Half-Life 2: Episode One
 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...L2EP1cover.jpg
Half-Life 2: Episode One (Aftermath)
Release Date: June 1, 2006

Synopsis
In this episodic sequel (formerly known as "Aftermath"), players continue the groundbreaking story that came to an explosive halt at the conclusion of Half-Life 2. Players once again assume the role of Gordon Freeman and team up with sidekick Alyx Vance to flee the remnants of a nearly-destroyed City 17 and it's eerily-empty streets.

The action begins quickly as the damage to the citadel has been done and Gordon and Alyx must lead the evacuation effort. Enemies previously un-attackable such as crab and mortar synths now stand in your path as you try to help Gordon and others escape the imminent citadel blast.

Once again utilizing the Source technology and HDR lighting popularized by Half Life 2, Episode One aims to begin the tradition of episodic content for Half Life fans. Gamers can expect over six hours of game play while taking out enemies with the help of Alyx's pet robot dog.

So who else is hyped about this game?
I've enjoyed all of the HL games so far, and I doubt this new expansion will be anything less than exceptional.

The latest bit that I've heard about the game is that Valve has already begun to preload it onto Steam accounts, and is offering a $2 discount for those that preordered it through their system:

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/8...1splash4lx.jpg

Media
Screenshots: 1 2 3 4
Trailer

I'm pumped, but a 2$ discount it pretty lame, that won't get anyone to preload it who wouldn't have already.

I wonder how exactly they're going to get out of the blast of the citadel that happened at the end of HL2, and how Gman's going to be involved in this one.

I can't wait, more HL2, and now I have a computer than can handle HDR well!

Apparently, from what I've seen in trailers, the G-Man "loses control" in this one, so you're not acting as his employee anymore. While I doubt you'll actually have to fight him, perhaps we'll be treated to more than 2 G-Man monologues in this one. Though fighting the G-Man in a crowbar vs briefcase deathmatch of epic proportion, preferably while on a train like the one at the end of HL, jumping from world to world, with lots of burning and exploding things all around would be nice.

And the finale would be like:
G-Man: Gordon, I am your father.
Gordon: NOOOOO! *Falls off the train into a wormhole and ends up in, uh, 1942, and fights against, say, Hitler. And headcrabs. And headcrab-zombie Hitler. For Half-Life 3*

SPOILERS PLZ :boxing: :boxing: :boxing:

NOW I'LL POST THIS STORY ON GAMEFAQS AND THEY'LL ALL KNOW THE STORY AHAHAHAHA.

I understand that these types of games don't have as much gameplay as an RPG, but..... 6 hours? That's it?

That's more like it ;D

I never played the extra mission released around six months(?) ago... I should try that in a full run-through shortly before this is released. I'll most definitely buy this ^^

There is no extra 'mission'. There is only a demo that shows HDR off, known as Lost Coast.

Thought Lost Coast was an extra downloadable Mission along Freeman's road-trip =(

We're talking 6 hours, in FPS standards, for a $20 game.
That ain't too shabby if you ask me.

Oh great, now I need to get my computer fixed before then. Son of a bitch. Why couldn't my Radeon just cooperate? :(

I'm hyped, but I wish I would be longer than 6 hours. That's pretty much going to be several thousand people's evening's.

Also, I wish they'd stop pushing the date back. Shit was already supposed to come out.

And finally, I wish these kids would release Black Mesa: Source. There's not enough HL action in my life.

Im excited, but 6 hours of gameplay seems less then stellar.

$17.95 for six more hours of the best game I've seen in the past six or so years sounds like a deal to me.

Not to mention there will hopefully be dozens of mods for it. Thanks to mods for Half-Life 2 I've played through it dozens of times, and probably played Garry's Mod more than that.

So yeah, I've already pre-ordered and pre-loaded Episode One, and can't wait for the minute it gets unlocked.

How do you make a mod for what's already somewhat of a mod in itself? I mean, Episode One is a standalone game, sure, but is it really going to have that many new things that people will really want to mod for it? I didn't see anything in the trailer but old enemies.

The distinction being that Episode One will probably contain additional content in the source engine and people will mod said additional content. I mean, yes, it's kind of like a mod, but it's also more than just a mod.

It'll have the crab and mortar synths (which could be seen in HL2, yes, but didn't do anything even when modders attmepted to use them), of course, and new weapons, including a new version of the Gravity Gun from what I've heard. Probably more things you can do with DOG, as well, since he apparently has an increased presence in the game.

What's a crab and mortar synth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...e_2#Crab_synth

You could see them while being carried through the citadel, but they actually had no stats/weapons/AI/etc.

Roughly how long was HL2? Just beat it but wasn't really keeping track of time...

For episodic content, 6 hours should be plenty. If they can manage to release new content fairly frequently then it'll be even better. Also, to put $20 in context consider the prices of an MMORPG subscription (per month) or a magazine that comes out monthly. Then consider the price of your average PC/console game.

Well there goes another keyboard. Grape soda everywhere. You sir, won six internets.

Yeah but do you remember how long ago Episode 1 was announced compared to how long it's taken to come out and how many times its been pushed back? I might be wrong, but I don't imagine another Episode being released within 2006 unless they've already started on it.

Teaser #1
Teaser #2

New Releases.

Preloading it as I type. I wasn't sure if I wanted to be shafted by the stupid episodic content crap, but then I heard something wonderful:



It's just something I can't miss. Plus It's only $18 right now.

I think a big part of why it took so long is they went back and enhanced or added a lot of stuff, like some new facial animation stuff, new lighting models, HDR rendering, etc.

With all of that already implemented, as long as they don't want to add more stuff, creating new episodes shouldn't take very long at all.

How do you know this? It doesn't release until the 1st.