Though it still has all the regular linearity and low-resolution graphics and bland AI of Half-Life 2, and it's still on their heavily (and horribly) modified version of the Quake engine, there are actually redeeming qualities that expose themselves. This is MUCH better than anything Valve has pulled off before. When you've played HL2 for the 10th time and then play Episode 1, it feels like you're playing HL2 for the 11th time. As strange as that sounds, I'm sure you know what I mean.

So all up Episode 1 feels exactly the same as HL2 which you may think is good because HL2 is good but it's bad in the sense that it's no different from HL2. It's also only 4 hours long and whatever story they tried to add doesn't add anything at all.just as Computer Games Magazine said 'It feels like exactly what it is: a small and perhaps insignificant part of something much larger'.which is 100% true cause it's more of a lead up to the exceptional Episode 2. Episode 2 however added new places and enemies and deserves the 'Episode' title. All the gameplay has been experienced in HL2 with same environments and enemies.and so it doesn't deserve to be Episode 1.it feels just like part of HL2. I was expecting new stuff but didn't get any. It's very linear and gets very boring because you've essentially played it all before. There are absolutely no new areas to go to, nor any new enemies. Episode 1 however is exactly the same as HL2.

HL2 was an awesome game in 2004 and everyone was amazed at the graphics and gameplay cause noone had ever played anything like it before.

Half life 2 episode one crack download