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Half-Life 2: Episode Two

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9.2 User Score:

Universal acclaim

Based on 21 critic reviews
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Based on 957 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Valve Software

Developer: Valve Software

Genre(s): First-Person Shooter

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: October 9, 2007

Summary

Half-Life 2: Episode Two is the second in a trilogy of new games created by Valve that extends the award-winning and best-selling Half-Life adventure. As Dr. Gordon Freeman, you were last seen exiting City 17 with Alyx Vance as the Citadel erupted amidst a storm of unknown proportions. In Episode Two, you must battle and race against Combine forces as you traverse the White Forest to deliver a crucial information packet stolen from the Citadel to an enclave of fellow resistance scientists. Episode Two extends the award-winning Half-Life gameplay with unique weapons, vehicles, and newly-spawned creatures. [Valve]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Half-Life 2 Half-Life 2: Episode One The Orange Box

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

1UP

I've selected these examples at near-random to avoid spoiling truly standout showpieces. Episode Two's entire five-hour experience -- vivid, emotionally engaging, and virtually unsurpassed -- is full of them.

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100

Thunderbolt

Episode Two is an absolute must-purchase for any FPS fan. It’s an amazing experience from beginning to end. I truly cannot think of a way to improve this game.

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PALGN

Half Life 2 Episode Two equals Half-Life 2's achievements and in many cases vaults over the high bar which it created. Brimming with great story telling and excellent action it is almost a must play for anybody even remotely interested.

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Armchair Empire

Episode 2 is an awesome example of packing various kinds of gameplay into a compressed time span without the whole thing descending into a discombobulated mess.

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IGN

Any way you look at it, Episode Two stands out, even among the Half-Life series, as something special. It may be shorter than the original, but it's a burly experience packed into roughly six hours or so that offers up all the diversity, level design, and thoughtful gameplay we've known while making sure to propel the story forward and leave us wanting more.

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PC Gamer UK

Episode Two is the most sumptuous chapter of the Half-Life saga, and by a country mile. It's as if Valve's tech and art teams are trying to outdo each other: the Source engine has had a striking technical overhaul that renders textures, materials and curves uncannily well, and the artists clearly relish having a fresh palette to work with.

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AtomicGamer

On its own, Episode Two might not seem like much for its price tag, but as part of the Orange Box package, it becomes an excellent value that's packaged alongside two very different first-person games.

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Play (Poland)

A really solid add-on, as long as some full games and made like a good science fiction movie. At last the combat isn’t confined to city streets and cellars, so one can breathe freely. The only problem is the lack of new guns. But it’s an excellent sequel anyway. It has a megaton of mood, believable characters, sensible story motivating the hero and the old American clunker of a car switching gears with a wonderful grinding sound. It’s hard not to like it - and the Episode Two as well. [Dec 2007]

Eurogamer

A happy medium between the mind-blowing excess of its parent game and its somewhat compact Episode One offspring. While initially lacking in gameplay novelty or many truly 'new' elements that fans always hanker for, it more than makes up for this with its consistently engaging narrative tricks, refined set-pieces and a staggering climax.

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Computer and Video Games

More great story blended with improved AI and better firefights. It's starting to retread old ground though.

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AceGamez

By staying true to the already exceptional foundation of the series and adding meaningful changes that enhance the player's experience even further, Valve have demonstrated yet again that in this ever-competitive genre they still have the ability to impress and excel.

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GamerNode

The emotion, presentation, story and overall action-packed gameplay cements Episode 2 as an excellent addition in the Half-Life 2 series and PC gaming in general. While playing Episode 2, I never felt detached or alienated from the game.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

In fact, though a good bit shorter than the original Half-Life 2, Episode 2 quite possibly rivals it in terms of memorable sequences. These include some lengthy vehicle sections, some stunning scenery, some stand-out plotlines and a good few damned enjoyable fight sequences.

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VideoGamer

Half-Life fans are going to flip out over what Episode Two has to offer and FPS fans in general should find a finely crafted, lean experience.

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YouGamers

Fine addition to the overall storyline of Gordon Freeman. Fails to stand alone, but I guess that's episodic gaming. Bit on the short side and the weakest link of The Orange Box, but good fun as long as it lasts.

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Computer Games Online RO

As the game progresses, the initial familiar sensation disappears and we get caught up in the story again, there are many open spaces and we’ll be able to drive another car (a modified Dodge Charger) on more types of terrain.

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The New York Times

I was less impressed by Episode 2’s story. While it sows a few seeds for the final episode of the trilogy, the game lacks the driving force of the previous episode.

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PC Zone UK

Episode Two contains some of the series' greatest moments, and it's still every bit as charming as its predecessors, but it's so similar to Half-Life 2 that despite what Valve might believe, we're really left wanting something a bit fresher. [Dec 2007, p.60]

GameSpy

A worthy, entertaining addition to the Half-Life saga, even if it's a little more inconsistent than its predecessors. It's got plenty of the action, puzzles and set pieces that's made the series so successful to date, and that formula hasn't been tampered with.

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Four Fat Chicks

For the first time in its history, Valve has produced other than a superlative product. That's more disorienting than disappointing, as though the sky had suddenly changed color or cats started speaking. I don't dislike Episode Two. I just wish I liked it more.

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GameCritics

Despite its lackluster first act, Episode 2 ends up showing more of the kind of progressive gameplay I have been wanting to see from the series.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.2 (out of 10) based on 957 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Brandon J gave it a10:
Excellent! the drama between magnus and kliener was fun to watch. the puzzle to killing ratio was about the same as the rest, so its another masterpiece. although the crush every antlion grub achievement on steam has got to be the hardest one out there. also, someone commented on repetition of game play, well its not like a few weeks are going to change the complete game play just for this one game. And as a last comment i can't believe i predicted the ending withing a few minutes of playing it.

Travis G gave it a10:
The ending. I've never been so drawn into a game like this. This was the episode that REALLY made me care about Alex Vance as a person and not just as that quirky/funny chick that happened to like Gordon form the other games. Because of Episode 2 my outlook on this series has completely changed. Before I loved these games. But episode 2 ingrained them in me. Good job Valve, here's hoping that the announcement of your progress on Episode 3 come out this year.

scott d gave it an8:
yes could it be? something that actualy may be better then half-life 2! episode two (of three) push's the envelope for the series as it breaks out of the norm and gives us insight like never before! the enviroments are beutyful and the story is as wonderfuly told as ever and if i had to have any gripe with the expansion it would only be the finale, not that it's a bad finale, i just couldnt get 'into' the last little bit of action

Windson7 TheChosenOne gave it a10:
Episode Two has many activities unlike the past games. The achievements make the game even more amazing! Only if all the other Half-Life games were like episode two.

Aaron C gave it a10:
As the 2nd part of the Half-Life 2 Episodes (Otherwise known from Gabe Newell: Half-Life 3), this was a high-light of the entire Half-Life 2/3 saga. Starting out on a bang, and ending with a major shocker that I refuse to say here, this game never lets up on the action, and dark bleak world perfectly matches the universe of Gordan Freeman. A masterpiece of Valve, only surpassed by the orignal HL2. (Also to Dan m, This game is not an expansion, but a contination of HL2 E1 and HL2. It's not supposed to be a gun and run, and GIVE ME MORE GUNS game.) The only issue I have is that it takes awhile to get a gun, making combat in the beginning of the game difficult.

Alex M gave it a10:
The game is absolute amazing, best of the series, beautiful graphics, decent system requirements, great story, awesome new levels(antlion tunels, forests etc), new enemy(very powerful). Overall the game itself without the rest of the Orange Box is worth 50$, and for any Half-Life fan is a must buy.

Pat C gave it an8:
I would so SO very much like to give this a nine, or even a ten, but its just SO repetitive. Valve thought "hey riding in a car was fun in HL2! Lets add that to Episode 2!" except wait... they forgot to put a gun on it. Guess what that means! An hour of sitting in a car with Alex and minimal combat for half the game. They try to make it look exciting with zombies and gunships, but really, if you just follow the road, you guaranteed success. Everything else makes the game worth buying, but I almost returned it after I was cheated out of cool strider battle by dog and then forced to dive even further.

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Half-Life 2: Episode Two

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