So one of the key strengths of episodic gaming is the feedback the developer can digest from the community. Feel free to add whatever you feel.
What Episode 2 needs:
So were in the wasteland. Alien ravaged and blasted countryside. We got a glimpse of it in Half-life 2, when we made our way along the coastal road towards Nova Prospekt. Considering this was very much the 'outskirts' of the wastes it was still relatively dangerous, inhabited by antlions an all. But now were further out - were in those forests and mountains you can see from the boundries of C17, and it was constantly alluded to as a dangerous and uninhabitable place.
The Garg overturning the tractor, that Bullsquid chewing Eli's leg off as he attempted to get Kleiner into the safety of a Combine city. They are all out there. Episode 2 needs more 'wildlife' aliens. And I don't mean hunters, I mean things like the bullsquid, like the houndeye or even better - something completely new. Either way, if the wasteland in EP2 hopes to stand any chance in my book it is going to need some aliens. And no, not antlions.
Easily the most outstanding part of Episode 1 was its beginning. The moment dog digged me out of the rubble and onto the unstable edifice, to the sight of rapidly de-stabilizing Citadel and that comforting renunion hug from Alyx was the moment I knew Valve had done it again. The idea of Dog throwing you across to the Citadel in the burnt out car is simply that flash of ingenuity - this is why I play Half-life.
I want Episode 2 to top that. I really do. And it will. I hope.
I <3 vehicles. Screw general opinion, I thought the Airboat chapter and the buggy chapter were outstanding. In Water Hazard the tension was high, and you could feel it. It wasn't too long, either. In Highway 17 it was sort of an exploration feel, so were exploring this deserted coastline. Sadly, Sandtraps effectively lowered the fun in the buggy by having some drawn out driving sequences. Oh well. But either way, I loved the vehicles, and we know EP2 is going to be concentrating on them, so this pleases me very much.
Zombines. Nuff said.
More talkie sequences. The scene with Eli, Kleiner and Alyx at the beginning was superb. But that was it. I feel it missed out on sequences like Black Mesa east, or the sheer brilliance of the Breen scene. I want to see the characters in the flesh, I want to see them more, I want them to interact and I want them to crank out the truly fantastic, human dialogue we all know Valve are capable of doing.
More puzzles. Direction intervention was an excellent chapter - classic Half-life. Perfect blend of puzzle gameplay and action - but the puzzles could have done with being tricker. So yeah, puzzle gameplay of any kind.
What Episode 2 doesn't need:
Antlions. I am not thrilled in the least about the antlion nest. I enjoyed them in HL2, and in EP1 - to an extent. But they are not the only alien that was sent over in the portal storms so lets stop pretending they were. I've had enough of them, I want something new. Period.
New weapons. You did a great job of keeping the arsenal consistant and not adding some lame-ass Gearbox attempt at a weapon, and were very logical in that the Combine do not build new weapons over night. The Strider buster is a step in the right direction - something different, and practical.
A zombie chapter. I liked Ravenholm, it was fun. I liked Lowlife, it was fun. But no more. Zombie gameplay has its limits and I think we've reached it. I don't want to see another chapter dedicated to zombies. We've all seen them, they are fun, but not THAT fun. Sure, put them in here and there but nothing to the extent they were used in HL2 and EP1, please.
Super Gravity gun. I enjoyed the ball puzzles and throwing Combine soldiers here, there and everywhere. But it was eventually going to wear off, and it most certainly has. I don't think we should it again - which we shouldn't, because were nowhere near a Citadel core. It has ceased to be fun.
Citizens who mock Kleiner.
What Episode 2 needs:
So were in the wasteland. Alien ravaged and blasted countryside. We got a glimpse of it in Half-life 2, when we made our way along the coastal road towards Nova Prospekt. Considering this was very much the 'outskirts' of the wastes it was still relatively dangerous, inhabited by antlions an all. But now were further out - were in those forests and mountains you can see from the boundries of C17, and it was constantly alluded to as a dangerous and uninhabitable place.
The Garg overturning the tractor, that Bullsquid chewing Eli's leg off as he attempted to get Kleiner into the safety of a Combine city. They are all out there. Episode 2 needs more 'wildlife' aliens. And I don't mean hunters, I mean things like the bullsquid, like the houndeye or even better - something completely new. Either way, if the wasteland in EP2 hopes to stand any chance in my book it is going to need some aliens. And no, not antlions.
Easily the most outstanding part of Episode 1 was its beginning. The moment dog digged me out of the rubble and onto the unstable edifice, to the sight of rapidly de-stabilizing Citadel and that comforting renunion hug from Alyx was the moment I knew Valve had done it again. The idea of Dog throwing you across to the Citadel in the burnt out car is simply that flash of ingenuity - this is why I play Half-life.
I want Episode 2 to top that. I really do. And it will. I hope.
I <3 vehicles. Screw general opinion, I thought the Airboat chapter and the buggy chapter were outstanding. In Water Hazard the tension was high, and you could feel it. It wasn't too long, either. In Highway 17 it was sort of an exploration feel, so were exploring this deserted coastline. Sadly, Sandtraps effectively lowered the fun in the buggy by having some drawn out driving sequences. Oh well. But either way, I loved the vehicles, and we know EP2 is going to be concentrating on them, so this pleases me very much.
Zombines. Nuff said.
More talkie sequences. The scene with Eli, Kleiner and Alyx at the beginning was superb. But that was it. I feel it missed out on sequences like Black Mesa east, or the sheer brilliance of the Breen scene. I want to see the characters in the flesh, I want to see them more, I want them to interact and I want them to crank out the truly fantastic, human dialogue we all know Valve are capable of doing.
More puzzles. Direction intervention was an excellent chapter - classic Half-life. Perfect blend of puzzle gameplay and action - but the puzzles could have done with being tricker. So yeah, puzzle gameplay of any kind.
What Episode 2 doesn't need:
Antlions. I am not thrilled in the least about the antlion nest. I enjoyed them in HL2, and in EP1 - to an extent. But they are not the only alien that was sent over in the portal storms so lets stop pretending they were. I've had enough of them, I want something new. Period.
New weapons. You did a great job of keeping the arsenal consistant and not adding some lame-ass Gearbox attempt at a weapon, and were very logical in that the Combine do not build new weapons over night. The Strider buster is a step in the right direction - something different, and practical.
A zombie chapter. I liked Ravenholm, it was fun. I liked Lowlife, it was fun. But no more. Zombie gameplay has its limits and I think we've reached it. I don't want to see another chapter dedicated to zombies. We've all seen them, they are fun, but not THAT fun. Sure, put them in here and there but nothing to the extent they were used in HL2 and EP1, please.
Super Gravity gun. I enjoyed the ball puzzles and throwing Combine soldiers here, there and everywhere. But it was eventually going to wear off, and it most certainly has. I don't think we should it again - which we shouldn't, because were nowhere near a Citadel core. It has ceased to be fun.
Citizens who mock Kleiner.
)
