Half Life Series and Story Discussion

The Vault Dweller

The Vault Dweller

always looking for water.
Yes I realise there have been HL threads in the past. However none of them specifically deal with Episode 2 or try to relate all the games, expansions, and episodes together.

I recently bought the Orange Box and played all of HL 2 and EP1 + 2 in the past two weeks.

Part of the reason I made this thread is to express my extreme and surprising joy over Half Life 2. I have to say that overall it is equal to it's predecessor. In all my years of playing games I have to say that is very rare. I realise that a sequel is always slightly less good than it's original if only, because the story will always be somewhat similar and hence less original. However Half Life 2 has so little in common in story that it often felt like it was stand-alone. Even if it was similar there's so much so well-done and different. I'm not going to bother going into detail since I'm sure everyone has discussed and knows what I'm talking about. I just want everyone to know I think that this is evidence that games don't have to get worse in sequels or that there is no hope for high-quality games in this now "mainstream gaming" society. I love you Valve.

Now on to story stuff...

Ahead all are spoilers so I'm putting everything after this in spoiler tag hidden.

[spoiler:d5a2fadd9e]overall story stuff:

I wonder if we'll ever see Adrian Shepard again? (from HL: Opposing Force) I mean the G-Man did say he would "never do harm again where he's going", but who knows. I'd at least like to see a reference to him even if he never gets involved.

Although I can't expect games to be realistic I've always wondered how Gordon can do so much for so long a time and not need sleep. HL2 started in a morning then went into evening (Ravenholm) then back to morning and into evening. (Citadel) He never slept in that time.

I really wish I could get more info about how the events of Half-life 1 lead to the situation in 2. I can easily make connections with all the little bits-and-pieces I hear and find, but it would be good to see it written down detailed and specifically. Actually I'm going to do some searching online for a HL Bible like the Fallout Bible I've seen here.

Episode 3 stuff:

Ok so we know that Eli was killed by some sort of "brain probing" and I can assume that the advisor(s) now know about the ship with the experimental equipment. I can already see the conflict being about who can get there first. I bet the combine will get there first and Alyx/Gordon will have to fight them before they access a specific area of the ship where the vital stuff is.

Speaking of which how will she react to her father's death? Alyx at the very least has been moderately serious with occasional time of happy emotion. With her father dead at the hands of the combine I can't help, but wonder if her character will change to being constantly sad and withdrawn/angry and spiteful. I would hate to see a character change that way, but at the same time it would be very appropriate though possibly cliche.

Also what about their relationship? Come on you know what I'm talking about. In HL2 your allies who depend each other. In EP1 she hugs you and occasionally makes joking conversation. In EP2 you save her life, father asks for grandkids, but most surprisingly I think in that scene after Eli mentions it Alyx pauses looks at Gordon than laughs at her Dad.

Not to mention that I've heard the death of a close loved-one often leads to sex. I know nothing about this, but it makes sense. Seeing someone close to you die might make a person cling more to those they care about. Also the whole dying thing would make someone realise how short life is and that they should...procreate to compensate.

I mean the sexual tension is such that I wouldn't be surprised if Alyx tried to rape Gordon. :lol:
[/spoiler:d5a2fadd9e]

Oh and Mikeal Grizzly. I spent an hour or so browsing various threads on HalfLife.net and saw you were a moderator there. Whats it with you and me liking the same games so much when each game has a large casual fanbase, but a small hardcore fanbase? C&C, Fallout, and now HL. Of course what's more amazing is that for all three you do a lot for the community. You're a moderator here, a moderator at the HL forum, and an editor at the C&C wiki. I thanked you for your work at the wiki and here, now let me thank you for your HL work.

Sincerely,
The Vault Dweller

*EDIT*

I realise it now. All three series (C&C, HL, Fallout) all have very original and well-told stories that also leave much to the player to understand and discover. Guess we just like theorizing about how the story goes...
 
I like Half-Life a lot, too, it's better than most FPSs those days. I must play Episode 1 and 2, though.

And the G-Man is god, Gordon Freeman, Dr. Breen, Barney Calhorn, your father AND your son!!!!1111one
 
I would like to say I have recently replayed all of the Halflife series and have also noticed that Shepard has been largely ignore. He was a bit of a accident though if you think about it. He was not talked to by the Gman at all in the story if I remember correctly until the end. He was just so damn highspeed that he was noticed by G and then he started helping them. Whoever the fuck the Gman really is which has been debated into the ground.
(my opinion is he's just a alien asshole)
Did anybody think that the Vortigaunts switching sides from 1 to 2 was a bit weird. They are to shady for me to trust. Who am I to judge though. I liked bashing scientists heads in as Gordon Freeman in part one. I understand the whole backstory of them being subverted by the Combine,but did I miss something?
 
I loved Half Life and Half Life 2. Episode one was nothing more than filler, didn't enjoy it. Episode two was a major improvement, but it was a little too streamlined.
 
Episode one was a bit short. Two was a giant improvement. Three will rule all I'm sure.
 
I would like to say I have recently replayed all of the Halflife series and have also noticed that Shepard has been largely ignore. He was a bit of a accident though if you think about it. He was not talked to by the Gman at all in the story if I remember correctly until the end. He was just so damn highspeed that he was noticed by G and then he started helping them.
Click to expand...

I doubt he's a acident, as the manual shows Shepard's diary, and in it, Shepard mentions that "Some sort of G-Man has been looking his training." And the G-Man forced him to stay in Black Mesa for a reason, he had a interest in Shepard, after all, he saved him. I don't remember G-Man doing anything like saving Gordon.

I'm kinda sad he has been kind of ignored, although he has not been forgotten. Opposing Force just kicked ass, the battle in the middle of "Worlds Colide" where Shepard tears though a entire Black Ops battalion in a depot while seeing almost nothing was just... EPIC. Ambushes in the dark and ten-minute shootouts with Black Ops agents for life, YEAH! The battle with the Geneworm was just as epic, too.

Oh, and aparently I also forgot Sheppard, sorry. He's the G-Man, too. : :twisted:

And I can't just wait until the "Combine dominates earth" arc of Half-Life ends so maybe they can explore further the mysteries of Opposing Force: What the hell where the Race X aliens and those weird flying balls of light?
 
TorontRayne said:
Did anybody think that the Vortigaunts switching sides from 1 to 2 was a bit weird. They are to shady for me to trust.
Click to expand...
They were enslaved and controlled by the Nihikanth in part 1, indicated by the green collar and arm bands.
Of course, my first impulse in HL2 was to shoot them on sight, only to discover that they are now friendly. My favourite HL2-quote actually came from a vortigaunt: "Ah, what pit would be complete without the Freeman climbing out of it?"
 
Yes Gearbox did a good job with Opposing Force. Personally I think it could have been greater, more use of NPC team members and bit longer. That said HL 1-2 has been a interesting ride. I do wonder if we get to revisit Black Messa again. Oh another thing that should be mentioned with HL, is its mod They Hunger. Now that was nice long romp of horror survival.
 
Wasn't Black Mesa destroyed in Opposing Force? Revisiting would prove quite difficult then.
 
Yes It was supposed to, but things are not always as simple as that. I wouldn't be surprised if some parts of it survived, but without a good plot there is little point of revisiting.
 
I have yet to find something bad to say about Half Life 1, 2 and the episodes. Ok I did not really enjoy the vehicules but other than that, when I first played them, I thought the games were perfect and I still gladly come back to them from time to time.

As regards Episode 3, I really hope that it comes with significant info about the G-Man even though Episode 2 made a nice ( tiny ) move in that direction.
 
I wonder if and how... [spoiler:eda6ddea3b]...the Portal stuff will be incorporated, what with "Aperture Science" references all over the place.[/spoiler:eda6ddea3b]
 
The Vault Dweller said:
Oh and Mikeal Grizzly. I spent an hour or so browsing various threads on HalfLife.net and saw you were a moderator there. Whats it with you and me liking the same games so much when each game has a large casual fanbase, but a small hardcore fanbase? C&C, Fallout, and now HL. Of course what's more amazing is that for all three you do a lot for the community. You're a moderator here, a moderator at the HL forum, and an editor at the C&C wiki. I thanked you for your work at the wiki and here, now let me thank you for your HL work.

Sincerely,
The Vault Dweller

*EDIT*

I realise it now. All three series (C&C, HL, Fallout) all have very original and well-told stories that also leave much to the player to understand and discover. Guess we just like theorizing about how the story goes...
Click to expand...

Well, I love quality in writing, gameplay and atmosphere, and so do you.

That, and great minds DO think alike ;)

One thing guys - Black Mesa is a crater. I checked the yield of the nuke (50km safety radius) and it turned Black Mesa into a crater.
 
...After that, I've got no idea.
Click to expand...

You just see the Borealis and after a pitch to black just like the finale in the Sopranos, you'll get this message:

[spoiler:002784d54a]
Half-Life 3
Coming 21 December 2012! [/spoiler:002784d54a]
 
I'm also a huge admirer of Half Life series. It has something I value most about games - unique atmosphere. And a storyline that doesn't "spoonfeed" you. This adds a lot to replay value as well.
I also loved to find out that Erik Wolpaw joined the writing team in Episode 2. His work on Portal was also brilliant. I knew him from "Psychonauts", one of my favorite games of all time (also probably the funniest game I've ever played). The guy has such a wit. Did anyone else notice how there were much more funny dialogues in Episode 2 compared to earlier Half Life installments?
I would also recommend this interview to anyone who hasn't read it yet. Very entertaining stuff.
 
Magnificent game. By "game" I mean all three installments. HL2 is like a great book, you get more by going through it again and again.
 
Buxbaum666 said:
TorontRayne said:
Did anybody think that the Vortigaunts switching sides from 1 to 2 was a bit weird. They are to shady for me to trust.
Click to expand...
They were enslaved and controlled by the Nihikanth in part 1, indicated by the green collar and arm bands.
Of course, my first impulse in HL2 was to shoot them on sight, only to discover that they are now friendly. My favourite HL2-quote actually came from a vortigaunt: "Ah, what pit would be complete without the Freeman climbing out of it?"
Click to expand...

Interesting. I didn't know that. Where is that referenced at? I still hate Vortigaunts. Fucking lightning shooting bastards.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top