Why I think HL2's story will rock

[Max35]

Now in theory HL2's story doesn't seem that original (aliens invading earth or whatever). But even though HL had an overall (but good) simplisitc plot, I don't think HL2 will be like that. Why?. Simple, if you have ever read any of Mr. LaidLaw's books, or even glanced at their subject matter, in my case, you will see that he is capable of imploring an original and unique style to anything he creates. His more original novels IMHO include Dad's Nuke, The 37th Mandala, and The Orchid Eater. HL was this writer's FIRST attempt in the gaming medium, since he now has more experience in this I'm assuming HL2 will be much better in this department.

Another reason is that HL was the first game in this franchise, it merely "set the stage" for what's going to happen next. However I could be wrong, and the storyline could suck. But from the information I have so far, it doesn't look that way. What does everyone else think?.

 

[PvtRyan]

When I say to people "HL's story rocked" they reply with "a bunch of aliens invading earth, what's the big deal about that". The basic concept is indeed aliens invading, and that's pretty much all you get to know in HL, it has such an open ending with many uncertainties, it could go a million ways in HL2. The story really is deeper than it seems, for instance, who is the G-Man, what are his plans with Xen? And great about the story in HL was that it wasn't told in words, but told by the game, the gameplay, you were Gordon Freeman and he knew as much as you did. You had to find out everything yourself, make your own story what or who the G-Man really is, who the hell that Administrator is etc.

I hope this continues in HL2, that's what made HL the best FPS ever.
I only have one fear regarding HL2's story; in HL, you played a sort of geeky scientist with an armored suit on, the only thing you really wanted is to get the hell out of BMRF, escape by any means necessary. I'm afraid Gordon will have become some sort of G-Man's elite soldiers to do dirty jobs for him, not a scientist trying to escape a disaster. I wonder what reason they have for you to be in City-17. Are you there because of some accident too and do you have to try to escape? Or is it just a rampage to destroy all aliens?

 

[Champ]

I, like Ryan, also liked the fact that Gordon was no actual hero. He was an ordinairy scientist (although he killed a crapload of aliens and at least a battalion of badass Marines.) trying to get his sorry carcass out of there.

 

[fizzlephox]

Half-Life 2's story will be much better than many of its peers. I'm sure many of you already know Half-Life/2's story, so I won't talk about that. Doom III's story consists of space marines fighting demons from hell while in a base on a barren red planet. Sounds like a grade B Sci-Fi movie's plot. But Doom III's about action, graphics, and enviorment so this story doesn't really help or hinder the end product, but it's still not a very innovative storyline. Unreal 2004 doesn't even have a story (well it does but it's minimal and there for the simple fact of being there, much like Doom's). Half-Life 2's story will be more memorable and therfore the game will be more memorable, at least in my opinion.

 

[Orange]

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things. ahhh that makes me feel like i could do something important one day.

 

[Cunni]

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things. ahhh that makes me feel like i could do something important one day.

Eh, why bother.

 

[Feath]

Actually, the Half-Life story wasn't that great but it was how it was told that was amazing. The way it unfolded before you and there was twists and turns.

Mark Laidlaw did an interview with Planet Half-Life which really makes me look forward to the story.

 

[FictiousWill]

I want to prance about city 17 for a while - then I want a badass helicopter convoy orchestral nuclear return to black mesa. If only for the final fight or something, because black mesa's corridor-and-crate design is too plain for source, but if they blew half the mountain away on top or something, I dunno. I just want a Maw-style return in blazing glory, if you know what I mean.

 

[Styloid]

Exactly! I don't think Marc Laidlaw created the HL1 plot but he did control how the game experience was 'told'. He introduced and adapted traditional writing techniques into a computer game and that, if you ask me, is the main feature that set HL1 apart from other games (and hopefully will set Hl2 apart as well).

 

[Max35]

I don't think LaidLaw came up with the original concept, but more of the advanced elements, like the ambiguities of the story: the administrator and the g-man etc and how Gordon accidently created the catastrophe at Black Mesa; stuff like that. Also, I would agree that it wasn't HL's story in terms of its broadness that was entertaining, but the fact that was in a sense "interactive", and you experienced it yourself.

In most games, there would be an event that would shape the story, that the main character never had anything to do with, but is put in this situation and forced to deal with it, or it was something that you did in the past, not experience in the actual game. In HL you caused what happened, you saw the consequence of your actions. Even the ending was like this, it didn't glorify what you did; giving you only two options: either die or be employed by the government, making you feel like a pawn in the grand scheme of things. It was this break from tradition that made HL stand out from the rest.

 

[Sprafa]

Yeah HL was the 1st action game in which you could actully do everything right, kill the final boss and hv to mk a choice.And the G-man ??

 

[DEATH eVADER]

The thing that I liked especially out of HL's story was the fact there were many things happening at once. You realise that, at the end of the game, many questions were still left untold. Who is the Gman, were the lab equipment damage the result of sabotage, lack of maintenance, or the result of the energy emitting from the crystal you slotted in at the beginning of the game. Why was Gordon Freeman transfered to the BMRF at such a young and naive age. Even at the end sequnce when Gman is talking to you I was confused (Xen and Earth start to merge, the tram going through some sort of hyperspace thingy). Now, we're confronted with, who are the combine, what does that massive city eating citadel symbolise, and what is the Gman planning.

 

[Sparta]

Half-Life 2's story will be much better than many of its peers. I'm sure many of you already know Half-Life/2's story, so I won't talk about that. Doom III's story consists of space marines fighting demons from hell while in a base on a barren red planet. Sounds like a grade B Sci-Fi movie's plot. But Doom III's about action, graphics, and enviorment so this story doesn't really help or hinder the end product, but it's still not a very innovative storyline. Unreal 2004 doesn't even have a story (well it does but it's minimal and there for the simple fact of being there, much like Doom's). Half-Life 2's story will be more memorable and therfore the game will be more memorable, at least in my opinion.

From what i've read Doom 3 sounds alot like the first half-life, except instead of being a scientist, you're a space marine, i doubt anyone is trying to kill you to cover up a conspiracy. Maybe a kind of Half-Life/System Shock 2 kinda game. If anyones played System Shock 2, you'l remember the Body Of the Many, apparently they have a level like that in Doom 3. should be terrifying

 

[Sulkdodds]

(Shudders) I remember that. Urg...

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

From what i've read Doom 3 sounds alot like the first half-life,

From what I've read, Doom 3 sounds a lot like the first Doom.

 

[The Dark Elf]

From what I've read, Doom 3 sounds a lot like the first Doom.

Supposedly you play as a marine already stationed there during the same events as the first one. I wonder if you get to meet the player from the original doom at some point?

 

[Brian Damage]

I wonder if the player character is still Flynn McTaggart. If it is, then they've merely shifted the start point.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Back to HL2, ahem.
HL1 's plot was actually quite good. Though the main source of brilliance was how it was told, the conspiracy and assorted revelations as you venture deeper into Black Mesa are great, not to mention the incredible sense of buildup towards a climax as you approach the heart of Lambda.

 

[Loach]

The story for HL2 just seems alot more complex with more side stories where you learn about other characters.

It also looks like you part of some sort of "revolutionists" in City 17 trying to end the oppression of the combine.