A word about value (HL2:Epi 1)

So take an engine that should have been released earlier. Update it, add content to an already enjoyable storyline and what do you have? You get the first of three episodes being released for HL2.

Now I will preface, I've been busy so I haven't had a chance to tear through the game and finish in the requisite 4 hours, but I can give you my first impressions. The game is polished to be sure, improvements that we've already seen in Lost Coast, CSS and other mods such as the HDR options are used to good affect in E1. Having a side kick along, though sometimes feeling stiffling adds a nice dimension for what was mostly a pure single-player title. Puzzles are interesting, enemies moderate, but most of all the whole package, while not mindblowing is fun.

A lot of folks have taken exception to relatively short play-time offered by this first episode. While I can understand their frustration I tend to look at it more as a question of did you get your moneys worth. In all fairness there have been games at launch that charged $50 for 20 hours of gameplay, but the catch is, if that 20 hours of is boring, ploding and fairly unimaginative really are you getting your money's worth?

I for one am happy with what I've gotten out of HL2:E1, a tightly created title which extends an already very enjoyable Single Player experience.