MagMrMad
The Backloggd account of MagnificentMrMad. Come here for awful takes and the like
FAVORITE GAMES ARE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR
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Favorite Games
342
Total Games Played
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Played in 2024
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7.5/10
Take everything wrong with the game (pacing,weak level design,shitty gimmicks) and somehow make them WORSE and you have Episode 1. For being less than 3 hours its genuinely baffling just how fucking dreadful going through it can be. The first two levels (out of FIVE) are just retreads of Half Life 2s finale with little sprinkles of originality (mainly platforming and light puzzles). It doesn't get much better after that, with the only real new mechanics being roller mines (which suck) and Zombine (who are annoying but otherwise fine) alongside unnecessary padding. Having to depend on Alyx so much in the levels really makes things so much worse, which reaches its peak with the absolute dogshit sniper section that forces you to wait for Alyx to take her sweet time to snipe (which could fuck you over since ammo is oddly stingy in the middle of Episode One). I'd like to say that things get better in the final level but NOPE. Exit 17 might just be one of the worst final levels in a shooter, with the crux of it being a pretty low energy escort mission ending in another ass strider encounter which ends on another cliffhanger.
If I had anything actually nice to say about Episode 1 it'd be just how nice it looks. Source really has held up after 20+ years of being an engine and the improvements look nice. Will also say some of the tracks go pretty damn hard, with the Hospital music being a great battle piece and the best section of the expansion. Otherwise this shit sucks and might just be the worst thing Valve has put out (that I've played).
3/10
Half Life 2 is a pretty impressive tech demo but besides that a lot of it feels like a downgrade from 1. The biggest offender is just how atrocious 2s pacing is in comparison to the original, with so much control being taken away in order to show a story (that imo doesn't really do much) or show some neat Source engine tech. While I wouldn't call 1 perfect (shit like On A Rail is pretty boring) it didnt get THAT bad. Half Life 2 has some truly abhorrent sections like both vehicle sections and ESPECIALLY Nova Prospekt which make going through 2 a slog. Its a shame because I do feel that HL2s gameplay is pretty fun, with a solid arsenal (albeit a bit too big) and the atmosphere fucking rocks throughout. I can only hope the Episodes salvage HL2 for me because otherwise its one of the most overrated games I've ever played.
6/10