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Half-Life 2: Episode One Hints
Helpful Tips
1 of 5: Be sure to make a regular save before you start the whole thing, then quicksave after each successful hole-plugging (if you managed it without losing too much health).
2 of 5: Right after making your regular save, go around and memorize exactly where each of the three holes is. Once you know, restore your save and start the plugging process, which should be made faster by the fact that you don't have to hunt for the holes.
3 of 5: A non-plugged hole will give off little visual sparklies in the air above it. That can help you find the holes during the above process, and it can help you determine whether or not a hole is actually plugged. (If it looks like it is but is still giving off the sparklies, then it isn't really.)
4 of 5: You'll probably find it faster to kill antlions with the shotgun rather than the gravity gun. It takes several gravity gun bursts to kill an antlion, and Alyx won't be able to kill every antlion you stun.
5 of 5: Right after plugging each hole, run over to Alyx and help her out if she needs it, then move on slowly and make sure she keeps up every step of the way. That way you can help cover each other, and neither of you will be overwhelmed. (Also, you can probably use the gravity gun and save shotgun ammo most of the time if you do it this way.)
