The scariest part of the plot...

[Skyjack]

...is the damage the Combines did to Earth. Even if the humans manage to eradicate them they have done irreparable damage. The low water levels, due to the Combine draining the oceans. The probable extinction or mutation of most of Earth's native species, etc. Not to mention it looks like the citadel itself is part of a "deep-core" mining project no doubt designed to strip mine the Earth dry.

That's depressing stuff, and I like it! :thumbs:

 

[CriYam]

They drained the oceans? I didn't notice any low water levels.

 

[michael_obrien]

lets not nitpick =P

the point is that "combine = spooky!"

lowered water levels was something planned by valve which never really made it into the game. Technically it was happening during the game, but nobody bothered telling you and it's not an important part of the story. A lot of unrelenting cruelty was cut for some reason, even though that's the best part of the combine.

 

[Skyjack]

They drained the oceans? I didn't notice any low water levels.

LOL way to be observant

You didn't notice every dock in the game was like 10 meters in the air? You didn't notice at the dam how high everything was?
Every river looked to be reduced to a creek, etc. That would mean global water levels reduced by an insane amount...like trillions of cubic meters. Maybe more.

Just more subtle clues to the story. :upstare:

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

Yeah, I'd have thought the dock in the buggy level with the boats on clear dirt with piers going into nothingness made it pretty clear about the water levels.

 

[Skyjack]

Yeah, I bet a lot of the "the story sucks" people don't even take the time to look at any of the atrwork, etc for clues. If it's not spelled out for them, they will just never see it. Either that or they have really crappy video cards or computers.

 

[Sulkdodds]

That's depressing stuff

Well yes. And what do you think happens after you bring down the Citadel? The world is a better place? Then there would be no HL3. I shudder to think about the future of mankind...and I like it!

 

[Glo-Boy]

It's alright everyone, Hordon will save the day, I assure you.

 

[Ennui]

I'd have thought that all of the beached boats would be a clue about the lowering waterline... really, people, a lot of Half-Life 2 is its atmosphere! Look around!

Yeah, those combine are some evil bastards all right. Ugly as hell too. That citadel goes straight down for miles. Not to mention they're oppressing humanity and enslaving them and all that.

 

[MiccyNarc]

LOL way to be observant

You didn't notice every dock in the game was like 10 meters in the air? You didn't notice at the dam how high everything was?
Every river looked to be reduced to a creek, etc. That would mean global water levels reduced by an insane amount...like trillions of cubic meters. Maybe more.

Just more subtle clues to the story. :upstare:

It's called low tide :thumbs:



Edit: http://home.maine.rr.com/halekai/Low Tide Frenchboro 550.jpg

I actually might have had a point

 

[Asknoone]

Goddam the combine, draining on ocean

 

[Ennui]

It's called low tide :thumbs:



Edit: http://home.maine.rr.com/halekai/Low Tide Frenchboro 550.jpg

I actually might have had a point

lol you certainly did... but the boats explain it.

 

[desdinova]

Personally, I don't mind the plot. It's cool and interesting and all that, but hey I'm just here to kill stuff!

 

[m00b]

No no no! Fast zombies climbing buildings and jumping to get you are the scariest thing in the game.

 

[justmatt]

It's called low tide :thumbs:



Edit: http://home.maine.rr.com/halekai/Low Tide Frenchboro 550.jpg

I actually might have had a point

The only point you've made with that picture was that lowered water levels would look a lot like low tide. It would be like low tide all the time. I took the huge beached barges and freight ships to mean something had happened to the water levels.

 

[MiccyNarc]

The only point you've made with that picture was that lowered water levels would look a lot like low tide. It would be like low tide all the time. I took the huge beached barges and freight ships to mean something had happened to the water levels.

It's called a joke

If you can't take a joke you shouldn't read my posts, because alot of the time I am joking. And the rest of the time I am being sarcastic, unless there comes a time (once every million years or so) when I am serious, but in the case above it was 100% joke
So add me to your ignore list, unless you can learn how to take a joke

:imu:

 

[michael_obrien]

it would've been funny if criyam had posted it in an actual attempt to defend himself, but you ruined it miccy

However, to be fair, I've got to say that I am probably the least observant person in the world. My though process does not go beyond "hey, I came from there, so now I should go over there!". It's amazing that I didn't get stuck at any of the puzzles this time around, considering that in HL1 I spent half an hour staring at a grate "how do I get that thing to open?" before I hit it with my crowbar. Nothing in the entire water hazard sequence clued me in to the slightest about maybe the water levels being low. At one point I think I did wonder "why is that pier over dry land, and why is it so tall?" but I did not follow that to a conclusion.

It's not that I'm stupid, I'm very intelligent in a lot of ways, but I have also been cursed with a lack of perception to a degree which is simply unfair. Damn you god, damn you!

 

[DesertChicken]

I love how games these days are perfecting the art of subtly making the player feel and believe things through atmosphere.

Spoiler

The scary part part for me was when during the final cage ride just before Dark Energy. When you're looking out through the holes in the Citadel and see the lights of the city. Then the three gunships fly out. I thought "man, there goes more trouble for my resistance buddies. And instead of being down there to help them, I'm up here being captured."

 

[GiaOmerta]

It's ironic towards the end as you climb the Citadel. The previous two chapter you were kicking butt on the street's with the resistance.
I figured the Combine is on the run. Victory for the resistance.
As DesertChicken stated above.

Spoiler

Strider, Gunships and Overwatch infantry mobilizing for a counter-attack. Ouch-time for Barney and the gang.

 

[DesertChicken]

Another thing about that last part:
It really made me feel like the story was "bigger than me(Freeman) or any rocket launching group of rebels can handle". What is the Combine doing? Did I really help mankind by sturring up all that trouble? How many more people will die?

 

[Skyjack]

Well yes. And what do you think happens after you bring down the Citadel? The world is a better place? Then there would be no HL3. I shudder to think about the future of mankind...and I like it!

The Combines will surely attempt to bring a world of hurt down on the pesky infestation known as "humans". :flame: