Episode 1: my thoughts

[dogboy73]

I'm now up to the part where I'm escorting a load of rebels to a train. Impressions so far? Well I thought it started pretty good but tailed off from there. Couple of okay parts but I think the level design is a bit shoddy in places, especially the part I'm on now which is really poor. I think my other main gripe is that my least favourite part from HL2 was the City 17 bits. The Stalker battles were cool but the rest of it got on my tits a bit (endless streets, corridors & rooms to traverse with a bunch of yo-yo's in tow!) & with Episode 1 I feel like I'm stuck in a giant 'follow freeman/Anticitizen one' level. On the plus side it's harder which is good. But it doesn't feel so much of a combat challenge as it does battling against dodgy maps for e.g. I keep getting stuck in doorways that I want to nip into for a bit of cover. Combine keep springing out from everywhere meaning they are taking me by surprise rather than with intelligent combat skills. I've never thought that HL2's gameplay was as good as it could/should have been. Certainly not as good as the first game. Episode 1 only deepens that belief & all the other things that made HL2 so great are getting a bit tired now. A little dissapointed on the whole. Episode 1 moves the story on but nothing else! Anyone else agree?

 

[Leviticus]

If you play it with the Audio Commentary enabled you'll realize that Valve initially intended for much of it to be very different from what we are used to. Gordon wasn't supposed to even get a weapon other than the Gravity gun until well after the Low Life chapter. Apparently their internal testers just had to have a little pistol, however, despite the fact that Valve had designed the level to utilize only Alyx's firepower. Pretty disappointing in my opinion, as the gameplay would've been so much more interesting.

And, yes, I agree that Half-life 2's Rebel vs. Combine gameplay is probably its weakest. The AI is really not strong enough to make convincing firefights. I started missing the classic lone Gordon gameplay during Follow Freeman, and that feeling extended into the later chapters of Episode 1. Had it not been for how amazingly well Alyx was done Episode 1 would've been ultimately a failure for me.

I'm really, really excited about Episode 2 though. Finally out of City 17 and Valve has stated on several occasions that it will be quite different gameplay wise from Episode 2. Hopefully more true to the Classic Half-life feel.

 

[dogboy73]

I'm really, really excited about Episode 2 though. Finally out of City 17 and Valve has stated on several occasions that it will be quite different gameplay wise from Episode 2. Hopefully more true to the Classic Half-life feel.

Yep. Looking forward to a bit more space! City 17 is far to cramped for me. Definitely looking forward to TF2 more than anything at the moment though. Can't wait to give that another go. I hope they remain faithful to the original in terms of gameplay.

The trailer at the end of Episode 1 was good. Those new enemies (are they synths?) look cool ........ look like they might be a right pain in the arse to deal with as well! A new weapon with their name on it would be nice

I liked the Strider fight at the end of Episode 1. The train sequence was good as well. Quite trippy! Looked good. I suppose it had to end on a cliff hanger but, and I know everyone keeps saying this, I wish it hadn't ended so soon! Yeah, yeah. I know it's episodic but it felt really short & I tried not to rush it (been playing it now & then for the last 3 days).

I still can't help thinking back to the original HL & how much I enjoyed playing through that game. It was amazing. I'm still waiting for a gameplay experience in the HL2 series that captures the essence of what made HL so damn good!

Half Life 2 is great ....... but Half Life it ain't!

 

[99.vikram]

Yep. Looking forward to a bit more space! City 17 is far to cramped for me.

City 17 was definitely less cramped than Black Mesa :|
I found Hl2's gameplay to be better than HL1. It could have been much better, but it blew Half-life's combat out of the water. And HL2 gets a cookie for imaginative locations.

Half Life 2 is great ....... but Half Life it ain't!

I have to disagree, I felt it was a worthy sequel.

 

[bbson john]

City 17 really get me bored. Luckily, it was blown off at the end of EP:1 so I don't expect the street fight will re-appear in Ep:2.

But actually, there is always something new in the City 17. I won't say the level is badly designed.

 

[TheGMan.]

City 17 is gone, so don't get anything wedged up your arse about street fights for the next episode.

 

[Leviticus]

Well, I disagree about Half-life 2 being inferior to Half-life. My complaint about Half-life 2's gameplay is that it doesn't capture the paced, fight-for-your-life feeling to the extent that Half-life did, but yet I can't really fault it for being different. What Half-life 2 does have is the sense that you are a part of something massive and universe altering. The two games are unique from one another.

And as far as City 17 itself goes: it is amazing. It is just the weak squad AI and kind of detached gameplay that hurt the last chapters of Half-life 2 (For me).

 

[TheGMan.]

Yeah, I found the AI quite sad. Especially how a elite combine army can't take down a Antlion (the big ones, forgot the name), but yet, a scientist can kill one. But, I guess that's apart of the storyline.

Alyx seemed to have a great AI, as I stood behind her for half the game.

 

[Dr. Zoidberg]

I hated Half Life (boaring), thought Half Life 2 (And Aftermath) was much better.

 

[bbson john]

Yeah, I found the AI quite sad. Especially how a elite combine army can't take down a Antlion (the big ones, forgot the name), but yet, a scientist can kill one. But, I guess that's apart of the storyline.

No, they cannot take down the small one either, or hardly of course. The stupid soldiers have their brain modified so they cannot think properly like a normal person. That is their mental flexibility is relatively low. They know the tactics against human, but not against biotic. The soldiers, probably, rely too much on the perimeter restrictors on the normal days.

 

[Asknoone]

Couldn't disagree more. Half-life 2 and Episode 1 are probably some of the best games I have ever played, and contain a certain quality that is unmatched by any shooter out there. Both are superior to HL1 in every possible way.

 

[dogboy73]

Couldn't disagree more. Half-life 2 and Episode 1 are probably some of the best games I have ever played, and contain a certain quality that is unmatched by any shooter out there. Both are superior to HL1 in every possible way.

Erm. I don't know. I love HL2 & I did enjoy Episode 1 ....... Just knowhere near as much as HL1. Sure HL2's story is much more interesting, the cast of characters is now well established, The graphics are obviously vastly superior as is the sound & then there's the physics. But inspite of all this it never grabbed me in the same way the original game did.

Maybe it was because the original represented such a leap forward in the FPS genre? I was completely blown away playing HL back in 1998. What did we have before HL? Doom & 1 or 2 other half decent FPS's at most. FPS's were still in there infancy & now they are absolutely everywhere! I think some people still acknowledge HL's supremacy from the original game (some 8 years old now!! how quick has that time past?!). Somehow this is has been automatically carried over to the sequal. The HL series has become a near quasi-religous experience for many it seems. But as a gamer of some 20+ years (I'm 33 next month & have been playing video games since they were invented) I can't help ingnoring the hype, as well as what has come before & be critical of what's on offer now. It's good ..... it's great! But there's room for improvement in the areas I believe key to the genre - Gameplay, level design & AI/Combat. These for me are what drives the best FPS's. I feel that story, whilst still important, is less so than these factors.

 

[Asknoone]

I firmly believe there is plenty of room for improvement in the areas of gameplay, level design and AI/Combat. The Half-life series has managed to tune the former two to an almost perfect degree, but I'm still certain there is room to go up, and it can only go from there. Unlike most shooters, HL2/EP1 offer interesting gameplay scenarios instead of just shooting your way through the game.

Whether its leading a pack of antlions into a prison, or stopping debris from falling onto you as you take an elevator into the depths of the Citadel, or even if its just fighting alongside Alyx who offers simply the best in terms of co-op AI.

 

[Warbie]

Couldn't disagree more. Half-life 2 and Episode 1 are probably some of the best games I have ever played, and contain a certain quality that is unmatched by any shooter out there. Both are superior to HL1 in every possible way.

I couldn't disagree more

Much of what I loved about HL is missing in HL2 (no point me going over it all again). I also thought the sections that involved AI 'helpers' (read: morons) were poor. Having read that ep1 has even more parts like this I haven't tried it yet.

 

[Asknoone]

Actually, there is only one section wherein you have AI companions with you. Its near the end, and it isn't the greatest of segments but its far from terrible. Though, Alyx does stick with you for the whole game, that said however, she is pretty much a revolution in terms of AI. She aids, rather than hinders, never gets in your way once and you find yourself wanting to have her around. It's going to be tough for other developers to raise the bar again, because Alyx is lightyears ahead in terms of intelligence.

But considering you enjoy Halo more than Half-life...well...

 

[Warbie]

But considering you enjoy Halo more than Half-life...well...

Only just more than HL, but streets ahead of HL2. We better leave it here and go our sperate ways

 

[dogboy73]

I thought the combat in Halo was really good ....... I guess it's horses for courses. Different people like different types of gameplay & challenges. HL2 does have some interesting gameplay scenarios but on the whole the combat feels lacking I thought.

 

[Asknoone]

I thought HL2s combat was eons ahead of Halo's, which was just bland, boring and dull. But I suppose it stems from what you look for in a game.

 

[Warbie]

I thought the combat in Halo was really good ....... I guess it's horses for courses. Different people like different types of gameplay & challenges. HL2 does have some interesting gameplay scenarios but on the whole the combat feels lacking I thought.

Agreed. The combat kept me coming back to Halo, but bored me in HL2.

It's nice being able to discuss these games without burning in flames :cheers:

 

[Jack_Karverboy]

I just beat the whole thing last night. In my opinion it was better than HL2. Which makes it number one on my list of best games ever. Really short though, I guess that's the point. Valve is awesome to not make us wait until 2007 to play Half-Life 3. I hope we see a lot of Alyx in Episode 2.

 

[dogboy73]

Agreed. The combat kept me coming back to Halo, but bored me in HL2.

I've played through Halo at least a couple of times. I love the combat in that. It's very satisfying & engaging. I think only being able to carry 2 weapons, 2 types of nades & the shield idea is what make it work. When your shield drops you HAVE to go into cover or your screwed. The enemies work in exactly the same way. Keep the pressure on & they stay in cover. If your in cover with low shields they try to move in to attack. When they're in cover you try to do the same. You feel like you have control over the combat & you feel like your fighting an enemy who has the similar abilities & weaknesses as yourself. Halo's slogan was 'Combat evolved'. I know exactly what they mean! It's stunning. To me the AI in Halo seems much more intelligent ....... or at least akin to good solid & engaging combat. Off course that doesn't go for 'the flood'. But fighting them is a different battle all together! They are relentless & require different tactics to deal with ..... but you do still need to use tactics to deal with them effectively. It's a great contrast & the battles you stumble across between 'the covenent' & 'the flood' are almost as good as the marine, Vortigon battles in the original HL

It's nice being able to discuss these games without burning in flames :cheers:

The flaiming hasn't started yet from anyone which is refreshing. Unusual as well - Often critisising HL2 on a HL2 forum is akin to critisising Jesus at a Christian gathering!! It's that quasi-religeous thing I was talking about earlier!! People often take strong exception to anything said against HL2! I think it's important to be critical of games no matter how big they are. As long as you can get your point across without flaiming (i.e. HL2 is a pile of poo ....... And so say all of me!) then I don't see why it should incite any flaiming in return.

 

[Crowbar-at-hand]

Something unusual happened today in EP1 you could probably say, After alix says "Is Dr. Isaac Kliener really telling everyone to.....get busy", I then pressed the 'E' or "use" button When I did that alix said "You ready?", im WTF . *Applys cotton swabs to ears to clean ear wax* What on earth did the F**k did she say, this game needs a higher rating cause 'm' is not cuting it, It needs an 'A' rating...This game is obviously not for little kiddies.



During the Low life Chapter, In the dark......When you leave her alone she breaters Heavily. Its like she has Asthma or Is a Smoker, but Some times its a A scared or terrified type breathing. Has Anyone but me found this.

 

[Dr. Zoidberg]

No and No.

 

[bbson john]

Something unusual happened today in EP1 you could probably say, After alix says "Is Dr. Isaac Kliener really telling everyone to.....get busy", I then pressed the 'E' or "use" button When I did that alix said "You ready?", im WTF .

That is a nice haphazard."You ready", "Yes", "Hmmm" are normal responses when you "use" Alyx. You are so lucky that you get "you ready" right after she said that sentence. In fact, the whole response is totally a random process.

 

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Its odd that there is not that long of a delay in between the times she says that.

 

[Crowbar-at-hand]

So its Completly random, But also when you use the 'use' key she does other things like say "yes?", "You need something?". In the game files the ones that where token out some are very weird like.."Hey Gordon....Miss Me?".



Why does she Breathe Heavily(terrified like I guess) when you leave her it the Dark alone, & she starts twitching....Idk why.

 

[Dr. Zoidberg]

She is saposed to say after that somthing like "Gotch ya". She was pretending to be a zombie to scare you.

 

[Crowbar-at-hand]

I know that one, if you have the flashlight off.....she makes groaning noises then she says gotch ya, but I remember in the begining of low-life... in that hallway where theres a vent and she says something like "I've heard stories about you in airducts, when Kliener locked himself out....You and would could get in the fastest without using a key." that hallway when she says that, I had the Flashlight off and she'd just tremble, shake, shiver, & twitch, she also Breathe extremely heavily as if she had asthma or as if she was a smoker & when I would leave alone her heavily Breathing sounded like she was very terrified, and scared.........Also with her Heavy breathing she'd whisper things like "Oh my GGo......" you have to be a very good listener.



Her extremely heavy breathing leads me to believe that alyx has some sort of problems like trauma maybe. When she gets very lonely when she's alone in the dark she's scared like a lost child. IMO there's obviously something wrong w/ her probably during her childhood, im not a psychiatrist but She was probably beaten badly when she was young...like a combine CP beating her up.

 

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Damnit I told you to stop posting your stories!

Seriusly I have replayed the game 4 times I think and that has never happend to me nor have I heard of any one else reporting that.

 

[bbson john]

I know that one, if you have the flashlight off.....she makes groaning noises then she says gotch ya, but I remember in the begining of low-life... in that hallway where theres a vent and she says something like "I've heard stories about you in airducts, when Kliener locked himself out....You and would could get in the fastest without using a key." that hallway when she says that, I had the Flashlight off and she'd just tremble, shake, shiver, & twitch, she also Breathe extremely heavily as if she had asthma or as if she was a smoker & when I would leave alone her heavily Breathing sounded like she was very terrified, and scared.........Also with her Heavy breathing she'd whisper things like "Oh my GGo......" you have to be a very good listener.



Her extremely heavy breathing leads me to believe that alyx has some sort of problems like trauma maybe. When she gets very lonely when she's alone in the dark she's scared like a lost child. IMO there's obviously something wrong w/ her probably during her childhood, im not a psychiatrist but She was probably beaten badly when she was young...like a combine CP beating her up.

She is just being frightened and nervous. That's why her breath is so deap. And because your light is off, you have lost your sight. Then your other senses grow more perceptive. So your hear Alyx's breath better.

EDIT: no, my 1000th post goes here, nooo......

 

[Asuka]

Couldn't disagree more. Half-life 2 and Episode 1 are probably some of the best games I have ever played, and contain a certain quality that is unmatched by any shooter out there. Both are superior to HL1 in every possible way.

Agreed.

 

[99.vikram]

Agreed. The combat kept me coming back to Halo, but bored me in HL2.

It's nice being able to discuss these games without burning in flames :cheers:

Must fight...urge to...flame...

 

[Inyssius Grey]

Must fight...urge to...flame...

Agreed.

 

[Leviticus]

Halo had tighter gameplay than Half-life 2 does because it didn't introduce nearly as many innovations. Actually, Halo didn't have any innovations. It was just very smoothly designed experience and didn't repeat mistakes made by innovative games before it.

Half-life 2, on the other hand, moved the genre foward. It took risks and as a result the gameplay cannot be called seamless. However, all things considered, Half-life 2 still manages to be a far more fun and far more engaging game than Halo for most. And why? Half-life 2 combines innovation, style, and an excellent story, and some of the smartest level designers around. It isn't fair to anyone to simply compare Halo and Half-life 2 based soley on combat gameplay. Regardless, F.E.A.R blows Halo and its sequel away as far as straight shoot-em-up action goes.

Valve continues to take risks rather than stagnate on what works. Just look at Portal and Team Fortress 2. For that I have far more respect for Valve than I do companies that just shoot for blockbuster games that everyone has seen before.

 

[Crowbar-at-hand]

Damnit I told you to stop posting your stories!

Seriusly I have replayed the game 4 times I think and that has never happend to me nor have I heard of any one else reporting that.

Dude, I am serious That(heavy breathing) it did happen, no lie, I dont think I would make that up. I'll prove it, Go to GCF Scape....then go to Episode 1 Shared, then go to: Sound/ V.O/ Episode_1/ npc/ alyx after you reach there go to the sound files al_dark_breathing01, al_dark_breathing02 and al_dark_breathing03, listen to them all......I first sighted this during the first parts of the low life Chapter, that dark hall way that forces you to use the flash light after the Zombie horde that part with the turrets with no ammo(they just 'click') anyways during that part of that part of lowlife with the dark hallway DONT PUT ON THE FLASHLIGHT! just keep your distance from alyx for a while (probably 5-10 minutes) then go back to her without turning on the flashlight go close, watch & listen to her.....She is tremble'ing & Twitching, also Listen very carefully to her HEAVY breathing, she sounds terrified she In her heavy Breathing she whispers "Oh My GGooddd........" you can barely her it so listen good, P.S. THE CAPTIONS WONT TELL YOU....so you have to listen.




Long post eh?

 

[bbson john]

I believe you. That's why Alyx has a creditable AI.
I am sure you will do the same if I put you into a dark and zombie-rich tunnel.

p.s. I am too lazy to wait. Can you get me your save?

 

[Crowbar-at-hand]

I got it, but How do I upload it to you?

 

[bbson john]

www.filefront.com <-Register there, it's free, then upload the savegame files and give us the link

 

[JoeCLawrence]

Halo's insistence on combat driving the single player is exactly what I don't like about it. The game has no sense of place or atmostphere. When you look at rooms or enviroments, they don't seem like they have any other purpose than to give you a place to fight. I can never imagine anything happening in any given room on Halo except Master Chief pwning things. The combat in Halo is great, but when thats all there is, then it is nothing more than a game. Half-Life 2, Episode 1, and the original Half-Life are experiences.

And Warbie you should play Episode 1 for two reasons: 1. You'll miss out on story bits. Sure you can read them, but that's like having somebody tell you what happened on your favorite TV show, you're gonna miss something. 2. Alyx is hands down the most believable character ever portrayed in a game. Not only does she fight well, but she has emotions, motivations, and beliefs of her own. She is as much a triumph of writing and acting as she is technology. Nothing else I've ever seen even comes close to Alyx in a game.

 

[Warbie]

Halo's insistence on combat driving the single player is exactly what I don't like about it. The game has no sense of place or atmostphere. When you look at rooms or enviroments, they don't seem like they have any other purpose than to give you a place to fight. I can never imagine anything happening in any given room on Halo except Master Chief pwning things. The combat in Halo is great, but when thats all there is, then it is nothing more than a game. Half-Life 2, Episode 1, and the original Half-Life are experiences.

I completely agree with you - and see Halo as a giant combat map. If the combat is all you're after, and you spend the enough time getting familiar with the game, you'll soon see how deep and tactical it is in comparison to other single player shooters. As you pointed out, though, many people have different expectations from their fps and either didn't want, or completely failed to see, what Halo offers.

And Warbie you should play Episode 1 for two reasons: 1. You'll miss out on story bits. Sure you can read them, but that's like having somebody tell you what happened on your favorite TV show, you're gonna miss something. 2. Alyx is hands down the most believable character ever portrayed in a game. Not only does she fight well, but she has emotions, motivations, and beliefs of her own. She is as much a triumph of writing and acting as she is technology. Nothing else I've ever seen even comes close to Alyx in a game.

I'll definately get around to EP1, if only to see Alyx in action, but may wait for it's release on the 360.