Half Life 2 has sold millions of copies and won countless awards for its excellent achievement in creating a cinematic gaming experience. The official sequel, Episode 1, used to be called “Aftermath,” but developer Valve chose to split it up in three Episodes, released over two years. The first episode is finally here, question is, does it live up to the hype?

Episode 1 picks up where Half Life 2 left off; the destruction of the Citadel in City 17. From the moment you start fighting your way (back) into the Citadel, you notice that everything is like it was in Half Life 2, everything feels familiar, and that is exactly the way you want it to be, just like Half Life 2.

This time though, Alyx, the hot rebel fighting the Combine invasion, accompanies you. You might think she’ll slow you down, but trust me, you’ll need her help. It’s very clear that Valve put in a lot of work into Alyx, and making the game rely on teamwork. And they succeed in doing just that. The one-two punch tactics with Alyx works great, the A.I. and the scripted work is better than in any other game to date. The puzzles are a bit harder this time, since you tend to find yourself in a combat situation while having to solve a puzzle at the same time. It makes for some tense moments in Episode 1, something the original could not deliver.

If you expect some new weapons and content, you’ll have to look elsewhere than Episode 1. Most of your enemies are the same, and you get no new weapons. Nevertheless, that only adds to the experience, sine everything feels the same way Half Life 2 did, it’s very easy to just pick up and play. It’s clear that Valve did this on purpose, it’s not Half Life 3, but a continuation of Half Life 2.

Graphically the game looks better than the original, simply because the Source Engine has been optimized and now has full HDR (High Dynamic Range) support. That makes the environment look a lot better and more realistic than before. The textures and lightning are just good as in the original, if not better. Alyx has a great level of detail, much more than in the original, alongside with great physical movements.

The sounds does exactly what it’s supposed to do, it adds depth and realism to the game play, accompanied with a nice soundtrack kicking in during intense moments. The characters sound great, from Alyx to the rebels to the combine soldiers, all top notch voice acting.

Episode 1 packs a few hours of intense combat and puzzle solving that would challenge most gamers and Half Life fans. The game continues the storyline in a great fashion, giving you details but not too much. Most gamers will end up with three to five hours of game play, which isn’t bad in and of it self, since you only pay $20 for it. But after a few hours, when you get into the story, the puzzles etc. and suddenly, the game ends. You’re left wanting more, a lot more. And that’s exactly what Valve does, making you eagerly await Episode 2.

Final score: 8/10