People Complaining About HL2's Story

[Shadow-warrior]

No, its just people have waited 6 years for an explanation to HL1 and the Gman and find nothing has really been resolved.
HL2 (totally incredible as it is) is merely a side episode and feels like its something for Gordon to do while he waits for the conclusion. Almost a dream.

 

[mega maniac]

In a great murder mystery book, do they tell you who the killer is in the middle? Do they simply spoon feed you information so you can work out the plot with the click of a finger.

Really, go and read a good murder novel, you will be told very little throughout the book, and this is totally intentional because it makes you think. It makes you try to figure it out, it doesnt just tell you. There are massive gaping holes everywhere, and the book makes you think WTF all the way through, but at the end its ultimately satisfying.

This is not a harry potter book, its a novel, and the last pages have yet to be written, so you just have to wait.

 

[Spartan]

Spoiler

News articles found in the tenements section tell you that immediately after Black Mesa there was a "Portal Storm", where portals began opening all over the world. They also tell you that Dr.Breen was instated (whether by democratic election or other means) to be the Earth representitive; however, after much of the Earth was attacked he surrendered within 7 days.

Too hard to find to be of any use to most players.

Spoiler

The clue is what Kleiner tells you after Gordon and Alyx teleport from Nova Prospekt. You find that you have been "slow" teleported a week from when you left. An effective time machine. This would also explain why Gordon doesn't remember the time between leaving Black Mesa and arrving in City 17.

That's just a theory...

Spoiler

At the end, the G-man demonstrates that he can freeze time. (judging by his habit of doing disappearing acts, he can also teleport at will) You are left in a dark room. It's possible that you are placed in a time stasis.

The answers are there, you just have to know where to look.

Everyone keeps saying that, but no one can tell me exactly what I'm supposed to find, and where. I think this is a classic case of fanboy delusion - trying to convince yourself that there actually is a story.

You've been gone for ten years, you SHOULDN'T know any of these things.

Yes you should. After meeting up with your friends, someone should tell you what the **** is going on and why you are so important.

 

[CrewXp]

I agree, there is little story. Valve was working too hard on the game and not the story!! God dangit.

Sigh... we'll have to wait another 6 years just to get to another cliffhanger..

I think it's G-Man's briefcase, it lets him teleport and do all that stuff.

 

[aDidor22]

Summed up my feelings exactly

 

[fantasiser]

the story in HL2 is good, and told well
if you disagree with me, it is obvious that you are wrong

 

[Lanthanide]

Everyone keeps saying that, but no one can tell me exactly what I'm supposed to find, and where. I think this is a classic case of fanboy delusion - trying to convince yourself that there actually is a story.

And when they do tell you something, you find out it's something obvious that you already knew about anyway.

IMO these people simply don't seem to 'get' that we want more information that what has already presented. We're not saying "there is none", we're saying "what there is, isn't enough".

Yes you should. After meeting up with your friends, someone should tell you what the **** is going on and why you are so important.

Yes and no. They don't specifically know what you don't have any clue what's going on, but they could at least mention a few things to you, in addition to the possibility of idle chit-chat.

For example, when you're looking at the cut-out newspaper articles on the portal storm and 7 hour war etc in Eli's lab, he could come up to you and briefly recall some of the things that occured during that time. It would not be hard, it would not stick out like a sore thumb or be "spoonfed" to you" (as many people keep saying, for some reason) because it would be a completely natural thing to do if you just saw that your friend you haven't seen in 10 years is interested in something you own/display - you tell them some stories about it.

But valve gave us none of that.

 

[Spartan]

Yes and no. They don't specifically know what you don't have any clue what's going on, but they could at least mention a few things to you, in addition to the possibility of idle chit-chat.

The thing is, Gordon does kind of talk ("leave the talking to me," says Alyx at one point), but we never hear it, and the dialogue is designed to be as one-sided as possible. A truly mute Gordon would be silly. So when we think about it, Gordon should be asking questions.

For example, when you're looking at the cut-out newspaper articles on the portal storm and 7 hour war etc in Eli's lab, he could come up to you and briefly recall some of the things that occured during that time. It would not be hard, it would not stick out like a sore thumb or be "spoonfed" to you" (as many people keep saying, for some reason) because it would be a completely natural thing to do if you just saw that your friend you haven't seen in 10 years is interested in something you own/display - you tell them some stories about it.

That's a good idea.

But valve gave us none of that.

I think the worst aspect is that nothing from the previous game is explained or touched upon.

 

[Spartan]

Right before you get the souped up version of the hovercraft, the vortigaunt talks a lot (if you "use" it). A lot. Most of it is nonsense, though. I guess that's Valve's way of telling a story - listening to incoherent nonsense (assuming that you even think about talking to the vortigaunt) with some vague information in between.

 

[Shadow-warrior]

I think the worst aspect is that nothing from the previous game is explained or touched upon.

Exactly.

 

[VaPorZ]

the story in HL2 is good, and told well
if you disagree with me, it is obvious that you are wrong

what he said

 

[Warbie]

I think the worst aspect is that nothing from the previous game is explained or touched upon.

i'm glad you mentioned that, it's been bugging me for a while now.

The thing about Half-Life 2 is (to me) it doesn't feel anything like Half-Life at all, not one bit. Change a few names and models and it could be any game (albeit a pretty impressive one)

Much of what drew me towards the original (atypical hero, forced into a situation out of his control, a simple goal that everyone can relate too - the need to survive) is missing. Now Gordons back! - and he's more Master Chief than Gordon Freeman the scientist :/

HL2 also feels so aimless in comparison - just drifting from one location to another. Many times i've been gaping in awe at the surroundings only to realise I have little clue why i'm there (beyond - trying to meet/rescue someone) or where I am going. Then, when I do arrive, it's off on another seemingly random treasure hunt. There's no big picture - no motivation.

I'm enjoying HL2 very much, but to me it's no 'Half-Life'.

 

[Shadow-warrior]

I agree with you Warbie.

It felt like you were thrown into these quests without any real reason to want to do them.
After every level success or meet up with some new resistance I was thinking "well go on then... tell me what the hell is going on? start the story!! all these resistance praise me but nobody will say how or why they actually know me, (only Gman knew I survived Black Mesa) so why are you treating me like a God?!?!)

I spent the first 1/2 of the game thinking when does the real story start and the last half resigned to the fact that there was no story after all.

Still gets a 9/10 from me but I really hope Valve don't do a Matrix 2/3 and try to make it more complicated than it really needs to be.

 

[lanzemurdok]

Well I didn't know a game's lack of "story" could have created such a huge discussion regarding it's "story".. or lackthereof.

 

[Razak]

thats why there will be a hl3 to tie things up. Im glad they didnt tell us the mysteries of the first one. These games are like chapters in a novel. You wont know the whole story until the end. Obviously HL2 isnt the end.

 

[ryudom]

just beat the damn game, last part was amaaazing, all the plot stuff pretty much got inserted there haha. it definitely furthers the plot. also in hl1 you really kinda wandered around really the same way, with now big goal till the end, same as in hl2

 

[blagh]

my main complaint with the game is that i can no longer.....gibletize with my crowbar....

 

[Maxxpower]

I figure I will write my interpretation of the story, as the way I think it happened. MAJOR SPOILERS

Spoiler

I think Gordon was placed in a time stasis after HL1 and G-man (who is kind of like a god figure, who can do anything, such as freezing time and being anywhere). After Half-Life 1, teleports opened all over the world, and through these teleporters came the combine and xen creatures. Earth established a world leader (Breen), and fought a war which lasted 7 days. On the seventh day, Breen surrendered and took a major government posistion with the combine. The combine rounded up all citizens, shipped them to city centers, such as city 17. The combine hired the best humans to be the police (as heard in Nova Prospekt), and the rule of the combine was harsh. Citizens created an underground, and the leaders of it were mostly all from Black Mesa. When Gorden awoke from his Time Stasis, he awoke on a Train headed towards the head of the Combine rule on earth, City 17. He met up with Barney who sent him to Kleiner's lab to get him out of the city. Kliner sends you to Eli to help advance teleportation technology. In Eli's lab, Eli gets captured, which starts into motion the entire real plot of the game, the revolution of City 17.

Anyway, that is my interpretation of the plot.

 

[lanzemurdok]

From what i know i don't think there's ever been such a game where so many people create their own interpretations and ideas about the story... that's gotta say something. What it says? i have no idea... but it's definitely SOMETHING.

 

[Warbie]

just beat the damn game, last part was amaaazing, all the plot stuff pretty much got inserted there haha. it definitely furthers the plot. also in hl1 you really kinda wandered around really the same way, with now big goal till the end, same as in hl2

That was very different.

In HL1 you were trying to escape, constantly searching for a way out whilst avoiding the many hazards in your way. That's very different from just wandering around, and gave that all important sense of purpose (which I believe is what made it such a great experience)

thats why there will be a hl3 to tie things up. Im glad they didnt tell us the mysteries of the first one. These games are like chapters in a novel. You wont know the whole story until the end. Obviously HL2 isnt the end.

That's not the point. What happens in HL3 is redundant at the moment - and no excuse for not keeping the player engaged in the game. It isn't so much the lack of story that grates about HL2, it's the lack of any real reason for any of your actions. The goal in HL was so simple - it didn't need explantions. HL2 is very different - the goal isn't defined, the events of the game are spread over various locations and there's npc's everywhere. This stuff needs explaning.

There is very little Half-Life in Half-Life 2 (it doesn't feel like a sequal)

 

[Tlaloc]

entanglement is cool

 

[Razak]

Ahh whatever, i guess some just dont see great story unless it is given in a mainstream manner. Oh well no loss for me. At least i enjoy the mystery.

 

[lotusboy101]

alot of peopel keep saying that we have no idea what Dr. breen wants to do with humans, but if you listen to one of his rants on the tv early on, it is clear that he wants to make all humans "immortal" (most likely to be slaves), this immortalitly is at the price of losing our "instincts" and also losing the ability to reproduce.

 

[AmishSlayer]

In a great murder mystery book, do they tell you who the killer is in the middle? Do they simply spoon feed you information so you can work out the plot with the click of a finger.

Really, go and read a good murder novel, you will be told very little throughout the book, and this is totally intentional because it makes you think. It makes you try to figure it out, it doesnt just tell you. There are massive gaping holes everywhere, and the book makes you think WTF all the way through, but at the end its ultimately satisfying.

This is not a harry potter book, its a novel, and the last pages have yet to be written, so you just have to wait.

You may not know much along the way in a murder mystery but they pick up clues...talk to people...things happen. Plot is developed and enriched. Not the case with HL2. I'd like to see someone make a good HL2 book following Gordon.

I completely agree with Warbie here about the main objective and direction of the game. It all feels slapped together (don't give me the 6 years of development). Why does it make sense for everyone to be rushing Gordon out of the city only to send him right back in? What was he going to do away from City 17? Amass an army or something?

I too was disappointed about your actions in Black Mesa going completely unnoticed (except by Breen - I loved how he was almost scared as he said, "It almost looked like...Gordon Freeman"). You kicked some serious ass and nobody bats an eye. How lame does it feels that nobody is asking Gordon what the hell happened to him the past X years or whatever. Oh wow...there's Gordon...we all thought you were dead or something...weird...we aren't the slightest bit curious as to what the hell happened to you and we don't feel it's neccessary to fill you in on anything that's going on...you'd better get out of here. Weird...leaving the labs behind...all the resistance people seem to know how awesome you are...but your colleagues don't mention it at all.

 

[Netherworld]

im sorry but the story is shit lol anyone who says its great i just dont see where your coming from. The game is good but there isnt a story let alone this like amazing clever well thought out genius story that some of you seem to imply. I can say the story in THREE WORDS thats how poor it is "Kill the Dr" simple.

A great story is something like star wars (even tho i hate it)
Warcraft stories
Resident Evil stories etc.. etc.. something that makes you question the world your walking on and the people in that world and how they mix and how it got from this event to this event etc.. etc..

 

[Bing_Oh]

It isn't the story I've been a little disappointed in so far, per se, but the pacing and general "feel." First, the game feels too rushed (at least, it does so far...I'm just getting to Nova Prospekt). There always seems to be some attack or incident that puts you back on the run.

Even worse, it almost seems like Gordon is becoming the classic FPS character...the indestructable supersoldier. The great part about the original HL was the feeling that Gordon was just a regular guy stuck in this monumental situation. For the most part, he just wanted to get the heck outta Black Mesa...the events he got mixed up in were all because of his being manipulated and directed by others. But, in HL2, Gordon is treated like the Second Coming or something. The entire Combine is on full-alert for one guy? All the rebels have the same attitude, "You're...GORDON FREEMAN!" It just feels like the situation focuses on Gordon, instead of Gordon making the best of the situation.

 

[Spartan]

also in hl1 you really kinda wandered around really the same way, with now big goal till the end, same as in hl2

Half-Life had a very clear goal: escape Black Mesa. The reason for escaping was obvious - it's just common sense. After discovering that you can't escape, you are urged to find the Lambda team. And so on. There was always a clear goal that made sense. I was never with the feeling of "why am I doing this?"

thats why there will be a hl3 to tie things up. Im glad they didnt tell us the mysteries of the first one. These games are like chapters in a novel. You wont know the whole story until the end. Obviously HL2 isnt the end.

I doubt it. At best, HL3 will give us some kind of conclusion, but I don't see why they would explain even the most basic elements of HL or HL2.

Ahh whatever, i guess some just dont see great story unless it is given in a mainstream manner. Oh well no loss for me. At least i enjoy the mystery.

Stop repeating that line. You (=the fanboys) have been proven wrong a thousand times.

alot of peopel keep saying that we have no idea what Dr. breen wants to do with humans, but if you listen to one of his rants on the tv early on, it is clear that he wants to make all humans "immortal" (most likely to be slaves), this immortalitly is at the price of losing our "instincts" and also losing the ability to reproduce.

Actually, he says that once we have "mastered ourselves" we can reproduce again. Anyway, I haven't heard of anyone wondering about Breen. It's very obvious what he wants to do, because he keeps talking about it all the time.

Even worse, it almost seems like Gordon is becoming the classic FPS character...the indestructable supersoldier. The great part about the original HL was the feeling that Gordon was just a regular guy stuck in this monumental situation. For the most part, he just wanted to get the heck outta Black Mesa...the events he got mixed up in were all because of his being manipulated and directed by others. But, in HL2, Gordon is treated like the Second Coming or something. The entire Combine is on full-alert for one guy? All the rebels have the same attitude, "You're...GORDON FREEMAN!" It just feels like the situation focuses on Gordon, instead of Gordon making the best of the situation.

It kind of reminded me of Halo, where the soldiers get excited and mystified whenever they see Master Chief. But that makes, MC is an almost indestructable super soldier, a one man army. But I can't see why everyone gets hyped up over Gordon. There's no explanation for it. You can speculate a lot, but it's just that: speculation.

 

[A.I.]

There is no lack of story at all. The story unveils itself by the player. There is certainly at least one goal in the game (as it was already in the first game): to survive. How it's done depends on the player.

Why the explanation on BMRF events would be necessary? If you want to know, you have to seek/ask. And those who will seek, shall find their anwsers. We're used to have everything brought on a plate.

P.S. It seems that HL2 is something like Matrix: Reloaded - not so original as the original, but more like a transition to the final part.

 

[mega maniac]

You may not know much along the way in a murder mystery but they pick up clues...talk to people...things happen. Plot is developed and enriched. Not the case with HL2. I'd like to see someone make a good HL2 book following Gordon.

I completely agree with Warbie here about the main objective and direction of the game. It all feels slapped together (don't give me the 6 years of development). Why does it make sense for everyone to be rushing Gordon out of the city only to send him right back in? What was he going to do away from City 17? Amass an army or something?

I too was disappointed about your actions in Black Mesa going completely unnoticed (except by Breen - I loved how he was almost scared as he said, "It almost looked like...Gordon Freeman"). You kicked some serious ass and nobody bats an eye. How lame does it feels that nobody is asking Gordon what the hell happened to him the past X years or whatever. Oh wow...there's Gordon...we all thought you were dead or something...weird...we aren't the slightest bit curious as to what the hell happened to you and we don't feel it's neccessary to fill you in on anything that's going on...you'd better get out of here. Weird...leaving the labs behind...all the resistance people seem to know how awesome you are...but your colleagues don't mention it at all.

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.

I think there is a reason people dont talk to you about the past, remember these are just resistance fighters, all they know is that you are gordan freeman. Why would somone who has heard nothing more than your reputation start questioning you about your past?

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.

 

[Spartan]

he then goes on to talk about your past and how you came to be in black mesa.

To my knowledge, he only says that you worked in Black Mesa and that you had just earned your phd. That's hardly news.

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.

Gordon doesn't explain to them that the last ten years never happened to him. No one asks where you've been. They are barely suprised to see you.

 

[mega maniac]

im sorry but the story is shit lol anyone who says its great i just dont see where your coming from. The game is good but there isnt a story let alone this like amazing clever well thought out genius story that some of you seem to imply. I can say the story in THREE WORDS thats how poor it is "Kill the Dr" simple.

A great story is something like star wars (even tho i hate it)
Warcraft stories
Resident Evil stories etc.. etc.. something that makes you question the world your walking on and the people in that world and how they mix and how it got from this event to this event etc.. etc..

I hate it when people do this
Half life "kill the dr"
Halo "stop the aliens"
Star wars "defeat the sith"

etc etc

Any story can be summed up basically in three words, because all storys have one main objective, however to explain sub plots, relationships and chaacters you need paragraphs.

Even worse, it almost seems like Gordon is becoming the classic FPS character...the indestructable supersoldier. The great part about the original HL was the feeling that Gordon was just a regular guy stuck in this monumental situation. For the most part, he just wanted to get the heck outta Black Mesa...the events he got mixed up in were all because of his being manipulated and directed by others. But, in HL2, Gordon is treated like the Second Coming or something. The entire Combine is on full-alert for one guy? All the rebels have the same attitude, "You're...GORDON FREEMAN!" It just feels like the situation focuses on Gordon, instead of Gordon making the best of the situation.

Breen is terrified of Gordon and his relationship with the g-man, and breen runs the combine, so he throws tham at gordon and puts them on full alert.

Gordon almost is superhuman n his ability to wield a gun, and his reputation follows him. The resistance hear of him fighting his way out of black mesa, against a huge government force, and that builds gordons reputation.

my theroy - Breen talks of an immortal race, and i expect dreams of being immortal himself. At the start of the game the scientest says "why gordon you havnt changed one bit, its quite remarkable" look at the photo on the wall, you look the same as you do now, while the scientist looks yonger in that photo. You are the man who is sent in to do the tesying for the machine that opens up xen. Have none of you considered that gordan is Breens experiment of immortal life, this would explain a whole lot to me, why breen is so afraid of you, why you havnt changed a bit in 10 years, why the g-man recruits you after black mesa.

Could black mesa be a deliberate accident be the g-man to test your ability?

As i said its like speculating about a murder mystery, and that, to me makes half lifes story totslly amazing.

 

[mega maniac]

To my knowledge, he only says that you worked in Black Mesa and that you had just earned your phd. That's hardly news.

Yes, but its still a little hint. And during this bit he sounds afraid of you.

Gordon doesn't explain to them that the last ten years never happened to him. No one asks where you've been. They are barely suprised to see you.

They know that you are back, before you even get off the train you are bring taken to them, they arnt going to be surprised your there because they know you are, the element of surprise would have happened when they saw your name on the entry list.

 

[Sidd]

I think they have been told that you will arrive, they just didn't know when and how.

Listen to what the doc in the interogation room again, I had a definate feeling that this was the case.

 

[mega maniac]

I think they have been told that you will arrive, they just didn't know when and how.

Listen to what the doc in the interogation room again, I had a definate feeling that this was the case.

I think if they knew you were arriving, otherwise the guy wouldnt have been in an undercover combine suit, they were most definately expecting you.

 

[Spartan]

Breen is terrified of Gordon and his relationship with the g-man, and breen runs the combine, so he throws tham at gordon and puts them on full alert.

How do you know that Breen knows about the G-man?

Gordon almost is superhuman n his ability to wield a gun, and his reputation follows him. The resistance hear of him fighting his way out of black mesa, against a huge government force, and that builds gordons reputation.

Once again, Gordon wasn't the only one who got out.

Have none of you considered that gordan is Breens experiment of immortal life, this would explain a whole lot to me, why breen is so afraid of you, why you havnt changed a bit in 10 years, why the g-man recruits you after black mesa.

Gordon was in a stasis, courtesy of the G-man. This is the most logical conclusion, and many things point to this.

As i said its like speculating about a murder mystery, and that, to me makes half lifes story totslly amazing.

There's TOO MUCH speculation. Almost everything in the game is a matter of speculation, which leads to such great ideas as "omg omg gordon si teh gman lol in teh futur"

Yes, but its still a little hint. And during this bit he sounds afraid of you.

Well obviously. I've killed hunreds of Combine soldiers without breaking a sweat.

They know that you are back, before you even get off the train you are bring taken to them, they arnt going to be surprised your there because they know you are, the element of surprise would have happened when they saw your name on the entry list.

Assuming that Gordon's name was on any entry list. He was covertly inserted into the train.

 

[Spartan]

What I also find funny is that the plot is so hidden (or non-existant) that you have to spend a week discussing it at a messageboard before you even understand some of the most basic elements and events. At least, the parts that aren't just pure speculation.

 

[mega maniac]

How do you know that Breen knows about the G-man?

I dont, but from he story we have been given, i expect that he does.

Once again, Gordon wasn't the only one who got out.

No, but he was the only one who got out by blasting his way through as far as we know

Gordon was in a stasis, courtesy of the G-man. This is the most logical conclusion, and many things point to this.

Thats fine, he may well have been, but i think that gordon was part of an experiment before half life.

There's TOO MUCH speculation. Almost everything in the game is a matter of speculation, which leads to such great ideas as "omg omg gordon si teh gman lol in teh futur"

One again coming back to my point about a novel, if you could get everyone on a forum to read half a mystery novel and then post on it they would speculate, and all of them about different things. Infact go find a harry potter forum if you want to be annoyed by kids.

Well obviously. I've killed hunreds of Combine soldiers without breaking a sweat.

Exactly, and these are all trained troops, breen knows this, and in my opinion knows more about gordon that anyone else, except maybe the g-man

Assuming that Gordon's name was on any entry list. He was covertly inserted into the train.

My point is they knew he was coming, however they knew is irrelevant.

 

[mega maniac]

What I also find funny is that the plot is so hidden (or non-existant) that you have to spend a week discussing it at a messageboard before you even understand some of the most basic elements and events. At least, the parts that aren't just pure speculation.

And its great, you want an arcade shooter you got one, you want to look for the story and actually play the part of freeman, then you can.

 

[Spartan]

I dont, but from he story we have been given, i expect that he does.

Why do you expect that he does?

No, but he was the only one who got out by blasting his way through as far as we know

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?

Thats fine, he may well have been, but i think that gordon was part of an experiment before half life.

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

One again coming back to my point about a novel, if you could get everyone on a forum to read half a mystery novel and then post on it they would speculate, and all of them about different things. Infact go find a harry potter forum if you want to be annoyed by kids.

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.

Exactly, and these are all trained troops, breen knows this, and in my opinion knows more about gordon that anyone else, except maybe the g-man

Well what does he know, then?

My point is they knew he was coming, however they knew is irrelevant.

It's not irrelevant, it's important.

 

[Spartan]

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.