Here’s the last of my Half Life 2 reviews until Half Life 2 Ep.3 comes out sometime in the distant future. Half Life 2 is actually a really massive game in scope. If Valve had made Half Life 2 and Ep.1 and Ep.2 all into one game, I think it would have taken Valve quiet a while to complete. I can see why they separated them into episodic games because it would allow them to release Half Life 2 installments quicker and leave the player wanting more at the end. I think it was a brilliant strategy, although now I’m itching to play Ep.3 which isn’t even available yet and I don’t even know when it will be. I’m at the mercy of Valve.

The game starts off exactly where Ep.1 left off. It does offer a bit of a summery cut scene at the beginning so if you don’t remember what happened before, this is a nice refresher. Again you start off with no weapons but you quickly gain access to the gravity gun again. The story line and plot to this installment is pretty strong, although there are a couple of levels I could have done without, mainly the underground level where you kill little grubs and what not.

I played though the game knowing what all the achievements were already so I was able to get them all in 1 play through without having to replay the game from the beginning again. I suggest you do the same although playing through again is no big deal as the game is very good and worth another play through. The game doesn’t really add any new weapons this go around until the very end where you kind of get a new weapon, but it is linked to your gravity gun and only works to kill striders. I’ll say that the gravity gun is still my most favorite weapon in the game, although the shotgun does wonders on zombies and combine soldiers.

I’ll say that this one I thought was better then Ep.1 as there is more action and firefights in this installment. Also the ending is a great cliffhanger. I can’t wait for Ep.3.

PS. I hate Garden Gnomes and grubs.