With Half Life being my
favorite game franchise of all time (besides the King’s Quest series that is),
it’s hard not to really like every piece of action that Valve squeezes out every
once in a blue moon. With gamers just aching for any kind of information they
can possibly get their hands on, the waits between each installment seems
dreadfully long.
Valve’s Steam has revolutionized
online game distribution and although it initially took a lot of flak, it
currently leads other distributions by such a large margin it basically has a
monopoly in it.
If you haven’t visited the Half Life
world since Half Life 2, then Valve’s Episode Pack is pure gold. With the
inclusion of both the 1st and 2nd episode, as well as the
free online death match, the $20 price tag is a steal.
For those unfamiliar with Episode 1
and 2, these “episodes” are short extensions of an average of 6-8 hours of
gameplay, and widen the story and universe since the original Half Life 2.
The first episode concentrates on
Alex and Gordon’s mission to basically escape from the citadel as its reactor is
overloading. The gameplay is a perfect mix of puzzles and perfectly-paced
action. Alex is smart, witty, and thankfully isn’t in your way like most AI. She
also actually can help you. She fights, is a good shot, and might even
save your neck once or twice.
The graphics have been improved with
dynamic range (as seen in Valve’s tech demo “Lost Coast”) as well as expanded
facial animation. A couple of new enemies, some really cool scripted sequences,
and a final epic fight ultimately brings this story to a cliffhanging close, and
leads us into Episode 2.
The second installment is hands down
some of the coolest puzzle sequences I’ve ever played. Valve has mastered the
art of pacing with its perfectly honed talent of action and story that keeps the
player craving more.
This time around Gordon treks
through a huge distance spanning across many unique environments from
underground antlion caverns to wide-open combine-infested forests. Your mission
is to bring some vitally important information to the resistance headquarters
with the help of Vortigaunts fighting along side of
you during key moments.
The
biggest additions to this episode are the greatly expanded environments, a new
weapon, and the improved animation and effects that Valve keeps pumping into
their flexible Source engine. Episode 2 trades the slightly less explosive
ending of Episode 1 for a much more dramatic and heart-wrenching finale for 2.
Again, I
stand to say that for the money, almost any brainchild of Valve is probably
going to be top-notch entertainment for the money. As long as they keep pumping
out AAA stories with unforgettable cinematic sequences and characters, they will
remain on the top of my gaming list. For the price, Valve’s Episode pack is
unbeatable.
|
Review Scoring Details for Half-Life 2 Episode Pack |
Gameplay
9.8
A
tightly-knit script brought together with unforgettable characters and
surprising sequences and environments
Graphics:
8.5
Source is
starting to show its age, but with new facial and HDR advancements the 30’s seem
like the new 20’s.
Sound: 9.0
Awesome
music and above average sound effects
Difficulty: Easy/Hard
From easy to hard options are fairly accurate. The game fluctuates between easy
to play and quite difficult situations to work through.
Concept:
10
A
continuation of one of the best franchises in history? Yes please.
Multiplayer 9.0
The
deathmatch is even more addicting than the single player. It never gets old, and
with the constant flow of original fan content, it has no end in sight.
Overall:
9.5
Best $20
deal you can get. Go buy it right now if you don’t already own it.
