Enviroment variation in Episode 3

[RidleyRockets]

I was just musing over what we could see in episode 3 and wondering about the settings. Forgive me if i ramble on (which i fully intend to) but here are my half arsed ideas.

We know that we will more than likley be taking a trip north to the Borealis and i'm further guessing it's a given that we will have to enter the ship. Other than that it wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest that we would possibley get to explore the surrounding area. Which makes me think there's only so much you can do with an arctic setting variation wise.

We could have arctic bases (civilian or combine) maybe, ice caves, massive expanses of ice and snow along with the Borealis section. You can't really get the variation you can with a massive city. This makes me think that we won't spend a great deal of time in the arctic.

Since the combine want it i can see us racing them there and having to land the chopper in various places for various possible reasons, i have an image already of a classic fight off the combine as the chopper refuels type situation. This would give us a good bit of variation in scenery and terrain before the arctic enviroment.

That's as far as i dare speculate, any thoughts or ideas guys?

 

[pomegranate]

How about the arctic base being a massive facility, near-city size, in itself - something like Black Mesa, in fact. Perhaps it would be the true global HQ for the resistance.

 

[Reginald]

Arctic tundra
Arctic base
Borealis embedded into an ice wall with ice caverns
Combine Overworld

 

[Lobster]

AS Labs Site B - Where they breed the dinosaurs!

I am wondering which approach they will take with Episode 3, will they go for the travel heavy wide open variety of Episode 2, or a smaller area, with large set pieces like Episode 1, it is gonna be an exciting day when the first teaser trailer pops up, at this moment, the series could turn in any direction they want it to, I just hope deep down they dont close the book to heavily on the combine, at the moment we have mainly been fighting the trans-human forces that the combine dont even seem happy with, I would love to see them expand upon the synths and other species that they have enslaved.

 

[Iron_cube]

I definitely want to see the snake-like universal union infantry, just like in RtB.

 

[RidleyRockets]

Arctic tundra
Arctic base
Borealis embedded into an ice wall with ice caverns
Combine Overworld

That's what i'm itching to see along with Xen on source. I have a feeling though that we won't get to set foot on other worlds in ep3, to me it would feel out of place since we haven't even glimpsed it in hl2 or any of the episodes so far.

If the combine story isn't resolved in all ways in ep3 i think maybe we will see some world hopping in hl3.

 

[Pinkle]

That's what i'm itching to see along with Xen on source. I have a feeling though that we won't get to set foot on other worlds in ep3, to me it would feel out of place since we haven't even glimpsed it in hl2 or any of the episodes so far.

If the combine story isn't resolved in all ways in ep3 i think maybe we will see some world hopping in hl3.

Didn't we get a glimpse of the combine world through the portal at the end of HL2 above Breen? Two gunships come out of it...

 

[Asknoone]

*A Combine world.

 

[Pinkle]

*A Combine world.

Ahh, gotchya. Still neat!

 

[Garbel]

Didn't we get a glimpse of the combine world through the portal at the end of HL2 above Breen? Two gunships come out of it...

I believe it was just a siderock and not the combine overworld itself

Edit: And Samon won again

 

[DrAbysmal]

They could have the chopper make an emergency landing somewhere and maybe include a The Thing-style spooky arctic base, where you have to scrounge around for something to get the chopper running again or a snowmobile or something, running into some creepy crawlies along the way (snow antlions, of course). They already did a "race the Combine" angle with White Forest so I'm thinking we might be able to look around the Borealis with little pressure initially and then the Combine will assault the ship from there. I'm still hoping they'll find a use for the two synths we seen in the Citadel too, the crab with the chain gun and the floating mortar thing.

 

[Cheomesh]

Actually, a scene where you're looking for parts / a ride that has the MOOD of a creepy area, but no foes.

 

[soulslicer]

Yeah, that would probably be how it would go. You go on helicopter and visit awesome pitstops with some battles here and there. They might just add real life examples of the combine assault on earth, such as seeing a citadel behind the Eiffel tower or something. Then, you reach Borealis and you probably get a glimpse of the combine overworld

 

[Jintor]

No more god-damn antlions, please.

 

[Nitre]

No more god-damn antlions, please.

Agreed 100%.

 

[Reginald]

I can't imagine Antlions being too enamoured with cold weather. City 17 probably has a similar climate to the UK and I reckon that's about as cold as they dare venture. I reckon going north will mean we have seen the last of them. It also opens a door for a new common enemy to appear in the wild which is hugely exciting. :E

 

[leib10]

No more god-damn antlions, please.

Seconded. This seems to be the general consensus: people are sick of the antlions. Time for a new creature.

 

[Cheomesh]

Yeah, that would probably be how it would go. You go on helicopter and visit awesome pitstops with some battles here and there. They might just add real life examples of the combine assault on earth, such as seeing a citadel behind the Eiffel tower or something. Then, you reach Borealis and you probably get a glimpse of the combine overworld

Why would you go through France going from Bavaria to the Arctic?

Seconded. This seems to be the general consensus: people are sick of the antlions. Time for a new creature.

Might be too late for Bull Squids.

 

[Crash Happy]

I love Ant-Lions, but it would be really good to take advantage of a climate change and have some variation.

 

[Frraksurred]

I am hoping for some aireal action, then to the Kraken Base for some more action, puzzle-solving and expanded storyline. All of which should lead us deep into the bowels of the facility for a little return to Black Mesa style action. Then on to the Borealis for lots of plot revelations, more intense action (probably Advisor related) and a portal gun. Finishing up the story should be a nice jaunt to the Combine Overworld to kick some "Greater Master" keister. As an option, there is always the possibility we will face the Gman in some fashion. I am still expecting to find the door that leads behind his Wizard of Oz facade and hear the line "You're not supposed to be here."

 

[whb]

Might be too late for Bull Squids.

According to the commentary, the poison-antlions' spit attack was modelled on the bullsquids'.

 

[Cheomesh]

According to the commentary, the poison-antlions' spit attack was modelled on the bullsquids'.

Well yeah. Still, why couldn't they make actual bullsquids? I mean they appear to love water, and we went through creeks and stuff. Perfect spot to put them...

 

[Zephos]

I absolutely love snow environments, can't wait for Episode Three in that respect :O

 

[Avoidist]

I bet you Xen is involved. Why? 1. G-Man takes a more active roll. It is (was) in his faction's control. 2. More on the Vortigaunts. 3. The nature of borealis and similarities to the Philadelphia Experiment (which went to Mars ). 4. This quote: "...since it's the foundation on which the series continues." - Laidlaw on Xen/Combine relation and other info in the Marc Laidlaw vault.

Of course this is just pure speculation and instinct. But I got a real good feeling about this.

 

[LordPomposity]

I will accept more antlions if, and only if, there is bugbait involved.

 

[Asknoone]

I absolutely love snow environments, can't wait for Episode Three in that respect :O

Yeah I'm pretty sure Episode 3 could suck utter balls and it'd still be awesome simply because there's snow. I'm thinking The Thing and Mountains of Madness.

 

[Hydra]

1. Background building, object, whatever.
2. Polar bears and flesh to make them move*
3. Ice caves with an awesome Combine overworld creature or creatures.
4. Absolutely no Overwatch.**

*Kidding.
** A beg towards Valve.

 

[Tollbooth Willie]

Might be too late for Bull Squids.

Not necessarily. Remember, we encountered them and headcrabs ina freezer room in HL1, so they must have some tolerance to cold.

Yeah I'm pretty sure Episode 3 could suck utter balls and it'd still be awesome simply because there's snow. I'm thinking The Thing and Mountains of Madness.

Hell yes.

 

[Cheomesh]

Not necessarily. Remember, we encountered them and headcrabs ina freezer room in HL1, so they must have some tolerance to cold.

Forgot about that.

 

[jimmyjam]

Yeah I'm pretty sure Episode 3 could suck utter balls and it'd still be awesome simply because there's snow. I'm thinking The Thing and Mountains of Madness.

I had a sudden image in my head of shooting houndeyes from a helicopter

 

[Pesmerga]

I loved ant lions. They were my favorite part of the game.

 

[Cheomesh]

I liked fighting them sometimes. It's a real shame the Source engine isn't good with "open" maps from what I'm told.

 

[Irksome]

This is all fine and dandy but I wont be happy if there isn't a Star Wars reference with a severed arm in an ice cave.

 

[Narvi]

Penguins! We have to shoot at penguins at one point!

Okay, so the leeches probably ate all of them, but come on! Penguins!

Being chased around by a shoggoth!

 

[kupocake]

Short version:
- White Forest
- The Sky
- Arctic Wasteland
- Arctic Village (Temporary Resistance Camp)
- Caves or something
- Kraken Base, (or perhaps the Borealis' Dry Dock: where Mossman's transmission was made from)
- Borealis Exterior and Interior places.
- G-Man style glimpses of Xen and another, exotic world.


Stupid I've stayed up too long and need sleep version:
*White Forest: Episode Two wrap-up and a visually impressive take-off sequence.
*Above the clouds, manning a turret and taking on gunships / and other airbournes (after all, the old story plan kind of implied that you would actually experience the lengthy flight back to the Citadel. May as well give you something to do as well as put in some story).
* Inevitable crash-landing near remote, zombie / xenian infested village or outpost, coincidentally used as staging position for Mossman's expedition. Encounter Resistance Members who establish that they've recently received a hostage demand from the Combine for the now captured Mossman. Alyx and Gordon resolve to break her out, but Knowledge of the area's sparse geography leaves only two possible locations: the nearby Kraken Base, and the Borealis. Since they can only really work on the assumption that the Borealis hasn't been found by the Combine, and that the hostage demand is more than likely a deliberate plot to entrap Alyx and Gordon to mine them for clues Mossman has yet to give up, the two decide to split up. Alyx goes to find the Borealis as her father's wishes take precedent, and Gordon goes to save Mossman.
* Gordon gets more time in the Arctic wasteland, goes Potholing and builds a Snow-family and their Igloo home in Valve's strangest Physics Puzzle yet.
* Combine-centric combat in Kraken Base in order to save Mossman. The Kraken Base turns out to be the location of Mossman's message, but has now been taken over by the Combine and used as their staging position. Gordon succeeds in finding Mossman alive, but she warns that she wasn't strong enough to resist their 'information gathering techniques' and the Combine know the rough location of the Borealis (she may have given in after having learned of, or even been forced to see Eli's Death). However, she has successfully concealed from the combine, the fact that the Kraken actually has local teleportation capabilities to get them to the Borealis instantly. Gordon and Mossman team up (you know you want to see it!) tool up and take the easy route to the Borealis.
* The combine have apparently not yet arrived aboard the Borealis and Mossman and Gordon begin their search for Alyx whose resistance-made snow-mobile is visible on the cliff looming above deck. Recalling the schematics she has seen of the boat when at Kraken Base, Mossman leads Gordon to the laboratories somewhere in the zombie-infested hold.
* The laboratories are extensive and state of the art, but unfortunately they are also the domain of a later, somewhat less insane GlaDOS. Nevertheless, Alyx is pinned down by GlaDOS's security systems after G-Dizzle learned of Alyx's intention to blow the place sky high. Gordon and Mossman save Alyx and set about destroying the Borealis, as per Eli's will. Ultimately they succeed and catch a ride to the deck, only to meet the Advisors and their forces. They have a lengthy fight, which is drawn out too long, causing the entire ship to self-destruct as they stand on it. The G-Man intervenes and hints, with glimpses of strange worlds new and old, that Borealis' and GlaDOS' destruction bring with them some Unforeseen Consequences...

All that seems a little too much like an Episode too long tbh

 

[Avoidist]

Hostage idea doesn't sound like the combine to me. Atleast with Breen gone. Apart from that, and the fact that I really don't want to blow up Borealis, I'd say that's pretty darn good.

 

[kupocake]

Hostage idea doesn't sound like the combine to me. Atleast with Breen gone.

I don't think it seems likely either, but I've heard that Mossman is described as being 'held' somewhere in the arctic in the Orange Box strategy guide, or something that has the same implications.

 

[Garbel]

Penguins! We have to shoot at penguins at one point!

or Zombguins

And i do not think the Ant lions like the arctic pretty much, which kinda gives me the thought that Valve choosed to show the ant-lion hive, eggs and the rabble to not include them in EP3

 

[simonjedi]

The G-Man intervenes and hints, with glimpses of strange worlds new and old, that Borealis' and GlaDOS' destruction bring with them some Unforeseen Consequences...

i like that ending

 

[Para]

According to the commentary, the poison-antlions' spit attack was modelled on the bullsquids'.

What that comment meant was that the mathematical function that defined the arcing of the bullsquid spit was reused in Ep2 in those acid globs. It's wasn't "modelled on the bullsquids", it's the very same, exact lines of code (with some tweaking most likely).