How to pass the “dark zombie garage” in Half-Life 2: Episode One?

Question

In Half-Life 2: Episode One, the last underground level is where Gordon and Alyx find an unpowered elevator, look around for a switch to power it on, and then try to survive the zombie onslaught while waiting the elevator to arrive.

In my previous playthroughs, I always struggled on this part, and could only survive after a few tries. (Damn you, massive zombie horde! Damn you, zombies carrying a grenade! Damn you, slow elevator that takes forever! Damn you, flashlight that doesn't have enough battery!)

Now that achievements were added to the PC version, I'm replaying this game, and I thought about The One Free Bullet achievement:

Finish the game firing exactly one bullet. Grenade, crowbar, rocket, and Gravity Gun kills are okay!

I tried getting it, but I'm repeatedly failing in this level. If using shotgun and sub-machine gun against a massive number of zombies in the dark was quite difficult, not using these weapons seems impossible! Half of the time I die, and half of the time Alyx dies. (Before trying to get this achievement, I didn't even know that she could die!)

So... What are the suggestions to pass this map? How to survive long enough? How to get this achievement?

Answer 1

The zombies with grenades are the best "weapon" since grenade glow in dark and you can take them with gravity gun packing some chaos...for other tricks check video.

Also Try to remember where the flares are,once it gets dark if you manage to find them you can use them to ignite zombies and get yourself some more light on the level.