Even though I am a huge fan of the Half Life franchise I was worried that Episode One would be sub par. I can assure any fan of the franchise or of FPS games in general that this game was not sub par. Valve has always set the bar high and I think this first episode did what it was supposed to do.
Gameplay
Valve hasn't really changed much in this episode. They introduce two new enemies and several new locations within City 17. As you work your way through the five levels offered in this episode you will gradually acquire all the weapons from Half Life 2. This episode is more of the same FPS action and physics based puzzles one expects from Valve. However the main attraction is the story which picks up immediately after Half Life 2. Although slow to start this episode really ramps up the action and manages to answer some questions from Half Life 2 and ask some of its' own. In short, this episode was well thought out and executed. The player learns about new enemies and parts of the story while facing off in some unique scenarios that were not present in Half Life 2.
Audio
Valve prefers to use a minimalist approach when it comes to in game music and Episode One is no exception. There were a few new tracks that I can recall and the usual use of a few notes here and there to emphasize the on screen action. I know it sounds tired and old saying this but the music fit the action. As for the voice acting, it was top notch with everyone reprising their roles and delivering solid lines and even a few jokes.
Video
The Source engine has been tweaked a bit this time around to help add a few special effects. High dynamic range lighting and improved facial models are the most obvious changes. Valve has added other graphical "goodies" however most gamers will not notice the subtle changes. Regardless, the engine shows off the stark sci-fi city of City 17 better than ever.
Replay
Fans of Half Life 2 can easily find a reason to play this game at least twice. Once on their preferred level of difficulty and then a second time to hear the "commentary" that is provided by the developers. As for me I can easily see myself playing it three or more times. Just like its' predecessor, Episode One exudes style and eeriness at the same time. The story, the feeling and the pacing of this four hour episode puts most full fledged FPS games to shame. I can think of several "memorable" moments in this episode. The only thing holding the score back in this section is the fact that most gamers will blow through the episode in four hours or less.
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