Review of Half-Life 2: Episode One

As I have said in the past, valve are a truly talented team, but with over 100 people working on the game I would expect the game to be good or even fantastic which it truly is. The thing I noticed the most was the change to Barney. His face looks so much more lifelike and the facial expressions add to his character. There is a more cheekier side to Alyx emerging in this episode and I found some weapons had more detail. One cant help but notice the new HDR Technology. For instance if you enter a brightly lit room from the dark, it will quickly go from bright to normal as your eyes adjust. The ending (again) leaves you guessing but I suppose that,s to be expected and I was quite surprised to see very little of The G-man except that at the start he seemed to be in a predicament with the Vortigons. More will be revealed no doubt. I took away a point for the sheer shortness of the game. This is getting beyond a joke. I played a half hour a night so it would last longer and I still managed to finish it in two weeks. I think this is very unfair. Especially since I live in Australia and had to pay $48.00. whatever happened to the days when you would start a game in January and finish in June? I,m going to complain to Valve and I suggest all that read this do as well. If we don't, they will assume short is good and keep making them that way. Ratcat. (australia)