Rank HL2, HL2:1 and HL2:2

[Fishlore]

I was a huge fan of HL1 back in the day. I played HL2 when it came out. To be honest I wasn't really impressed. As a result I still haven't seen/played/gotten Ep1 yet. Well Portal was enough for me to decide to get the orange box and I figured Ep1 and 2 would be a nice bonus.

Anyway I was hoping to see what everyone else thought about the episodic content by ranking HL2, HL2:1 and HL2:2. I just want to get an idea of what I have ahead of myself and whether or not I should just jump straight into Portal or not.

 

[z3rb]

HL2 = Epic
Ep1 = Epic
Ep2 = Amazingly Epic Best thing Ever Made by Man

 

[Dr0ndeh]

im starting to get tired of this storyline, truth be told. the gameplay was great in ep2 but the story....meh.

they rank in order that they were release, imo.

 

[The Brick]

I didn't like HL2 too much. I did enjoy ep1, and ep2 is truly a great game, I found it VERY enjoyable. Can't wait for ep3.

 

[macc]

I agree with z3rb, but if you don't like HL2, you maybe won't like Ep1 either, because it stays very close to HL2 with gameplay and environments. Ep2 adds a lot of new stuff ans is really awesome.

You should try them both, but don't skip Ep1, otherwise you miss a lot of story.

 

[leib10]

Episode One and HL2 are tied, but Episode Two beats them by a mile.

 

[Fishlore]

Okay, sounds like Ep 2 is an absolute must play. I'll happily spend the time going through 1 to get to 2. If 2 was "meh" I probably wouldn't bother with either of them, but it sounds like it's something definitely worth playing. I'm excited to see Portal too.

Thanks guys.

Oh one other thing, sorry I'm out of the loop. Was there ever any word on how many episodes they planned? Was it a trilogy or are they just putting them out there until they run out of ideas?

 

[NeLi]

HL2 is the best. It set everything in motion for the following episodes, and had some truly spectacular moments. Then I'd rank episode 2 as nr 2. So much fun in that game, but not as epic as HL2 was.

 

[Insano]

Oh one other thing, sorry I'm out of the loop. Was there ever any word on how many episodes they planned? Was it a trilogy or are they just putting them out there until they run out of ideas?

There are 3 episodes planned (so one more). Then Valve is going to sit down and listen to the community if they want more of these kind of episodes, or if they want a full game that takes a couple of years to make.

Oh, and Episode 2 beats HL2 en Episode 1 (in that order) so epicly, I just can describe it.

 

[HunterSeeker]

Personally I woul ranke them Episode 2, Episode 1, HL2 and HL. HL was also great IMO.

 

[The Monkey]

Don't you think you rate EP2 so high because you just played it? HL2 was five times longer, are you sure it's not better than EP2?

 

[Jon79]

im starting to get tired of this storyline, truth be told. the gameplay was great in ep2 but the story....meh.

they rank in order that they were release, imo.

Mostly true but i would rank Episode One as the weakest of the series. I doubt anyone could argue otherwise.

 

[Fishlore]

There are 3 episodes planned (so one more). Then Valve is going to sit down and listen to the community if they want more of these kind of episodes, or if they want a full game that takes a couple of years to make.

Oh, and Episode 2 beats HL2 en Episode 1 (in that order) so epicly, I just can describe it.

Ahh, thanks. I haven't played the episodes yet so I can't really say which way I'd prefer. Not to mention I'll have two, both new to me, to play one after the other.

Which way will the community lean?

 

[Dynasty]

*stares at the 97% download complete* in about 3% i can tell you...*kicks STEAM* Faster!

 

[Zeus]

HL2 - best..let's face it. It was a huge game and the episodes are REALLY short. It introduced the combine and everything and the citadel levels were cool (loved the atmosphere)

HL2: Ep1 - Good but honestly not the best half life title. It was very short, repetitive, same old scenery from HL2, answered no questions to the story but only opened new ones. The beginning in the citadel was the only good part IMO.

HL2: Ep2 - I just finished it for the first time earlier. Valve really did a good job on this one. It's really a rollercoaster ride w/ the story. Valve answered some questions to the story unlike last time (Ep1). The stage is set for Episode 3..I can't wait to see how it turns out.

 

[DEATH eVADER]

HL2= 8.0
HL: Ep1=6.0
HL: Ep2=9.0

 

[Nitre]

Even if the gameplay in the episodes lacks slightly in some peoples opinions (not mine!!) its worth playing through for the sheer amazingness of the storyline. All the way through the slightly less interesting bits of both ep1 and ep2 (of which there were very, very few) finding out the rest of the story just kept me going. After having played half life 2 i just have to find out how the whole thing will end. And damn is it going to be huge.

 

[leib10]

Don't you think you rate EP2 so high because you just played it? HL2 was five times longer, are you sure it's not better than EP2?

Length doesn't necessarily mean it's good.

 

[wildchild730]

Length doesn't necessarily mean it's good.

But it'll have more content to make it better tbh

But I enjoyed ep2 the most

 

[Laivasse]

HL2 - best..let's face it. It was a huge game and the episodes are REALLY short. It introduced the combine and everything and the citadel levels were cool (loved the atmosphere)

HL2: Ep1 - Good but honestly not the best half life title. It was very short, repetitive, same old scenery from HL2, answered no questions to the story but only opened new ones. The beginning in the citadel was the only good part IMO.

HL2: Ep2 - I just finished it for the first time earlier. Valve really did a good job on this one. It's really a rollercoaster ride w/ the story. Valve answered some questions to the story unlike last time (Ep1). The stage is set for Episode 3..I can't wait to see how it turns out.

^^^I'm too lazy to make a big post of my own so I'll just say that this guy's opinions are vaaaguely in line with my own. It does seem unlikely to me that if you disliked HL2 you'll like either of the Episodes.

Be aware if you do decide to give them a try that Ep1, in the Half Life tradition, starts out brilliantly then gets a little stale at points later on. Ep2 breaks the pattern and starts a bit slow but then turns up the awesome as it goes.

 

[mikese]

The problem with HL2 was that it was too long. Some of it just got tedious-- the vehicle sections, for example. If they had been maybe 2/3 as long, they'd have been fine.

So I'd put the episodes ahead of HL2, and I'd put Ep2 ahead of Ep1-- The car was fun, and the strider battle rocked. There really isn't anything in Ep1 that stands out like that.

And Adam Baldwin's dialog was hilarious.