All the gaming goodness of Half Life 2…just not enough of it.
Although some new content would have been nice (there's basically none, with the exception of the "zombines"), that's probably ok, since simply more HL2 is enough for a lot of players. Still, the addition of more new elements would help make E1 feel more like a true stand-alone game, and not just an add-on. One aspect that was expanded dramatically was the development of Alyx as a "real" person. We see her display emotions like humor, compassion, anxiety, even vulnerability, and she becomes as real a character as I've ever encountered in my virtual travels. (I even wanted to get her email address so we could keep in touch between missions, but as you know, Gordon is pretty shy and doesn't talk much.) As cool as Alyx is, I personally found her to be both a boon and a bane. As a sidekick, she's usually great to have around; she's tough, resourceful, and never runs out of ammo. But her gung-ho style and proclivity to shoot on sight means Gordon is pretty much confined to commando tactics through out the game. I sometimes felt that Alyx was the one in charge, keeping Gordon's manhood in a jar and only letting him have it back when she needed someone to take down a gun ship or crawl thru a vent. The ability to issue some rudimentary commands would have made me feel more in control. Still, a minor enough gripe, given that having her around is way better than going it solo, especially if the game had gone on for a decent amount of time.
Which brings me to The Ugly…this is where I pull out my soapbox and talk about how I think some particular aspect affects not only this individual game, but also the industry as a whole. When the concept of episodic gaming was first introduced, I was ecstatic at the thought that I wouldn't have to wait 4 or 5 years for my next Half Life fix. But if Episode One represents the future of game releases, then I have to confess some slight disappointment. Forget about the significant increase in my per-hour game cost. (Old math, new math, Chinese math, I don't care what you use, $20 for 4-5 hours of game play is roughly twice as much as $45 for the 15-20 hours of game play provided by HL2. Still, I can accept the increase if it means I get a regular dose every 6 months.) And forget about the fact that, at 4-5 hours long, Episode One can hardly be considered for any "Game of the Year" titles. If we're honest about it, 4-5 hours is really just an expansion pack, albeit an exceptional one, but an expansion pack none-the-less.
What concerns me is the level of "satisfaction" provided. Practically every player who posted an opinion about E1, even those who scored it a perfect 10, made some comment about wanting more…about not feeling fully satisfied. Put it this way…when I finished HL2, I pushed away from my computer with a feeling similar to pushing away from the dinner table on Thanksgiving. It was awesome, but I'd had enough for now. In other words, I was FULL. Episode One, by comparison, was more like a visit to an (excellent) salad bar…it was good, but just not a fully satisfying experience. Now, truth be told, Valve could probably release a 2 hour stick-figure cartoon of Half Life, and I'd still buy it, I'm that much of a fan. But I know that Gabe and crew have far too much pride in the franchise, and far too much respect for its fans, to ever do something like that. So I offer up this tiny suggestion, or maybe "request" is a more appropriate word. In future releases, I hope you'll give us dinner, or at least a good lunch, and not just a midnight snack.