Not as good as the first Half Life 2, and is quite short. But--it has an important part of the story clinging onto it. Still pretty good.
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Half-Life 2: Episode One
(2006, Video Games - First Person Shooter, Rated M, Play it on: Windows)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Maintains quality, brutality -- adults only.
Why We Rated This 
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Half-Life 2: Episode One was written by Aaron Lazenby
Parents need to know that players navigate a dark storyline featuring an apocalyptic alien invasion and the potential end of the human race. Action is fast and furious, featuring graphic violence and incredibly creepy situations. Players use grenades, machine guns, a signature crow bar, etc., and blood splatters, bodies fly apart, zombies catch on fire, and more. While this is the next installment of the Half-Life 2 series, you don't need the original game to play this chapter.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about what makes the series more effective than other first-person shooters. Does attention to plot, character development, and dialogue deepen the game experience -- and make it more disturbing? Does creating a long-form story also create a long-term consumer, ready to invest in the next chapter?
More on Half-Life 2: Episode One
What’s the Story?
HALF-LIFE 2: EPISODE ONE picks up where its predecessor left off. Players control Dr. Gordon Freeman as he picks himself out of the rubble of the Citadel, the ominous headquarters of the alien invasion that was damaged in the final scene of the last game.
Facing a cataclysmic meltdown that would destroy everything for miles around, Gordon and his (potentially) romantic sidekick Alyx must fight their way into the heart of the Citadel and stabilize its reactor core. And maybe find out more about this alien invasion along the way...
Suffice it to say that there are a lot of mutant zombies and jack-booted military police to do battle with.
CloseIs It Any Good?
Beyond the advancing plot, players of Half-Life 2 won't find a whole lot new here. All of the weapons are the same, and only one new adversary is added to the mix. Mature players new to the series should start with the original, or else they won't have a clue about what's going on.
While players might be disappointed in the length of Half-Life 2: Episode One (the committed can finish the game in one multi-hour sitting), they will thrill to the game's trademark creativity when it comes to cinematic style and puzzles. The cut scene introduction is more effective than most summer movies and guarantees to raise a few goose bumps. And the gravity gun (a weapon that works like a magnet, pulling an object close to you then allowing you to launch it violently at an enemy) is also in full effect.
ClosePublisher’s Details
Released on 07/31/2006, price $19.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language)
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language)
Our Members Say
See all 9 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
- Easy to play
Important, but not as good
- I rate this title off for age 11 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Safety is an issue
sweet
sweet game
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
An underrated classic
This is a great expansion to what may be the greatest game ever. Too bad when I ask anyone about they assume it sucks because "Halo is cooler!". Halo is a good game, but not nearly as good as this. If you are looking to buy a great FPS, any game in the Half-Life series is they way to go. This game is kind of bloody, but this isn't an extremely violent game like Mortal Kombat or even God of War. A sh** is said once, but goes by quick anyway.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Better, but still boring.
This was much shorter than Half-Life 2 (obviously), but it was still a much better play. Again, no puzzles, but not as much violence. There's still too much running, shooting, and killing.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say kids find it easy to play |
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openmindeddad recommends:
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for kids age 14
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