Episode One was a game which HAD to be good. It was following up two of the greatest games ever made (of course, Half-Life and Half-life 2). If any game had a role to live up to, it was Episode One. To be honest, I believe it has lived up to that expectation, even with it's small niggling problems...like the end. I can only compare the end of Episode one to the film Pirates of the Carribean 2. IT's just about to get going and then BAM! It's over and you're thinking to yourself "is that it? What? Wheres the end? The finale? The big b fight scene?"
Fortunately for Episode One, the brilliant gameplay that it offers far outwieghs it's irritating ending. Gameplay wise Episode one is a match for it's successor, and the new enemy type it offers are a riot to play against. The Zombie Combine or Zombine as they are affectionately (and originally) known are a brilliant enemy, because they are incredibly dangerous but also suitably idiotic. You are never sure whether they are going to throw a grenade at you, or decide it's a good idea to hold one above their head and run at you.
The storyline begins exactly where it left off after Half-life 2, with an explosion and the familiar face of the G-man, and chronicles the adventures of Gordon Freeman and love object Alex as they try to escape from a facility on a time bomb. Once again the robotic Dog plays a great role, being both useful and a marker to remind you that you aren't all THAT godlike.
Once again Valve have been playing with Phyiscs, and given scientist Gordon Freeman some dastardly puzzles to complete, which are never so dastardly as to be hard, but offer a break from the mindless violence that is a standard FPS.
In fact, I'm not going to bother to continue. If you are reading this to decide whether to buy the game, stop reading now. Get your cash, and go buy the game. Right now.
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