Via Kotaku via Shacknews via Intothepixel: potentially the first look at Half-Life 2: Episode 3. It’s concept art rather than screenshot, but the idea of Freeman tackling a Combine Advisor with only a crowbar and a giant pit of death is a tantalising one, no?
Sci-fi game concept art regularly takes my breath away. It usually looks ten times more spectacular than the finished product, but endless disappointments don’t stop me dreaming that one day there will be a game that does look that lavish. On a similar note, check out RPS’ new favourite blogs – Concept Ships and Concept Robots. Truly remarkable imagery: I could look at them all day, and may have to buy an expensive printer so I can decorate my walls with ‘em. We’ve spotted a Blizzard artist’s work on the former, so quite possibly there’s a fair few game concept artists hidden away in there. Let the hunt begin…
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@ EyeMessiah – Naw, that’s Half Life 3 ;)
For the record, I loved the steady evolution of the HL2 episodes. HL2 was amazing, Ep1 was better and Ep2 was pure, refined FPS glory. Valve can take all the time they want, as far as I’m concerned.
Yeah, I’d like Ep3 now, but if they want extra time to get it properly playtested and refined then I say let’s stop complaining and give it to them, for christ’s sake. We spend so much time complaining about rushed, unfinished or buggy games, let’s not hound a developer for doing it right!
One thing to note about the concept art on this page. Recall that Gordon is right handed. That would seem to suggest that both Gordon and the Advisor are looking in the same direction (ie toward the ‘camera’ – ie us). And that would further suggest that they might have formed some sort of alliance while they are in this icy-looking place (possibly near the Borealis).
Havok is preparing new shiny things (cloth and destruction) I bet Valve will make abusive use of these in Ep3.
EyeMessiah: now I want to be there too!!1
Radcap: I think the advisor is much closer (he looks much bigger) and is actually floating toward “us” while Gordon is currently undetected and observing him.
@brog What does Gordon have that can make a COMBINE ADVISOR float there and negotiate with him?
Well you can’t base too much on concept art as it might just exist to illustrate a sense of scale for characters in given location rather than a specific bit of action. But one explanation is that Gordon isn’t facing an enemy but a friend. After all when you know the Combine can do mind transplants and you see someone getting the brainsucking treatment there’s a sporting chance they’ll be back. My guess is that Mr G’s unforeseen consequence for Eli wasn’t death but a traumatic transition to somewhere he can be more useful in Mr G’s plan. Whatever the hell that is.
@Okami
(I played Episode 1 before I played Half Life 2. I guess I might be the only person on the planet who did this..).
Incidentally, I played them in the same order.
I had searched on the internet to find what the intelligent majority thought was the bestest evar game. They said the Half Life series. Not having a clue, I promptly picked up Ep1 in WHSmith. Never regretted it since. :D
Jeez, Don, spoiler tags? Although the vast majority of people reading things here probably already played through it I have a couple of friends who haven’t (one going through EP2 atm) and I like to link them to cool stuff like RPS ;)
I love concept art of all shapes and sizes. It’s often so much more inspirational than final products because it shows only a glimpse allowing the mind to fill in the blanks. Or something.
Oh .. It’s true? It’s look me a one half life2 episord 3 screen shot!
udde its obovous that its up north at hte old apature testing center we al saw in hte 2ed ep
NEED MORE PEOPLE WORKING IN THE SERVICE CENTER AT BURNS ROAD.