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
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  1. FireBird
    Jun 3, 2006
    10
    Cost
  2. ChrisD.
    Jun 3, 2006
    10
    I will admit, this game felt shorter than expected, and when I finished it left me wanting more. But hey, isn't that what a good game is supposed to do? The animation anvances in Alyx was incredible and the storyline is greatly advaced in this expansion. I hope Alyx returns in episode 2, the additon of a partner through most of this game was a fantastic descision on the part of Valve.
  3. DanW.
    Jun 3, 2006
    9
    This game is really great but it is very short if you've played any other Half-Life game because if your new to Half-Life games then this game might be a lot longer and worth the price.
  4. MartinL.
    Jun 3, 2006
    3
    Today at half past 2 I purchased this game, an hour and a half later it had finished downlaoding through Steam and I could finaly play it, 3 hours and 45 minutes after that I had finished it... In my opinion Episode One to Half-Life 2 is what Blue Shift was to Half-Life, only shorter. Officially this year's biggest waste of 20 dollars.
  5. David
    Jun 3, 2006
    10
    HL2 was GREAT, i think all players who played the game and are a fan wanted to spend more time with Alyx, and now you can! The graphics, storyline and AI in EP2 are FANTASTIC! I'ts certainly worth the 20$. EP1 leaves you aching for EP2 and HL3 and that's why it doesn't matter if the game only takes 4-6 h to finish it, you had so much fun playing it and wanting to know what HL2 was GREAT, i think all players who played the game and are a fan wanted to spend more time with Alyx, and now you can! The graphics, storyline and AI in EP2 are FANTASTIC! I'ts certainly worth the 20$. EP1 leaves you aching for EP2 and HL3 and that's why it doesn't matter if the game only takes 4-6 h to finish it, you had so much fun playing it and wanting to know what happens next that you can't wait for EP2 to be realeased . Ignore the people who rate this game below 7 or 8. I pitty them because obviously they have no taste and are just trying to make this game look bad. HL2:Episode One is a perfect example of how pc games should be like. It always keeps you in suspense and u never get tired of it. Great job Valve!!!!… Expand
  6. GregoryG.
    Jun 3, 2006
    8
    The main reason for the 2 point drop is the game play. The levels are a bit too long and often I find myself running out of flashlight batteries and being in total darkness, which is extremely annoying. Also, the creators still keep bragging about the physics. I am also constantly finding myself pulling wood planks out of doorways and shooting cars into antlion pits every level! It's The main reason for the 2 point drop is the game play. The levels are a bit too long and often I find myself running out of flashlight batteries and being in total darkness, which is extremely annoying. Also, the creators still keep bragging about the physics. I am also constantly finding myself pulling wood planks out of doorways and shooting cars into antlion pits every level! It's so annoying. There's just something different about this game from the original Half-Life 2. I am only on the fifth level, but I found that the cheesiest part so far was having my gravity gun turn super powerful again. Having my grav gun turn super powerful was somethign that was only good once. Almost like a treat for using the grav gun for the entire game in the originaly hl2. But bringing it back in the expansion, let alone right in the beginning, was cheesy. The grav gun in Doom 3 was cooler, because the space around the gravity beam looked distorted, almost as if it was distorting the fabric of the space is occupied. But this game does have some nice new perks like the ncie ominous sky and the flares (which is also a show-off the the lighting effects). Also, the zombine (mix of combine and zombie) soldiers. All-in-all, it could have been better. Also, I HATE escorting Alyx around. She's dead weight. If the devs had given you a gun earlier on in the game (which is what I would have preferred), Alyx would have been a useless character.… Expand
  7. JMan_1_2
    Jun 3, 2006
    10
    Damn, this was a good game. A bit short though. Lots of trial & error.
  8. JanF.(CZE)
    Jun 3, 2006
    10
    This game is NICE! And when you get all episodes and Half Life 2 so its over 26 hours of play time. I think all Half life is genial idea,and whos saing NO,isnt right player! I think a name-Gordon Freeman and Alyx will be never forgot,dont you think too? :)
  9. AdamS.
    Jun 3, 2006
    10
    The essence of all the good things from HL2!
  10. KieranH.
    Jun 3, 2006
    9
    Half-Life 2: Episode One is undoubtly a thrilling adventure yet again. Great story, and an unexpected survival by Freeman and Alyx. I completed it in exactly 1 hour 27 mins, but despite its short length the game itself is amazing with all new gun and model textures. The crowbar had an especially bright glint to it, very detailed modelling on everything all in all. I give this a 9, I am Half-Life 2: Episode One is undoubtly a thrilling adventure yet again. Great story, and an unexpected survival by Freeman and Alyx. I completed it in exactly 1 hour 27 mins, but despite its short length the game itself is amazing with all new gun and model textures. The crowbar had an especially bright glint to it, very detailed modelling on everything all in all. I give this a 9, I am extremely eager to find out more of what happens.… Expand
  11. ChrisH.
    Jun 3, 2006
    9
    I found the overall gameplay BETTER than half life 2, as you wern't just left to solve a puzzle you stll had to defend from enemy attacks. Great game looking forward to further releases.
  12. MattG.
    Jun 3, 2006
    7
    CONS: Way too much money for such a short experience! Took two to three hours to complete the entire thing! Also, the game seemed to give me a lot more trouble a lot more often then the original HL2 ever did... Crashed a few times for no apparent reason. PROS: The game itself is great as Half-Life has and hopefully always will be. Great story, great gameplay and although it was only two CONS: Way too much money for such a short experience! Took two to three hours to complete the entire thing! Also, the game seemed to give me a lot more trouble a lot more often then the original HL2 ever did... Crashed a few times for no apparent reason. PROS: The game itself is great as Half-Life has and hopefully always will be. Great story, great gameplay and although it was only two hours it was an interesting two hours.… Expand
  13. Alex
    Jun 3, 2006
    10
    Game is really fun to play. In someways I would say it is better that HL2 in the fact that it gets on witht the game instantly and has action throughout it for about 5 hours. It is seriously fun to play and has little challenges throughout to make the player think and not feel like a robot. People complaining about price are stupid, £15 for 5 hours (What can you really buy with Game is really fun to play. In someways I would say it is better that HL2 in the fact that it gets on witht the game instantly and has action throughout it for about 5 hours. It is seriously fun to play and has little challenges throughout to make the player think and not feel like a robot. People complaining about price are stupid, £15 for 5 hours (What can you really buy with £15), Im happy atleast we didnt have to wait like 7 years! Also about how it took like 3 years to make this episode, well it didnt because they have also been working on EP2 at the same time so that the episodes come out very soon after each other. I say great game I just want some more!… Expand
  14. NicolasR.
    Jun 3, 2006
    10
    Brilliant game- don't worry about its length. It's definitly short but sweet!
  15. TomP.
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    Don't forget - it's better to have 4 hours of perfect gameplay-expirience, than playing a 12 hour boring standard-shooters.
  16. SlowJustice
    Jun 2, 2006
    5
    Game is just to short for the $$ for it. I have been a half-life fan since the day the first one was released. I would rather have waited and got the full game as to do in in chapters and be done with it in a day. I have told everyone I know how great hl is because you get a lot of game time for your money.. but this time I will have to say that as good as the game is, its not worth the Game is just to short for the $$ for it. I have been a half-life fan since the day the first one was released. I would rather have waited and got the full game as to do in in chapters and be done with it in a day. I have told everyone I know how great hl is because you get a lot of game time for your money.. but this time I will have to say that as good as the game is, its not worth the money spent on it.… Expand
  17. Hawke
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    I usually would give a "Perfect" game a 9, but I could not do that this time around. Considering that this is really just a whole new Half-Life game (not an expansion) based on the same engine (SOURCE) as Half-Life 2, and while still mainting a certain level of quality in it's in-game content, I chose to give it the credit a "non-sequel-non-expansion-pack type of expansion" game I usually would give a "Perfect" game a 9, but I could not do that this time around. Considering that this is really just a whole new Half-Life game (not an expansion) based on the same engine (SOURCE) as Half-Life 2, and while still mainting a certain level of quality in it's in-game content, I chose to give it the credit a "non-sequel-non-expansion-pack type of expansion" game deserves. Episode One plays so well into the Half-Life universe (more specifically Half-Life 2), that one would wonder why Half-Life 2 was not named "Half-Life 2: Part One" and the Episodes named "Part Two". Episode One really shows off the dynamics of the Combine and I found myself quite impressed at just how important the Citadel was to C17's existence... It wasn't just electricity that that thing was supplying to C17. Gameplay wise, Episode One feels so much more "Real" than the first Half-Life 2, simply because everything finally comes together in the story/gameplay aspect, while adding a little something of its own. It's far more dynamic than it's predecessor. AI is more dynamic and coincides whats going on at every moment in the game. It really adds a whole new level of quality to Half-Life 2. Technically speaking the game is hopped up on steroids compared to the first Half-Life 2. Everything runs far smoother than ever before especially if your Hardware supports some of the newer features like HDR, which realy gives Half-Life 2 the final touch that seems to have been in mind from the very beginning, but lacking in "Half-Life 2". All in all I would consider the game engine finally "Finished", but you know there will be more additions to come. You'll just have to play it to learn more about the story, but needless to say, the game leaves you a similar feeling that Half-Life 2 did, only more understand and in a bit shorter amount of time. Imagine compacting "Half-Life 2" into a third/half the amount of time without changing a thing. It kindof feels like that, defying the laws of physics.… Expand
  18. AustinK.
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    Extremely entertaining and very fun to play. Although a little to short for my taste, I could have bought a $50 game that still wouldn't have amounted to what I experienced during play. A very good game indeed and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lets just hope episode 2 has a few more hours of play. Not that I would mind either way.
  19. BellinoP.
    Jun 2, 2006
    0
    Way to little content for Way too much Money. Don't fall for this rip off like I did.
  20. T.B.
    Jun 2, 2006
    7
    I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to Half Life 2, but for me it had one major disappointment - perhaps by its very episodic nature it lacked some of the scope that made Half Life 2 so spectacular. It didn't have any of the amazing open vistas and strong sense of journey that characterized Half Life 2, instead repeating the more claustrophic feeling of some of the former game's I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to Half Life 2, but for me it had one major disappointment - perhaps by its very episodic nature it lacked some of the scope that made Half Life 2 so spectacular. It didn't have any of the amazing open vistas and strong sense of journey that characterized Half Life 2, instead repeating the more claustrophic feeling of some of the former game's latter sections. Having Alyx with you nearly the entire time completely changes the feeling of the game. Not necessarily in a bad way, but Gordon has always been, first and foremost, a loner. While the Half Life franchise has always had some of the best character interaction of any FPS, that sense of mostly being alone, and in control of what you are doing, has always been pervasive. Not so in Episode One, where you seem to spend most of your time following Alyx's directions like a faithful puppy dog. Although all that is perhaps worth it just to hear her ask if there is room for two in your hazard suit! The puzzles are mostly interesting and inventive, if usually fairly obvious. But always fun. On the positive side, the visuals are impressive. The story is fascinating. And it's a lot of fun to play. The gentle humor of Half Life 2 is also well and truly evident. Definitely worth the money, and looking forward to Episode 2.… Expand
  21. ChrisK.
    Jun 2, 2006
    7
    Fun and a nice continuation of Halflife 2 but for the price tag its rather disapointingly short.
  22. TuomoL.
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    I can say that this game has the most interesting and therefore the best story ever, which almost by itself is a reason to give this game a 10. If this game didn't have a story like this, the score would be about 8. The game is quite short, but I find it worth all the money. It's great to have a more interactive and a lively companion fighting alongside with you. I actually I can say that this game has the most interesting and therefore the best story ever, which almost by itself is a reason to give this game a 10. If this game didn't have a story like this, the score would be about 8. The game is quite short, but I find it worth all the money. It's great to have a more interactive and a lively companion fighting alongside with you. I actually didn't feel like that Alyx was just a clumsy bot in my way. It's been a while from the last time the "wow-factor" of a game has been this high as it was in this game. In fact, the last time it was with HL2 original :D.… Expand
  23. MikeL.
    Jun 2, 2006
    9
    Great game good pace didn
  24. KevinM.
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    Simply amazing i cant wait for the next episode!
  25. KileH.
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    This was great, a little short but valve gave us exactly what they said they would, YAY VALVE. heh, it was awesome...
  26. Michael
    Jun 2, 2006
    6
    Hi. Not as good as HL2 :( Some really nice scences but too short and sometimes a bit boring. cya
  27. MarkS.
    Jun 2, 2006
    9
    There are those that are critical of this game because it's so short. The average price for a new release PC game in Nova Scotia is $60. A typical FPS has around 10 - 12 Hours of game play. Therefore this "Episode" is more than on par with the norm. I wish that the quality of other games was as good as Half-Life 2 Episode 1. No there is nothing really new here. So what? This has all There are those that are critical of this game because it's so short. The average price for a new release PC game in Nova Scotia is $60. A typical FPS has around 10 - 12 Hours of game play. Therefore this "Episode" is more than on par with the norm. I wish that the quality of other games was as good as Half-Life 2 Episode 1. No there is nothing really new here. So what? This has all the same feeling of the game that inspired it, plus some added graphical polish, and a partner that actually assists you, instead of getting in the way. I'm enjoying this game as much as I did Half Life and Half Life 2. However, I still hate, hate, hate that I have to run Steam to play the game. The time it takes from first click to playing the game is as atrocious as ever. At least it's worth it, once you're playing… Expand
  28. MarkJ.
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    Awesome game, great graphics, great physics puzzles.
  29. MatthewR.
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    I'm speechless. Absolutely fantastic.
  30. AlexL.
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    Best Game I Have Ever Played! I can't wait for more of the half life storie to be unfolded!
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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

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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 »