The game is worth it and I just had to review because of all the bad vibes it has been unfairly getting.
We start off with the technical bit. The graphics are great. They use the doom engine and so they have that same feel BUT they are much better. They used it to produce some great closed tunnels but also wide areas so in my opinion no one can bash this game for being just another tunneled voyage. I have just an average computer (2.8Ghz with a 6800GS) and it runs very smoothly so give some credit to them for getting the big nice pics and a great framerate at the same time. Those wall walking pads are just gorgeous, the guns, the enemies also great looking.
Episode one has some great looking graphics aswell, different kind but great so they are both top notch in this area.
The story is what it is meaning that I don't expected it to be oscar material. It's a freaking FPS so although I expect a good storyline with a twist or two it's still a game for me to shoot anything and everything. So it's good enough and it really doesn't differ much from all the other FPS out there.
Episode one really lacks a story, you just have to escape and there you go, nothing else is there.
The sound is also very good and the game has some great moments where the music really fits the feel. Episode one overall sound is good but nothing that stands out also.
The gameplay is also great. The game evolves smoothly. The weapons have a good feel and while using the standard styles they have some originality to them. The AI is decent and the enemies grow in strength and are quite challenging at the end BUT the developers decided to implemment that non-death aspect which basically means you never die. It really makes you feel the game is too easy but in my opinion it really works. You basically have no need to quicksave, quickload, you just have to keep on going. They do have a harder mode that you unlock once you finish the game and that was a mistake, it should be available from the beggining but let's not beat them up because of it. They also have put in several puzzles which go from easy to interesting and that's all that matters really. You want to shoot stuff, so sitting around because a puzzle is too hard is not the idea, so easy but interesting puzzles give you something to do while they keep you moving foward.
Episode one really seems to be more puzzle oriented than action which in my opinion really sucked. I mean the game is already small in length and if it weren't from all the extra run around it would be really small.
I haven't tested the multiplayer aspect but from what I read it seems to be pretty standard. But with all the multiplayer oriented games out there (battlefield 2, unreal tournament,F.E.A.R.,etc) i kinda don't really mind if these have no decent multiplayer, even if they do they'll never reach the others quality level. The ambiance and extra harder mode make me want to shoot them aliens all over again so it has some replay value. The length is not has announced by many. It really is a 10hours game or so and it is my belief that not all games have to have the farcry open style to be lenghty.
IN CONCLUSION
What it is:
Great graphics
Decent Story
Great ambiance with nice enemies, good small and wide spaces all using the doom engine.
You don't die so no saving required.
Good length, plenty of killing, plenty of interesting puzzles.
What it is NOT:
Repetitive graphics
Repetitive old story
Too easy, not a challenge.
Too small. Dull puzzles.