So, the death of a main character (EXTREME spoilers)

[Atomic_Piggy]

So, what did everyone think of Eli's death? Good, bad?
I thought it was absoulty epic. Particulary Alyx crying over him. And of course he was gonna reveal loads of plot stuff when you return from the artic...but he can't now (remarkably).

 

[-Psy-]

I hate Valve and their constant torturing of my emotions.

 

[Chug a Bug]

Bad, in a good way if that makes sense. Yeah it was horrible especially the gore spewing out I almost wish I'd taken his advice and not looked. Yeah, I know it's only a game yada yada but I liked the old guy and you do come to care about him even though he's only a game character etc, etc.

It's good character development for Alyx. Now she's alone in the world and only has Gordan to turn to for support.... I think we'll see a new, determined, possibly more ruthless Alyx.

 

[Acepilotf14]

Indeed. Either Alyx will either go Emo on us, or turn into the Terminator.

 

[Cheomesh]

I lol'd.

 

[Chug a Bug]

"I'll be baaack!"

 

[leib10]

That was the closest I've ever come to crying over a video game. Enough said for the emotional impact.

As for the rest of the story, Alyx will never be the same. I don't think she's going to be depressed and down all the time, but rather wrathful and vengeful (this was foreshadowed in her reaction towards the Hunters at the radio tower). We are going to see a side of her we only caught a glimpse of in Episode Two. However, her attachment to Gordon will become even stronger, as he is now all she has left in the world.

 

[Cheomesh]

Barney? Kliner?

 

[Remus]

Barney? Kliner?

Who?

 

[monkeyclass]

It was the best and saddest scene in a video game ever. after the game, I sad like 10 minutes just frustratet over his death.. And then I went playing Portal. And yes the closets ever to cry over a video game

 

[Shift]

Amazing, I mean I knew it was coming all the time, but nothing prepared me for that. So, so, so felt sorry for Alyx and so badly wanted to comfort, but obviously with Gordon's position unable to move obviously signified he was too shocked to move.

This will definately open a new dynamic to character development on Alyx's part, as that will have indeed scared her for life and will most likely never have a full nights sleep ever again. If there is anything I cannot wait for in EP3, I would have to say Alyx's aftermath reactions and changes in personality is top my list.

 

[Pinkle]

This is on par with Lisa's scene from Silent Hill. UUgghh so saaad, but damn if it doesn't make for a great story. It especially hits home to me because their relationship reminded me of mine and my dad's. :'(

 

[ic0dy]

Really sad.. I feel bad for alyx=[

 

[Wanted Bob]

Yeah, after that a sat through the credits with a giant pit in my stomach, trying to comprehend what had happened.

 

[Nitre]

I loved it and hated it at the same time. He was going to tell us so much

Oh well, should make ep3 interesting.

 

[Dr0ndeh]

it was a bit tacked on for dramatic effect imo. wouldve been better if it had tied in with the final assault a bit more.

if advisors were part of that final assault, but despite your best efforts you hear someone shouting 'WE HAVE TWO ADVISORS PAST THE PERIMETER, WHERE THE HELL DID THEY COME FROM! STOP THEM BEFORE THEY DESTROY THE SILO!'

and eli died protecting the rocket. that wouldve been more effective imo rather than
" this ending feels a bit flat, what can we do to shake it up a little? KILL OFF A CHARACTER WE NO LONGER NEED! GENIUS! "

 

[Iron_cube]

Advisors aren't supposed to be offensive combine units, and how are they supposed to destroy a silo?

 

[Shift]

Deploying Advisors to a battlefield like that would have been stupid anyway, Im thinking if you keep them at range and plug them full of bullet before they can get close enough to use the physic abilities on ya, they are buggered.

 

[Wanted Bob]

it was a bit tacked on for dramatic effect imo. wouldve been better if it had tied in with the final assault a bit more.

if advisors were part of that final assault, but despite your best efforts you hear someone shouting 'WE HAVE TWO ADVISORS PAST THE PERIMETER, WHERE THE HELL DID THEY COME FROM! STOP THEM BEFORE THEY DESTROY THE SILO!'

and eli died protecting the rocket. that wouldve been more effective imo rather than
" this ending feels a bit flat, what can we do to shake it up a little? KILL OFF A CHARACTER WE NO LONGER NEED! GENIUS! "

I dunno, I think it was more than to enhance the ending. He died trying to fend off the advisors from Alyx and Gordon, making his death more personal to her. Especially since we are the only ones to have witnessed it. Also, I think it would have gotten in the way of the dramatic rocket launch, the players feelings would be focused on Eli, rather than the launch...

 

[Asknoone]

I liked it. I didn't really lack the anti-climatic portal closing, but I thought the Advisor killing was great. The idea was that the Advisors were already in the perimeter, and didn't really know what the scientists were up to. When the portal closed they really had no choice whatsoever; stranded and isolated on Earth isn't exactly fun and games for a malevolent alien intelligence that spends its free time exercising totalitarian control...

If you listen carefully, they had been searching for Eli most of the game. Calling Alyx “Vance subprime” and generally just trying to neutralize White Forest. They aren't combat units, and after the remains of the Overwatch were decimated by Freeman and the portal closed, they simply made a desperate attempt. I'd say it worked. Also consider that the Advisors are immortal; their technology has kept them alive for who knows how long...there's absolutely no way they would risk exposing themselves to the slightest possible harm in the midst of a battle. They really had no choice at the end, though.

 

[Iron_cube]

Although I'm suprised how that huge hangar didn't have any kind of defensive tool, or even normal rebels guarding the area.

Good thing Dog was there, heh.

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

One thing that was quite weird was the advisor that got beat up by dog was crawling away...it looked really weird.
Like shift said, I sensed that someone was gonna die, and it would proboaly be eli...but still.
GG valve. GG.

 

[Asknoone]

The Advisor reminded me of a spider when caught in a fight it really can't win. The struggle and the crawling away was exactly how a spider would act, because its powerless in the physical sense (some, anyway).

 

[Dr0ndeh]

Deploying Advisors to a battlefield like that would have been stupid anyway, Im thinking if you keep them at range and plug them full of bullet before they can get close enough to use the physic abilities on ya, they are buggered.

i mearly said they could be PART of the final assault, i didnt suggest they strap railguns to themselves and run in all guns blazing. perhaps coming into the battle half way through and using dead parts of blown apart striders and hunters to protect themselves from attack like the first advisor you see in the game does with the roof of the shed.

they couldve even made it obvious you couldnt hurt them, NPC's shouting it at you for example like they do with everything. "focus on the striders doctor freeman! you cant hurt them there advisors!"

 

[Asknoone]

i mearly said they could be PART of the final assault, i didnt suggest they strap railguns to themselves and run in all guns blazing. perhaps coming into the battle half way through and using dead parts of blown apart striders and hunters to protect themselves from attack like the first advisor you see in the game does with the roof of the shed.

they couldve even made it obvious you couldnt hurt them, NPC's shouting it at you for example like they do with everything. "focus on the striders doctor freeman! you cant hurt them there advisors!"

Also consider that the Advisors are immortal; their technology has kept them alive for who knows how long...there's absolutely no way they would risk exposing themselves to the slightest possible harm in the midst of a battle. They really had no choice at the end, though.

Death to something that has sacrificed its own natural evolution to evade is not something it'd expose itself to in the least.

 

[Iron_cube]

they couldve even made it obvious you couldnt hurt them, NPC's shouting it at you for example like they do with everything. "focus on the striders doctor freeman! you cant hurt them there advisors!"

Advisors aren't invincible...

 

[leib10]

Truth. We saw two instances in which they can be wounded in Episode Two.

There's no way Valve will not let us fight these things in Episode Three. It would be such a huge letdown to not be able. An all-to-willing Alyx will no doubt be playing a large part in helping us.

 

[Dr0ndeh]

Death to something that has sacrificed its own natural evolution to evade is not something it'd expose itself to in the least.

you mean like the advisor held up in a wooden shack with very little protection.

or like the advisor that pops his head over the 2nd silo door and even lets you take several shots at him.

or like the advisors at the end that go deep into the human base and allow a robotic gorilla beat the snot out of them.

and something tells me youre going to have plenty of chances to kill dozens of them in ep3

 

[Dr0ndeh]

Advisors aren't invincible...

once again, i didnt say they were. i said they could protect themselves with debris like the one at the start does with the roof of the shack.

 

[Asknoone]

you mean like the advisor held up in a wooden shack with very little protection.

That Advisor crashed in the middle of the Outland; his Citadel pod was pretty close by. He was already injured and far from help; you can see most of the Overwatch escorting one of them on the bridge. Also, there's hardly any Overwatch actually left. By the end of EP2 17 sector has been crippled.

or like the advisor that pops his head over the 2nd silo door and even lets you take several shots at him.

The shots probably didn't hit. He was anxious to get a glimpse at what was happening, just like at the end. They aren't going to sit around whilst the scientists find a way to close the portal. Maybe that Advisor was dumb.

or like the advisors at the end that go deep into the human base and allow a robotic gorilla beat the snot out of them.

I liked it. I didn't really lack the anti-climatic portal closing, but I thought the Advisor killing was great. The idea was that the Advisors were already in the perimeter, and didn't really know what the scientists were up to. When the portal closed they really had no choice whatsoever; stranded and isolated on Earth isn't exactly fun and games for a malevolent alien intelligence that spends its free time exercising totalitarian control...

If you listen carefully, they had been searching for Eli most of them game. Calling Alyx ?Vance subprime? and generally just trying to neutralize White Forest. They aren't combat units, and after the remains of the Overwatch were decimated by Freeman and the portal closed, they simply made a desperate attempt. I'd say it worked. Also consider that the Advisors are immortal; their technology has kept them alive for who knows how long...there's absolutely no way they would risk exposing themselves to the slightest possible harm in the midst of a battle. They really had no choice at the end, though.

I really don't know how we'll fight them in EP3.

 

[Laivasse]

It felt clear to me that the Advisors are meant to come across as spiteful, desperate (yet powerful) cowards. Twice they get wounded (3 times if you shoot one in the silo assault) and each time they run away immediately. they probably see themselves as far too important to put themselves directly in harm's way under normal circumstances.

These are beings that have built the Combine empire on the basic principle of getting 1000's of other pawns to do their fighting for them, so they're unused to the the tangible risk of death. The attack on Eli was born out of desperation, or perhaps fury, after seeing what the rocket did. However they clearly hate to get hurt - that's what kept them away until then, and that's what drove them away immediately after.

 

[Iron_cube]

Why does everyone think you actually hurt the one outside the silo door?

He just flys off in a "oh screw that" way. No blood sprites either.

I'm pretty sure they can somehow keep conventional bullets away from them.

 

[Asknoone]

It felt clear to me that the Advisors are meant to come across as spiteful, desperate (yet powerful) cowards. Twice they get wounded (3 times if you shoot one in the silo assault) and each time they run away immediately. they probably see themselves as far too important to put themselves directly in harm's way under normal circumstances.

These are beings that have built the Combine empire on the basic principle of getting 1000's of other pawns to do their fighting for them, so they're unused to the the tangible risk of death. The attack on Eli was born out of desperation, or perhaps fury, after seeing what the rocket did. However they clearly hate to get hurt - that's what kept them away until then, and that's what drove them away immediately after.

Exactly, yeah. Utterly terrified that they could physically die. They are technologically immortal, and in this sense true death is probably the most frightening thing for an Advisor. Physical harm and injury petrifies them, no matter how evolved their minds are. Cowards, really.

 

[Crash Happy]

It felt clear to me that the Advisors are meant to come across as spiteful, desperate (yet powerful) cowards.

Thirded. They seemed to me to take out Eli with an almost childlike petulance. I can't think of anything in the scene that really points to that though so it's just my opinion.

And the slug above Silo 2 bled plenty when I emptied a ton of emplaced gun into his hide.

 

[Kevin]

I really didn't expect this to happen to Eli.
I was somewhat paralyzed, just watching those advisors making things worse.

The fact that i saw Eli's corpse just clinging in the claws of the advisor, couldn't get to my mind. I couldn't believe Eli, the almighty ELI had been killed.

It's one thing to see rebels die, they do.
It's a completely other thing to see a major character, like Eli, die.

Thinking about what that advisor was actually doing with its tongue at the back of his head and the gore made my insides churn.
Scrambling the brains or something?

I just wanna live a day, where we will actually see one killed, or kill an advisor, beating it's ragdoll with the crowbar later on.

PS: It reminded me of some injured freak bug, with yellow blood spewing out and the screeching, along with the fast crawling.

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

How do people propose to fight Advisors? They are physically weak. It might only take a couple of rocket launchers to bring them down. I won't be dissapointed if the finale is against advisors, but I'm hoping for something less obvious, more better.

Also, fantastic post Laviasse.

 

[Iron_cube]

And the slug above Silo 2 bled plenty when I emptied a ton of emplaced gun into his hide.

There were many combine soldiers infront of it - the blood was coming from them, but the slug itself remains unharmed.

 

[leib10]

Using our environment/Alyx will almost certainly have something to do with it. Just shooting it until it dies would be kinda anticlimatic.

 

[Kevin]

It would make so much of a better fight, when we would actually have to use the environment, yes.
After the battle is at it the climax, you break something huge loose, that falls on the advisor, squishing it.
And from the death of a creature with such powerful psychic abilities, comes an invisible shockwave, that nearly kills you and Alyx or something, you both fall, nearly unconcious, and the screen fades to black as some rebels arrive to take you away.

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

I still say that valve will surprise and it will be something far more superior to a/some advisor(s).