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[ashecitism]

That was fast.

 

[orava]

The Borealis weapon could have been a planet buster and still it would have done nothing.

 

[Patison]

I feel like EP3 would be huge setup for HL3 where we would learn more about G-Man to rescue Alyx and finally take the motherfucker down. Maybe thousands years in the future with Chell to help you out.

Love the idea of different times and places clashing in Borealis, reminds me of what PK Dick experienced, with ancient Rome being superimposed on our world.

Also, Laidlaw managed to create the ending that says nothing you've ever done matters and still be satisfying. Hats off!

 

[Majukun]

it follows the same pattern of the other 2 episodes, basically a much of fuss for nothing.
I love half life 2 and the episodes but the story is not really the reason why.. That's why I never felt the need of an episode 3.

it's also funny that the series of games with the tagline "prepare for unforeseen consequences" ends up devoid of any consequence whatsoever

 

[Jason Frost]

Unless Gordon sees some serious shit that completely changes him, I can't see why he would be so hostile to his past self (and in the case of Ep3), seemingly leave him to die. Yes I suppose he would then know that he'd be saved by the Vortigaunts but I really don't buy this theory lol.

Well, if G-Man is really Gordon Freeman, then G-Man knew that Gordon would be saved by the Vortigaunts at the very last moment, so G-Man is now focusing on saving Alyx who would have originally died without any intervention.

 

[angelic]

I think it's fantastic, bittersweet to read it over 2 minutes rather than experience it over several hours, but still a brilliant conclusion...typically open to interpretation, like all the best plots.

 

[ashecitism]

hmm might be a stretch

 

[the TMO]

I miss the point of the g-man and i think that there is too much little about the aperture. The only way that his behaviour can fit is that the g-man have created all this (the incidenti in Black mesa, the combine, the vortigaunts) just grab the Bootstrap Device from the borealis and be himself, like all the story is just a loop so he can continue to jump back and forth the timeline. I think that glados is stuck in the aperture for the same reasons, and maybe if she can get the hands on the same device she can finally be free. Again, maybe this is why the g-man is never seen in portal, because all he want is that the aperture create that device and glados stay out of the game. Just my two Cents, sorry for my English.

 

[diaspora]

hmm might be a stretch

🤔

 

[sflufan]

Just to refresh my memory on a few items:

(a) The Combine took advantage of the portal storms after the events at Black Mesa to invade our universe/solar system which led to the defeat of Earth's forces during the Seven Hour War.

(b) Once Earth was occupied, the Combine constructed the transdimensional portal in City 17 which would allow them to bring a significant Combine force through in order to crush the remaining Resistance forces on Earth.

(c) With the destruction of the transdimensional portal in Half-Life 2, the Combine forces on Earth were effectively cut off from reinforcements from the Combine homeworld.

(d) The Combine wanted the Bootstrap Device aboard the Borealis because it would have given them the capability of local teleportation within our universe. Hence the reason why the Resistance wanted to deny them that capability as well.

However, weren't the Combine forces on Earth screwed anyway even without the Bootstrap Device because they were cut off from reinforcement with the destruction of the transdimensional portal anyway? Or was the fear that the Combine could modify the Bootstrap Device to also be used for transdimensional teleportation?

 

[EatChildren]

However, weren't the Combine forces on Earth screwed anyway even without the Bootstrap Device because they were cut off from reinforcement with the destruction of the transdimensional portal anyway? Or was the fear that the Combine could modify the Bootstrap Device to also be used for transdimensional teleportation?

I would say yes, the Combine aimed to secure the Borealis in hopes of harnessing and modifying the portal technology to open an immediate gateway to the homeworld and flood Earth with reinforcements.

The Combine Empire, for all its might, had archaic portal tech. Black Mesa were a little ahead in the game (moreso the Resistance come Half-Life 2), and Aperture were leagues ahead of everyone. The Combine could only get very slow, one way, rudimentary portal technology working.

With them on the defensive by the end of Episode 2, they'd be trying to find any solution possible to turn the situation around.

 

[TheSecondSpitter]

Dog didn't fit on the helicopter.

Dog became an overpowered Deus Ex Machina which i'm sure the writers were happy to write out the script at the first opportunity.

 

[ashecitism]

At least the fanarts have been pretty good:

 

[Auto-Reply]

It's simple, if brute force wont do anything regarding the combine then time travel has to undo what happened. (timelines and paradox aside)
And I can only imagine for this to happen you somehow have to become partly resistant to the G-Mans abilities with the help of the Vortigaunts (they've shown to be able to interfere with his abilities) and then you'd have to find out how to change the G-Mans mind regarding his contract, you'd meet his employees, a third/unknown faction that you get introduced to by the Vortigaunts and you'd have to directly fight them in order to change what makes the G-Man do what he is doing to earth, or what he will be doing (If you are doing all of this before Half Life 1 actually happens)

Not sure what this could/should be, if it has to be materialistic in nature or motivated by personal motives of the G-Man.

Along the way you need to convince Alyx to return to your cause, for dramatic effect that needs to be done before you succeed to change the G-Mans mind.

 

[ashecitism]

This is the best one so far: