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I prefer the theory that he’s some sort of panuniversal fixer working for intelligences far beyond what we understand and is simply shifting a small conflict on some backwater planet on Earth to the natives’ favour. But of course, we’ll have to see where Valve lead us with all this. In any case, I severely doubt they’ll ever provide us a final answer, and indeed, as the franchise only follows the perception of Gordon Freeman, it seems reasonable to assume it will end with what happens to him, all said and done.

The Combine, as it has been implied, are a colonising force that takes from the resources of every culture it comes across. It’s considerably more interesting an approach to the invader trope than you seem to give credit for. Honestly, I find them to be conceivably the most credible alien presence seen in fiction in a long while, along with all that Dr. Breen later gleans over towards the end of the game.

I thought I had mentioned it earlier (I guess I hadn’t, oops), but the Marathon series is my favourite game for story, ever. More than Deus Ex, even.

If I were to compare Marathon and Half-Life 2, it would be more than there were amazingly fantastic characterization via Durandal (a name I’ve used online for years), Tycho, and even Leela. Not to mention the Gherrit White-style screens.

I just find that the HL2 story approach is a little too open, and really it boils down a little too much. Again, you’ve told me about the methods of giving you the story (which I totally agree with), but the story itself is rather ‘meh.’ Compare the descriptions of Combine Soldiers to the (never-ending) search for whether or not you were a cyborg in Marathon, or what exactly the end of the universe meant.

I like the silent protagonist too — it allows you to add your own character and whatnot. However, I didn’t really find a lot of other characters I even gave a damn about.

As to the A.I., I’ve never, ever been so angry at ‘allied’ NPC’s in my entire life. This counts WoW, Deus Ex, Quake 4, etc. They were constantly in my way, and I was forever dying to grenades because they all decided to get stuck in the doorway behind me.

And as for the complaints of the A.I., this is one of those counter-arguments that leaves me confused. It’s hardly developed, no, but the level design worked in its favour for the set pieces, and as far as I can tell, it knew when to retreat or rush you. Maybe it’s just because I play at a slow pace by default, so they don’t exactly force me into situations where I’d have to take cover all too often or the like. But I enjoy doing so, because it’s a role-play effort as much as anything else. That and allies did know when to step out of the way, at the least.

I’m not sure this is the answer you’re looking for, though, but I find that at the very least – I’m biased because I think Half-Life 2 hasn’t been surpassed until the ever recent Call of Duty 4 (Or, okay, Portal) – Valve are pointing in the right direction. Theirs is still a rather experimental effort – I know some people who hate the mute protagonist, and feel like there’s nothing to Gordon, but I disagree and believe it’s a narrative technique exclusive to the medium and well worth employing – but it’s got some great ideas which are influencing how we perceive games and how they can best be used as narratives without abusing the game design.

Garth, if you’re someone who loves finding everything in a game, have you ever played the Marathon series? I dare say it rewards, in spades, that sort of approach, and best of all, it all works within not only the context of the story but also of the game design. I consider it one of the best series of games ever made, in any case, and it’s a shame it’s been overshadowed by its contemporaries.

As for the aliens – aren’t you wondering what the hell they’re doing on earth and how the G-man fits into all of it?

Valve aren’t pulling the punches either. I won’t spoil episode two for anyone but they do their best to tug on your emotional strings at the end of it which makes me itch to see how things unfold in episode three.

And why is it so vital that we find that “thing” (trying to be spoiler free) that Alyx father is so scared of before it falls into the hand of the Combines? What can it do?

I’m actually playing HL2 just for the atmosphere and story which resulted in me cheating through the final quarter of EP2 just to get to the ending.

I know it’s “wrong” but I paid good money for the game so I play it how I like. ;)

I’m not trying to be a dick, I just keep being told it’s ’something you have to look for,’ and as someone who finds every scrap of every piece of game possible (Deus Ex related: I found every Jacob’s Shadow chapter, read every news clipping, etc) it makes me pause when I find almost nothing. So what should I have found?

I’m not saying the method of story-delivery is bad, I’m saying I can’t find a story at all.

We’ll see how it goes, but if Half-Life 3 is planned, I wouldn’t be surprised that the end of Episode 3 sees Gordon put back in stasis and this pace resumed anew.

And I have had no problems whatsoever with the hovercraft section and that hardly counts as on-rails anyway.