Who or what is G-man?

[TsunamiWombat]

Spoiler: G-man in Half-Life 2 Episode 2.

• Doctor Freeman...
  I realize this may not be the most convenient moment for a heart-to-heart, but I hade to wait until your 'friends' were otherwise occupied. There was a time they cared nothing for Miss Vance, and their only experience of humanity was a crowbar coming at them down a steel corridor. When I plucked her from Black Mesa, I did so against objections that she was a mere child and of no practical use to anyone. I have learned to ignore such naysayers when quelling them was out of the question. Which is I must now extract something in
  Spoiler: small repayment for your own survival.

  I believe this 'repayment' is Eli's Life.
  See her safely to White Forest, Doctor Freeman. I wish I could do more than keep an eye on you, but I have agreed to abide by certain restrictions.
  Well, now. Listen carefully my dear; when you see your father, relay these words.
  "Prepare for unforeseen consequences"

I believe this is definatly a direct reference to the Vortigaunts, meaning they are Gordons employers.

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

Hey, I've noticed something. The Vortigaunts call Gordan the free man. G-man/Freeman.
Also, Gordan starts with a G.
Coinkidink?
Yes.

I think.

 

[Apocalypse Tank]

The G-Man's name is a reference to the fact he looks like a standard midlevel government employee, with his uptight suit and briefcase. Corporal Shepard even refers to him as a "G-Man" in his journal (Opposing Force user manual).

The G-Man is, I believe, an intergalactic "Fixer". For whatever reason, the various powers in the interdimensional universe cannot interfere directly. The G-Man saw an opportunity in Gordon, who by some means survived Black Mesa - an incident the G-Man likly arranged at the behest of the Nilhinath so that it could attempt to escape the Combine. The G-Man however is not all powerful- he seems to be able to move out of synch with time, and through space. But he was blocked by the Vortigaunts in Episode 1, suggesting that the gestalt power of the Vortigaunt race is equal to or greater then his. He also seems unable to interfere except on a very limited basis. The G man likly represents some powerful, mind bending form of life that early man would've confused with angels and demons... infact, some sort of demon is the best way I could describe G-Man. He's an influence broker, but he can't directly intervene.

The plot of Halflife is a bit hard to follow because it's not clearly explained in the games- one of my few griefs with it- but the bigbad of Halflife was the Nihilinath, the giant baby thingy. It was formerly a part of the Combine, or threatened by the Combine, and stole a great deal of slaves (such as the Vortigaunts) and fled with them. In order to escape the combine, it siezed on the breach created by the resonance Cascade, until Gorden slew the Nihilinath. The Combine glimpsed earth during this period and followed some years later into our dimension, resulting in the 24 hour war where earth was Pwnt. Dr. Breen, who had become Secretary of Extra Terrestrial Affairs in the ensuing time due to his experiance at Black Mesa, surrendered Earth to the Combine to prevent immediate extinction.

A thought occured to me though, that the people employing Gordon Freeman through the G-Man might be the Vortigaunts themselves. The reference to "Their only experiance with mankind at the time being someone running down the hall towards them with a crowbar" quote makes me think of them. Their conflict with the G-Man in Episode 1 maybe a result of them desiring to prevent him from selling Gordons services off to another bidder, or keeping him for themselves for longer then was agreed upon. The Vortigaunts have been enslaved by the Nihilnath and the Combine for millenia supposedly, and Gordon is their ticket to freedom. You gotta listen to the Vortigaunt at the start of Route Kanal talk for a while to get everything, and it's somewhat cryptic- but 'The Freeman' free'd them from slavery to the Nihilinath, and now the Combine is killing them on sight because they can't be directly controlled anymore.

Topic is now won
Council dismissed

 

[GCM]

Firstly, G-Man was supposed to be a placeholder for a guy who wasn't given any particular name. That theory's been done to death.

Secondly, wasn't it the 7 hour war?

Thirdly, you can't kill him in either Half Life (where you can kill friendlies), or Half life 2 (where you can't).

Fourthly, why not wait for Episode 3 to do more? Oh wait, because it's not coming out for yonks. Nevermind...

 

[buckythefly]

*WARNING* The following post is both blasphemous and wrong, enjoy

G-man is Valves representation of god, which makes Gordon Freeman Jesus, which explains why he's so damn bad ass. and has been brought back from the dead multiple times (more or less) This also explains why G-Man is so intent on not doing anything himself, just setting you in the right direction.

*END BLASPHEMY*

Seriously though, He's pretty much awesome.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

*WARNING* The following post is both blasphemous and wrong, enjoy

G-man is Valves representation of god, which makes Gordon Freeman Jesus, which explains why he's so damn bad ass. and has been brought back from the dead multiple times (more or less) This also explains why G-Man is so intent on not doing anything himself, just setting you in the right direction.

*END BLASPHEMY*

Seriously though, He's pretty much awesome.

It also explains that beard.

Either that or Gordon Freeman is TONY STARK!

 

[TsunamiWombat]

*WARNING* The following post is both blasphemous and wrong, enjoy

G-man is Valves representation of god, which makes Gordon Freeman Jesus, which explains why he's so damn bad ass. and has been brought back from the dead multiple times (more or less) This also explains why G-Man is so intent on not doing anything himself, just setting you in the right direction.

*END BLASPHEMY*

Seriously though, He's pretty much awesome.

It also explains that beard.

Either that or Gordon Freeman is TONY STARK!

Nah, why do you explain all the empty bottles around before Gordon arrives. Clearly someone else is Stark

I vote it's Dr. Kliener.

 

[PurpleRain]

G-Man is actually Lamar. No, really.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

Maybe he's the doctor

Gordon Freeman is Dr. Who!

 

[Russia208]

I am G-man...

 

[Archaeology Hat]

I am G-man...

No! I am the G-man and so is my wife!

 

[AuntyEthel]

He invented the g-spot.

 

[Sejs Cube]

G-Man?

He's an alien headhunter (in the business sense) - a freelance talent scout. Someone who takes advantage of situations, selling off the services of people he knows who can Get Things Done to people/organizations that Have Things That Need Doing. He only makes himself appear human because it's expedient. Fewer questions asked.

He's not evil.. he's only doing business.
And I don't buy for a single second that he's some sort of Future Gordon. It'd be silly, not to mention poor storytelling.

 

[Mullahgrrl]

He is like the announcer in the twillight zone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4IWahCoqMs

 

[Johnny Ringo]

G-Man?
[words]
...

I have to admit, that's the most plausible theory I've heard so far.

When Dr. Brein captures you, he mentions something along the lines that your services "aren't exclusive".

 

[Pentarch]

Given that not a lot of information is actually given about him in the half life series, it would be almost impossible to correctly guess what he is. VALVe probably hasn't even decided yet.