Half Life 2: In Perspective

[Tomo Stryker]

Alright I'm going to just jump straight into the topic. I have recently played through a majority of the Half Life games, I must say that throughout Half Life, Opposing Force, and Blue Shift I liked the story, it was solid. Then earlier this year I purchased The Orange Box, and I decided it was the best investment of that year, I know I'm a bit behind the curb so please bare with me. I loved Team Fortress Two, but when I rolled around to Half Life 2 I realized that after you are ambushed by multiple Combine Officers that Valve decided to cut short on real story and insert a bimbo that compliments the player. Now let me clear something up before the flames of hate start to surround, I am NOT a fan of sidekicks in ANY game. Gears of War 2 for example I wanted to throw Dom off a high edge and be done with the whining. Back on topic, Alyx does serve a purpose to open multiple doors, give certain insight, and (during Episode Two) compliment the playing, and on even more constant basis flirt with him/her. In total I think that Half Life original was FANTASTIC and I am not even to going to deny the graphics, I am simply stating my opinion and wanting opinions in return. Please correct me if my ignorance is blindingly stupid, like Doms.

 

[Reveras]

Besides her being a continue sign, I liked Alyx because her emotions are nicely sketched and she isn't a constant pain in my side that needs to be rescued every 5 steps. I liked HL 2 most because it kept with the strange emptyness feeling for most of the game and that most of the characters gave more of an impact than "shit he's dead, means someone new has to parade me around". Take for example Father Grigory or what his name was, that character was insane and kick ass at the same time, always popping up in the right moments to keep u on the edge.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I liked Alyx myself. I thought she was a well written compliment to the game. She never got in my way, anyway.

Exactly. I loved Alyx to bits, thought she was a shining example of how do design a friendly AI.

And speaking of Half Life... I have a very special something I've been working on almost finished...!

 

[maddawg IAJI]

I won't deny that Dom and the rest of the friendly AI in Gears of War 2 had their problems, but hey, I liked the game and I'm not gonna let Dom's whiny bitching about his wife get me down. On the upside, he grows a manly man beard for the 3rd game!

On the topic of Alyx, I thought that she was very well done. Her movements, emotions, fighting prowess were all done very well. She is one of the few Friendly AIs who I don't absolutely hate.

 

[Frequen-Z]

I don't really think Alyx added or subtracted anything from EP2, she was just there, I don't hate her, but I don't like her either.

However, I am now purchasing the old Half Life anthology, since I've long since lost the disc to Blue Shift that I used to own, and feel like nostalging it up.

 

[tokyodove]

Alyx was one the very, VERY FEW characters that I actually emotionally felt connected to. Most other games I don't give a shit about any character besides my PC. I think Valve did a fantastic job. But your opinion is your opinion, no matter how ignorant it seems. Please, bimbo? PLEASE.

yes i agree. OP maybe please clarify what side you are on: you like her or you don't?

i thought she was a great character, very likable, easy to relate to, she got scared if something scary happened, sex appeal, and she served as a great intermediary to a mute main character

 

[Tomo Stryker]

I don't mean to hate on her, but game creation wise isn't easy to create a female sidekick or character that serves for eye candy only? I originally wanted to talk about the story, and how it deviates from reality compared to the original. I do have to admit I didn't take the time to view the creators commentary, I just don't like the incessant amount of ideals or comments they bring (the sidekicks). I just wanted to clarify I think that making Gordon a mercenary for an unknown employer does have its story wise appeal, but if it isn't answered in Episode Three I think it will lose interest quickly, no?

 

[1blackone]

I don't mean to hate on her, but game creation wise isn't easy to create a female sidekick or character that serves for eye candy only?

On the contrary, its game creation 101 in cases where you have a silent protagonist to use a sidekick/companion to serve as both a narrator of plotline and a marker for its twists and secondary roles of comic relief and emotional investment. Every AAA hall of fame game with a silent protagonist, from Link to the Past, to Mario RPG, and even Portal (where the emotions were fear, humor, AND contempt) has done this.

Whatever you think of Alyx, it just seems foolish to degrade her presence in the game to base eye candy.

Making a comment like that and calling her "Bimbo" makes me question your level of comprehension, which, in turn, lessens the validity of your opinion.

 

[Zhukov]

I like Alyx.

But I agree that the constant compliments were unnecessary. She didn't need to say, "Oh well done Gordon", every five minutes.

 

[Tomo Stryker]

In reply to Furburt, I have never seen any other character used in such a way where there are mods to strip the character of any clothes. I mean I don't go around the internet looking for this stuff but if Valve had inserted a Vortigaunt instead of Alyx would the game be the same hit that it is now?

 

[Iron Mal]

As much as I dislike Valve I will have to admit that Half Life 2 was a solid shooter with it's good or even great moments, however, I do believe that the fan base do like to exaggerate the game's quality (I don't think it was that great).

If I was one of those critics who rated games with numbers I would probably say Half Life 2 earned a solid 7 out of 10 (with that going down for each episode).

It was alright, nothing more, nothing less.

Also, something about Alyx bothered me most of the time, I can see that they tried to create someone who's likeable but given the somewhat dark, oppressive and depressing nature of the world you're in, having a sychophantic 'girl next door' figure trailing you all the time just seemed inappropriate and out of character (and having her speak for me all the time and nominate me for numerous dangerous tasks did mean my reaction to most of her 'desicions' was 'go fuck yourself').

 

[Tomo Stryker]

As much as I dislike Valve I will have to admit that Half Life 2 was a solid shooter with it's good or even great moments, however, I do believe that the fan base do like to exaggerate the game's quality (I don't think it was that great).

What do you dislike Valve for? OT: I must agree, Half Life One was revolutionary for its time and the graphics for Half Life Two serve the purpose of letting the community manipulate or create new models or skins. I'm actually looking forward to Black Mesa Source http://www.blackmesasource.com/.

In reply to Furburt, I have never seen any other character used in such a way where there are mods to strip the character of any clothes. I mean I don't go around the internet looking for this stuff but if Valve had inserted a Vortigaunt instead of Alyx would the game be the same hit that it is now?

Try "Every single important female character in a moddable game". Seriously, there are nude mods for any female character you can think of (and some males too). From Lara Croft to Zoey in Left 4 Dead to Lilith in Borderlands, they all have them.

I never really found myself looking at games that way, (not like I'm anti pornographic material) but that is why I didn't like Alyx. BTW your link was bad, sorry.

 

[bam13302]

The developer comments are nice, she basically acts to allow the developers to slow the player down at several points (if to introduce a new enemy, give story, or show scenery)
1/2 the time you can just ignore her and continue, but still
Though in general, i do share an offshoot of your principle that secondary characters shouldn't exist, in my opinion, if your going to have a secondary character, make it playable in coop, coop is the best (really looking forward to portal 2, and i loved HL2 synergy)

also

As much as I dislike Valve I will have to admit that Half Life 2 was a solid shooter with it's good or even great moments, however, I do believe that the fan base do like to exaggerate the game's quality (I don't think it was that great).

What do you dislike Valve for? OT: I must agree, Half Life One was revolutionary for its time and the graphics for Half Life Two serve the purpose of letting the community manipulate or create new models or skins. I'm actually looking forward to Black Mesa Source http://www.blackmesasource.com/.

In reply to Furburt, I have never seen any other character used in such a way where there are mods to strip the character of any clothes. I mean I don't go around the internet looking for this stuff but if Valve had inserted a Vortigaunt instead of Alyx would the game be the same hit that it is now?

Try "Every single important female character in a moddable game". Seriously, there are nude mods for any female character you can think of (and some males too). From Lara Croft to Zoey in Left 4 Dead to Lilith in Borderlands, they all have them.

I never really found myself looking at games that way, (not like I'm anti pornographic material) but that is why I didn't like Alyx. BTW your link was bad, sorry.

you cant easily find them if your not looking, and if you are, it can be some trouble to find one that is moderately trustworthy