Final Verdict

Episode One is a fine continuation of the Half-Life story and style. The action is more intense and the levels more compact, which, as we mentioned, has its pros and cons. Valve continues to push gimmicks a little further than they should. In Half-Life 2, you kept resetting friendly gun turrets. In Episode One, you find yourself pointing your flashlight at zombies. Refreshing for a while, both grow old with overexposure.

However, such nitpicks are precisely the kinds of indications that tell us we’re playing a great game. When complaints devolve into criticizing the finer points of a game’s design, it’s generally a safe bet that the overall experience is excellent. Fans of the series will love it, those that complain about linearity or other typical Half-Life traits will continue to be disappointed. The $20 price point is somewhat steeper than justified, but $20 doesn’t even buy half a tank of gas for an average car these days.