Half-Life 2: Episode 2 Preview

Chris D

Chris D

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In a rare news post from your ex-lead editor, (purely because I'm so excited!!!), I am pleased to annouce that the great guys over at CSNation have published their final part in a series of Orange Box previews.[br]Of course this one is about none other than Half-Life 2: Episode 2!
Jaws will drop, revelations will occur, and more questions than answers will be raised. Perhaps, even a few heart strings will be tugged on, you'll just have to wait and see.
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So without further ado, please visit the full preview here.
 
There are no spoilers except for Episode One and the things present in the gameplay videos from last year.
 
Thanks Chris.

For those worried about spoilers, only the "Story" section has spoilers, and these are mainly for Episode 1 and the original HL2. The rest of the preview only features non-spoiler information from my play through of the game and also more detailed information about things seen in trailers or said in previous interviews.

Yes, the water is sexy. Certainly looks a bit better than in previous titles, but I can't quite place my finger on it.
 
Zips said:
Thanks Chris.

For those worried about spoilers, only the "Story" section has spoilers, and these are mainly for Episode 1 and the original HL2. The rest of the preview only features non-spoiler information from my play through of the game and also more detailed information about things seen in trailers or said in previous interviews.

Yes, the water is sexy. Certainly looks a bit better than in previous titles, but I can't quite place my finger on it.
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It's not as ridiculously wavy as before.
 
Good preview.

Also feeling the YZ avatar Zips :)
 
"The full cast of characters does make a return from Episode 1..."

This is important. More important than you might think. In all the previews of Episode Two that we've had, all the pictures and videos we've seen, even spoiler videos, who's been missing? Who's been missing, and who'd I call out all those months ago in my sig?

Yeah. Maybe. Maybe not, but maybe...
 
Darkside55 said:
"The full cast of characters does make a return from Episode 1..."

This is important. More important than you might think. In all the previews of Episode Two that we've had, all the pictures and videos we've seen, even spoiler videos, who's been missing? Who's been missing, and who'd I call out all those months ago in my sig?

Yeah. Maybe. Maybe not, but maybe...
Click to expand...
You talking about Barney?
 
I just wonder if Breen will make his return in ep2 maybe he might return in ep3 rather than ep2.
 
anyone notice that if you right click on your pre-load in Steam it gives you a countdown screen. 9.51 hours to go ;)

I'm seriously going to have to contemplate pulling a sickie here...:naughty:
 
Scoots said:
You talking about Barney?
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*Nods*

If the entire cast is back, like the review says, then why hasn't he been seen all this time? I kind of think the reviewer might be wrong by saying "the ENTIRE cast." Or maybe he does show up. It's been a question on my mind though; where is he? Why is he not in any of the shots or videos? Very curious. Everyone else but him has been shown to be in the game, whether Gordon sees them in person, on a video transmission, what have you. Everyone but Barney.

"See you on the other side, Gordon." That's what he said leaving the train station, or something to that effect. So where is he? And if he's in the game why has Valve--and all previews--been mum on the subject?
 
Would be funny if they kept all of this secret, and then nothing important happens.
"Where's barney?"
"Oh he's here in the silo, just taking a nap."
"Anything interesting happen?"
"No, he just got off the train and walked over here."
 
Darkside55 said:
*Nods*

If the entire cast is back, like the review says, then why hasn't he been seen all this time? I kind of think the reviewer might be wrong by saying "the ENTIRE cast." Or maybe he does show up. It's been a question on my mind though; where is he? Why is he not in any of the shots or videos? Very curious. Everyone else but him has been shown to be in the game, whether Gordon sees them in person, on a video transmission, what have you. Everyone but Barney.

"See you on the other side, Gordon." That's what he said leaving the train station, or something to that effect. So where is he? And if he's in the game why has Valve--and all previews--been mum on the subject?
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Oh.

I thought you were going to say Shepard.
 
Samon said:
Pretty sure Barney has no role whatsoever.
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That's just it. Why? It's puzzling. If he has absolutely no role in the game, where'd he go? He was heading to the same place Gordon and Alyx were. So where is he?

I need to know. I'd even take Avoidist's explanation.
 
Did the Episode One trailers mention Barney? No! And yet he mate it through, a little worse for wear, but still the same old Barney.

Nice preview otherwise, yeah, the 3rd type of antlion is definitely the Queen. It's gotta be.
 
Barney is a brilliant character, his personality is a great contrast to everyone else in the main cast.
 
Darkside55 said:
That's just it. Why? It's puzzling. If he has absolutely no role in the game, where'd he go? He was heading to the same place Gordon and Alyx were. So where is he?

I need to know. I'd even take Avoidist's explanation.
Click to expand...

Why is it puzzling?

I mean, I'm pretty sure the reason he got on that train in Episode 1 was because his storyline had closed. This is Episodic, and you need to push lesser characters out of the way to bring new characters into the fold. What's more, the man has been fighting for an entire week. He's pretty bruised, and EP2 is his break.
 
Whats this new enemy we caught glimpses of in Episode 1? Other than the workers and hunters, i didnt know we get to fight another one!
 
Samon said:
Why is it puzzling?

I mean, I'm pretty sure the reason he got on that train in Episode 1 was because his storyline had closed. This is Episodic, and you need to push lesser characters out of the way to bring new characters into the fold. What's more, the man has been fighting for an entire week. He's pretty bruised, and EP2 is his break.
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So he's sleeping on the couch while everyone else is fighting? I can both see that happening and not happening, because both scenarios would fit Barney.

On the one hand, he doesn't seem the type to leave the others to fight while he rests. On the other hand, can't you just hear Barney saying, "I need a rest; you handle it, Gordon. I'm sure you're up to the task."

Planetary said:
Nice preview otherwise, yeah, the 3rd type of antlion is definitely the Queen. It's gotta be.
Click to expand...
Or, black guards. Also, THERE ARE NO QUEENS.
 
Srry but we don't get the chance to fight the advisors directly in ep2 but there's a good chance that we will in ep3
 
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