where the last left off, but the ending left many questions.  I wish it had been longer, and quite honestly was surprised when the credits started to roll, but I still believe it was worth every bit of my money.  It was both fun and challenging.Overall the game of course just looks amazing and I thought the HDR added a lot to it.I won't spoil too much here, but if you played HL2 and loved it definitely buy this.  I don't know that it's such a great game if you haven't played HL2 to completion, because you're kind of dumped into the environment with a lot of the story already told.  This is not to deter people from getting it that haven't played HL2, it just seems that you'd have a lot of questions.I'm going to play through it again with the commentary system turned on.Oh, and if you want to see screenshots go here, but be warned, there are some shots near the end of the game that may spoil it for you, just letting you know.  I love this game [smile].Edit:  If a lot of the shots near the end look similar, well, they are, I just thought the effects were so pretty![Edited by - caffeineaddict on June 2, 2006 5:23:09 PM];  And I ain't gonna get the HDR...running it in Cedega and all. If its only the HDR that makes it good, then I'll hate it. Ah well I'm glad people are positive about the gameplay, since in all honesty thats all I care about [smile] Story, gameplay, and shooting some zombie ass!   ;  HDR is certainly not all that makes it good, but it's a nice addition IMO.   ;  Hm. odd. This thread did not appear immediately after posting it. I don't think any way. Is it just my connection, or are all threads subject to mod aproval now?   ;  I liked it. It was short, but I assume there are more episodes to come. Does anyone know if those'll also cost $20 or if the first $20 covers it all?   ;  I just played through it a second time with commentary on and it was great.  This being a development board, a lot of people would probably enjoy that.  Gives some insight into their ways of thinking during development and how they got around certain challenges/obstacles.  Since they introduced the commentary system in Lost Coast, hopefully it'll be around for all future titles.As far as more episodes, I believe there are going to be 3 in this set.  I believe Episode 2 is scheduled to be released by the end of the year.If all of the episodes are going to be this short, i'd like to see the price come down a bit, but really, that won't stop me from buying the next one since they left me hanging at the end of this one, you just have to know what happens.;WARNING POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD, IF YOU HAVEN'T COMPLETED EP1 THEN PROBABLY SHOULDN'T READQuote:Original post by caffeineaddictI just played through it a second time with commentary on and it was great.  This being a development board, a lot of people would probably enjoy that.  Gives some insight into their ways of thinking during development and how they got around certain challenges/obstacles.  Since they introduced the commentary system in Lost Coast, hopefully it'll be around for all future titles.As far as more episodes, I believe there are going to be 3 in this set.  I believe Episode 2 is scheduled to be released by the end of the year.If all of the episodes are going to be this short, i'd like to see the price come down a bit, but really, that won't stop me from buying the next one since they left me hanging at the end of this one, you just have to know what happens.Looking at the trailer for EP2 I think Alyx is now dead, this kind of goes along with what valve said a few days ago.linkyQuote:From the linkHalf-Life boss Gabe Newell has revealed that "primary characters" will die over the trilogy of new Half-Life 2 episodes. "People need to feel that characters are genuinely at risk," he says. "Otherwise they lose investment and the significance of their actions is diminished."Although it seems a bit odd to devote EP1 to her and then just kill her at the end of it.  Maybe the vortigaunts are chanting her back to life?  Anybody want to take a guess here?Well can't wait for EP2 either :)