HλLF-LIFE 2: EPISODE ONE
The direct continuation of Half-Life 2 does exactly what it needed to be, a natural "next to" what HL2 would be. A much smaller experience when compared to HL2 and that hindsight that Episodes 1 and 2 honestly could've been one whole game but beyond the story relations, Episode one finds a way to expand it's actual gameplay with it very well. From honing your reliance on the gravity gun, combat in the darkness, and so on.
HL ep1 is the most direclty "more half-life 2" when compared to 2 which pushes itself out way more but is only as integral when you've played through episode 1.

HλLF-LIFE 2: EPISODE ONE The direct continuation of Half-Life 2 does exactly what it needed to be, a natural "next to" what HL2 would be. A much smaller experience when compared to HL2 and that hindsight that Episodes 1 and 2 honestly could've been one whole game but beyond the story relations, Episode one finds a way to expand it's actual gameplay with it very well. From honing your reliance on the gravity gun, combat in the darkness, and so on. HL ep1 is the most direclty "more half-life 2" when compared to 2 which pushes itself out way more but is only as integral when you've played through episode 1.