A head-up display appears on the screen to display the character's health, energy, and ammunition. Episode One integrates tutorial-like tasks into the story to familiarize the player with new gameplay mechanics without breaking immersion. The gameplay is broken up between combat-oriented challenges and physics-based puzzles. In Episode One, players make their way through a linear series of levels and encounter various enemies and allies. The co-operative gameplay with Alyx received particular praise, although the short length was criticized.
The game uses an updated version of Valve's Source engine, with new lighting and animation technology.Įpisode One received mostly positive reviews. For Episode One, they focused on the player's relationship with Alyx, developing her artificial intelligence. Valve wanted to release new games quickly, without spending years developing a major new product with new tools. Players control scientist Gordon Freeman, who, alongside his companion Alyx Vance, must escape City 17 before an explosion destroys it.Įpisode One was the first in a planned trilogy of shorter episodic games that continue the story of Half-Life 2 (2004). Like previous Half-Life games, it combines shooting, puzzle-solving, and narrative. Half-Life 2: Episode One is a 2006 first-person shooter game developed and published by Valve.
