People Complaining About HL2's Story

[Gunner]

But you do get clues in half life, you just have to ick up ont them. Many of them have already been said, and did you listen to the radio in the prison? Dowsnt tell you a great deal apart from the fact that breen is talking to the prison guards like he has been expecting you all along. Trying to psych them up, telling them you are just a aman, nothing special, he then goes on to talk about your past and how you came to be in black mesa. Its all subtle clues and for me they are given to you EXACTLY how a good murder mystery givs you clues. I think the game is superbly crafted and i really think they spent a god damn lot of time working out the story.

As for your friends, they dont know where you have been, they just as likely think you know where you have been for the past few years, and im dont expect them to ask yu where you have been. But this will be wrapped up, as i said if you left a novel before the end you would be guessing about it for the rest of your life. Thats what Hl3 is for, and if nothing is explained the i will eat my sock.

Subtle clues? I can't listen to Dr.Breen if I have combine guards trying to gun me down. Yeah it's a great idea but poorly implemented, take this example: near the end, when you're in the citadel waiting for the lift, Breen starts to talk and you have a thousand combine guards storming the place at the same time... I heard him say something about Gordon having genes implanted and talk about choosing his own path but I can't hear him clearly. I guess I have to extract the wav files to find the "subtle clues" then huh?

The story clearly has no meaning at this point; the G-man supposedly wakes you up for a reason, yet he gives you NO assignement, instead he lets you wander in an unknown world with no weapons or your suit for that matter. For what? what is Gordon's purpose in C17? Why now? If he wanted to rid C17 of the combine why didn't he wake Gordon before Breen and his goons took over...

You'll find out in HL3 you noob!

Yeah right, they'll just add more plot holes.

 

[Wildhound]

**** me sideways, if I ever get as cynical as some of you I think I'll just go right ahead and hang myself.

If you're having trouble extracting fun and intrigue from Half-Life 2 then perhaps it's just not the game for you. The rest of us don't seem to be struggling.

 

[mega maniac]

Why do you expect that he does?

I expect that breen knows about the g-man

Barney blasted his way through. And he didn't have a HEV suit to help him. It's also probable that the rest of the survivors did the same. How could you escape without fighting?

how do you know that

Why do you think so? What evidence points to that?

Because gordon was the one who has to go in and conduct experiments, he is the one who sarts up the machines. Breen is afraid of him, like, i beleive frankenstein was afraid of his monster. I think he has created something more powerful than he cant handle. But this is just a theroy i have made from what i have been given, there are probably lots of other little things that influenced this that i picked up subconciously, but thats my view.

I actively read books, especially science fiction which really makes you think. I also read philosophy and such. So it's safe to say that your argument (which is used by almost every other fanboy as well) is meaningless.

Firstly please dont resort to calling me a fanboy, i am presenting my argument as i see it and not say "OMFG half life is the bestest game ever and if you dont think so you suck your mummas titties" Yes i absolubtly love this game, i think its truely fansastic and i havnt had this much fun in a long long time. Please rather than just telling me im wrong present reasons, half life reminds me exactly of novels i have read, cles are presented in the same way, and alot of clues are given when you are speaking to someone who you wouldnt know has anything to do with the plot.

Well what does he know, then?

If i knew that then i wouldnt be egerly antiipating half life 3, and we wouldnt be arguing, that the entire point.

It's not irrelevant, it's important.

Whats important is that they knew he was coming, whats irrelavant is wether they read the entry table or if they were told by the g-man for example.

If you made a book of Half-Life 2, it would be silly. Gordon is confronted by all sorts of weird shit, and he never questions it or even tries to figure out what's going on. He doesn't say "how did you know that I'm coming" or "why am I so important or "how did you all end up in here."

That's not "spoonfeeding" the story. That's realism and logic. Anyone would ask the same questions

Why would gordon expect them to know how he got there, gordon is a mystery, and him not speaking in the game is part of that. You will find out why gordon is improtant, you will find out the real reason for what breen is doing. The story is not concluded because it is not finishe yet.

Oh and gunner, could you please edit your post and put most of it in spoiler code, remember alot of people havnt played it through yet and giving away such clues about the ending will piss some people off.

 

[Gunner]

Just because I am criticising the story, it doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the game, on the contrary I think it's the GOTY.

 

[Spartan]

I expect that breen knows about the g-man

Why or how do you expect that?

how do you know that

You play as Barney in Blue Shift. As for ther others, it just seems common sense that they'd have to fight their way out. I see no logical way for anyone to escape from the depths of Black Mesa without getting into fights.

Because gordon was the one who has to go in and conduct experiments, he is the one who sarts up the machines.

So? He was a research associate, and someone had to do it. It was Gordon's job.

Firstly please dont resort to calling me a fanboy

I called you that because you used an argument that's standard issue for fanboys.

If i knew that then i wouldnt be egerly antiipating half life 3, and we wouldnt be arguing, that the entire point.

But you said that Breen seems to know more about Gordon than anyone else.

Why would gordon expect them to know how he got there, gordon is a mystery, and him not speaking in the game is part of that. You will find out why gordon is improtant, you will find out the real reason for what breen is doing. The story is not concluded because it is not finishe yet.

Gordon would expect them to know

- what precisely happened after Black Mesa - how did the survivors get to C17 and why?
- how they knew that he was coming
- why he is so important
- what he is supposed to be doing

 

[jacen]

- how they knew that he was coming

i dont think they did.
in the conversation of barney and kleiner right at the beginning they seemed pretty suprised to me.

 

[Warbie]

It comes down to basic effort and reward (a common element in all good games)

The begining, I think we'll all agree, is excellent. Being chased out of the city is now one of my fondest gaming moments.

"wtf"!
"I gotta out here"!

The main motivation, other than to stay alive, was then to meet up with the doc and Alyx etc and find out what the hells going on. Filled with questions and intrigue Gordon moves on.

It turns out to be quite a trek, a few times when Gordon thinks he's there, he's not.

"oh well, no big deal - this is all good fun, but the explanation better be bloody good when I get there"

Finally he arrives, and ............ nothing at all. It's time to go somewhere else.

"um, excuse me ........ what's going on ....... guys"?
"anybody....."?

Rinse and repeat.

 

[Gunner]

But you said that Breen seems to know more about Gordon than anyone else.

[...]

- what precisely happened after Black Mesa - how did the survivors get to C17 and why?
- how they knew that he was coming
- why he is so important
- what he is supposed to be doing

Exactly! Dr.Breen was the only person with the answers and Gordon simply kills him just because Alyx told him to do it? If I had a choice I wouldn't have killed Breen.

 

[mega maniac]

Why or how do you expect that?

Just from the way he seems to be afraid of gordon, yet has never really seen him himself, i feel its more than just the fact he has killed alot of people. It doesnt seem logical to me. But again, imtrying to work things out for myself, its a theroy.

You play as Barney in Blue Shift. As for ther others, it just seems common sense that they'd have to fight their way out. I see no logical way for anyone to escape from the depths of Black Mesa without getting into fights.

Ahh yes, i forgot that you fought as him, hmmm even so, something has built gordans reputation. Im not 100% sure, but you never know, maybe people get excited when they see barney ready to fight alongside them. Im not sure, but something has built gordons reputation, and its something that i beleive is part of unraveling theplot.

So? He was a research associate, and someone had to do it. It was Gordon's job.

Exactly, it was his job, he was a young phd, he was used as the person conducting the experiment in hl1, if he was the most inexperienced phd, he would have been trying to make his way to the top, get in on as many of the experiments as possible. Being the experiment with breen.

I called you that because you used an argument that's standard issue for fanboys.

A fanboy argument, what exactly is my fanboy argument. Please, i am far from presenting a unthought out blunt opinion and just claimg you outright wrong for everything you say, as a fanboy might. You are equally playing the typical devils advocate.

But you said that Breen seems to know more about Gordon than anyone else.

and i beleive he does.

Gordon would expect them to know

- what precisely happened after Black Mesa - how did the survivors get to C17 and why?
- how they knew that he was coming
- why he is so important
- what he is supposed to be doing

[/quote]
The whole time you are with them you are learning things, but not everything, you are on your way to finding out these things, on your way to finding out, and you still are.

 

[mega maniac]

Exactly! Dr.Breen was the only person with the answers and Gordon simply kills him just because Alyx told him to do it? If I had a choice I wouldn't have killed Breen.

If you want to give away major parts of the plot then you have to put it in spoiler code, if someone comes in here who hasnt finished and reads that they are going to be pissed, majorly pissed, have some bloody consideration

 

[Wildhound]

Seriously, you go on about how it's not realistic, how people should be asking him where he's been, but that's ridiculous!

I'm sorry, but if I was involved in a resistance movement trying to prevent an alien race from enslaving the Earth and some guy I worked with ten years ago turned up, I wouldn't be asking for a life story. Gordon was a relatively new employee at Black Mesa in the original Half Life. Kleiner and Eli probably didn't actually know him that well anyway. With the combine beating down the doors and the entire rebellion coming to a head, the last thing on their mind is going to be where he was or what he was doing. They don't care. What matters is he's there and he's willing to help. Eli clearly states that the last time he saw Gordon was when he sent him to the surface for help. What is the logical conclusion? That he escaped.

He might care what happened next if they were sitting in a bar catching up over a cold one, but that's not quite the case.

 

[Warbie]

Seriously, you go on about how it's not realistic, how people should be asking him where he's been, but that's ridiculous!

I'm sorry, but if I was involved in a resistance movement trying to prevent an alien race from enslaving the Earth and some guy I worked with ten years ago turned up, I wouldn't be asking for a life story. Gordon was a relatively new employee at Black Mesa in the original Half Life. Kleiner and Eli probably didn't actually know him that well anyway. With the combine beating down the doors and the entire rebellion coming to a head, the last thing on their mind is going to be where he was or what he was doing. They don't care. What matters is he's there and he's willing to help. Eli clearly states that the last time he saw Gordon was when he sent him to the surface for help. What is the logical conclusion? That he escaped.

He might care what happened next if they were sitting in a bar catching up over a cold one, but that's not quite the case.

Throughout the game the npc's act as if Gordon is the saviour ........ it seems that every man and his dog knows about his exploits in the first game. Kleiner and Eli aslo act as though they know Gordon extremely well, and that they are close friends. Would some explanation of the general goings on be that hard? (it may not for you, it would have made the world of difference for me)

Either way, none of this really matters. What does matter is when the player asks himself 'why am i doing this' ....... it isn't enough to spend hours travelling somewhere, with so many questions, just to 'meet' someone, or just to progress, what can very loosely described as, a story.

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

and this is something that all other FPS games do better, is it?

 

[Gunner]

I'm sorry, but if I was involved in a resistance movement trying to prevent an alien race from enslaving the Earth and some guy I worked with ten years ago turned up, I wouldn't be asking for a life story. Gordon was a relatively new employee at Black Mesa in the original Half Life. Kleiner and Eli probably didn't actually know him that well anyway. With the combine beating down the doors and the entire rebellion coming to a head, the last thing on their mind is going to be where he was or what he was doing. They don't care. What matters is he's there and he's willing to help. Eli clearly states that the last time he saw Gordon was when he sent him to the surface for help. What is the logical conclusion? That he escaped.

He might care what happened next if they were sitting in a bar catching up over a cold one, but that's not quite the case.

Does that excuse the fact the resistance has no strategy or plan whatsoever? frankly, all they did was send Gordon in harm's way. There are no objectives, it's just bad luck that's scripting the events: once you meet the scientist and his pet Lamarr, the plan is to teleport you to Eli's lab (God knows why.) but that doesn't work so you have to get there with the hovercraft - that's two chapters just because of a headcrab. Gordon finally gets to Eli's lab, after some small talk, you receive the physgun and when you're messing around with the DOG, the Combine attack and your way back to the lab is blocked by falling debris... again bad luck. Then Eli is captured, and blablabla, it goes on like this to the end.

 

[UKchaos2]

The bits that really irked me were when your suddenly reunited with Alyx on some random level (first time on entanglement, then again later on). Like by some extreme coincidence that your in the exact same place at the same time

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

Most stories (books, films) rely on coincidence for events to occur.

 

[Inanimate]

Personally, during the middle of the game I was abit disappointed, I wanted to straight out alot of questions about the story, G-man, the Combines etc, and I didnt really get the answers straight.
BUT, what comforted me was that G-man appeared in the ending, and he told alot of stuff that let us know that there will be a third game.

Think of the Half Life "triology" as the Lord of the Rings movies..

The first one, carrying alot of information and the plot is like AMAGAD WHATS GONNA HAPPEN!
The second is a transportation, story-wise.. just like HL2, dont forget that there might be an expansion pack to fill out the blanks etc!
The third one, will be the definite chocker, the one that will reveal all answers to the questions we have. Hopefully, after the third, there will be things left that we dont know.. stuff that we´ll wonder about even 10 years from now. "What really happened?"

I´ve finished the game now, and Im pleased on a scale from 8/10 and I guess that´s how much you could anticipate from anyone, since this is the second part in a triology.. the fact that there are alot of stuff that we dont have the answers to, make us feel abit annoyed. Naturally.
This same fact made me like LOTR: 2 towers less than the others.. since I didnt knew what was gonna happen.

I think there will be something in HL3 that will make all gamers, fans, believers, go nuts.. something about G-man, Gordon etc..

Hold on.. 3 years to go..

/DAniel

 

[Warbie]

and this is something that all other FPS games do better, is it?

Infact most do, yes.

This doesn't make them better games overall, far from it. But in this area (the importance of which I think varies greatly from player to player) I think HL2 falls short.

 

[Foxtrot88]

People doesnt seem to discuss who the psyco zombiescientists in the citadel tower is, is this what Dr.Breen want to turn the human race into?

 

[UKchaos2]

While i do agree that there could of been more "spoon fed" story elements, the subtle stuff they did was extremely cool.

 

[Gunner]

Most stories (books, films) rely on coincidence for events to occur.

Yeah but take a sequence of random events and put that in an extremely linear game and you get the feeling you're just a pawn. I didn't feel like I was in control of Gordon's character at all. :|

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

Infact most do, yes.

This doesn't make them better games overall, far from it. But in this area (the importance of which I think varies greatly from player to player) I think HL2 falls short.

Examples please.

 

[PadreScout]

I dont care if anyones adressed this before me. Ever since LOTR the movies Americas been hung up on this trilogy crap. LOTR WASNT WRITTEN AS A TRILOGY! It was written as 1` book to be published as a duality with some other book he died before he finished ( his son finished it or somehting, I havent read it) Anyhoo, stop comparing every trilogy to LOTR. CHRIST im sick of that. There is 1 TRUE good trilogy! STAR WARS!! This logic of coarse blatantly ignores those 2 ( soon to be 3) newest pieces of crap Lucas shat out.

 

[Warbie]

Examples please.

Pick almost any shooter/game. In Mario 64 you have to save the princess, you have to collect stars that let you open doors. These allow you to get more stars and eventually get to your goal. Clearly defined goals/motivation, there's no confusion, your efforts are rewarded.

Escaping the city at the start was great. If someone asked you why you were doing that you'd probaly shout, "cause ppl are chasing me with guns ffs, now get out the way"!!!11 Nice and simple, it makes sense - we can relate to it. Exciting stuff \o/ (like Half-Life)

Then you start travelling from place to place (which is all very pretty, the fighting is fun, "i'm going to pick that up and throw it at something" etc ) If someone asked you why you were doing that i'd have said:

"to meet this guy"
"why"
"I dunno"
"what will you do when you get there"
"haven't a clue"
"then why go"
"cause i'll find out when I get there, hence me going there - dumbass. Now stop bugging me with questions - I want to pick something up and throw it at something"

*you've arrived*

"what have you found out, then"?
"nothing"
"so what are you doing now"?
"going somewhere else"
"why"
"not really sure"
"does all this travelling about seem rather pointless"
"yes"
"that's not good"
"no, but earlier I picked something up and threw it at something"!

....... and it continues this way.

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

*shrug*

It's a subjective thing. It bothers some people, and not others. I don't feel that it detracts from the game at all. I wouldn't have objected to a bit more exposition although, as someone pointed out, there's a hell of a lot in your surroundings that explains things. Just something simple like a board with newspaper cuttings on saying "Portal Storms Increasing" and "Earth Surrenders!" help with exposing the underlying plot.

Horses for courses, really.

 

[Doombringer]

"Less is more" is not always a very effective story-telling method. Yes, when telling a good story you should leave the player with a few doubts and questions as to what is really happening behind the scenes, but I feel they should still have a clear reason (false in the end or not) for what they are doing. At no time should the player feel they are just "going through the motions" until they reach the end, especially if the endgame only presents more questions and confusions rather than resolution.

That said, I'm at the buggy level and understand this much:

Spoiler

1. Alyx escaped "Black Mesa East" but her father and the other female scientist were captured. I have my suspicions about that lady scientist, too... seems a little convenient she was all over Gordon to his face but was bitter about his involvement at Black Mesa behind his back. Plus she did not get along with Alyx. Funny how the Combine conveniently showed up at BME shortly after she met Gordon there. This, by the way, is my idea of a good way of injecting doubt and suspicion into the storyline.

2. Alyx, Eli, Alyx, Kleiner and Barney are helping the resistance operate an underground railroad to get people out of City 17. They have technology the Combine wishes they could get their hands on. At this point, the Combine has pretty much smashed the traditional UR and Gordon was the "last one through."

3. Dr. Breen was the administrator at Black Mesa and is now running City 17. He obviously answers to a higher power, as shown by him talking to the video screen in his office.

4. Lamar is a debeaked headcrab. Cute?

5. Ravenholm was once probably a haven for the resistance but was seeded by Combine headcrab bombs. Gregori is the only one who survived.

6. The G-Man met with the Resistance while I was on the beach.

7. The Combine have trouble with the Antlions just like the humans, so they set up big 'thumpers' that keep the critters at bay. I imagine the antlions, like the headcrabs, were used like bioweapons by the Combine to thin out the human resistance and now are a nuisance they have to deal with.

8. The people of City 17 cannot reproduce with one another.

More details as they are revealed? I hope?

 

[Wildhound]

Throughout the game the npc's act as if Gordon is the saviour ........ it seems that every man and his dog knows about his exploits in the first game. Kleiner and Eli aslo act as though they know Gordon extremely well, and that they are close friends. Would some explanation of the general goings on be that hard? (it may not for you, it would have made the world of difference for me)

Either way, none of this really matters. What does matter is when the player asks himself 'why am i doing this' ....... it isn't enough to spend hours travelling somewhere, with so many questions, just to 'meet' someone, or just to progress, what can very loosely described as, a story.

In fairness, the first words out of Eli's mouth are "Let's get you out of that HEV suit and into a lab coat". Because "MIT graduates are few and far between". They don't see you as a saviour because you went on a gun toting rampage in Black Mesa, they see you as a much needed extra brain. You're a highly qualified and intellectual person, exactly what they're looking for.

I could easily accept that they know nothing of what Gordon did during the Black Mesa incident. If you're hell bent on believing they do, then it can easily be explained by the fact that you met scores of scientists as you travelled through the facility and the all seemed to be able to get in touch with eachother, at least from time to time. It wouldn't be hard to believe that word spread from one surviving scientist to another. I mean come on, it's not like Gordon was being secretive or keeping himself well hidden.

 

[Wildhound]

the plan is to teleport you to Eli's lab (God knows why.)

Because that's where the labs are and, believe it or not, Gordon Freeman is a scientist! See my above post. You're going to Eli's lab because you can actually be of some assistance there. You're told as much in the game and I really can't grasp how that's difficult to work out. At all.

 

[Warbie]

In fairness, the first words out of Eli's mouth are "Let's get you out of that HEV suit and into a lab coat". Because "MIT graduates are few and far between". They don't see you as a saviour because you went on a gun toting rampage in Black Mesa, they see you as a much needed extra brain. You're a highly qualified and intellectual person, exactly what they're looking for.

I could easily accept that they know nothing of what Gordon did during the Black Mesa incident. If you're hell bent on believing they do, then it can easily be explained by the fact that you met scores of scientists as you travelled through the facility and the all seemed to be able to get in touch with eachother, at least from time to time. It wouldn't be hard to believe that word spread from one surviving scientist to another. I mean come on, it's not like Gordon was being secretive or keeping himself well hidden.

Oh come on - he's know as 'the one free man'. Much of the game focuses on the legend he has become. 'Follow Freeman'!!!

You also hear Alyx recalling how often Gordon had spoken of by her father etc. Everyone knows who he is - Gordon has a massive reputation and is seen as 'the savior'.

 

[Wildhound]

My second paragraph still applies.

 

[Doombringer]

Gordon Freeman is seen as a hero throughout the entire game. Sure, sure, Eli says he's there because his brain is needed, but on the frontlines of the Resistance... where his ability to fight is of premiere importance... the people see him as "the one free man" and a "Master Chief" sort of savior. You cannot play Half Life 2 and not get the impression that many of these oppressed people see Freeman as a 'freedom fighter' and savior, not a MIT graduate.

So, how do they know he's such a great guy? His deeds at Black Mesa were purely for his own survival, with a little "let's stick it to the aliens" at the end of the game. He never seemed like an action hero until HL2... the HEV suit is now like a pair of tights and a cape.

I love HL2, and hope that the story clears up a bit more... some elements are not coming together yet, and I hope it is intentional.

 

[Warbie]

My second paragraph still applies.

Maybe - but if they don't know about his adventures then why is he 'the one free man'. There must be a reason every member of the resistance has heard of him, and will willing follow him into death.

 

[Absinthe]

I liked the story. A lot of it made sense to me, but there were still unanswered questions. Frankly, I'm glad that was the case. I'd much prefer to have some of the more major resolutions saved for Half-Life 3.

One thing that did disappoint me, however, was the G-Man. I could have sworn that Valve said we would learn more about him. I know I certainly didn't. Nonetheless, his presence was still enjoyable.

 

[Hyperion2010]

Can I take a poll, how many of those who dont like the story have ever read a book?

If all your looking for in a story is the purpose for your actions, then you are missing the point. That is NOT what a story is supposed to be, a story is supposed to recount a serries of events and have alusions to other facts about the world in which it occures. To this end, HL2's story is nearly flawless.

Realize that this is the first time that a story like this is has been told while the player is experiencing it.

Sigh, true art is wasted on the ignorant...

 

[Gunner]

Because that's where the labs are and, believe it or not, Gordon Freeman is a scientist! See my above post. You're going to Eli's lab because you can actually be of some assistance there. You're told as much in the game and I really can't grasp how that's difficult to work out. At all.

Oh right... so that's why they give you the physgun and let you play with the DOG. That's some serious scientific work, like Barney said: Gordon's MIT education really paid off.

Realize that this is the first time that a story like this is has been told while the player is experiencing it.

Sigh, true art is wasted on the ignorant...

Oh my! I don't agree with you so I must be ignorant! You pompous piece of...

 

[Absinthe]

Oh right... so that's why they give you the physgun and let you play with the DOG. That's some serious scientific work, like Barney said: Gordon's MIT education really paid off.

I believe what transpired in that scene was a moment where Alyx said "Come on, Gordon. Let's go have some fun!".

 

[Wildhound]

Oh right... so that's why they give you the physgun and let you play with the DOG. That's some serious scientific work, like Barney said: Gordon's MIT education really paid off.

I see your problem with the story - you're not even prepared to listen to what the characters are actually saying, let alone read into any deeper.

 

[AmishSlayer]

*shrug*

It's a subjective thing. It bothers some people, and not others. I don't feel that it detracts from the game at all. I wouldn't have objected to a bit more exposition although, as someone pointed out, there's a hell of a lot in your surroundings that explains things. Just something simple like a board with newspaper cuttings on saying "Portal Storms Increasing" and "Earth Surrenders!" help with exposing the underlying plot.

Horses for courses, really.

I just think that these examples (The "Portal Storms Increasing" and "Earth Surrenders!") from the atmosphere of the game are used by some as an argument that the player has to find the plot themselves. These things should be in the atmosphere of the game supporting the details of the story or maybe some underlying plot. They shouldn't be there as our only source of real information of what the hell happened between HL1 & 2 and what the hell is going on now.

If Valve's original intent was to have the player scrape together a plot with the help of tiny clues, newspaper clippings, audio recordings of Breen and things read between the lines...they are definitely not giving enough of these story pieces to keep me wrapped up in the game.

A few times in the game...I no longer had the suspension of disbelief that movies/books/games need to give you. I was playing the game as Gordon Freeman. I overlooked the lack of information and goal. I overlooked the way the airboat handles (not realistic - what I'm getting at) and the average combat AI. I looked past these things and tried to keep myself in the game, which is something I and most of us can do for games, movies and books. Eventually it all got to me and I got annoyed. It was sometime in the buggy section of the game where I was getting bored of using the damn thing. I just took a step back and thought, "Ok...some of this stuff in the story just wouldn't happen. Why am I left in the dark like this? It's not keeping my attention the way I had hoped...and I'm getting annoyed by it." At this point in the game I started playing HL2 as a game. Not an experience. It lost me during that buggy section. I started looking for ways to speed my way through the game hoping to hit some plot points (running past the antlion area, saying screw it to jumping puzzles and just hopping in the radioactive goop and running for dry ground). I started to lose the feel of Gordon Freeman. I was just some guy running through a set of obstacles waiting for a solid objective...some definition to the story.

Games like MGS1 & 2 do a great job of keeping that suspension of disbelief. Hideo Kojima comes up with some of the greatest stories ever to grace the gaming world. Why? Because I felt like it was happening or could actually happen. The games leave many questions unanswered yet give you enough to keep you going and give you the urge to find out more information for the sake of the revalation that may be brought upon you...not because you're completely confused and have no feeling of direction in the game.

 

[Warbie]

Can I take a poll, how many of those who dont like the story have ever read a book?

If all your looking for in a story is the purpose for your actions, then you are missing the point. That is NOT what a story is supposed to be, a story is supposed to recount a serries of events and have alusions to other facts about the world in which it occures. To this end, HL2's story is nearly flawless.

Realize that this is the first time that a story like this is has been told while the player is experiencing it.

Sigh, true art is wasted on the ignorant...

We aren't moaning at the lack of story so much - more the lack of any purpose or rewards for your actions.

 

[Gunner]

I see your problem with the story - you're not even prepared to listen to what the characters are actually saying, let alone read into any deeper.

Yeah, I actually had the volume set to zero. Why do I even bother? :O