Episode 1 Feedback and suggestions!

[bigburpco]

Took me about 6 hours on Hard. I'm going back to listen to commentary for sure.

First time 5.5 hours and second time... 4 hours. Hehe.

You know, Zombines are awesome. Extremely fun to fight against.

FTW.

 

[Zephos]

I'm still annoyed that the "Exit 17" title never shows up. As for the commentary, I still think it should be left to common sense whether to hear them on the first run or not. Much like how DVD commentaries operate as a matter of fact.

Oh, so it's a bug! I finished the game and thought there was only 4 chapters...until looking at new game.

 

[M1CH43L]

Just beat the game on hard. And wow, what a great game!
I ran the video settings at the default, where it amped everything to the max, including HDR, and it was amazing. However one place I experienced a small performance issue was with the fire where you had to cut the gas line off. The performance hit was huge, and for that part, I just ran through, ignoring the lag, also I had a funky thing happen with HDR + Flashligh + Water + Objects, where fps took a small hit as well. Overall, the game took me longer than expected, after hearing it would take 3 hours, it took me 6. I really loved the level design of the last strider fight, and the visuals truly were amazing. The animation was awesome, so awesome, that a couple days ago in my physics class, (which just finished today :GO CLASS of 06'!!!), I demonstrated to a friend the realistic wall sit alyx does after the stalker encounter, haha, I love my life. Anyway, game was great, few performance tweaks could be put in, but I was really impressed at how well HDR performed for the most part in episode 1 compared to lost coast. One final note, once I got to the lambda sign at the end of the credits in ep2, the game crashed, and I guess a trailer played after that, which I had to find manually in my folder, since the game quit. I hope I did't miss a G-man scene at the end. All in all, truly, the best game I've ever played. (I loved the first level).

 

[Laff]

You know, Zombines are awesome. Extremely fun to fight against.

Agreed. More Zombine variations would be nice...like an elite zombine or CP zombines. Elite Zombines would be great as tougher enemies since the Elites have excellent strength and whatnot compared to the average soldier. I'm thinking like a boss enemy.

 

[bigburpco]

CP Zombines, CP Fast Zombines, CP Posion Zombines, Soldier Zombines, Soldier Fast Zombines, Soldier Poison Zombines, Guard Zombines, Guard Fast Zombines, Guard Poison Zombines, Elite Zombines, Elite Fast Zombines, Elite Poison Zombines... whoopee.

 

[MuToiD_MaN]

Zombichthyosaur!

 

[Sparta]

I'd like Valve to try and beef up the A.I in the next episode to be honest. I miss the awesome firefights in the original Half-Life amongst the crates and conveyor belts.

 

[ríomhaire]

Main critisism: ALYX ISN'T FUNNY!
At one point I shouted "Shut the hell up Alyx" at my screen.
Brilliant: Those great moments that really bring you in such as when Eli says they you've gotten away from the citadel me and Alyx just looked at eachother, her face pretty much a mirror of mine, reminds me of Eli teasing Alyx in BME when he winks at you. We shared a similar moment when Izzy said the supression field was down.

Edit:

We got answers to -
What happens to Breen.

Fill me in then. I most certainly didn't. And don't say the Combine in the pod was Breen or I'll bitchslap you.

 

[Asknoone]

Alyx isn't meant to be funny. Her jokes are pretty lame on purpose - she's only human.

Oh and the Combine in the pod was Breen.

 

[ríomhaire]

Alyx isn't meant to be funny. Her jokes are pretty lame on purpose - she's only human.

Oh and the Combine in the pod was Breen.

That means your avitar is out of date!

 

[Remus]

That means your avitar is out of date!

LOLs good one .

 

[ríomhaire]

Basicaly Breen shows Gordon and Alyx that video to say
"It's me BITCHES! Now prepare to be MIND RAPED!"

 

[MuToiD_MaN]

Main critisism: ALYX ISN'T FUNNY!
At one point I shouted "Shut the hell up Alyx" at my screen.

Did the same thing.

Basicaly Breen shows Gordon and Alyx that video to say
"It's me BITCHES! Now prepare to be MIND RAPED!"

So you're saying Breen is more of a TV than the G-Man is?

 

[djtheblade]

Hello everyone. This will be my first proper post and i'm sorry to say it won't be a particularly positive one. I think a lot of people on here have been overwhelmed by the ecstasy of playing a new Half Life game (And believe me, I love the rush of playing more Half Life) but haven't really evaluated the game from a harder critical angle. I think my main medium for comparison would be Opposing Force; Both episode 1 and Opposing force were the first official expansions of their respective original games. However, Opposing force was a much better game. Why? Because it felt like a new game.
In a nutshell, Episode 1 to me felt like a money scheme and I feel cheated, especially after hearing that more episodes are to follow. In fact if the next installments are as long as Episoded 1 then they could have easily condensed them in to one single expansion. Episode 1 was far too short, and with no new features (Apart from one type of new enemy, of which your character has virtually no interaction with) I was left gutted when the game was suddenly over.

I don't want to moan, but come on chaps, one of the things that made the original series so unique was it's rich and extensive story and game-play time. I feel that the companies behind Episode 1 have sadly 'sold out' as it were, i'm highly dissapointed. I was gagging for new weapons and new enemies, and I recieved neither. I wouldn't have minded, but I spent £17.99 on this game in the shops which is seriously too much considering the amount I got in return.

 

[hasan]

Well, I think that first impression after finishing the game is one of the most important things in FPS games.

(Side note: I say "first impression" is important in FPS, because, well, I also play FIFA, which is a sports game, and also PES (another soccer game) and the "first impression" is probably the least important thing in these types of games. FIFA gives a very good first impression but after a while you feel that the game has nothing more to offer. where as PES gives a terrible first impression, but after you play it for a while you feel that it's much closer to reality than FIFA.

However, with FPS, I usually play the game only once or twice, and I already do expect it to repeat itself when I replay it (duh) ).

 

[Asknoone]

I think my main medium for comparison would be Opposing Force; Both episode 1 and Opposing force were the first official expansions of their respective original games. However, Opposing force was a much better game. Why? Because it felt like a new game.

I don't want to moan, but come on chaps, one of the things that made the original series so unique was it's rich and extensive story and game-play time. I feel that the companies behind Episode 1 have sadly 'sold out' as it were, i'm highly dissapointed. I was gagging for new weapons and new enemies, and I recieved neither. I wouldn't have minded, but I spent £17.99 on this game in the shops which is seriously too much considering the amount I got in return.

Well there's your problem. Episode 1 is not your run of the mill expansion like Opposing Force was. It's not about new weapons or enemies. There was no need for them - that's not what people want anymore. Gaming has moved on. Episode 1 elevated the gameplay and story aspects. That is what it set out to do. We knew from the beginning where it was set and therefore you can't complain about it being in City 17.

Opposing force was fun for me, but it's new enemies and weapons were a joke. They sucked hard. In Episode 1, I wasn't expecting new weapons and enemies. That wouldn't make the game for me. I'm sufficient with HL2's arsenal and it's new enemies/weapons were practical, rather just some old shooter thrown in.

I think Episode 1 is a fantastic game for it's gameplay and story and it takes shooters to a new playing field.

 

[xirow]

It's not about new weapons or enemies. There was no need for them - that's not what people want anymore.

Well I guess it still is what a lot of people want. Not me though.

 

[Asknoone]

Obviously, some do want them. I can't see why though.

 

[xirow]

Obviously, some do want them. I can't see why though.

Probably because they don’t understand the purpose of Episodes. And because they don’t understand that Half-Life games are about the story and gameplay rather than about weapons.

 

[Asknoone]

I blame Gearbox. D:

 

[djtheblade]

Probably because they don’t understand the purpose of Episodes.

To make money it would appear. Episode 1 was a fun experience overall, and I must say I completely disagree with your comments regarding Opposing Force's poor weaponary and enemies. But seriously, 18 quid for nothing more than story development? I don't feel it is justified at all, especially considering I completed the game in what felt like 4 minutes. After a long and painful evaluation, I think the debut price for this game should have been £10 ($22 U.S perhaps?)

It's not about new weapons or enemies. There was no need for them - that's not what people want anymore. Gaming has moved on. Episode 1 elevated the gameplay and story aspects.

That is all it did though; progress the storyline. I've been speaking to a lot of people and many of them have told me they were hoping for so much more, not just more story. Sierra/Valve and co. have excelled in massively in the past, Half Life was revolutionary, as was Opposing Force, (maybe not Blue shift as such) but I feel cheated to a certain extent with episode 1., I really do. The lack of a a generic boss fight at the end of Half life 2 left me a bit gutted, but to learn that the final obstacle in episode 1 was nothing more than a bland Strider, is the icing on the cake.

 

[Narcolepsy]

to learn that the final obstacle in episode 1 was nothing more than a bland Strider, is the icing on the cake.

I think as with any innovative leap into the unknown, some people just don't quite get it. This is the first episode in a series of three. There's not going to be some kind of huge final boss 1/3 through a game - imagine playing episodes 1-3 together and you'll realize how anti-climatic that would be. Storywise, a big final boss here would just not make sense - it would kill the illusion and make it plainly obvious that this is all just a game. And when it comes down to it, the cliche of a "final boss" probably needs to be sent to its grave anyway. They have a tendancy to pretty much abandon all fun gameplay mechanics of the game in favor of some bizzare pattern-memorization, puzzle-solving crap.

With that said, the strider at the end of episode one was extremely satisfying, for me at least, as a boss-type experience. The rules of the game didn't change - they were simply underscored with a sense of urgency, pyrotechnics, and climactic music.

But seriously, 18 quid for nothing more than story development?

Everyone's been over this already, but...
1.) You got the most realistic sidekick ever created
2.) Shiny new graphics technology (HDR added a LOT to the look, feel, and even the gameplay at times)
3.) New gameplay mechanics (was there anything like the waiting for the elevator scene in the original HL2?)
And most importantly, new weapons and enemies aside, you got a truly fun gameplay experience. New weapons and enemies are simply a cheap way to add more fun - they exploit the "Ooooo, shiny new toy!" mentality in us all. Instead, Valve made the core game itself fun.

And of course, this is all my opinion... but a critically supported and very... eh... right opinion.

EDIT: Let me qualify the shiny new toy statement. I know that new weapons and enemies can add a lot to gameplay if used correctly. At the same time, there's a certain "bloat" that comes from having too much. When you have too many weapons, each individual weapon is made less valuable. I saw this in Halo 2, for example - I thought the first one, though having fewer weapons, had a much more satisfying arsenal because each gun had a clear purpose. Same general principle for enemies.

And let me also thank you for conveying your opinions in a thoughtful and civilized manner. I may disagree with you, but I respect your opinions.

 

[xirow]

I think as with any innovative leap into the unknown, some people just don't quite get it. This is the first episode in a series of three. There's not going to be some kind of huge final boss 1/3 through a game - imagine playing episodes 1-3 together and you'll realize how anti-climatic that would be. Storywise, a big final boss here would just not make sense - it would kill the illusion and make it plainly obvious that this is all just a game. And when it comes down to it, the cliche of a "final boss" probably needs to be sent to its grave anyway. They have a tendancy to pretty much abandon all fun gameplay mechanics of the game in favor of some bizzare pattern-memorization, puzzle-solving crap.

There is nothing wrong with a huge boss fight 1/3 through a game. Half-Life did it with Tentacle. And Blast Pit was a very cool part of the game and Tentacle was one of the best enemies in the game.

I still want some kind of memorable bossbattle in one of the coming Half-Life games. (but I don't want a final boss)

 

[Narcolepsy]

There is nothing wrong with a huge boss fight 1/3 through a game. Half-Life did it with Tentacle. And Blast Pit was a very cool part of the game and Tentacle was one of the best enemies in the game.

I still want some kind of memorable bossbattle in one of the coming Half-Life games. (but I don't want a final boss)

Well, there you go... I hated the tentacle. To me, it was a perfect example of how the core gameplay was modified into annoying trial-and-error stuff. Avoiding getting killed nailed by the tentacle was just obnoxious.

 

[MorganFreeman911]

Im sure they're gunna have an endboss esque thing in EP3.

 

[Max35]

There is nothing wrong with a huge boss fight 1/3 through a game. Half-Life did it with Tentacle. And Blast Pit was a very cool part of the game and Tentacle was one of the best enemies in the game.

I still want some kind of memorable bossbattle in one of the coming Half-Life games. (but I don't want a final boss)

Well, with a Garg you could take it out with several well-placed grenades and other explosives. The Strider at the end was atleast that difficult. And to me, it was a memorable bossbattle. Maybe not as climatic as the Tentacle, but still greatness-concentrated. The only thing that could have made the battle better is if it was more based on a puzzle of sorts.

In Ep2, I would like such puzzle-oriented, mini-boss battle. It just doesn't make sense to fight an all-new boss while fleeing City 17. You're fighting the remaining army still in the City. The Combine haven't recovered from the blow Gordon dealt them. In Ep2, it would be more fitting to fight something the Combine have set after Gordon.

 

[The Kaiser]

Well, first I'd have to say that Episode 1 is one of the best games I've played, and I really did enjoy having Alyx, as she added another level to the game, something that's been... missing from the Half-Life series, in a way. The notion of not just being alone, but tackling problems together... yeah, that was something I enjoyed immensely, so many thanks for that.

Anyway, I have just a few suggestions, which I think would perhaps allow players to immerse themselves in the HL series a good bit more for some, and other suggestions just how I'd like to see the game go.

1)Have the "Use" button allow Gordon to interact with the characters a bit more. When Gordon and Alyx get off the Stalker train, and Alyx is looking horrid after the encounter, maybe you could have allowed the player to comfort Alyx more, perhaps give her support, a shoulder to lean on and such. I think for the two, it would have been very sweet to do so, and would like I said, make the players feel like they're in the game even more, as they interact with NPCs more, like a real person. Also, other things, like say from enemy fire cover an NPC, or knock them out of harm's way. Such as at the end, when the screen's going white, perhaps have Gordon be able to get in front of Alyx and such, or when Kleiner (Whenever it may be) might get attacked, have Gordon push him to the side out of the path of Combine fire. Stuff like that... could make it a tad more realistic, more than already is.

2)Have the Half-Life series end on a happy note! I am rather a sap for happy endings, and nothing would make me more devoted to this series than having Gordon free himself completely of the G-Man (maybe even in a big fight, you with your crowbar, and G-Man with his briefcase), and stop him from perhaps trying to use Alyx to somehow coax you back into service (Perhaps in the way that he threatens to "end her existance on this world", something interferes for a minute, allowing you to push him away from her, before you fight him). Eh, a fan may dream though, yes?

 

[djtheblade]

Narco > I know this is the first game in series of three, and i'm saying it was so short that it is unforgivable to release two more (especially if they are the same length). I'll end up paying something in the region of £54 for 3 discs that probably amount to the same game-play time as what i'd expect from a stand alone Half Life story. I know you think you're right, but in this case I think i'm right. They could compress all the episodes in to one disc or at least make them much longer so that I feel i'm getting my money's worth. I can't afford to be so fan boy when i'm pushed for money at the moment, it's time to get realistically critical. Whether or not you like new guns, enemies, bosses etc, the bottom line is that Half Life episode 1 is way too short for the money spent and thus it seriously comes across as a sell-out money scam.

As for the cliché bosses, they've remained a trait in video games since time began. In ditching a boss fight Half Life would neither be trying something fresh or new as i've played many an FPS with no bosses, so Half Life wouldn't really be breaking boundaries in that region. They do often involve annoying menial tasks and puzzle solving etc. But what's the difference between hiding behind grates and shooting a Strider whilst navigating the station, or shooting that chap's transport at the end of Half Life 2, and the boss fight's from the original Half Life series? No difference, apart from the former are much easier and a lot less gratifying/spectacular. Maybe i'm just too good at the game but I really didn't feel challenged at all, I think i'd much rather switch on Gas, Fuel and air to burn out that huge claw creature than tediously block up Ant nests with cars.

 

[MorganFreeman911]

2)Have the Half-Life series end on a happy note! I am rather a sap for happy endings, and nothing would make me more devoted to this series than having Gordon free himself completely of the G-Man (maybe even in a big fight, you with your crowbar, and G-Man with his briefcase), and stop him from perhaps trying to use Alyx to somehow coax you back into service (Perhaps in the way that he threatens to "end her existance on this world", something interferes for a minute, allowing you to push him away from her, before you fight him). Eh, a fan may dream though, yes?

Thats a funny idea

 

[Narcolepsy]

Narco > I know this is the first game in series of three, and i'm saying it was so short that it is unforgivable to release two more (especially if they are the same length). I'll end up paying something in the region of £54 for 3 discs that probably amount to the same game-play time as what i'd expect from a stand alone Half Life story. I know you think you're right, but in this case I think i'm right. They could compress all the episodes in to one disc or at least make them much longer so that I feel i'm getting my money's worth. I can't afford to be so fan boy when i'm pushed for money at the moment, it's time to get realistically critical. Whether or not you like new guns, enemies, bosses etc, the bottom line is that Half Life episode 1 is way too short for the money spent and thus it seriously comes across as a sell-out money scam.

Hmmm... I'm an American, and if I buy all three episodes at the sale price, I'll end up spending about 18 x 3 = 54 dollars for all three. If I spend 5 hours on each episode (as I did on the first), that's 15 hours of gameplay for $54. This is pretty much par for the course for all modern FPSs I've played.

54 pounds though... if I'm not mistaken on my exchange rates, that IS a rip-off, and I can see how you'd be cheated.

 

[djtheblade]

It's just England and our absurd pricing that's the problem I think :bonce:

 

[Ddan]

I paid a little over £10 for it over Steam. I feel that for £10 I got enough gameplay.

I did check how much it was at retail. I saw it in some places over here for £19.99, and laughed to myself, feeling pity for anyone that would buy it for that price.

I purchased Half-Life 2 over Steam as well. What use are discs, they just take up space

Buy yourself a decent photo printer and print off some disc art from the community, if you're that bothered about discs and cases.

 

[BarnyMiler]

Wait command and more

Am I missing something or is there no way to tell Alyx where to go or to "wait here" in EP1? I know you could command your squad in HL2, but Alyx didn't seem to respond to the command in EP1.

So if it doesn't exist, I'd like to see a "wait here" command added so you can tell Alyx or other squad mates to wait for you while you go investigate a room. Navigating in close quarters with people following you so closely, especially in a fire fight, can be very annoying. The other characters tend to block the exits and follow you so closely that it's difficult to enter a small area and exit again without running over them. I worked through it in HL2, but now in Ep. 1, with Alyx on my 6 all day, I find myself yelling "move!" or "just wait here" at the screen.

And I know that at one point, I wanted to yell to Alyx "stay down!" while in the hospital. So maybe a combination of like 4 commands - in addition to the squad send / retrieve commands would be good. Perhaps "stay down", "wait here", "cover me" or "help" would be good.

 

[Black Op]

Alyx has a good habit of hardly ever getting in your way in EP1. Since Alyx is quite capable of taking out enemies with less annoyance, she doesn't require the babysitting the other Resistance members need. So it wasn't necessary to give commands to her. As a matter of fact, I hardly issued commands back in HL2 anyway.

 

[BarnyMiler]

Good point. I too rarely used the squad command pre-Ep1 - even though those guys were sometimes hard to wrangle up.

I guess the inspiration for this idea happened while playing in the hospital level in Ep1. I'd walk into a small room to look for health and supplies and she would follow me in. I'd try to walk out and she would be blocking the path. Just a small annoyance really.

If you think about a 'real world' scenario though - you'd probably want to tell her to wait outside and keep watch while you look around.

Or better yet, it would be nice if you could command her to go look for supplies and bring them to you!!

 

[Vagrant]

Biggest frigging waste of £20. Ever.

It was all the worst bits of Half-Life 2's gameplay with some nicer graphics.
Alyx was an average partner (very overhyped), not annoying or dislikable or anything, but I didn't find her particularly likeable or useful either.
It was shorter than I actually expected too!

Everything but the HDR sucked in this game. They didn't even add anything new or interesting - weapons and enemies were, like, exactly the same. (The Zombine were just a modification of a zombie and weren't really a new enemy, more like a zombie with a kamikaze move)

Argh! I want my £20 back.

[/rant]

 

[99.vikram]

Biggest frigging waste of £20. Ever.

It was all the worst bits of Half-Life 2's gameplay with some nicer graphics.
Alyx was an average partner (very overhyped), not annoying or dislikable or anything, but I didn't find her particularly likeable or useful either.
It was shorter than I actually expected too!

Everything but the HDR sucked in this game. They didn't even add anything new or interesting - weapons and enemies were, like, exactly the same. (The Zombine were just a modification of a zombie and weren't really a new enemy, more like a zombie with a kamikaze move)

Argh! I want my £20 back.

[/rant]

And that's why idiots never read reviews before buying...

There were two reviews out within hours of release :hmph:

 

[Black Op]

Biggest frigging waste of £20. Ever.

No one has the authority to say that until they have purchased everything with a £20 pricetag.

It was all the worst bits of Half-Life 2's gameplay with some nicer graphics. Alyx was an average partner (very overhyped), not annoying or dislikable or anything, but I didn't find her particularly likeable or useful either.
It was shorter than I actually expected too!

Since I thought the "worst" part of HL2 gameplay were long stretches without memorable moments, I can't be sure as to what you're referring to. Since EP1 has more or less all the HL2 elements, one would think you hated HL2 as well. As for Alyx, I find it a shame since I thought Alyx was the most useful NPC in the HL series so far. And you had plenty of warning on how short EP1 would be.

Everything but the HDR sucked in this game. They didn't even add anything new or interesting - weapons and enemies were, like, exactly the same. (The Zombine were just a modification of a zombie and weren't really a new enemy, more like a zombie with a kamikaze move)

What did you expect from a simple storyline continuation? Loads of new weapons and enemies? EP1's setting precluded the appearence of new weapons and enemies for the most part. I also found the Zombines to be a good and unique addition to the Zombie squad.

 

[99.vikram]

He wanted a Quake 2 in the Half-life universe

 

[Glenn the Great]

Good point. I too rarely used the squad command pre-Ep1 - even though those guys were sometimes hard to wrangle up.

My experience back in HL2 was that after a while, I found myself completely ignoring my team of rebels. They may as well have not even been there. I felt like I could handle the danger myself, and it didn't matter if the rebels died on me. My interaction with the rebels was limited to checking the display on the right to see if I still had a medic alive when I starting running low on hit points.