To correspond to releasing Half-Life 2 and episodes on OSX, Half-Life 2 gets achievements and some improved graphics to bring it up to speed with Episode 2 as well as Steam Cloud support. 

I think it's time to hop back into the shoes of Gordon Freeman!

Half-Life 2

• Added support for Mac
• Added Steam Cloud support for save games
• Added new achievements
• Improved graphical effects

Half-Life 2: Episode One

• Added support for Mac
• Added Steam Cloud support for save games
• Added new achievements
• Improved graphical effects

Half-Life 2: Episode Two

• Added support for Mac
• Added Steam Cloud support for save games

http://store.steampowered.com/news/3872/

And I just played through Half Life 2 and Episode 1 these last couple of weeks!

I didn't play for very long, but I did notice some better textures and other things from Episodes 1 and 2 that have been added such as light bloom, dynamic shadows cast from your flashlight and Vortigaunts (I started at red letter day so I didn't check the one slave one in the train station) looked like the ones from Episode 2 with the smoother skin.

*edit* The Episode 2 blood effects are there as well. I thought the original blood effects looked better and less cartoonish.

However, there are some bugs with this as well so I'd expect some patches incoming very soon.

good to see support to mac!
now I can enjoy it :)

Im thinking of playing it through.

How many hours does each episode take, starting from the actual HL2?

HL2 - 10-12 hours

Ep 1 - ~5 hours

Ep 2 - A little longer than episode 1

I would highly recommend playing through them! I don't think you will be disappointed.

Slimebeast; the whole package took me roughly 25 hours on the first play through. Episode 2 is still by far the best shooter I have ever played in my life and might very well be the first shooter since the original Quake that I finished in one day.

Mummelmann said: Slimebeast; the whole package took me roughly 25 hours on the first play through. Episode 2 is still by far the best shooter I have ever played in my life and might very well be the first shooter since the original Quake that I finished in one day.

Okay that's cool. Maybe Ill do it. I really really should.

For referenece on length since that's how far I got the last time i played HL2, about how far into the game is that part where that ex-priest is coming from the church in the scene where Freeman rides in this little cart?

Father Grigori is at the end of the Ravenholm level, I'd say somewhere around the middle but I can't seem to remember since its been a couple of years since I played it last.
The driving levels (both boat/jet ski and car) are what take the longest but there's a lot less content than in the levels you traverse on foot so its a bit deceptive.
By far the best level in HL2 imo is Nova Prospekt, which is after the Ravenholm level, you should really play it!
Episode 1 is slow paced and focuses more on bonding with Alyx while Episode 2 is epic in every sense of the word, its manic, chaotic and exciting as all hell!

Gosh I just love an excuse to re-live HL2. It looks better than ever, and runs quite well on my Macbook Pro. Steam on Mac has been a dream of mine for years, I'm glad Gabe and crew grew out of their hating and brought us a great experience. Bugs aside, its awesome to be playing a title I bought in 2004 on my Mac without having to pay for it again. Thanks Valve!