Half-Life 2: Episode One

 PC
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3112 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,622 out of 3112
  2. Mixed: 334 out of 3112
  3. Negative: 156 out of 3112
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. LeonG.
    Jun 9, 2006
    10
    Yes, Yes, Y-E-S. As long as you are mindful of your surroundings the game isnt difficult because Its not a grind through enemies shooter, its a game you figure out. Its all set pieces and set-ups that allow you to be the hero in a truly awesome series of action sequences. Looks awesome, plays great. Best single player fps experience currently happening anywhere!
  2. MahnpritJ.
    Jun 9, 2006
    9
    Great gaming and story continuation. Could be an hour longer by adding more enemies at certtain points. I wish to see more alone time without Alyx during gameplay. I'm not saying the change is nessecary, it would just feel more classic.
  3. RichardR.
    Jun 9, 2006
    10
    Great game, very exciting. I loved the Zombines!
  4. MikE
    Jun 9, 2006
    8
    a very good game. I expected it to be alittle longer. The graphics are excellent!! so is the sound. The gameplay great as well. For $20 its worth it. Can't wait for episode 2
  5. MarkM.
    Jun 9, 2006
    10
    Absolutely worth the wait...it would be nice to have it last a little longer, but if Valve keeps it's word and puts out another episode every 5 or 6 months, I'll live with a shorter game. Don't let us down Valve!
  6. BillN.
    Jun 9, 2006
    10
    Alot of people complain about the price point of this game, but the way I look at it is this. Normal games offer about 20 hrs of play for $80.00. Eposide 1 offers 5 hrs for $20.00. The way i figure it on par with other games for pricing, plus this is just a plain great game.
  7. KevinA.
    Jun 9, 2006
    10
    I Think the game is so awesome, mostly because that the gameplay is so well, and ofcourse that you are together with alyx (most of the time) wich is pretty good, sience she can shoot stuff aswell ^^. Also, i like the fact that one of the first weapons is the upgraded gravity gun.. now THAT is a good weapon. The only.. Absolutely only negative thing i can say about it, is that its too I Think the game is so awesome, mostly because that the gameplay is so well, and ofcourse that you are together with alyx (most of the time) wich is pretty good, sience she can shoot stuff aswell ^^. Also, i like the fact that one of the first weapons is the upgraded gravity gun.. now THAT is a good weapon. The only.. Absolutely only negative thing i can say about it, is that its too short... anywho... Looking forward for Episode 2 ;)… Expand
  8. Ilan
    Jun 8, 2006
    3
    I am sort of disappointed when I played the game. The multiplier of HL2 SUCKED compared to hl1, since the Tau Cannon gun was gone. WTF is with the weapons? Exact same weapons... no change. Why not add a few more. I looked at wikipedia and it showed that they deleted like 15 weapons! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_weapons_in_Half-Life_2 I did feel at parts it was repetitive.I am sort of disappointed when I played the game. The multiplier of HL2 SUCKED compared to hl1, since the Tau Cannon gun was gone. WTF is with the weapons? Exact same weapons... no change. Why not add a few more. I looked at wikipedia and it showed that they deleted like 15 weapons! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_weapons_in_Half-Life_2 I did feel at parts it was repetitive. The game was really too short. I can't really tell any difference from the graphics of HL2 to HL2 episode 1. HL2 and HL1 took me like weeks to finish.... I finished this game in less then a day. They really, REALLY need to add more weapons, and add more variety. Why weren't there any boat/car scenes in HL2 episode 1... Those were like the funest part of HL2.… Expand
  9. JonC.
    Jun 8, 2006
    10
    I love Half-Life 2: Episode One so much! its the best game out there in my book!
  10. MorganR.
    Jun 8, 2006
    10
    Amazing interaction and WOW the story is just getting better and better. Please don't let Alyx die! I think I love her. LOL. It really takes the game to a new level of drama and intensity and is fun the whole way through. I hope episode two isn't too far behind because I just have to know what happens next! It's short, but I've never played sweeter. Thank you Valve!
  11. JonasR.
    Jun 8, 2006
    10
    This is definately a nine or ten, it would have been a clear 10 if it lasted a bit longer, but it's only an episode after all (and the low price reflects that). They've done some nice updates to the engine, but most importantly the story unfolds almost continously through the entire game. No long boring parts at all!
  12. Sucker#1875
    Jun 8, 2006
    6
    Well game play, what there was of it is a 9.5-10
    I believe the price tag is too high as im sure many others do (as ActionTrip says). I am going to try and get friends to pay me $5-10 to get my user/pass, so they can play it w/o being ripped off for $20. It was fun to re-enter the HL2 universe, but i think from now on I will be the renter, not the original purchaser.
  13. ViktorioElHakim
    Jun 8, 2006
    10
    As i started the game,i expected to be the same in animations,terrain and characteristics.But when i saw Alyx,Dog,The Combine soldiers and everything else i was astounded,altho it took me 2h30min+ to play the whole episode wich proves that it's not that big.Everything is much more realistic,wich proves that as half life progresses it starts to imitate
    more and more the attributes of    As i started the game,i expected to be the same in animations,terrain and characteristics.But when i saw Alyx,Dog,The Combine soldiers and everything else i was astounded,altho it took me 2h30min+ to play the whole episode wich proves that it's not that big.Everything is much more realistic,wich proves that as half life progresses it starts to imitate
    more and more the attributes of the real world.One of best effects i ever seen are looked here like the Citadel Core or the Citadel explosion.    … Expand
  14. VassiliosP.
    Jun 8, 2006
    10
    This game is superb !! It is the most entertaining game i have ever played after San Andreas. Of course i've played HL2 before, but this .... Give the 20 bucks and get it folks... You won't be disappointed !!
  15. Andy
    Jun 8, 2006
    10
    Great! Not too short if you pay attention to detail and dont rush through every map.
  16. KongFu
    Jun 8, 2006
    3
    Well, what can I say about it? I can not find the feeling from playing Half-Life 2 when 2 years ago... The Episode is a failure, a trap that sucks up your money... Valve, if you like the way of making game like Episode 1... Make some more....and remember, they should be FREE but not $20.00.
  17. TheG-Man
    Jun 8, 2006
    9
    A fantastic episode with an excellent storyline from start to finish. The graphics and the gameplay are just terrific. The new gameplay (having Alyx come along for the ride) was a real nice touch. The game itself had a real good feeling of anticipation alongside the famous HL puzzles. A mixture of close quarter and more open combat gives the game a better feel of realism, as well as A fantastic episode with an excellent storyline from start to finish. The graphics and the gameplay are just terrific. The new gameplay (having Alyx come along for the ride) was a real nice touch. The game itself had a real good feeling of anticipation alongside the famous HL puzzles. A mixture of close quarter and more open combat gives the game a better feel of realism, as well as solving problems at the same time. The only downside I can think of is the time factor. I felt the storyline could of been pushed a little further and perhaps another chapter or 2 at the most would of been sufficiently welcomed. Other than that, great story, great gameplay and an overall great feel to the game. I look forward to Episode 2.… Expand
  18. TimR.
    Jun 8, 2006
    10
    A stunningly produced and graphically brilliant extension to Half Life 2. The episodic roll out is a frustrating as game play is a little too short, but this is a wonderful game to play and only I only wish the nest episode was here tomorrow.
  19. JamesH.
    Jun 7, 2006
    7
    A decent deal for the price, the game works better as something to entertain the people watching behind your back as you play than you yourself. Excellent visuals, decent plot (for a game at least), and tons of detail everywhere. The game lacks difficulty as the first one did. The puzzles are easy, especially if you played HL2, the enemies are still pretty single minded / scripted, and A decent deal for the price, the game works better as something to entertain the people watching behind your back as you play than you yourself. Excellent visuals, decent plot (for a game at least), and tons of detail everywhere. The game lacks difficulty as the first one did. The puzzles are easy, especially if you played HL2, the enemies are still pretty single minded / scripted, and your given tons of ammo and life, considering you have the juggernaut alyx on your side. The dynamic difficulty from SiN: EP1 has spoiled me I guess. Overall though, the novelty of the game engine has worn off and the lack of consideration for advanced players has costs the game points.… Expand
  20. SamL.
    Jun 7, 2006
    3
    Way...way...way...to short..not what I was hoping for in an expansion pack,
  21. RyanO.
    Jun 7, 2006
    10
    Very very well done. although i see no new scenarios i did get to see the teaser to episode 2 and the forest parts look phenomenal and i can't wait to play against those mini striders!
  22. PieterJ.
    Jun 7, 2006
    1
    [***SPOILER***] Where do all these positive comments come from? Does Valve hire or pay people to rate this game with an average of 9?!? Come on! This can't be serious. Any (even just a little experienced) gamer who actually played this game must be disappointed. All the people I have spoken to in my neighbourhood think alike and somehow all the people here are EP1-addicted/fanatics?[***SPOILER***] Where do all these positive comments come from? Does Valve hire or pay people to rate this game with an average of 9?!? Come on! This can't be serious. Any (even just a little experienced) gamer who actually played this game must be disappointed. All the people I have spoken to in my neighbourhood think alike and somehow all the people here are EP1-addicted/fanatics? Where have you all been in the past few years? When you rate this EP1 with a 10 what were CoD (2), Battlefield (2), F.E.A.R. and HL2 then.....a 25??! Yes the graphics are great, just as they were in HL2 (ok HDR is added and it does look nice, but it's not that much of a difference). The weapons are ok....and exactly the same as in HL2. The monsters are ok....just as they were in HL2. Well, they did add one whole new monster. Some 'genious' used almost a year to come up with a....ZOMBIE! It's just a fatter and faster version of the standard-zombie from HL2. How refreshing. Did they become smarter? No...not at all. They just come rushing towards you. It feels like my duty to inform potential buyers. PLEASE go and play the game at a store or at an friends place. It surely ain't worth the $20,-. Even at 'difficult' you will probably be able to end this game in about 2-3 hours. Do you pay for an superb new concept with fantastic eyecandy, great gameplay and AI? No....you pay $20,- for 3 hours 'more of the same'. Please Valve: Stop just making money....start making great games/expansions again.… Expand
  23. PatrickB.
    Jun 7, 2006
    10
    This was more than I expected. I real joy to play. Challenging and beautifully created. The subterrainian levels with the flickering lights blew me away.
  24. SteveoThePro
    Jun 7, 2006
    9
    Yo! This game is just as good, if not better than Half Life 2. Number 1, the game is *way* harder. Getting the gravity gun so soon was a terrific hook for me; the early, scarier portions of the game are not nearly as overdone as Doom 3 and the overall game was far more fun. It's not as short as everyone says it is, but it's definitely not a full game. I'd rather play 1/3 of Yo! This game is just as good, if not better than Half Life 2. Number 1, the game is *way* harder. Getting the gravity gun so soon was a terrific hook for me; the early, scarier portions of the game are not nearly as overdone as Doom 3 and the overall game was far more fun. It's not as short as everyone says it is, but it's definitely not a full game. I'd rather play 1/3 of a fun game now than wait forever for 1 great game. In other words, I'm getting my twenty bucks worth!… Expand
  25. RichardL.
    Jun 7, 2006
    6
    Sorry Valve, just don't see what I got for my money? It's over before it even gets started. I hope your not planning on going up to epsidode 10 cos you can count me out. Short lived and nothing new. I paid for a story basically, and not a very orginal one at that.
  26. Tomasz
    Jun 7, 2006
    10
    Owned ^^
  27. GregW.
    Jun 7, 2006
    9
    Not much is the way of weapons just like half-life 2, It has good gameplay and also the citidal levels were very fun. I like to use the doors that you go into the ball tube with and use them as sheilds so you don't have to dodge them.
  28. Darwel
    Jun 7, 2006
    10
    Nejlep
  29. NigelN.
    Jun 7, 2006
    10
    The best FPS experience i've ever had. Better than hl1 and hl2 combined.
  30. FlipvanRijn
    Jun 7, 2006
    8
    Very nice game. The story is well tuned and you keep playing. Although the levels in the dark were less cool, but it didn't bother. The game had a very nice gameplay and lots of clues to solved. Characters and graphics were nice too.
Page:

Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best PC Game of 2006
1
#1 Most Discussed PC Game of 2006
82
#82 Most Shared PC Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 61 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 61
  3. Negative: 0 out of 61
  1. Eurogamer
    90
    Just like the original Half-Life 2, Episode One keeps the player entertained almost the entire time through perfect pacing and by being inventive, surprising and getting the basics absolutely right. It's a wonderful advert for the excitement that true episodic content can generate when approached the right way.
    Read full review
  2. GameSpot
    87
    Episode One is a memorable romp through the Half-Life universe, with gameplay that's even more satisfying than that of "Half-Life 2." The only downside is that, due to its episodic nature, it's over far too soon.
    Read full review
  3. IGN
    85
    A brief, stylistically claustrophobic experience whose polish and personality manage to keep things moving.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »