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Do I really need to go through all this for an expansion pack?

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 7 / 13
Date: June 28, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I can't believe the reviewer (a few below), calls everyone here dumb
for not "PRE_LOADING" the game WEEKS in advance
in anticipation for it to be activated by the "Gods" at Valve.

Most want to buy a product, install it, load a small "saveable" patch and play.

I have better things to do than "pre-plan" the install of this expansion pack.
Valve has way too big of an ego to think consumers will put up with this.

Thank goodness, Valve does not sell DVD movies,
I could just see having to "pre-plan" its purchase weeks in advance for download & activation.

Don't buy used!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: March 03, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Registry code will only work with one Steam account. Don't expect a used copy to work on a stranger's computer.

Good Old Gameplay, But Short And No Story.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 9 / 20
Date: June 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Well, I really enjoyed HL 1+2, but I have to say I am disappointed in the third one.

The Good:
- Graphics: If you can get all the eye candy turned on (I have a highest end SLI setup), the graphics are amazing.
- Gameplay: Just like HL2, plus second team member.

The Bad:
- Gameplay: Just like HL2, plus second team member. Do I get to do ANYTHING myself? There are 2 occasions in this game in which you actually have to fire a bullet. That's it. Apart from that, she can take care of it all. (I played in normal difficutly.)
- Short: For a normal player like myself, be prepared to spend an evening, that's it.
- Environments and Weapons: Copy and paste from HL2, that's it.

THE REALLY BAD:
- STORY: OK, the most boring thing that could have followed after the HL2 ending happened. SPOILER: They just find themselves at the bottom of the tower after having been saved by their alien friends. After that, they basically just run until they are out of the city before the tower goes boom.
In a lot of previews, they said that questions will be answered. Really? What questions got answered? The tower went boom, temporarily setting back the alien invaders, and the two main characters didn't get killed. And we didn't know that at the end of HL2?

The graphics are all nice and well, but overall this feels more like a tech demo than a game, designed by looking at: How can we show off all the capabilities of our engine in as short a time as possible? It is a great demo, but not a good game.
Maybe as the first part of a longer game this would have been decent, but since it is going to take forever for the next part to come out, this has to be seen as a stand-alone expansion. And as that, it's really not doing a very good job.

Especially if you don't have the latest graphics hardware, you might want to hold off 6-12 months until all the parts are out.

I bought this game but I don't really own it.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 7 / 14
Date: June 19, 2006
Author: Amazon User

It's a product of steam & I am only permited to play when steam decides I can. That means if your internet connection is ever severed or the server is down you cannot play this game, If you ever decided to cancel your internet service this video game goes along with it. Also, don't try to sell this thing or buy it used as steam won't allow any other user to play this .

It's good to know a corporation is allowed to have so much authority and power over a product we buy with our own money.

Weakest Entry in the Half-Life Saga

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: March 24, 2007
Author: Amazon User

First, let me say that even the weakest game from the Half-Life franchise is better than most games. I've played them all over the years and am a huge fan, playing even more obscure spinoffs (such as Blue Shift) again and again. I was disappointed with this installment, and I'm hopeful that the next one will be better.

It's still a strong 3 star game... worth trying, but if you are looking for an introduction to the franchise, play Half-Life 2.

PRO

- Groundbreaking graphics
- Excellent sound
- Decent weapons
- Excellent character models

CON

- Too short
- Unstable: near the end of the game, it started crashing nearly every time it loaded, to the point that I quit trying to play.
- And that's the biggest "con"... I didn't really care if I finished it or not.

Fantastic continuation of the Half Life story. Essential!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: September 23, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Half Life 2 is in my opinion the best computer game that has ever been made. So I was obviously very excited about getting my hands on this expansion. Firstly, I have noticed quite a few reviewers giving the game terrible reviews due to it not running correctly on their PCs. Well, I'm happy to say that I had no dramas whatsoever. I do however have broadband Internet, so the massive downloads that Steam based games require do not affect me too much. But I can understand why other people would find it all rather frustrating.

Episode 1 is really just more of the same. It continues on from the very moment the original game finished and the player will find themselves in the thick of the action right from the start. I must admit that I thought there would be more new guns, enemies and locations in this expansion. But it appears that Valve made a decision to concentrate solely on storytelling and leading the player through a constant flow of thrilling and challenging scenarios. In this they have succeeded wonderfully and even though I finished the game in only three sittings, I enjoyed every second of it. There is much more interaction with Alyx Vance this time and she's pretty much with you for the entire episode. I really think the relationship between you as the player on Alyx is both groundbreaking and amazingly satisfying in a game-play sense. The player never feels like a lone gunman fighting against the government as Alyx, her father and even Dog the robot canine are always working alongside you.

Personally, I can't wait for Episode 2 and will undoubtedly play the original game plus Episode 1 through again in the meantime. Any fans of the Half Life games should get this without a second thought as you know the quality to expect. It may only be around six hours in length, but the quality of those hours and the cheap retail price make Episode 1 essential.

How could I possibly know?

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 6 / 14
Date: July 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I loved Half-Life 2. Probably the best game ever.

However, I've now owned Episode One for three days and I can't play it because Steam won't connect. No other program I've ever used has had trouble connecting, but Steam says that it's either me or them, so I should sign on to hints/tips/FAQ whatever.

Did all the tips/hints/FAQ. Nothing. I still don't know if it's them or me, and I don't have time to uninstall, reinstall, reconfigure my router, all to find out it was them.

I might as well have thrown my money out the window. I'm not alone in this, by the way.

You know how some movies just aren't worth going to the theater for, so you wait for the DVD. Well, for this one, I'd suggest that you wait until Valve fixes the Steam system. If enough of us refuse to buy this game, maybe Valve will get things cleaned up for the release of Episode two, or three. Maybe we'll be able to buy the "gold" version of all three and it will actually run.

steam ruins it as always

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 5 / 11
Date: June 19, 2006
Author: Amazon User

2 hours to activate, then an annoying program running in the background for ever more. Way to ruin another good game. Whoever invented steam needs to shot in the head.

Could have waited...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

For a cheap expansion on an already great game, it was exceptional... but not overly memorable from the original HL2. It could have simply been the ending instead of an Xpack.

It also could have been longer and had new weapons.

I think instead of making 3 epidosdes, they could have combined them into one and sold it that way.

Still a great buy and I am satisfied.

Exactly what I expected

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Beat it in 4 hours, but that's what I expected. $20 is a third of what you would normally pay for a new game, so in return I got a third of a game. It makes sense. It's better than waiting a few more years (probably around 2010-2011) for all three episodes to come out at once. Other than that, what can I say that hasn't already been said? The graphics are pretty much the same, however better lighting effects thanks to new HDR (seen in the "Lost Coast" demo) and you definitely notice it.

The only reason I'm giving it a 4 star on fun is because there are a few levels set in complete darkness. Your flashlight is the only source of light, and it feels a lot like Doom 3. I'm not saying it was poorly done, heck it was very well done... because it scared the bagezes outta me! I'm just not a fan of fighting in the dark (of course I don't think Gordon is either). Bravo to Valve because it did just what they wanted!

It's been said that every episode will focus game play on one new feature. In E1 it's the accompaniment of Alyx. She is pretty much by your side for the majority of the game. A few times you will have to separate to complete tasks, but soon reunited. In no way did her presence ever get in my way or cause me to die, so the people complaining about the AI are just bad at playing video games. She actually helps a lot by providing cover fire. This game is a wonderful addition to the HL experience. If you're a fan of HL, I don't see how you could not pick this game up.

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