Is it me, or does the plot seem... Undeveloped?

[Oyaji291]

The story had a VERY interesting plot, and I followed it through to the end and enjoyed it. But there were so many parts that seemed so unfocused and just undeveloped that they leave big chunks out. Obviously they haven't disclosed the nature of the G-Man as he will probably remain a very ambiguous character until the very end.

But it seemed to leave out some things directly in the game. I'm sure there are stories and books on the side (like for halo and star wars) that explain certain things, but in the game, I don't recall ANY direct reference to exactly HOW City 17 came to be the way it was in HL2. I don't remember seeing any explanation on how many years it's been since Freeman has been gone. I know a LOT is implied, but to me, they left out too much to understand completely.

And one last thing, it never explained the nature or intent behind the aliens and how they came to be allied with the humans. (Obviously only certain species of the aliens from Xen were allied with the humans).

And is it me, or could a trip to Xen make HL2 like, 10x better by way of story?

I will add more thoughts to this later as they come.

 

[J_Tweedy]

And is it me, or could a trip to Xen make HL2 like, 10x better by way of story?

Yeah it's just you- xen sucks- most boring place ever put into a game, and i mean by way of story aswell. I don't really see how it would enlighten anyone.

 

[Oyaji291]

...Well thank you for that enthralling response.

 

[Mith']

The story had a VERY interesting plot, and I followed it through to the end and enjoyed it. But there were so many parts that seemed so unfocused and just undeveloped that they leave big chunks out. Obviously they haven't disclosed the nature of the G-Man as he will probably remain a very ambiguous character until the very end.

But it seemed to leave out some things directly in the game. I'm sure there are stories and books on the side (like for halo and star wars) that explain certain things, but in the game, I don't recall ANY direct reference to exactly HOW City 17 came to be the way it was in HL2. I don't remember seeing any explanation on how many years it's been since Freeman has been gone. I know a LOT is implied, but to me, they left out too much to understand completely.

And one last thing, it never explained the nature or intent behind the aliens and how they came to be allied with the humans. (Obviously only certain species of the aliens from Xen were allied with the humans).

Played the original? Explains some. Anyway, the Xenians came over to Earth through the portal storms, and made some havoc... People fled into the citys, so it would be easier to protect them, But then the combine decided that "Hey, the Earth is cool!". So they invaded us. Made a big war (Seven hours it lasted!), and captured most of the cities! Humans didn't like this, so the combine built some bridges and fences. and took away most of the freedom and stuff from the people, so the world got pretty screwed up. And little maintence was done, so city 17 started to look like crap. The vortigaunts didn't like the Combine either (they tried to re or capture the the vorts so they could be slaves), so they ganged up with the resistance. The timeline, none can pinpoint anything, yet...
Roughly...

 

[MarcoPollo]

It's Just you.

 

[Asknoone]

Its just you. All the evidence is there. All of your points are answered.

 

[Ames]

They cut out the parts of HL2 that explain the story thoroughly because it was a design decision.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

Because they haven't quite decided what they do with the story. By opening as many possibilities as they can, Laidlaw can pretty much do anything he wants in an expansion pack/sequel.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[Jandor]

Laidlaw is making it up as he goes along. They have no idea what to do with the Story, nor what has really happened (aside from the obvious.)

 

[T.H.C.138]

the info you seek is in HL2(well some of it at least..) look at everything,talk to everyone and listen to the "Breen-casts"

oh yeah..and go play HL1 if you haven't already

 

[Joe Nomalos]

The plot is perfect. The game explains things like it would in real life. Through certain paper clips and what not. It's beautifully done both gamewise and storywise. The G-Man prolly won't be explained for God knows how long if ever and obviously you haven't played HL1 cause Xen sucks in every known way. They also have not explained the Nihilanth, the flaying aliens who shot things from their head, or the Alien grunts and their mantis ships and biotechnology from HL1 but I figure their saving it for another time or maybe it doesn't matter or maybe the strange alien grunt varieites we had to kill in HL1 and Opposing Force aren't residents to Xen either. I actually kinda picture Xen like an alien native america. Vorginauts living in harmony with alien beings. I mean, it's obvious the Vorgs are plant eaters, they have like no teeth and def no canines. So I figure it's a peacefulworld where the Vorgs live in nomadic groups, the light source as well as everythign else is biological, the hounds, the headcrabs and their mothers, the fingers, the gargs, and antlions and other creatures and everythign else just living in a strange harmony under the peaceful control fo the big chief, the Nihilanth whose intelligence is all he has, and the Xen we saw was the Xen that was in hostile array because the Combine enslaved the Nihilanth and Vorgs and dropped off a bunch of alien grunts to enforce lawas and they ruined the natural order of things. Thats what I believe at least.

 

[dannyakhtar]

The plot is perfect. The game explains things like it would in real life. Through certain paper clips and what not. It's beautifully done both gamewise and storywise. The G-Man prolly won't be explained for God knows how long if ever and obviously you haven't played HL1 cause Xen sucks in every known way. They also have not explained the Nihilanth, the flaying aliens who shot things from their head, or the Alien grunts and their mantis ships and biotechnology from HL1 but I figure their saving it for another time or maybe it doesn't matter or maybe the strange alien grunt varieites we had to kill in HL1 and Opposing Force aren't residents to Xen either. I actually kinda picture Xen like an alien native america. Vorginauts living in harmony with alien beings. I mean, it's obvious the Vorgs are plant eaters, they have like no teeth and def no canines. So I figure it's a peacefulworld where the Vorgs live in nomadic groups, the light source as well as everythign else is biological, the hounds, the headcrabs and their mothers, the fingers, the gargs, and antlions and other creatures and everythign else just living in a strange harmony under the peaceful control fo the big chief, the Nihilanth whose intelligence is all he has, and the Xen we saw was the Xen that was in hostile array because the Combine enslaved the Nihilanth and Vorgs and dropped off a bunch of alien grunts to enforce lawas and they ruined the natural order of things. Thats what I believe at least.

Amen to that.

 

[pomegranate]

Joe Nomalos, I'm not picking on you, but the idea that "The game explains things like it would in real life. Through certain paper clips and what not" is BS that too many people spout. In real life, you would ask what has been happening. Obviously Gordon doesn't speak, but as this is acknowledged by the other characters, it only makes sense for them to explain his situation, what he is up against, and what he is risking his neck for, rather than expecting him to magically know or hoping he would figure it out by chance from scraps of paper lying about (or more likely reading game magazine previews!). It just don't make sense, as elegant as Valve might have intended it to be. For me, it made the characters seem unrealistic, 'cos they don't acknowledge that you're confused.

 

[pvtbones]

well ya gotta remember that the combine tainted the water with something to make the residents of City 17 gradually forget the past, so even if Gordon did ask they probably wouldn't of been able to answer every question. if I remember correctly the one guy at the very beginning thats sitting at the table said something about the water making your forget the past.

 

[Laivasse]

Joe Nomalos, I'm not picking on you, but the idea that "The game explains things like it would in real life. Through certain paper clips and what not" is BS that too many people spout. In real life, you would ask what has been happening. Obviously Gordon doesn't speak, but as this is acknowledged by the other characters, it only makes sense for them to explain his situation, what he is up against, and what he is risking his neck for, rather than expecting him to magically know or hoping he would figure it out by chance from scraps of paper lying about (or more likely reading game magazine previews!). It just don't make sense, as elegant as Valve might have intended it to be. For me, it made the characters seem unrealistic, 'cos they don't acknowledge that you're confused.

It's not BS...if the Combine have been on earth 10 years, then it's not like everyone's going to go around telling eachother the history of the past decade, just in case there's someone like Gordon around who's been locked up between dimensions anddoesn't know what's going on.

Of course irl you'd ask about anything you didn't understand. But the idea is that there's never really any time in the game - there's only ever enough time for NPCs to explain to you exactly what's relevant to your immediate situation, eg, telling you where to go to avoid dying.

In Black Mesa East, it finally seems like you're going to be able to settle down for a while and get the whole situation straight with people, but then the Combine attack again just as you're being shown around. It's all designed to keep you moving fluidly and force you to piece things together by yourself. Feels completely believable and immersive to me, can't sympathise with anyone who doesn't get it.

Obviously Gordon doesn't speak, but as this is acknowledged by the other characters

It's only acknowledged as a joke. Gordon isn't thought by everyone to be clinically mute.

 

[A True Canadian]

The story had a VERY interesting plot, and I followed it through to the end and enjoyed it. But there were so many parts that seemed so unfocused and just undeveloped that they leave big chunks out. Obviously they haven't disclosed the nature of the G-Man as he will probably remain a very ambiguous character until the very end.

But it seemed to leave out some things directly in the game. I'm sure there are stories and books on the side (like for halo and star wars) that explain certain things, but in the game, I don't recall ANY direct reference to exactly HOW City 17 came to be the way it was in HL2. I don't remember seeing any explanation on how many years it's been since Freeman has been gone. I know a LOT is implied, but to me, they left out too much to understand completely.

The fact that no one sits down and tells you everything adds to the experience. The mystery helps to keep you playing, because you want to find out the answers.

If they were given out early on, then the surprises that come in the latter half of the game wouldn't have the same impact.

And is it me, or could a trip to Xen make HL2 like, 10x better by way of story?

It was established fairly early on that the Vortigaunts (and every other creature that was sent from Xen during the portal storms) could not return. There's no way for them to get back since the link was broken. I'm sure it's possible that they could return someday, but returning to Xen would just add clutter to the story. And what would be left? If most of the population was sent to Earth, and the Combine are currently occupied with Earth's resources, would a trip back to Xen really be worth it?

And one last thing, it never explained the nature or intent behind the aliens and how they came to be allied with the humans. (Obviously only certain species of the aliens from Xen were allied with the humans).

Again, the mystery that keeps us compelled to play.
Are they friends, or are they helping because they have no choice? Don't forget there's an expansion in the works, and this will explain even more about the situation of City 17 and its inhabitants.

 

[capteeni]

The fact that no one sits down and tells you everything adds to the experience. The mystery helps to keep you playing, because you want to find out the answers.

If they were given out early on, then the surprises that come in the latter half of the game wouldn't have the same impact.



It was established fairly early on that the Vortigaunts (and every other creature that was sent from Xen during the portal storms) could not return. There's no way for them to get back since the link was broken. I'm sure it's possible that they could return someday, but returning to Xen would just add clutter to the story. And what would be left? If most of the population was sent to Earth, and the Combine are currently occupied with Earth's resources, would a trip back to Xen really be worth it?



Again, the mystery that keeps us compelled to play.
Are they friends, or are they helping because they have no choice? Don't forget there's an expansion in the works, and this will explain even more about the situation of City 17 and its inhabitants.

and dont forget Half-life 3 too (all secrets will be opened in this episode <--- im thinking so)

 

[Cons Himself]

all stories which keep an element of mystery are the best - look at 24 for example. in series 2 it was obvious the mysterious guy on the boat making cell phone calls was calling all the shots, yet its never explained who he is, or why hes doing it. then at the end of series 2, he simply says on the phone - ok go to plan B. And then that woman tries to assassinate president palmer with the handshake that fu<ks him up - some kind of disease. this is picked up on in the beginning of series 3, but we never hear from the boat man again, except when wayne says to palmer..."you exposed that mans organisation and put most of his top tier associates in jail"

 

[AJ Rimmer]

all stories which keep an element of mystery are the best - look at 24 for example. in series 2 it was obvious the mysterious guy on the boat making cell phone calls was calling all the shots, yet its never explained who he is, or why hes doing it. then at the end of series 2, he simply says on the phone - ok go to plan B. And then that woman tries to assassinate president palmer with the handshake that fu<ks him up - some kind of disease. this is picked up on in the beginning of series 3, but we never hear from the boat man again, except when wayne says to palmer..."you exposed that mans organisation and put most of his top tier associates in jail"

Or X-files. They took three seasons until the really major pieces of the puzzle came together.

 

[Cons Himself]

i never really got the x files...it went on for too long

 

[Xenome]

I liked Xen..it was really cool to go to the 'borderworld' after fighting towards that point the whole game.

People who say they don't like Xen are just copying what other people are saying I think..

 

[Cons Himself]

no man....parts of xen were ok, like when you first got there it was quite a refreshing change with some good puzzles (butterflies in cage released and fly into their holders to open a portal)...but others like the little crouch-mazes and waterways, as well as the endless supply of controllers, grunts and vortis in the factory were just tedious,

i can see why xen was important as we can tie it to HL2 however:

Interloper Factory making alien grunts on Xen, whilst maintained by slave-vortigaunts

=

Citadel making human combine soldiers in city 17, whilst maintained by slave-stalkers

Nihilanth

=

Breen

it just could have been done better with some better lev.design.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

Actually, the factories on Xen share very little resemblance with the Citadel.

Xen factory = citadel? No. Xen factory = any sort of mass production plant on Earth (like a car factory) = Citadel. Mass production isn't unique to the combine.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[Cons Himself]

no nuub

as in the xen factories were producing xen grunt soldiers just like the citadel produced transhuman combine soldiers.

actually.

 

[Draculas_Guest]

The fact that no one sits down and tells you everything adds to the experience. The mystery helps to keep you playing, because you want to find out the answers.

Yes but there has to be a payoff eventually. While I enjoyed HL2 for the most part I think it let itself down in Black Mesa East. There really should have been something more substantial in terms of an explanation instead of mere newspaper cuttings. Its a question of balance.

Black Mesa East, a missing link in the story?

The X files started off great, but it dissappeared up its own rectum with twist after twist after twist.

look at 24 for example. in series 2 it was obvious the mysterious guy on the boat making cell phone calls was calling all the shots, yet its never explained who he is, or why hes doing it. then at the end of series 2, he simply says on the phone - ok go to plan B. And then that woman tries to assassinate president palmer with the handshake that fu<ks him up - some kind of disease. this is picked up on in the beginning of series 3, but we never hear from the boat man again, except when wayne says to palmer..."you exposed that mans organisation and put most of his top tier associates in jail"

That was actually probably one of the weaker moments of 24. Season 2 ended in a cliffhanger that had absolutely no impact or relevance to the third season. The season 1 ending was brilliant and the way it led into the second series was fantastic, with Nina being bought back and everything, but there were a bunch of threads hanging from the end of the second season that should have been tied up properly.