Even though Half Life 2 was originally released almost a year ago, it’s still considered a golden standard in the FPS genre. Its graphics, game play, story line, and exquisite voice acting makes gamers like us keep the game “dusted off” and still fresh. Valve, realizing they didn’t want to waste a great product line, decided to continue their beautiful lineage and create an episodic adventure, beginning here with Half Life 2: Episode 1.

This game should prove to quench our thirst for more understanding after the cliffhanger ending in Half Life 2. Though this version isn’t as far reaching as the original Half Life 2, Alyx your “main companion” in this title will provide you with enough laughs, astonishment, and shotgun shooting to can handle with an extremely realistic smile. But don’t expect too many answers: you find yourself with more and more questions.

Picking up right where Half Life 2 left off, we again get to bask in the beauty that is Valve’s Source engine. But not to be outdone by their previous technological accomplishments the addition of High dynamic range rendering (or HDR) and a new version of their facial expression and animation technology make their debut. Valve has also kindly added those nice little “comment bubbles” from their technology sample, Lost Coast, into Episode 1. So every geek out there rejoice: you get to hear more about how those geniuses at Value created the game. Yes, we too are excited.

So get your favorite chair, turn on that laser mouse, and grab some non-caffeinated beverages: this is your review for the short but awesome ride that is Half Life 2: Episode 1.