The Half Life series had some wonderfully creepy, alien influences to it. An imaginative, organically disturbing view of Xen, creepy Aliens, and some wild weaponry. So why is it that Half Life 2 has become so terrestrial? Headcrabs, Zombies, and Antlions, at this point, all feel like they are a part of a futuristic earth, most of the other aliens look too mechanical to seem alien, the Combine themselves just look like futuristic police, and Vortigaunts have fit in so much that they have taken on janitorial roles, and speak in english. Advisors are the only real hint at anything truly alien, and they are used sparingly. Even the weapons are very terrestrial and straightforward, makeing me severely miss the Egon Cannon, Snarks, Wasp cannon, etc. My first thought when I got that first glimpse of the source engine ages ago was, "Damn, I can't wait to see what Xen looks like in this incredible new engine". Now, the engine is starting to look outdated, and I still havn't seen Xen. Dystopian is great and all, but I really want more things that feel like they couldn't have possibly started on earth.