Why Half-Life is Extra Cool...

[Tiddalick]

On TV what do we see...
Lawyers
Doctors
Police people
etc

No scientists! (At least not in Australia)
Half-Life is that bit cooler as it is a dominating force in the PC Market and the lead guy is a scientist.
For us scientists in the making, that makes it extra cool...
...and the gameplay and killin' is a bonus :sniper:

 

[Sai]

well, when it first came out; the age of quake and doom "me too's", having something, if anything that your not supposed to shoot made it really cool, and as a bonus most of them were scientists

 

[lans]

One of Half-life's selling point is it's protagonist, Gordon. Valve's idea was as simple as this - a scientist turned into a killing machine. But what valve did right was that they didn't make him a macho 6-pack ab gung-ho Steven seagal like Duke nukem.

Heck, it's cool to be a nerd when you are Gordon Freeman.

 

[riTuaL]

I think there's more of a sense of character with Gordon than most games...err except for the fact he never says a word

 

[Tiddalick]

I think there's more of a sense of character with Gordon than most games...err except for the fact he never says a word

I quite liked how the GTAIII character didn't speak either. I think it brings you more in to being that character, rather then if they had a voice which is foreign to you.

 

[SMT]

I think there's more of a sense of character with Gordon than most games...err except for the fact he never says a word

See, I think that's exactly what makes Gordon's character so cool, though: it's completely transparent. In the game, I don't know what in the world is happening to Black Mesa, and neither does Gordon. I know Gordon is scared to death because I'm scared to death, and I know Gordon is heroically rising to the occasion because I'm heroically rising to the occasion. Gordon is doing things no normal person would / should ever have to do, and since I'm controlling his every move, in a way so am I.

Gordon's character is so appealing because he becomes an extension of the player. He's unique - unlike Duke Nukem or JC Denton or Serious Sam - because he doesn't come pre-packaged with an overbearing personality... you just sort of lend him yours. :E

 

[Tiddalick]

He's unique - unlike Duke Nukem or JC Denton or Serious Sam - because he doesn't come pre-packaged with an overbearing personality... you just sort of lend him yours. :E

I must defend JC though, I quite liked him in Deus Ex. I think for that game with its more philosophical overtones, that having him speak was important.

 

[SMT]

I must defend JC though, I quite liked him in Deus Ex. I think for that game with its more philosophical overtones, that having him speak was important.

I think you're right. I should add I really, really enjoyed Deus Ex. There were times during the game when I just had to stop and think about how cool it was to be in the middle of this huge intriguing plot. Invisible War is another story, though... But I guess, all things considered, I really admire Valve's unique choice in their non-characterization of Gordon. He's alone, he's scared, and he's doing the best he can... and the gamer totally buys it.

 

[The Monkey]

In HL2 you are Gordon Freeman, I hav'nt found any other game with that feeling.

 

[Tiddalick]

I think you're right. I should add I really, really enjoyed Deus Ex. There were times during the game when I just had to stop and think about how cool it was to be in the middle of this huge intriguing plot.

I actually played Deus Ex 2 First, I thought that game was pretty good and fun. I didn't understand why it got so much flack...
Then I ordered the Deus Ex Game of the Year Edition, and I quickly saw why people didn't like the second one as much.
That was (well is) and excellent game!

 

[lans]

In HL2 you are Gordon Freeman, I hav'nt found any other game with that feeling.

Like someone earlier mentioned, if GTA3 was in First person, you'd have the same feeling.

*runs off to email Rockstar to make a First-person GTA...*

 

[el Chi]

Gordon was a fantastic protagonist and one that, clearly, loads of people could empathise with - I just finished Far Cry, and to be honest I though Carver was a bit of a cock, really.
I really liked JC Denton - except him in DX2. He's silly there.
Cate Archer is also one of my favourites
As is Manny from Grim Fandango and everyone in Giants

 

[SMT]

Like someone earlier mentioned, if GTA3 was in First person, you'd have the same feeling.

*runs off to email Rockstar to make a First-person GTA...*

You can switch cameras to make it first-person if you want it to. The driving part, anyway. But that still doesn't mitigate the cutscenes before missions when you're completely removed from your character's perspective.

 

[kaf11]

another character who i like to become (as opposed to being "me" like gordon) is garret. hes one of the coolest characters in all of gaming. the voice acting helps a lot, and the way the story and dialog is written is very cool.

 

[denlife7]

another character who i like to become (as opposed to being "me" like gordon) is garret. hes one of the coolest characters in all of gaming. the voice acting helps a lot, and the way the story and dialog is written is very cool.

I agree with you on that... he sounds sneaky

 

[CrazyHarij]

I don't really remember what got me into HL back when it was released.. It was creepy and the immersion level was by far higher than any other game, and it was cool with the extremely tough soldiers and the creepy aliens.

I love the effects when you take a big beating, how the view is distorted like mad when you get hit by a Zombie or fall to the ground without dying. I hope they'll have that thing in in HL2, it did affect the immersion level alot more than you might think..

 

[Moejoe]

Gordon's character is so appealing because he becomes an extension of the player. He's unique - unlike Duke Nukem or JC Denton or Serious Sam - because he doesn't come pre-packaged with an overbearing personality... you just sort of lend him yours. :E

This was very well put. It's so true. It seems to me that gordon represents something different yet awesome to each and every HL player.

 

[lans]

You can switch cameras to make it first-person if you want it to. The driving part, anyway. But that still doesn't mitigate the cutscenes before missions when you're completely removed from your character's perspective.

Na, something that allows the combat with guns to be in first person. I prefer third-person driving, though.