Poll: Why do people think of Half Life 2 : Episode 1 as the weakest link in the the series?
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It's the middle act of the story. Playing a marathon of HL2 makes it work better, but it doesn't stand up as well on its own due to its transitional nature.
From what i remember of Ep1, wasnt there a long section of walking a little else at the start? Yep, i guess ep1 wasnt so great if thats the only memorable thing i can remember. Still fun game though.
(This are subjective opinions with somewhat objective facts)
EP2 has the bad reputation of being the middle-man. It starts in medias res (In the middle of the action/plot) and there is no closure in the end. (A somewhat important man dies, and a random portal closes.) I can say though that I was sad when *Insert name here* died.
EP1 has a better start, and what you have done before is somewhat explained to you during the course of the game. The ending is also better, gives a bit more closure of what happens. (Barney escapes, citadel explodes, advisors escapes)
What happens too you though is not answered, so to someone that play EP2 while not having played EP1, this may be confusing... But a somewhat good way to drag people in...
Anyway, the point is this: My SUBJECTIVE opinion is that EP1 is better. If anyone tries to say I am wrong, then that person should check what the word 'Subjective' mean. :3
EP2 has the bad reputation of being the middle-man. It starts in medias res (In the middle of the action/plot) and there is no closure in the end. (A somewhat important man dies, and a random portal closes.) I can say though that I was sad when *Insert name here* died.
EP1 has a better start, and what you have done before is somewhat explained to you during the course of the game. The ending is also better, gives a bit more closure of what happens. (Barney escapes, citadel explodes, advisors escapes)
What happens too you though is not answered, so to someone that play EP2 while not having played EP1, this may be confusing... But a somewhat good way to drag people in...
Anyway, the point is this: My SUBJECTIVE opinion is that EP1 is better. If anyone tries to say I am wrong, then that person should check what the word 'Subjective' mean. :3
Yeah, Episode 1 makes Alyx more of a character... but the issue I have with it, is that's all it really does. Everything else just feels like a mission pack for HL2, rather than a true expansion.
Though, I will admit, the original plan for the episodes, (a small expansion released every other month or so) that's all it'd ever really need to be. But Episode 2 completely bucked that trend...
Though, I will admit, the original plan for the episodes, (a small expansion released every other month or so) that's all it'd ever really need to be. But Episode 2 completely bucked that trend...
Episode 1 is important because it moved the story forward a lot more quickly than HL2, but I was disappointed with a lot of the set pieces. The garage level, the part where you're escorting rebels back and forth, the citadel sections...it just all felt kind of uninspired, even though it was fun.
Episode 2 had that problem in a few areas as well, but for the most part it was a lot better. It was nice to get out of City 17 and face some new challenges (but they need to BAN zombies from future Half-Life games. I've had enough of that shit, it's rote at this point.)
Episode 2 had that problem in a few areas as well, but for the most part it was a lot better. It was nice to get out of City 17 and face some new challenges (but they need to BAN zombies from future Half-Life games. I've had enough of that shit, it's rote at this point.)
It was mainly because A: there was not much variety, either in gameplay or environments which HL2, and to a lesser extent Ep2, had in spades, and B: The main story was fairly non-existent. You basically just ran around the ruins of city-17 for a couple hours, until you get to the train and escape. That is it. :/
Still, always nice to have more of one of your favorite games, so I liked it. Good expansion, just not great.
Still, always nice to have more of one of your favorite games, so I liked it. Good expansion, just not great.
That's a bold statement for someone with the nerve to display that avatarRawne1980 said:
(disclaimer, my family are Toffees, although personally I am a Birmingham fan)
How's "King" Kenny working out for you? heh.
On topic: while I agree that we should all be able to express our differing opinions, the original post was a little bit... flamey. *Why* was it "overrated as fuck"?
I liked Alyx's banter and 80% of the episode was spent murdering zombies in the most ridiculous ways possible. Seriously, I absolutely love the zombies in the Half-life games, so fun to murder. Haha.
Its problem is pretty much the exact same I have with the other Half-Life games, they give you more questions than answers and rarely do they bother address some of them. But goddamnit I still love the hell out of that series.
Its problem is pretty much the exact same I have with the other Half-Life games, they give you more questions than answers and rarely do they bother address some of them. But goddamnit I still love the hell out of that series.
"I mean it's clear EP1 was supposed to be about making Alyx likeable"
Pretty sure HL2 did that for most people.
Anyway, I guess people view it as more of a necessary connector between HL2 and wherever the series is going next. It's the remnants of your time in City 17, whereas HL2 was something new and Episode 2 is something new.
Pretty sure HL2 did that for most people.
Anyway, I guess people view it as more of a necessary connector between HL2 and wherever the series is going next. It's the remnants of your time in City 17, whereas HL2 was something new and Episode 2 is something new.
Where did you read that?Daverson said:
I'm proud to sit here and declare my love for my team.joe-h2o said:That's a bold statement for someone with the nerve to display that avatar
(disclaimer, my family are Toffees, although personally I am a Birmingham fan)
How's "King" Kenny working out for you? heh.
On topic: while I agree that we should all be able to express our differing opinions, the original post was a little bit... flamey. *Why* was it "overrated as fuck"?
I'm proud to sit here and declare myself a devoted Kopite.
That's because i'm on the internet and no one can see my face, in person I can deny all knowledge and pretend i'm an Accrington Stanley fan
As for good ole Kenny. He was great .. once .. now he's knocking on a bit and it looks like he may be going a bit senile.
We haven't been a great team for years now. Souness sold off a chunk of our best players when he was in charge but didn't replace them with anything decent. That big nosed pillock Phill Thompson made sure Fowler was sold. McManaman went to Real and ended up wasting his time on the subs bench, Owen .. well .. he was a one trick pony anyway. Redknapp was fantastic but far too injury prone, shame really.
See Liverpool have a fantastic habit of selling on great players and then replacing them with players that aren't so good (if we put it nicely). Crouch deserves a special mention just for the sheer length of time it took him to actually put the ball in the net for the first damn time .... top striker right there .... honest.
Although I do have to admit to Cisse being one of my favourites of recent(ish) years. If it wouldn't have been for him we wouldn't made that comeback in the Champions League all those moons ago. He just wasn't the same after that leg break although that was nasty.
It's a damn shame players have to age. If ever we needed Ian Rush it's now.
It might have something to do with people who first played it as a stand alone, and were frustrated by its (relative to the others) lack of content and ending. If you get an episode and it doesn't have as much content as you were hoping for something huge, but got something a lot smaller, you're going to hate it for the wait for the rest of the game.
I played them all back to back, so it seemed pretty much as good as the others to me.
I played them all back to back, so it seemed pretty much as good as the others to me.
Ep1 was mostly corridors and streets, Ep2 had more level variety and had plenty of open enviroments for Hunter combat.
While I quite enjoyed Ep.1, for instance the beginning with the crumbling Citadel; especially the set piece of the unstable reactor looked great. That and the skybox Valve used once outside, with the falling ash and swirling red storm of doom, really set the tone for that game. However I still think Ep. 2 was stronger. I just liked the more varied environments and, while some people hate vehicle sections, I loved that freaking car. I hope Ep.3/HL3 does a little more with character development. I'd like to see a wider range of emotions from Alyx and crew. And where the hell is Barney? Bring him back. I guess I'll just have to wait... and wait... *sigh*.
At first I developed a slight hate for Episode 1, because the flashlight didn't work on my PC (everything else was just fine, and it did work in Episode 2), so I had to finish the underground levels by the light of the commentary bubbles...
Still, aside from that, most of Ep 1 was just running from one encounter to the next, with very little character and story development. It wasn't a bad game. When I did eventually get the flashlight working, I enjoyed the hell out of it, but if Ep 1 hadn't been there I wouldn't have missed it.
Still, aside from that, most of Ep 1 was just running from one encounter to the next, with very little character and story development. It wasn't a bad game. When I did eventually get the flashlight working, I enjoyed the hell out of it, but if Ep 1 hadn't been there I wouldn't have missed it.
Funnily enough however, I didn't see him say that. He said it was the best one, but the entire series was overrated. Hell, I played them when they came out and thought that, but it seems saying that here is akin to being a troll.SmashLovesTitanQuest said:Theres a difference between saying "I didnt like them" and saying "herp I played them 5 years after they were released and I didnt like them so they are overrated lol".imahobbit4062 said:Sorry, am I no longer allowed to express my opinion?Moth_Monk said:imahobbit4062 said:
I think all of the Half Life games are each equally as good as one another.
What argument? This entire thread is about opinions, its what we thought of the game, there isn't a cold hard fact to be found here.TheKasp said:
OT:
Its been a good two or so years since I played half life from beginning to end, but i'd say whatever one where you have to go to revenholme was the worst out of all the half life 2 games. Cliché as fuck, even for the time.
WARNING SPOILERS IN THIS POST!
The problem with episode 1?
The lantern energy. But that's a gameplay problem. Also the piss easy ending.
But the hospital part was quite awesome. Dem music.
In terms of character development, I think it would be a bit unfair to compare EP1 and EP2.
EP1 truly made alyx an likeable, believable person, yes. She was shown as strong, but yet flawed. She acted like a human, some time attempting to lighten up the atmosphere (like the zombines joke), like a "normal" person would try, instead of simply "DEAL WITH IT GORDON, KILL THEM BEFORE I DO" many video game characters end doing.
But so much happened in EP2 that is hard to say that Alyx was more developed in EP1 than in 2.
The problem with episode 1?
The lantern energy. But that's a gameplay problem. Also the piss easy ending.
But the hospital part was quite awesome. Dem music.
In terms of character development, I think it would be a bit unfair to compare EP1 and EP2.
EP2 is clearly designed to make a bigger impact with the almost death of alyx and the killing of Eli, also the "return" of gman
EP1 truly made alyx an likeable, believable person, yes. She was shown as strong, but yet flawed. She acted like a human, some time attempting to lighten up the atmosphere (like the zombines joke), like a "normal" person would try, instead of simply "DEAL WITH IT GORDON, KILL THEM BEFORE I DO" many video game characters end doing.
But so much happened in EP2 that is hard to say that Alyx was more developed in EP1 than in 2.