Instead, they appear out of range or restrict your ability to do anything. Their status as a powerful force to be feared would be more effective if you were actually under threat from an unstoppable being, much like the xenomorph in Alien: Isolation. They only appear in cutscenes where agency is taken away from the player, and all they can do is look around. The telekinetic pod creatures are imposing, but never interactive. The data packet is meaningless, an important item that makes the Combine track you, even though you were already a target due to being the face of resistance. вЂњA humorous moment in Episode 1 is when humanity is given a PSA to begin reproducing again.вЂќ Episode 1 introduces some significant new elements to the plot, such as the mystery of the pod creatures and a data packet MacGuffin, both of which appear again in Episode 2 but still not fully detailed, though this matters little for the latter. This is the only dialogue I came across that introduced an entirely new angle of the resistance, that the Black Mesa scientists wouldnвЂ™t be able to walk away from the mess they started even if the Combine were fully repelled. While I always appreciate a less-is-more approach to detailing every aspect of a fictional world, I do think some of the subjects that Episode 1 and 2 bring up are never explored enough. It hints at some displeasure at the power structure of the resistance and leaves the potential for some drama within the ranks, but is never taken anywhere.Д¬ontinually bringing up interesting subjects but never spending much time with them is a frustrating aspect of these two episodes. Another aspect soon after this PSA was when soldiers questioned why the scientists who were responsible for the Combine presence in the first place are the ones in charge. It was a nice touch of black humor in regards to a humanity that is dwindling in number. Kleiner discussing how people should begin to procreate again in order to repopulate since the suppression field has been removed. One section of dialogue that also stood out to me was when you leave the underground into City 17вЂ™s streets, you hear Dr. вЂњThe basement wave defense really shows the need for the spring and flashlight to be disconnected: thankfully, this was done in Episode 2.вЂќДЄ small moment I appreciated was when Gordon is given the iconic crowbar by a resistance member, because it shows its importance more as a symbol to wield than an actual weapon. Putting me in a pitch black area that requires light as well as fast movement doesnвЂ™t enhance the horror, it just makes surviving a chore. Headcrab enemies already had a good sense of fear to them, especially the black headcrab and fast zombie versions. The frantic sequence of running in the dark not knowing where the enemy was or where a source of light could be became more frustrating than exciting. This wave defense suffers due to your flashlight and sprint draining the same meter, thankfully an issue resolved in Episode 2. I understand the tone they were going for, as the blackness was featured earlier and imbued a sense of fear since your flashlight relies on a draining resource and your other options for lights are flares or explosive items, the former of which barely gives off a light and the latter is deadly when shot too close to your location. The highlight of gameplay in Episode 1 would be the final underground section in which you fight against waves of headcrab infected soldiers and civilians in a pitch black basement.

Half life 2 sucks