Episode three surprise.

[z0mbin3]

Episode one showcased a newer more developed NPC and a new lighting system. Episode two had the new use of open enviroments and I think one other new thing. What is Episode three going to bring to the Half-Life series?

I think it might be the abbility to choose what story path you follow. Episode two imo set this up with the Borealis and the two opposing views on what to do with what is aboard. Isaac thinks they could harness whatever is there to help destroy the Combine. Eli wants to destroy it at all cost's. Alyx will probably side with Eli but that doesn't mean Gordon will. And it will be the player who decides wether to destroy it or use it.

Now this does sound a bit complicated especially with the fact that we still have Half-Life 3 on the way. But Bioware's Mass Effect has a ending storyline that differs on what the players does. so mabye Valve can do it with Half-Life.

 

[Kdizzle]

hhhmmmm it would be fun, but i really dont like those path things. too many times you would have to play the game. thats probebly why i havent beat mass effect yet and its been months.

1st post~!

 

[Omnomnick]

Half Life = Linear

Mass Effect = RPG

End of story.

 

[Para]

I'd be really pleased if Ep3 ended without a god damn cliffhanger. Oh and be longer than Ep1.

 

[Asknoone]

I think it might be the abbility to choose what story path you follow. Episode two imo set this up with the Borealis and the two opposing views on what to do with what is aboard. Isaac thinks they could harness whatever is there to help destroy the Combine. Eli wants to destroy it at all cost's. Alyx will probably side with Eli but that doesn't mean Gordon will. And it will be the player who decides wether to destroy it or use it.

Now this does sound a bit complicated especially with the fact that we still have Half-Life 3 on the way. But Bioware's Mass Effect has a ending storyline that differs on what the players does. so mabye Valve can do it with Half-Life.

If Valve do that, Half-life = ruined.

 

[pistolero!]

The first believable romance in a FPS? Or that the Gman is Gordon's father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate? Or that Glados built an army of Termin... ummm... metal endoskeleton robots? We don't know.

 

[Narvi]

Snow physics engine.

 

[Omnomnick]

Thats not a suprise, we know we are going to the arctic.

What would be the suprise is that we didnt go to the arctic and ended up in the desert...:|

 

[ríomhaire]

Episode 3 should be linear and there should be no damn romance with Alyx.

 

[phishey]

altough i think that their "vortal bond" will be a huge part of the episode. it just shouldn't be too romantic.

 

[FrostXian]

And that's how you destroy a successful series.
Half Life is linear, it is made to be linear, it's purpose is to be linear and tell a story while keeping you entertained.
Episode 3 is not the end of the story, a free choice would be ridiculous, unnecesary, imposible.

 

[leib10]

Episode 3 should be linear and there should be no damn romance with Alyx.

But you know there will be. They didn't spend all the time developing her and Gordon's relationship for nothing.

While the idea of having a choice at the end of the game is cool in concept, it would really screw up the validity of events in later installments.

 

[Omnomnick]

And that's how you destroy a successful series.
Half Life is linear, it is made to be linear, it's purpose is to be linear and tell a story while keeping you entertained.
Episode 3 is not the end of the story, a free choice would be ridiculous, unnecesary, imposible.

Good man, he knows what he is talking about...

 

[-Psy-]

Half-Life has always been about linear gameplay.

 

[99.vikram]

If Valve do that, Half-life = ruined.

Because Deus Ex was such a spectacular failure? It depends on how they implement it.

I wouldn't mind.

 

[Triumvir]

Because Deus Ex was such a spectacular failure? It depends on how they implement it.

I wouldn't mind.

Deus Ex is a very different game from HL. Deus Ex was all about exploration and the player doing anything he wanted, literally killing any character, no matter how important, etc. That makes for an interesting game. But HL is a series based on cinematic storyline and gameplay. It isn't a game that succeeds because of its open-ended storyline and gameplay, it succeeds because of its well-written plot and its excellent pacing. Having choices would ruin the whole Half-Life feel.

 

[Asknoone]

Because Deus Ex was such a spectacular failure? It depends on how they implement it.

I wouldn't mind.

Deus Ex is a totally different game.

 

[Druckles]

Because Deus Ex was such a spectacular failure? It depends on how they implement it.

I wouldn't mind.

The fact that Half-Life is already a fully fledged single player game with its own sequel makes it hard to implement that sort of feature.

Deus Ex was its own game in its own genre.

 

[ShadowJustice]

they could just put in a double ending ala half-life 1.

Basically at the end you can either choose if using the borealis against the combine or destroy it.

Then the next half-life is simply going to pick one of the two endings.

 

[McGooTheWise]

If Valve do that, Half-life = ruined.

I'm glad we know our math. XD

I agree though, it would kill it. KEEL ETT!

 

[lord_raken]

I agree the current format for the story line is ideal. and mass effect is awesome in its own way.

 

[jpventoso]

Snow physics engine.

Right, and dynamic weather/skyboxes.

 

[Asknoone]

Please reduce your sig to 4 lines.

 

[Saruke]

The new aspects that valve has introduced in each episode have always been technical in nature and multiple story endings is a plot device.

 

[Nibwoddle]

I think that there should be choices, but they made no impact on the actual true aevents whatsoever. Like, you choose if you're gojng to destroy the Borealis, or use it, which has the same effect - wiping out the Combine, and possibly everything else.

 

[Jeron]

Episode two imo set this up with the Borealis and the two opposing views on what to do with what is aboard. Isaac thinks they could harness whatever is there to help destroy the Combine. Eli wants to destroy it at all cost's. Alyx will probably side with Eli but that doesn't mean Gordon will. And it will be the player who decides wether to destroy it or use it.

We are going to follow dr.Kleiner's view.
They reveil this in the documentary mode, because of what happened at the end of ep2.
They also said that the encounters with the advisors in ep2 are a preperation to battle them in ep3.
So I think that'll be the surprise, we're going to fight one and take our revenge. Or maybe Alyx is going to finish him off, she deserves it more.

 

[z0mbin3]

How are you going to fight somethin that can throw you across a room with out even trying?

 

[Absinthe]

Alyx romance is a must at some point.

 

[phishey]

How are you going to fight somethin that can throw you across a room with out even trying?

i thought about that too, and the only thing i could think might be, that one group, probably rebels, are trying to distract the advisor, while you try to kill with your rocket luncher or maybe a new energy weapon.... the advisor don't look like they can take two many hits.

i just hope valve shows a way to kill themlogically, and not just overrun them with your crowbar Oo

 

[Asknoone]

wow are you a gurl

 

[kupocake]

The Alyx NPC code is the Episodes' greater advance, but the larger environments is the key to where the technology is going next: Note how in Episode Two, larger environments corresponded with a drop in NPC total intelligence and believability, even when we're comparing the lone Vortiguant to a six-person squad of resistance fighters?

So far, the Episodes haven't been unlike Half-Life 2 in structure. Episode One was equivalent to the early 'escape from City 17' levels. Episode Two was Highway 17 with more stop-offs. Episode Three may well be equivilent to the 'shit hitting fan' streetwar (Though with more open-air, large, snowy environments). It probably should be anyway. To that end, Episode Three will feature allied squads of a similar intelligence level to Episode One/Two Alyx, making intelligent tactical decisions on chaotic snow-swept hillsides and sticking with you for longer. The Combine will receive a corresponding intelligence boost, essentially delivering on the kinds of dynamic AI responses that everyone was unrealistically expecting after E3-2K3.

This is what I'm hoping anyway. Because the non-Alyx/Vort AI practically ruined bits of Episode Two for me.

wow are you a gurl

Outside of the internet perhaps, but you know the rules.

 

[Druckles]

How are you going to fight somethin that can throw you across a room with out even trying?

How are you supposed to fight a giant fetus which throws energy balls at your constantly, able to teleport you wherever, regenerative health and can crush you without a seconds thought?

Have you ever played against a boss before?

 

[Asknoone]

I don't know what came over me.

 

[z0mbin3]

How are you supposed to fight a giant fetus which throws energy balls at your constantly, able to teleport you wherever, regenerative health and can crush you without a seconds thought?

Have you ever played against a boss before?

Yes I have. But here's the thing. The giant f****** fetus couldn't pick you up and slam you aganst the ground like the Hulk when he finds out the cake is a lie. The Advisor can. With his mind!

 

[Combine_Advisor]

Hmmm....i think that that it would be very hard to program source in to being a rpg-like source engine...

 

[Pesmerga]

Half-Life has always been about linear gameplay.

Wrong. Linear story, but not linear gameplay. There is a difference.

 

[ríomhaire]

Also I want a romance with Alyx

NO

 

[Triumvir]

Currently in the HL series, you get game pacing something like this: action, puzzle, exploration, story, repeat. I want to see more integrated action/puzzle solving. We saw a little in Nova Prospekt during HL2, what with the antlions and turrets and what not, but I hope that EP3 will force players to do more thinking under fire. I'm also excited about the possibilities that the flying Advisers open up for expanding the game's combat into three dimensions. Currently, you strafe, you shoot, you take cover, etc... but the up-down axis is largely ignored. I want to see a battle with an Adviser (or other enemies for that matter) where the player has to think in 3D and use the terrain to negate the height advantage of his opponent.

 

[Eejit]

If Valve do that, Half-life = ruined.

Half-Life 1 had two choices at the end.

Like that, Ep3 could have multiple choices, but being no more than the illusion of a choice like in HL1.

 

[ríomhaire]

bbbbbbbbut she is just so darn cute! ;_; AND SNUGGLY

I'm not asking for first-person sexual congress, but rather... MAYBE FIRST-PERSON SNUGGLING. JESUS I DON'T KNOW. it's just that whenever i see her i just want to give her a hug ;_;

I actually want to give most NPCs hugs. :<
I... think there should be a key you can press to give people hugs.

I think that's how things should be.

NO