The first 2 chapters are just Portal with Combine soldiers, being more "puzzle"-focused and you fight using only the gravity gun. The setting reminded me heavily of Portal 2, which is certainly not a bad thing.
I also liked how we see more of Alyx and her relationship with Gordon. There was a certain moment at the end of chapter 2 where we really see how human and vulnerable she is and not just her heroic side we only see in HL2.
The third chapter was a straight up horror game. Most of the chapter you're in the dark with only your meager flashlight and a couple of flares scattered here and there, and you actually have to point your flashlight on the zombies so that Alyx can shoot them, which was a nice touch to be honest.
A side-note here; the addition of the Aux power in HL2 was somewhat weird, as it tied the flashlight, the sprint and the underwater breathing to the same power source. While it certainly gave the HEV suit a more organic and realistic feel, and I really didn't have a problem with it in HL2, the problem becomes more pronounced in the third chapter as you'll have to juggle your use of the flashlight and sprint, resulting sometimes in you having to stand still for a couple of seconds so you can continue your killing spree.
The other 2 chapters are just more of the same as HL2 with the same problems of repetition and reusing the same bosses. Although the last 20 minutes or so was maybe one of the best moments in HL2 as a whole.
Also, the zombine joke is pretty hilarious.
I also liked how we see more of Alyx and her relationship with Gordon. There was a certain moment at the end of chapter 2 where we really see how human and vulnerable she is and not just her heroic side we only see in HL2.
The third chapter was a straight up horror game. Most of the chapter you're in the dark with only your meager flashlight and a couple of flares scattered here and there, and you actually have to point your flashlight on the zombies so that Alyx can shoot them, which was a nice touch to be honest.
A side-note here; the addition of the Aux power in HL2 was somewhat weird, as it tied the flashlight, the sprint and the underwater breathing to the same power source. While it certainly gave the HEV suit a more organic and realistic feel, and I really didn't have a problem with it in HL2, the problem becomes more pronounced in the third chapter as you'll have to juggle your use of the flashlight and sprint, resulting sometimes in you having to stand still for a couple of seconds so you can continue your killing spree.
The other 2 chapters are just more of the same as HL2 with the same problems of repetition and reusing the same bosses. Although the last 20 minutes or so was maybe one of the best moments in HL2 as a whole.
Also, the zombine joke is pretty hilarious.