Half-Life 2 (PC)

[Chadruharazzeb]

Thanks for that. Every time I tried to talk to a 'gaunt they just ignored me

I wonder how Freeman has managed to separate himself from all these goings on for so long?

<Columbo> And one more thing </Columbo>, who keeps launching the headcrab rockets all over the place? Even the combine kill them.

There's madness in every direction!

[Kotatsu Neko]

Has to be the best hidden story ever in a video game. For those who frequent forums, answers are forthcoming, but there must be plenty of people who bought it, finished it, and didn't have a clue what it was all about.

All they needed was just one little scene where Eli, Dr.Kleiner, Alyx, or *anyone* spent 2 minutes explaining what was going on.

I've just started playing through it again now. Taking my time, G-Man spotting.

[Concept]

Same here. I've been busy G-Man spotting myself, although I'm using the guidebook to hunt him down.

Five times already on my third playthrough.

[Concept]

Thanks for that. Every time I tried to talk to a 'gaunt they just ignored me

I wonder how Freeman has managed to separate himself from all these goings on for so long?

<Columbo> And one more thing </Columbo>, who keeps launching the headcrab rockets all over the place? Even the combine kill them.

There's madness in every direction!

That's a good question actually. The combine do kill headcrabs, but I think that's because they just can't control them very well. I think the shelling probably still does come from them.

The most intriguing comment for me though to do with the game, and it's something a lot of people may miss, is that the combine citadel is actually eating it's way through City 17. Actually taking it over like a parasite. If you look at the gate when it moves, and crunches down into the ground whenever you get near later on, then that's what it's doing. Slowly advancing through the city.

It's what Gabe Newell said during Half-Life 2's E3 2003 unveiling anyway.

[Concept]

W00tage! My hardback copy of Raising the Bar has just been delivered. Looks very swish.

Impressions later for those interested. Right now, I'm too busy playing through Nova Prospekt again.

[Magnakai]

Interesting comment re: The Citadel.
I'm gonna give the game another playthrough when I break up from school. Some very interesting thoughts in here.

Personally, I like how subtle the story is. It's almost a little insulting to the intelligence to have those ridiculous exposition scenes, and Valve shows their respect to their audience by making you dig a little.
At least, that's how I look at it. It's really exploring the interactive medium in a narrative.

[Spatial]

Yep, I'd always assumed that the Citadel was devouring the city to gather resources and materials to turn into aircraft / tanks and equipment.

When you reach the Citadel at the end, it seems that it goes pretty deep ( into earths core perhaps ) probably to anchor itself in good and proper, and to draw up energy perhaps ? Something that size would need a lot of juice after all

Those rocket shells with the Headcrabs are definately coming from The Overwatch as a means of taking down the resistance without damaging the environment too much. They're using them kind of like biological weapons which unlike conventional warheads will leave buildings and equipment intact.

They can't control the headcrabs as they're just like wild animals at the end of the day, but the Overwatch obviously figure its easier to take out headcrabs and zombies than the resistance. Or maybe they're not bothered that there'll be zombies around. After all they're probably confined nice and safe inside the confines of City 17 and the Citadel most of the time.

One thing I noticed last night when playing Black Mesa East again was when Alyx says they don't go to Ravenholm anymore, if you run up to the large gate she follows you and gives some more info. She says how its was a mining town used by the resistance until the Overwatch bombed it.

I'm surprised how much more I've spotted the Gman this time around. I've seen him a good three to four times more than my first play through

I think I'm going to give in and get Raising The Bar. Saw some sample pages of it last night and it looks pretty good. I'm particulalry interested in the ideas and characters that they decided not to implement or revamp. Marc Laidlaw has some really cool ideas in that head of his.

[Chadruharazzeb]

I've only seen G twice so far

Pathetic!

I assume I'll be finishing tonight (then again I thought that of last night and didn't, I only progressed one level) so I'll keep my eyes peeled for him next time.

Do you ever get to control the ant lions again, or was it just a one off gesture?

[Loc]

Just a one off sadly
Might give it another play and go G man spotting and try and spend more time figuring things out, never really gave it too much of my time investigating things, just looking out for those screaming zombies all the time.

[Rushy]

I saw Gman about 6 times.

On my second play though I'll be keeping a closer eye out for him.

[Spatial]

Well, speaking to Marc Laidlaw he's assured me that Valve have plenty more ideas of where the Half Life storyline is going ( though he wasn't about to give me any spoliers ).

Something tells me there's not going to be another six year wait for part 3

[Concept]

Just had a good read of my copy of Raising the Bar this evening. It doesn't take long to come to the conclusion that if you consider yourself a fan of Half-Life, then you need this book.

For a start, it contains a huge amount of detailed concept art and planning sketches from development. There are large parts detailing the parts cut and why they were. Also included is a detailed look at the development of the original Half-Life, and the mod developments surrounding the game such as Counterstrike. On top of that you've got full colour, full page in-game artwork littered everywhere from all the memorable scenes in Half-Life 2 that appear jaw dropping. There's also plenty of quotes, interviews with the development team and a gradual look into the processes which went into making the game. As well as this, you've also got short stories from Marc Laidlaw and possible scenes that were originally meant for Half-Life 2 that didn't make it into the game. And other stuff used to flesh out its world more. Throughout the book there's also a detailed examination of all the characters, including their models, the real people who Valve used as models, actors talking about their roles etc. And to bring the book to a close there's an immensly detailed examination into the way in which City 17 was brought to life and all the elements inspiring its creation, followed by a detailed look at all the levels from a development team point of view. The artwork in both sections is truly stunning.

Really, even if you're a gamer and aren't a hardcore fan of Half-Life, this is an exceptionally interesting read, even if only to get an in-depth look at the attention to detail which goes into making a high-profile game. The quality of the paper, the amount of varied interesting content, and the fact it's hardback all scream the high level of production that obviously went into making this book. Even the overall presentation of it design-wise is supremely polished, clutter free and very concise.

Here's a review:

http://www.halflife2.net/index.php?page=review_rtb

I'm surprised this is out for ?13 to be honest. I'd rate its value as much higher than that considering quality of content on display here.

[Spatial]

Where did you order your's from Concept ?

Everyone seems to be out of stock at the moment

[Concept]

I ordered from GAME a few weeks ago. But as you say, it's out of stock right now. Pick it up if you can though - The level of polish is very high.

Wait until you see how G-Man's real model looks uncannily like him in-game.

[Chadruharazzeb]

Just finished, woot! Fantastic last few levels - rah for the souped-up grav gun!!

I really enjoyed the fly-through of the citadel; beats "Welcome To Black Mesa" by miles

Still no idea what the plot was, and I'm crap at picking up on theories, but I've noticed a lot of people mentioning something to do with time. The only thing that struck me as odd (funny at the time) was the "incredibly slow teleport" when Gordon and Alyx teleport out of Nova Prospekt and it takes a week to arrive. Could that be significant?

I've started again, I'm going to pay more attention to details this time - the first time through I was more in awe of the environs to care.

G is definitely an enigma and almost certainly not a normal human, unless he is from the future. Is Gordon an experiment he's keeping his eye on, a sort of terminator sent back to perform certain impossible tasks?

Ynerghn!!!