half life episode half life episode person shooter video game second episode series sequels half life developed tandem episode game series released content distribution platform episode released separately bundled package orange box episode gameplay consists expansive environments travel reduced linear play continuing valve policy episode particular theme set technologies following closing events episode sees series major characters moving away city surrounding countryside retail version released october north_america russia windows microsoft xbox repeated delays version playstation released weeks later produced separately studio according valve marketing director version delayed rest world release date october steam version released worldwide october gameplay predecessors game played person series protagonist troops known combine hostile alien creatures levels linear add open environment consisting puzzles person shooter game play sequences involving vehicles interspersed game breaking moments combat focal points episode meant increased use vehicles open areas game retains original linear style final battle episode puzzles episode including biggest physical puzzle series damaged unstable bridge game features numerous achievements similar playstation trophies xbox live achievements carrying certain tasks essential game progress helping fight invasion defeating hunters optional tricks feats player perform killing combine soldier grenade running certain number enemies car enemies episode featured new hunter enemy seen briefly recorded message episode hunter serves dangerous enemies game means emotional development hunter powerful enemy players run seeking means fight episode environments designed mind interview august issue gamer magazine revealed hunter stands feet tall game project lead states hunters big impressive player player encounter indoors outdoors senior artist valve talks hunter express emotions somewhat non human character want hunter able express aggression aggressive hurt mad hunters aggressive tend operate packs found supporting combine troops late game found escorting guns protect player trying attack hunters primarily attack player firing bursts cannon ordinary human soldier strike living target charge seconds explode dealing minor damage nearby hunters conduct charging attack strike legs player gets close hunters vulnerable weapons compensate making explosives pulse rifle charged energy ball attractive options objects thrown gravity gun effective especially player catches object game achievements outdoor environments run vehicle new forms appear game glow dark harmless worm like creature functions minor health light source killing earns achievement second worker body produces powerful poisonous acid addition ranged acid spit attack explode killed launching acid short radius making dangerous close combat opponents thematically similar original closer poison enemy player target new guardian glow dark features added guardian hunts attacks player endeavors extract guardian protects accompanies player guardian fearing extract ruined player accomplish goal creature eliminate player eventually given chance kill weapons episode features new additions inventory introduces new form gravity gun ammunition device named head base rocket project prior game release weapon referred item useless deployed gravity gun level designer describes sticky bomb fire draw power internal power source game device stick long contacts body instantly destroy fired player weapons targets destroying player grasp shooting attached ones valve developers said new weapons priority gravity gun direction innovation interested objects like saw blades interesting additions game policy implemented varied gravity gun ammunition logs half height tanks easier aim size fuel drums vehicles large sections game feature car resembles rebuilt dodge appears tuned performance radar system installed later game allowing player locate rebel supply final battle rear mounted storage rack added radar adjusted track enemies unit installed player quickly locate car chaos final battle suit synopsis setting contrast episode entirely urban setting episode sets action rural areas villages forests mining facilities mountain caves exact location remains vague signs russian eastern european setting gas pumps prices displayed swedish added confusion gameplay parts extent geographically linear previous games climactic fight particular taking place entire map enclosed arena plot continuing plot episode episode consists seven chapters telling story journey large base called combine earth occupation forces destruction citadel begin opening massive super portal allowed reach critical size allow combine reinforcements destroy resistance explained broadcast episode caused communications leaving combine isolated disorganized meantime addition pods scattered region evacuating citadel crucial plot combine message home copied gordon making escape combine sacrificed citadel send contains data combine portal code resistance use collapse portal forms completely gordon climb wreckage train escape city proceed away city foot old transmission station duo temporarily establish communication currently update events destroyed citadel discovering importance transmission copy cut combine sweep area forcing abandoned critically wounded hunter discovers leads underground resistance shelter power heal gordon venture nearby colony recover extract necessary healing procedure gordon extract begin heal distracted man able contact gordon time start episode hints importance long term plans revealing saved life despite objections unspecified party man instructs unconscious tell father prepare consequences recovered gordon proceed arrive convoy combine troops despite slowed multiple road blocks near death encounter advisor gordon reunited player formally introduced scientist authoritarian team scientists preparing rocket plan use conjunction combine portal code satellite array launched gordon close combine gordon initial combine attack base gives message recovered citadel episode contains footage current coordinates science research vessel explains day suddenly vanished thin air surrounding drydock explained technology ship contains insists aid resistance effort impossible control destroyed regardless agree gordon travel attempt find delivers man message father physically shaken having leave temporarily reveals gordon man refers mutual friend provided test sample caused resonance cascade incident half life strange warning gordon entered test chamber promises discuss gordon closed rocket prepared comes attack dozen escorted hunters gordon engages destroys experimental explosive charges created rocket successfully launched super portal closed combine forces earth gordon prepare leave point warns gordon ship cargo head hangar intending board old helicopter restored pair advisors burst hangar gordon watch killed advisors second advisor prepares kill bursts roof attacks causing advisors flee game fades slowly father body development episode developed simultaneously episode development team led schedule simultaneous development aided story games create storyline technology games allowing development teams quickly fix technical problems arise game happened multi platform release announcement july stating episode released xbox playstation addition previous series separated originally rumored episode delayed june valve confirmed release date episode october announced platforms valve handled development game xbox electronic arts british office worked playstation version game announced september playstation version game delayed development studio game united_kingdom away valve development team schedule valve marketing director gave assurance xbox playstation versions game identical functionality performance audio episode soundtrack composed composed music half life series installments music played primarily scenes major plot development particularly important action sequences early fight massive wave speeding train tracks fired helicopter soundtrack included russian edition orange box sold separately audio commentary featured episode notable change vocal cast inclusion actor voice replaces role actor voices civilian rebel notably character informs player locations penultimate chapter reception half life episode received critical acclaim game average score based reviews review aggregator gamerankings metacritic game average score based reviews ign rated game praised improved visuals expansive environments cited short hour length said way look episode stands half life series special experience packed roughly hours offers diversity level design thoughtful gameplay known making sure propel story forward leave wanting awarded game score citing approval story turns introduction stories new characters praised game noting game entire hour experience vivid emotionally engaging virtually gamer applauded episode noting chapter half life saga country mile new_york_times enjoyed gameplay saying battles episode half life require fast computer video games commented game graphics saying game engine starting look age wonderful art design odd bit technical spit shine ensure episode doesn lose wow factor noticed game goes fixing lot complaints episode especially open forests rocky hills episode reviewers noted shortcomings new_york_times commented story episode noting seeds final episode trilogy game lacks driving force previous episode gamespy criticized game saying little inconsistent predecessors opening segments game arguably weakest parts
Half-Life 2: Episode Two