Sui
Tank
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2004
- Messages
- 5,998
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Choices. I've been thinking about these in aftermath... and whether they could be applied to the game. We already know that Valve are fond of player interaction- they want to immerse the player as best as possible, and even the most simple choices give the illusion of free will. Plus, Valve even used a choice at the end of Half-Life, where you were offered a job.
There are a number of ways they could slot into Aftermath: I've already mentioned in one thread how the ending could be a choice between freedom and Alyx... I'll describe it for you.
-----
The citadel is creaking. It's going to fall any minute now. You've endured every monster this city has thrown at you- every combine, antlion, strider, barricade, house tree and a lot more. You're exhausted, but it's almost over. The end is in sight, literally.
Gunshots rip through the air- a combine gunship. You spray bullets back, but you're paying little attention as you just want to get the hell out of there. A stray rocket hits the beast, obviously a lucky resistance member- and the gunship spirals into the citadel, crashing into the straining foundations. Luckily, the tower holds.
Just as you're getting ready to run again, Alyx cries your name. Turning around, you see Alyx resting against a pile of rubble. The street you're in is already shaking, and you can tell that you haven't got long- but you notice she's sitting in a pool of blood. Her own blood.
"Gordon... get out of here. Save yourself. If one of us doesn't make it out alive, all the effort will have been wasted. Jus.. get out of here".
You glance around. Combine, resistance members, antilions- they're all frantically dashing to safety. Your old enemies spot you, and in the distance, you see them pointing, advancing.
"Gordon.. what are you waiting for?"
Come on, think. You could escape now- like Alyx said, she's not going to make it, and there's still the matter of helping the resistance once you're out of the blast zone. That's the sensible option.
"...Gordon?"
Then your concience kicks in. You've been through thick and thin with Alyx. You escaped the citadel... together. You saved the resistance... together. You survived an onslaught.. together. And it'll end with you together. It's only fair. Hodtiles are closing in- you ready your rifle. You're not going to let Alyx die by the hands of these bastards. Who knows what the combine could do to her.
Bullets whiz past your ear, bursts of fire erupt from enemy rifles, and a sad, but patriotic melody plays softly in the background. The game realises you're staying in place. Alyx realises you're not going to leave her. Combine come in close- you punch them with holes, blast them through walls and smash them in combat. You're taking a beating, but you're not going to give up. The music is louder. It's engrossing you now- inspiring you. Behind, Alyx thanks you. A strider steps over, you unleash a rochet at it's knee, sending it crashing down around you, blocking the exit. There's no way out now. The music slows, softens- but doesn't die.
You look at Alyx. The music has changed- it's regretful and sad. Alyx's voice raises above it- she talks, about her experiences, about the people she's met- about her life. She finally comes to you- Gordon Freeman. Her savior. Her hero. She believes in you. It all brings a smile to your face as you realise you've made the right choice. Sure, some people would have chosen freedom over love, but you're not one of those people.
"Gordon... I... I...want you to know..."
And then a creaking deafens you. The tower- it's falling. Screams erupt, people run, combine retreat- and the huge thing topples. At first it blocks the sun. Then it absorbs the sky. Then it expands more- faster- larger, until CRUNCH. Blackness absorbs you. The HEV suit is bickering away, administring morphine etc- but the voice fades away. The screen blurs. All you can see except rubble is Alyx's hand, limp. the HEV suit, far away, almost in another reality- declares you dead. The screen is black. And the credits roll.
----
That's just one example. Try and think of others. What would be interesting choices? Maybe Breen is still alive, and you're given the chance to change that? Maybe one level, you can save your own skin or help the resistance? There's so much to think of.
There are a number of ways they could slot into Aftermath: I've already mentioned in one thread how the ending could be a choice between freedom and Alyx... I'll describe it for you.
-----
The citadel is creaking. It's going to fall any minute now. You've endured every monster this city has thrown at you- every combine, antlion, strider, barricade, house tree and a lot more. You're exhausted, but it's almost over. The end is in sight, literally.
Gunshots rip through the air- a combine gunship. You spray bullets back, but you're paying little attention as you just want to get the hell out of there. A stray rocket hits the beast, obviously a lucky resistance member- and the gunship spirals into the citadel, crashing into the straining foundations. Luckily, the tower holds.
Just as you're getting ready to run again, Alyx cries your name. Turning around, you see Alyx resting against a pile of rubble. The street you're in is already shaking, and you can tell that you haven't got long- but you notice she's sitting in a pool of blood. Her own blood.
"Gordon... get out of here. Save yourself. If one of us doesn't make it out alive, all the effort will have been wasted. Jus.. get out of here".
You glance around. Combine, resistance members, antilions- they're all frantically dashing to safety. Your old enemies spot you, and in the distance, you see them pointing, advancing.
"Gordon.. what are you waiting for?"
Come on, think. You could escape now- like Alyx said, she's not going to make it, and there's still the matter of helping the resistance once you're out of the blast zone. That's the sensible option.
"...Gordon?"
Then your concience kicks in. You've been through thick and thin with Alyx. You escaped the citadel... together. You saved the resistance... together. You survived an onslaught.. together. And it'll end with you together. It's only fair. Hodtiles are closing in- you ready your rifle. You're not going to let Alyx die by the hands of these bastards. Who knows what the combine could do to her.
Bullets whiz past your ear, bursts of fire erupt from enemy rifles, and a sad, but patriotic melody plays softly in the background. The game realises you're staying in place. Alyx realises you're not going to leave her. Combine come in close- you punch them with holes, blast them through walls and smash them in combat. You're taking a beating, but you're not going to give up. The music is louder. It's engrossing you now- inspiring you. Behind, Alyx thanks you. A strider steps over, you unleash a rochet at it's knee, sending it crashing down around you, blocking the exit. There's no way out now. The music slows, softens- but doesn't die.
You look at Alyx. The music has changed- it's regretful and sad. Alyx's voice raises above it- she talks, about her experiences, about the people she's met- about her life. She finally comes to you- Gordon Freeman. Her savior. Her hero. She believes in you. It all brings a smile to your face as you realise you've made the right choice. Sure, some people would have chosen freedom over love, but you're not one of those people.
"Gordon... I... I...want you to know..."
And then a creaking deafens you. The tower- it's falling. Screams erupt, people run, combine retreat- and the huge thing topples. At first it blocks the sun. Then it absorbs the sky. Then it expands more- faster- larger, until CRUNCH. Blackness absorbs you. The HEV suit is bickering away, administring morphine etc- but the voice fades away. The screen blurs. All you can see except rubble is Alyx's hand, limp. the HEV suit, far away, almost in another reality- declares you dead. The screen is black. And the credits roll.
----
That's just one example. Try and think of others. What would be interesting choices? Maybe Breen is still alive, and you're given the chance to change that? Maybe one level, you can save your own skin or help the resistance? There's so much to think of.
