Half-Life 2: Episode One review

Valve breathes new life into the seminal shooter, chapter by chapter

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For the first part of the game, Alyx packs the only weaponry - you have the Grav Gun - which creates an unusual, co-dependant relationship between the two of you. In one lights-out section, she can't see to shoot and you have the only flashlight, so you're looking after each other in a challenging, dynamic way.

Valve's achievement is in creating a character you can rely on and feel protective about. Whether she's watching your back or you're saving her from zombies, she's so effective that it's easy to forget Alyx is actually electro-brained AI. She's always aware of your actions, and makes great tactical decisions.

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DescriptionAlyx and Dog return to add chapters to the ongoing saga of super-scientist Gordon Freeman.
Platform"PC","Xbox 360","PS3"
US censor rating"Mature","Mature","Mature"
UK censor rating"16+","16+","16+"
Alternative names"Half-Life II: Episode One"
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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Ben Richardson is a former Staff Writer for Official PlayStation 2 magazine and a former Content Editor of GamesRadar+. In the years since Ben left GR, he has worked as a columnist, communications officer, charity coach, and podcast host – but we still look back to his news stories from time to time, they are a window into a different era of video games.