Gordon Freeman to Remain Mute

[Captain Karma]

True, but they gave the implication of some kind of relationship. And 99.9% of relationships involve speaking at some point.

Ever have a conversation with your dog?

I have had a lot of dogs in my life. I have never had a dog I never said a word to.

Oh, the dogs? They are stupid. Really.

 

[SniperWolf427]

Valve has proven that they can craft a well-rounded set of characters, so I'm not going to dismiss that "You ARE Gordon" approach as false.

What troubles me is, aside from the lack of any character development, his willingness to throw himself in front of danger with little to no resistance. It's just unrealistic, especially for a human.
Granted, he has the HEV suit, but even I would question some of these situations that Alyx so willingly thrusts him into:

"A gun emplacement that can rip you to shreds surrounded by a pit of poisonous, deadly zombies?! Well shit, Gordon will do it!"

Gordon: "O_O"

Applying normal logic to fiction, especially of the multi-media variety, really doesn't do anyone any good. Hell, they've already ripped a portal through time and space, aliens are pouring out, and humanity is enslaved by giant maggots. I have a feeling the last thing they thought of was a person's survival instincts.

I have a feeling that his willingness to throw himself directly into the line of fire time and time again is directly related to "Taking one for the team", so to speak. He understands that he has to do what is asked of him in order to fix this whole situation that can be, in many cases, considered his fault.

However, I will agree with you that Alyx is a *****.

 

[TheComedown]

I wouldn't like him if he talked i recon, he hasn't talked in 4 games then to make him talk in then next would be weird and out of place, and the silence of Gordon Freeman adds to the G-Man scenes and the whole mystery behind him.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I am sorry to hear this...


Oh well, Gordon himself is a TERRIBLE character. No personality or anything...He is the worst kind of protagonist. A silent one who everyone in-game likes for no reason as though he used to talk to them and they developed a close friendship.

Good, if over-rated, games, horrible main character. When a headcrab named Lamarr has more personality then the hero, you've got a shitty hero.

Maybe he should talk Saint's Row 1 style. Like, a single line at the end of every major landmark in the story.

Also, if they did ever give him a voice, hire Nolan North.

if you havent noticed dude the series is based on what if moments, theyve left information and plot about the game out for the mystery effect an example would be who the G man is, what happened to sheppard and hmm the fact that gorden doesnt speak they made it so it makes you think.

I hate Valve's mystery bullshit. If you're gonna have a mystery...at least don't give us all this damn waiting. Hell, its not even that great of a mystery. It's just getting annoying now.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

What troubles me is, aside from the lack of any character development, his willingness to throw himself in front of danger with little to no resistance. It's just unrealistic, especially for a human.
Granted, he has the HEV suit, but even I would question some of these situations that Alyx so willingly thrusts him into:

"A gun emplacement that can rip you to shreds surrounded by a pit of poisonous, deadly zombies?! Well shit, Gordon will do it!"

Gordon: "O_O"

Maybe he's like Kenny, the suit covers his mouth so no one can hear him complain. Which would explain why everyone likes him so much.

Barney: Hey Gordon, would you mind going on another 8-day trek across the wilderness to rescue my friend Neil? I don't even like him that much but he owes me five bucks and he's being attacked by zombies and is surrounded by armed embankments and combine and aliens and all that sort of thing, sounds like your kind of gig.

Gordon: MMPH! Mmphmmmph mmmehmmphphmmehmm! PHMMEPPH EHMMM MMPHMPHHMMM!

Barney: Thanks dude, you're the greatest. Remind me to buy you that beer sometime.

Gordon: PHMMMPHM!

 

[HigherTomorrow]

I am sorry to hear this...


Oh well, Gordon himself is a TERRIBLE character. No personality or anything...He is the worst kind of protagonist. A silent one who everyone in-game likes for no reason as though he used to talk to them and they developed a close friendship.

Good, if over-rated, games, horrible main character. When a headcrab named Lamarr has more personality then the hero, you've got a shitty hero.

Maybe he should talk Saint's Row 1 style. Like, a single line at the end of every major landmark in the story.

[sarcasm]Also, if they did ever give him a voice, hire Nolan North.[sarcasm]

You're kidding me, right? That's the best kind of hero. He's a blank slate. A blank slate that I can put my personality and feelings into. I become Gordon Freeman when I put on the HEV suit, and I am his personality. If the dude was wisecracking every five seconds, I wouldn't be able to get into the game.

Also, as previously stated, Gordon DID save all their lives.

 

[Helios_(DEL)]

I am sorry to hear this...


Oh well, Gordon himself is a TERRIBLE character. No personality or anything...He is the worst kind of protagonist. A silent one who everyone in-game likes for no reason as though he used to talk to them and they developed a close friendship.

Good, if over-rated, games, horrible main character. When a headcrab named Lamarr has more personality then the hero, you've got a shitty hero.

Maybe he should talk Saint's Row 1 style. Like, a single line at the end of every major landmark in the story.

Also, if they did ever give him a voice, hire Nolan North.

if you havent noticed dude the series is based on what if moments, theyve left information and plot about the game out for the mystery effect an example would be who the G man is, what happened to sheppard and hmm the fact that gorden doesnt speak they made it so it makes you think.

I hate Valve's mystery bullshit. If you're gonna have a mystery...at least don't give us all this damn waiting. Hell, its not even that great of a mystery. It's just getting annoying now.

ok ill admit they make games and leave too much out but at the same time im greatful they havent screwed a good series up because i can name a few modern series that have gone the wrong way

 

[Arafiro]

When playing Half Life, I do feel like I *am* Gordon Freeman. Its first person and he never speaks, so thats an empty shell that you sit in.
Something like Shepard, whilst also in third person, is merely a character that I control. I'm not *being* Shepard, I'm just controlling him.

.. If that makes any sense.

 

[cardinalwiggles]

i personally think that he sould never speak we liked him like this shouldn't change to characters who are less liked than gordon freeman because it's a social norm. god damn it,

 

[lijenstina]

He doesn't speak because he is probably busy typing "OMG a headcrab !" on his tweeter account.

Seriously though if something works don't try to improve it with changing the basics.

 

[Ravek]

I'll take Freeman over bland American action hero X any time. Almost all shooters since Doom have had the same protagonist, the Half-Life series being the only notable recent exception. Praise be to Valve for letting me immerse myself in a game without having to puppeteer some generic asshole.

 

[Souplex]

Well of course. Last I checked a floating disembodied pair of hands can't talk anyway.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

Also, if they did ever give him a voice, hire Nolan North.

Ugh, kill me now. If there's anything in the world Gordon doesn't need it's the "one voice to rule them all".

That part was a joke.

PHEW! Ok, I kinda figured it had to be. Still, the rest of my "typical Valve fan-boy response #0006" stands proud. When I'm playing Half-Life, I'm in charge of the wise-cracks and I don't need Nolan North or Michael Ironside or any other douche-bag* challenging my authority.
*douche-bag here implies any VO artist more successful than me, which makes for lots of douche-bags.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I am sorry to hear this...


Oh well, Gordon himself is a TERRIBLE character. No personality or anything...He is the worst kind of protagonist. A silent one who everyone in-game likes for no reason as though he used to talk to them and they developed a close friendship.

Good, if over-rated, games, horrible main character. When a headcrab named Lamarr has more personality then the hero, you've got a shitty hero.

Maybe he should talk Saint's Row 1 style. Like, a single line at the end of every major landmark in the story.

Also, if they did ever give him a voice, hire Nolan North.

if you havent noticed dude the series is based on what if moments, theyve left information and plot about the game out for the mystery effect an example would be who the G man is, what happened to sheppard and hmm the fact that gorden doesnt speak they made it so it makes you think.

I hate Valve's mystery bullshit. If you're gonna have a mystery...at least don't give us all this damn waiting. Hell, its not even that great of a mystery. It's just getting annoying now.

ok ill admit they make games and leave too much out but at the same time im greatful they havent screwed a good series up because i can name a few modern series that have gone the wrong way

OH YES...Going for realism kills some series. Going to crazy killed others. Cliffhangers for games without sequels...killed my soul.

PREY 2! YOU WILL NEVER COME OUT!

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Also, if they did ever give him a voice, hire Nolan North.

Ugh, kill me now. If there's anything in the world Gordon doesn't need it's the "one voice to rule them all".

That part was a joke.

PHEW! Ok, I kinda figured it had to be. Still, the rest of my "typical Valve fan-boy response #0006" stands proud. When I'm playing Half-Life, I'm in charge of the wise-cracks and I don't need Nolan North or Michael Ironside or any other douche-bag* challenging my authority.
*douche-bag here implies any VO artist more successful than me, which makes for lots of douche-bags.

What if Valve asked YOU to voice Gordon Freeman for the entire gaming world to hear, and said that if you don't...he'll just remain silent. Would you take the job?

 

[Geamo]

Barney: Hey Gordon, would you mind going on another 8-day trek across the wilderness to rescue my friend Neil? I don't even like him that much but he owes me five bucks and he's being attacked by zombies and is surrounded by armed embankments and combine and aliens and all that sort of thing, sounds like your kind of gig.

Gordon: MMPH! Mmphmmmph mmmehmmphphmmehmm! PHMMEPPH EHMMM MMPHMPHHMMM!

Barney: Thanks dude, you're the greatest. Remind me to buy you that beer sometime.

Gordon: PHMMMPHM!

Soo...Gordon Freeman is the Pyro?

 

[Hazy]

Valve has proven that they can craft a well-rounded set of characters, so I'm not going to dismiss that "You ARE Gordon" approach as false.

What troubles me is, aside from the lack of any character development, his willingness to throw himself in front of danger with little to no resistance. It's just unrealistic, especially for a human.
Granted, he has the HEV suit, but even I would question some of these situations that Alyx so willingly thrusts him into:

"A gun emplacement that can rip you to shreds surrounded by a pit of poisonous, deadly zombies?! Well shit, Gordon will do it!"

Gordon: "O_O"

Applying normal logic to fiction, especially of the multi-media variety, really doesn't do anyone any good. Hell, they've already ripped a portal through time and space, aliens are pouring out, and humanity is enslaved by giant maggots. I have a feeling the last thing they thought of was a person's survival instincts.

I have a feeling that his willingness to throw himself directly into the line of fire time and time again is directly related to "Taking one for the team", so to speak. He understands that he has to do what is asked of him in order to fix this whole situation that can be, in many cases, considered his fault.

However, I will agree with you that Alyx is a *****.

I cannot really disagree with any of your points here, as I am agreeing with the lot of them myself.

However, I'm still not quite buying the lot of excusing them for poor character development, even if it is fictional. Applying logic, namely the logic of our fellow man, to an art of fiction is a completely legit excuse.
After all, the cast, for the most part, are human. And, like any healthy human, they should be more than a little skeptical of some of the situations they've thrusted themselves into.

Maybe I'm just looking at it from the wrong perspective. After all, humanity is at it's brink, so I'm willing to buy some of the heroics.
But, Gordon Freeman has a long way to go before I consider him to be a good protagonist.

 

[Seef]

The Dr. Freeman will never threaten to stab you, and in fact, cannot speak.