<!--QuoteBegin-cannon_fodder1990+Nov 20 2004, 02:56 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (cannon_fodder1990 @ Nov 20 2004, 02:56 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> TheMuffinMan- What clippings? I never saw any clippings. You mean I missed alot of potentially important plot information because I'm an unobservant idiot?
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> In Black Mesa east, on one side of the room there is a board with newspaper clippings on it. These reference things like the "7 hour war", "humans surrender", "the portal storm continues" and "new interim administrator, Dr Breen."
The HL1 ending was far more complete; I don't know how you could see it any other way. The only unanswered questions were: why did the cascade happen (or who wanted it to happen) and what happened to Gordon?
Now you've got the 'what are the combine?' 'what happened to Alyx - and why does she spell her name like that?' 'who are the benefactors (well, the slug things, but are they really evil; or only because Gordon was working for the other side)?', etc. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> .
<!--QuoteBegin-UltimaGecko+Nov 20 2004, 03:15 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (UltimaGecko @ Nov 20 2004, 03:15 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> And, G-Man is obviously Gordon's pimp now. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> And I asked if anyone else is bothered by that liek I am . I mean in HL1 I always cheated on the ending and added a ton of satchels and tripmines onto his head then hide in the back and press the button. Now he's killable but he's your pimp?!?!?! Pff. F-ck that. lol Wasn't he was the one who caused the BlackMesa disaster? It was <i>his</i> crystal you pushed in right? He started it. This guy makes that saddist priest look like a saint.
douchebagatronCustom member titleJoin Date: 2003-12-20Member: 24581Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
if you look at this game like a game, then no you wont like how the ending was. if you look at it the way it was intended, through the eyes of gordon, then you would realize that you might want to know things, but there are so many things in the world unrevealed to you, that you should make do with what you do know. if it was actually you instead of gordon going through the game, would you really expect to find out everything about everything?
i like the way there are things missing for you to peice together yourself, and little hints at what actually happened. its more fitting of the setting.
Now, there's many explanations and interpretations on what Gman is and what he does. The way I see it is that Gman works for something bigger: something that is yet to be discovered. The "organisation" possesses powerful assets which it uses to provide services to the highest bidder. Maybe even Gman himself is this "organisation", who knows.
In HL1 you can see that Gman has the lambda logo on his suitcase: in HL2 its gone! In addition, there's a painting of the research crew in HL1 in HL2 near Kleiner's lab. In the painting you can see all the doctors in HL1 except one that was crossed out. That could have very well been Gman.
Gman's reasons in HL1 were pretty unclear since he was just walking around pretty aimlessly (at least in the player's perspective, of course he had a reason). In my theory he was hired by the combine and was behind the whole accident at Black Mesa, and being one of the researchers he knew how to mess things up. There's a paradox here, though: Since Gman has some kickass powers, why wouldn't he just go and kill everyone himself in HL2? That's because the organisation that he works for doesn't do the dirty work itself, and because of that he wasn't involved directly in the incident. Gman had an asset at the black mesa complex that he used to cause the incident.
<u>Black Mesa Incident</u>
So, why did it happen? As I stated before, it was the works of Gman. Gman wasn't hired by the combine, as it was stated in the book "Raising the Bar" that the combine got interested in earth only after the incident.
But who was he hired by then? The vortigaunts, I believe. They lived in slavery and Gman had the power to give them a chance to get freed. Maybe they couldn't pay Gman enough since the chance he provided wasn't 100% proof. The chance I'm talking about here is that when the portal was opened a savior could come and free them. That happened, but many vortigaunts were killed in the process and there was no guarantee that the savior would have succeeded.
You remember that the vortigaunts had their slave "gauntlets" on in HL1, right? Well, the last boss in the game also had a device that looked similar. Maybe it was used to control the vortigaunts, but what if it was used to control Ninillath (spelling?) itself? If it were, I would have to say he/she/it was controlled by the combine.
<u>Combine</u>
For a long time I thought that combine was a militaristic alliance. Now it's all clear to me: The combine is an alien race that lives completely on technology. In the process of time evolution took their arms, their legs, their eyes... everything. Just because they depended on technology too much. Combine cannot live without technology.
But, enough of that crap. What's the deal with earth and combine? I said before that the combine became interested in earth after the portal incident, but why? Earth resources (host bodies, minerals, a living sun, athmosphere)? Technology? Something else? Only questions, no answers.
The only weak answer could be that in the game one of the characters (it was Alyx or Dr. Kleiner) said that the Combine portal had some problems and they couldn't use it to transport troops; maybe combine was intersted in earth's portal technology.
The combine soldiers are human beings with a part of their brains replaced by combine's. I don't know wether is it some kind of implants or brain tissue, but something is replaced. The reason behind this is that with the brain modifications the combine can control it's troops efficiently. You can tell their bodies have been modified since you can hear their medical status being monitored after you kill a combine soldier.
The skinny things you see in the Combine Nexus are weaker human beings not capable of fighting as well as the stronger ones and are called "Stalkers". They have their brains modified like the soldiers and are mere slaves.
If you still wonder what a combine alien looks like, a good example would be the combine advisor. It's the large sluglike creature that Dr. Breen talks to near the ending of the game.
<u>City 17 & Half-Life 2</u>
Why has Gordon been transferred to City 17? What is so important that it needs the interest of Gman and his assets? Now, I must let you down: I don't know. I plan to play the game through again and find some answers. Stay tuned...
The main plot is clear: A rebel force fighting a great imperium needs help. But what does rag-tag rebel scum have to offer to Gman for his services? Why is Gordon in the same place as Dr. Breen? Where did antlions come? What is the Matrix? So many questions, so few answers...
<u>Bottom Line</u>
The big word in HL is control. In both games control played a very big role. Meditate on that...
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->In HL1 you can see that Gman has the lambda logo on his suitcase: in HL2 its gone! In addition, there's a painting of the research crew in HL1 in HL2 near Kleiner's lab. In the painting you can see all the doctors in HL1 except one that was crossed out. That could have very well been Gman.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It could also be Gordon, though i am torn on the idea.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The chance I'm talking about here is that when the portal was opened a savior could come and free them. That happened, but many vortigaunts were killed in the process and there was no guarantee that the savior would have succeeded.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Interesting, that would explain why all the vortigaunts treat Gordon like the messiah in hl2. Maybe the G-Man accepts forms of payment that go far beyond simple money. He rented Gordon to the rebels in hl2 and maybe the vortigaunts in hl, both oppressed by the combine. Perhaps he has an alternate motive, against the combine?
I think that the combine had already taken Xen, setting N-something as its interim administrator, much like Dr Breen. One point that backs this up is the use of headcrabs by the combine. They shell towns outside of cities with containers containing headcrabs, keeping everyone in the city. If they had already taken Xen, this would explain their ready supply of headcrabs.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->But, enough of that crap. What's the deal with earth and combine? I said before that the combine became interested in earth after the portal incident, but why? Earth resources (host bodies, minerals, a living sun, athmosphere)? Technology? Something else? Only questions, no answers.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The combine are sucking the earth dry. They have drained the oceans and are slowly eating away the cities (for materials for the next invasion?
I reckon that the combine go from planet to planet, setting up interim governments in each of them with an interim administrator. They suck a planet dry and then move on to the next planet, invading it with the materials gained from the last.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Why has Gordon been transferred to City 17? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I dont think that he was, i think that the G-man stops time and puts him on that train. I think this because when you talk to the person waiting at the door, he says "hmm, i didn't see you get on this train" or something to that effect. Trains are also significant in half-life. The first one starts and ends on one, same with the second.
I am split down the middle on that. Either they were a native species to Xen and came over along with the headcrabs. They are only found in the outskirts as the combine want to keep everyone in the cities, the ant-lions help them do this.
They may also come from a different world that the combine have invaded. The combine used them in the 7 hour war to make people flock to the cities, where they could more easily be controlled. I am leaning towards this idea more than the other, as they dont look much like the rest of Xens wildlife. We have also not seen any place on Xen where they could actually live, though we have only seen a small part of the planet.
douchebagatronCustom member titleJoin Date: 2003-12-20Member: 24581Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
edited November 2004
is xen actually a planet? it seemed more like a mass of floating rocks in a place that could hardly be called our universe.
also in hl1, breen is the gmans boss. now it seems that either breen has gone over to the combine and gman wants to battle it, or they were with the combine in hl1 and now the gman changed sides.
<!--QuoteBegin-6john6doe6+Nov 20 2004, 04:02 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (6john6doe6 @ Nov 20 2004, 04:02 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> is xen actually a planet? it seemed more like a mass of floating rocks in a place that could hardly be called our universe. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> I don't think it's ever described as a planet. Just another dimension. Wich very well may just be made up of floating rocks <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-TheMuffinMan+Nov 20 2004, 03:57 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (TheMuffinMan @ Nov 20 2004, 03:57 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->In HL1 you can see that Gman has the lambda logo on his suitcase: in HL2 its gone! In addition, there's a painting of the research crew in HL1 in HL2 near Kleiner's lab. In the painting you can see all the doctors in HL1 except one that was crossed out. That could have very well been Gman.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It could also be Gordon, though i am torn on the idea. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You can see Gordon in the picture, as well as all the other scientists featured in the game <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> . It's the painting Kleiner rotates when you enter the teleport chamber.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Why has Gordon been transferred to City 17? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I dont think that he was, i think that the G-man stops time and puts him on that train. I think this because when you talk to the person waiting at the door, he says "hmm, i didn't see you get on this train" or something to that effect. Trains are also significant in half-life. The first one starts and ends on one, same with the second.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yep, I know. What I meant here was that Gman transferred Gordon to a train that was heading to City 17 via slow teleport or some Gman magic <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> . Well, actually, the train was already in City 17. Yeah.
<!--QuoteBegin-TheMuffinMan+Nov 20 2004, 02:56 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (TheMuffinMan @ Nov 20 2004, 02:56 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Although i have next to no actual evidence, i think that Nova Prospeckt is where they transform humans into combine soldiers. This would tie in with the graffiti of a moneys head, a humans and then a combines. However, not all the transformations are successfull. The failed ones are those weird white things. Rather than exterminating them, the combine use them for cheap labor. They need to be guarded because they are not actually combine, so they might rebel. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Alyx says to you when describing the mission you are to embark upon "Nova Prospekt used to be a prison. Now its...something else.
<!--QuoteBegin-6john6doe6+Nov 20 2004, 04:02 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (6john6doe6 @ Nov 20 2004, 04:02 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> is xen actually a planet? it seemed more like a mass of floating rocks in a place that could hardly be called our universe.
also in hl1, breen is the gmans boss. now it seems that either breen has gone over to the combine and gman wants to battle it, or they were with the combine in hl1 and now the gman changed sides. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> How do you know that Breen is G-man's boss?
Xen is not a planet, it's an alternate dimension. Thats why gravity isn't normal there, and stuff can float around in the air.
Breen is not the gmans boss, nor was. He was the administrator of BM, but Gman, well, the G in his name stands for government, so even if he didn't have all those abilities, he would still rank higher than Breen.
Oh and the only occurence ever of the slow teleport is when you and Alyx go through it. Gordon is moved to the train to city 17 by Gmans "magic", yes. This is clear, because you actually get to... see stuff... before being put in the train.
douchebagatronCustom member titleJoin Date: 2003-12-20Member: 24581Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
edited November 2004
<!--QuoteBegin-cannon_fodder1990+Nov 20 2004, 04:47 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (cannon_fodder1990 @ Nov 20 2004, 04:47 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-6john6doe6+Nov 20 2004, 04:02 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (6john6doe6 @ Nov 20 2004, 04:02 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> is xen actually a planet? it seemed more like a mass of floating rocks in a place that could hardly be called our universe.
also in hl1, breen is the gmans boss. now it seems that either breen has gone over to the combine and gman wants to battle it, or they were with the combine in hl1 and now the gman changed sides. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> How do you know that Breen is G-man's boss? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> im pretty sure at the end of hl1 he said soemthing about "my administrator" or "the people i work for" or something, and it sounded like he was referencing to the administrator.
Teleporters either dont actually slow, or dont *usually* slow time, beacuse for example, when alyx is teleported and gordon later in the beginning, it's instant.
And also, if gordon is hired out to the highest bidder, wouldnt the obvious choice be the combine? The rebels obviously wouldnt have the funds to outbid them...
AND ALSO, the inhuman things you see (one up close, see screenshot attatched) are changed from humans, as dialogue at the end of the game shows (eli: OMG U SUCK DONT DO THIS TO HUMANITY YO breen: SUYF NOOB IM GUNNA MAKE HUMANS BETTAR!)
And if breen is trying to "save" humanity, why is he allying with space slugs?
He allied with them because he thought this would be the best for humanity, and the combine gave him this power. Or he were just insane with a big **** ego.
looks like alot of new members joined during hl2 threads here.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->And also, if gordon is hired out to the highest bidder, wouldnt the obvious choice be the combine? The rebels obviously wouldnt have the funds to outbid them...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That is a fair point. Perhaps the combine do not know about the G-man, maybe the rebels payed with something other than money or maybe the G-man has another motive which sides against the combine.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->And if breen is trying to "save" humanity, why is he allying with space slugs?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He is'nt. At the end he says this to try and win Gordon over. On the screens he says this to win the people over. All he really wants is more power.
In HL1 you can see that Gman has the lambda logo on his suitcase: in HL2 its gone! In addition, there's a painting of the research crew in HL1 in HL2 near Kleiner's lab. In the painting you can see all the doctors in HL1 except one that was crossed out. That could have very well been Gman. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> I think it would make more sense that the scratched out person in the picture of the science team from Black Mesa was the administrator, Breen.
-The Overwatch refers to the specific military (legion?) that is in charge of taking over earth. -The Combine is the name of an entire intergalactic empire, who seems to create their troops by modifying races they get from planets they have taken over. That would explain how striders and stuff look organic. They are like half organic/ half machine made by the Combine. Also, their seem to be two diffrent air units in HL2 those whale/bug looking things then the regular helicopter ones. I think the bug thing is like the combine elite forces, ones made specifically for taking care of big problems. While the regular helicopter was just made by the Overwatch, for fighting on earth only. -Vortigaunts. I think these guys are a species going extinct. They paid Gman to create the accident at Blackmesa. That way they would be able to retreat to earth from the combine that was slowly taking them over. They also paid for gordons services for helping to stop the combine from taking over their last home(earth). -Xen in general: I think this is like an interdimensional highway. A planet has to crack into this place to start traveling between dimensions. This is why A: The combine where able to get to earth after the accident at blackmesa B: Why antlions are now on earth, they were from another planet that was hooked to Xen. C: Why headcrabs are on earth. And as for why the combine use them: The combine can't quite control them, but use them pretty much as biological warfare. They can't convert them, but they are still useful. D: Why everyone seems to fight everyone else: Earth pretty much opened itself up to everything that was connected to Xen, none of which seem to be friends. -Breen: Was normal when he was the Admin at BM. Was taken over by the combine shortly after invasion, allowing them to take control of earth. -Overall: I think it's the Vortagaunts Vs The Combine. The G-man is part of neither, he mearly rents out elite troops to the highest bidder: The vortaguants as of right now. -Striders: A genetically and Technically modified version of some species taken from another planet, used by the combine to fight. -Combine Helicopters: The ones that resemble fish, another modified lifeform that is being exploited by the Combine. -Overwatch helicopter: A modification of ones that already existed on earth, used when the Elite combine ones are not needed.
Ok, i just started the game on Black Mesa East to learn things, and i heard several interesting things Doctor whatshername says that the combine cant use their teleporters to do anything but simply come to earth, they have to "rely on local transportation once they come from <b>their dimension</b>"
Also, when i went to read the newspaper clippings, eli started talking and i quote as best i can: "Thats doctor breen. He (mockingly said) "NEGOTIATED" the human's surrender to end the seven hour's war. THe combine rewarded him with power."
Ok, so thats how breen is in power in all these cities (at the train station you can hear some dudes talking about how they saw enough of him in city 14). But then what is this space slug thing, is it combine? He is obvoiusly talking to it about his escape from gordon, but he says something like "i cant survive in that atmosphere", so why doesnt he just escape to one of his other Citadels or something?
I dont think its Vortegon vs Combine here, i never saw very many vortegons, especially not any doing any fighting.
And the combine have obviously learned to control/enslave headcrabs, who in HL1 were on the same team as the vortegons. Thats another peculiar thing.\
-e- I JUST HAD A REVELATION
If the combine are indead an intergalactic empire that adapts other species, this would explain breen's "MAKE HUMANS BETTER" motives!! he wants to adapt humans to join the combine!
Is the GMan using Gordon for good, or for evil? You don't really know, because while yes with the GMan's help, gordon saved the world in Black Mesa and again he saved them from the Combine.
Or did he?
Perhaps Gordon inadvertedly doomed the entire world through his actions. After all, he was the one in the test chamber that day; He is the one who cleared the path through Xen for the US Military to make their way through, which caught the attention of the Combine. Remember what Breen was yelling at the end, about Gordon blowing up the dark fusion reactor, and what will happen when the citadel falls over. It makes sense, so when you beat the game, you're also more than likely dooming everyone in City 17 and its surrounding area to a horrible death.
Perhaps the GMan is some form of angel, or perhaps maybe the devil himself? You can't deny there is a 'messiah' element to Gordon, always showing up to save the day. Or perhaps unknowingly destory it?
According to the ending of HL1, Xen is a border-world, meaning its something in between Earth and other worlds. Also, the GMan says it is in "our" control, whoever our is. At the end of HL1 it is assumed that he means earth's, but now, who knows?
Perhaps he is a third race that we don't even know about, one that is at war with the Combine elsewhere in the universe? One that may potentially give a rats **** about humanity? (which the combine obviously doesn't)
A good sequel's storyline should certainly raise more questions, but it should also answer the questions from the previous story, which HL2 didn't do at all.
And now, random HL2 fact: The part Barney is pinned down by sniper fire, when you get to the top floor of that building but are not yet in the line of fire for the snipers, they start shooting at the birds, even as they fly up and into the air. Just kinda funny to see these two blue laser lines following a crow :P
[edit] More thoughts:
Perhaps Breen is the same form of 'being' as the GMan, though less powerful? Remember what Breen said in his speech while Gordon is rampaging through Nova Prospect, something along the lines of ".. he has no covert ops training and I have it on good authority that in between now and Black Mesa he was in no position to have developed such skills" or something like that. This implies Breen knew that Gordon was put in a Stasis during those 20 or so years.
Perhaps Breen really does have Humanity's best intentions in mind? After all, if your choices were either conformity or extinction, I can understand how he could choose the later. Perhaps if the rebellion wins, Breen knows the Combine will simply erradicate the entire human species, and so by stopping the rebellion he is actually trying to save our race?
Comments
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
In Black Mesa east, on one side of the room there is a board with newspaper clippings on it. These reference things like the "7 hour war", "humans surrender", "the portal storm continues" and "new interim administrator, Dr Breen."
Now you've got the 'what are the combine?' 'what happened to Alyx - and why does she spell her name like that?' 'who are the benefactors (well, the slug things, but are they really evil; or only because Gordon was working for the other side)?', etc. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> .
And, G-Man is obviously Gordon's pimp now.
And I asked if anyone else is bothered by that liek I am . I mean in HL1 I always cheated on the ending and added a ton of satchels and tripmines onto his head then hide in the back and press the button. Now he's killable but he's your pimp?!?!?! Pff. F-ck that. lol Wasn't he was the one who caused the BlackMesa disaster? It was <i>his</i> crystal you pushed in right? He started it. This guy makes that saddist priest look like a saint.
i like the way there are things missing for you to peice together yourself, and little hints at what actually happened. its more fitting of the setting.
<u>The thing behind Gman</u>
Now, there's many explanations and interpretations on what Gman is and what he does. The way I see it is that Gman works for something bigger: something that is yet to be discovered. The "organisation" possesses powerful assets which it uses to provide services to the highest bidder. Maybe even Gman himself is this "organisation", who knows.
In HL1 you can see that Gman has the lambda logo on his suitcase: in HL2 its gone! In addition, there's a painting of the research crew in HL1 in HL2 near Kleiner's lab. In the painting you can see all the doctors in HL1 except one that was crossed out. That could have very well been Gman.
Gman's reasons in HL1 were pretty unclear since he was just walking around pretty aimlessly (at least in the player's perspective, of course he had a reason). In my theory he was hired by the combine and was behind the whole accident at Black Mesa, and being one of the researchers he knew how to mess things up. There's a paradox here, though: Since Gman has some kickass powers, why wouldn't he just go and kill everyone himself in HL2? That's because the organisation that he works for doesn't do the dirty work itself, and because of that he wasn't involved directly in the incident. Gman had an asset at the black mesa complex that he used to cause the incident.
<u>Black Mesa Incident</u>
So, why did it happen? As I stated before, it was the works of Gman. Gman wasn't hired by the combine, as it was stated in the book "Raising the Bar" that the combine got interested in earth only after the incident.
But who was he hired by then? The vortigaunts, I believe. They lived in slavery and Gman had the power to give them a chance to get freed. Maybe they couldn't pay Gman enough since the chance he provided wasn't 100% proof. The chance I'm talking about here is that when the portal was opened a savior could come and free them. That happened, but many vortigaunts were killed in the process and there was no guarantee that the savior would have succeeded.
You remember that the vortigaunts had their slave "gauntlets" on in HL1, right? Well, the last boss in the game also had a device that looked similar. Maybe it was used to control the vortigaunts, but what if it was used to control Ninillath (spelling?) itself? If it were, I would have to say he/she/it was controlled by the combine.
<u>Combine</u>
For a long time I thought that combine was a militaristic alliance. Now it's all clear to me: The combine is an alien race that lives completely on technology. In the process of time evolution took their arms, their legs, their eyes... everything. Just because they depended on technology too much. Combine cannot live without technology.
But, enough of that crap. What's the deal with earth and combine? I said before that the combine became interested in earth after the portal incident, but why? Earth resources (host bodies, minerals, a living sun, athmosphere)? Technology? Something else? Only questions, no answers.
The only weak answer could be that in the game one of the characters (it was Alyx or Dr. Kleiner) said that the Combine portal had some problems and they couldn't use it to transport troops; maybe combine was intersted in earth's portal technology.
The combine soldiers are human beings with a part of their brains replaced by combine's. I don't know wether is it some kind of implants or brain tissue, but something is replaced. The reason behind this is that with the brain modifications the combine can control it's troops efficiently. You can tell their bodies have been modified since you can hear their medical status being monitored after you kill a combine soldier.
The skinny things you see in the Combine Nexus are weaker human beings not capable of fighting as well as the stronger ones and are called "Stalkers". They have their brains modified like the soldiers and are mere slaves.
If you still wonder what a combine alien looks like, a good example would be the combine advisor. It's the large sluglike creature that Dr. Breen talks to near the ending of the game.
<u>City 17 & Half-Life 2</u>
Why has Gordon been transferred to City 17? What is so important that it needs the interest of Gman and his assets? Now, I must let you down: I don't know. I plan to play the game through again and find some answers. Stay tuned...
The main plot is clear: A rebel force fighting a great imperium needs help. But what does rag-tag rebel scum have to offer to Gman for his services? Why is Gordon in the same place as Dr. Breen? Where did antlions come? What is the Matrix? So many questions, so few answers...
<u>Bottom Line</u>
The big word in HL is control. In both games control played a very big role. Meditate on that...
It could also be Gordon, though i am torn on the idea.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The chance I'm talking about here is that when the portal was opened a savior could come and free them. That happened, but many vortigaunts were killed in the process and there was no guarantee that the savior would have succeeded.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Interesting, that would explain why all the vortigaunts treat Gordon like the messiah in hl2. Maybe the G-Man accepts forms of payment that go far beyond simple money. He rented Gordon to the rebels in hl2 and maybe the vortigaunts in hl, both oppressed by the combine. Perhaps he has an alternate motive, against the combine?
I think that the combine had already taken Xen, setting N-something as its interim administrator, much like Dr Breen. One point that backs this up is the use of headcrabs by the combine. They shell towns outside of cities with containers containing headcrabs, keeping everyone in the city. If they had already taken Xen, this would explain their ready supply of headcrabs.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->But, enough of that crap. What's the deal with earth and combine? I said before that the combine became interested in earth after the portal incident, but why? Earth resources (host bodies, minerals, a living sun, athmosphere)? Technology? Something else? Only questions, no answers.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The combine are sucking the earth dry. They have drained the oceans and are slowly eating away the cities (for materials for the next invasion?
I reckon that the combine go from planet to planet, setting up interim governments in each of them with an interim administrator. They suck a planet dry and then move on to the next planet, invading it with the materials gained from the last.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Why has Gordon been transferred to City 17? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I dont think that he was, i think that the G-man stops time and puts him on that train. I think this because when you talk to the person waiting at the door, he says "hmm, i didn't see you get on this train" or something to that effect. Trains are also significant in half-life. The first one starts and ends on one, same with the second.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Where did antlions come<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I am split down the middle on that. Either they were a native species to Xen and came over along with the headcrabs. They are only found in the outskirts as the combine want to keep everyone in the cities, the ant-lions help them do this.
They may also come from a different world that the combine have invaded. The combine used them in the 7 hour war to make people flock to the cities, where they could more easily be controlled. I am leaning towards this idea more than the other, as they dont look much like the rest of Xens wildlife. We have also not seen any place on Xen where they could actually live, though we have only seen a small part of the planet.
also in hl1, breen is the gmans boss. now it seems that either breen has gone over to the combine and gman wants to battle it, or they were with the combine in hl1 and now the gman changed sides.
I don't think it's ever described as a planet. Just another dimension. Wich very well may just be made up of floating rocks <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
It could also be Gordon, though i am torn on the idea. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You can see Gordon in the picture, as well as all the other scientists featured in the game <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> . It's the painting Kleiner rotates when you enter the teleport chamber.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Why has Gordon been transferred to City 17? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I dont think that he was, i think that the G-man stops time and puts him on that train. I think this because when you talk to the person waiting at the door, he says "hmm, i didn't see you get on this train" or something to that effect. Trains are also significant in half-life. The first one starts and ends on one, same with the second.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yep, I know. What I meant here was that Gman transferred Gordon to a train that was heading to City 17 via slow teleport or some Gman magic <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> . Well, actually, the train was already in City 17. Yeah.
u know like how your teleport with alxy the first tim u miss one week and the scientist guy is like
OMG YOU MISSED A WEEK HOLY CRAP OMG WHERE IS MY HEADCRAB
Alyx says to you when describing the mission you are to embark upon "Nova Prospekt used to be a prison. Now its...something else.
also in hl1, breen is the gmans boss. now it seems that either breen has gone over to the combine and gman wants to battle it, or they were with the combine in hl1 and now the gman changed sides. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
How do you know that Breen is G-man's boss?
Breen is not the gmans boss, nor was. He was the administrator of BM, but Gman, well, the G in his name stands for government, so even if he didn't have all those abilities, he would still rank higher than Breen.
Oh and the only occurence ever of the slow teleport is when you and Alyx go through it.
Gordon is moved to the train to city 17 by Gmans "magic", yes. This is clear, because you actually get to... see stuff... before being put in the train.
also in hl1, breen is the gmans boss. now it seems that either breen has gone over to the combine and gman wants to battle it, or they were with the combine in hl1 and now the gman changed sides. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
How do you know that Breen is G-man's boss? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
im pretty sure at the end of hl1 he said soemthing about "my administrator" or "the people i work for" or something, and it sounded like he was referencing to the administrator.
And also, if gordon is hired out to the highest bidder, wouldnt the obvious choice be the combine? The rebels obviously wouldnt have the funds to outbid them...
AND ALSO, the inhuman things you see (one up close, see screenshot attatched) are changed from humans, as dialogue at the end of the game shows
(eli: OMG U SUCK DONT DO THIS TO HUMANITY YO
breen: SUYF NOOB IM GUNNA MAKE HUMANS BETTAR!)
And if breen is trying to "save" humanity, why is he allying with space slugs?
-e- added the screenshot
looks like alot of new members joined during hl2 threads here.
That is a fair point. Perhaps the combine do not know about the G-man, maybe the rebels payed with something other than money or maybe the G-man has another motive which sides against the combine.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->And if breen is trying to "save" humanity, why is he allying with space slugs?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He is'nt. At the end he says this to try and win Gordon over. On the screens he says this to win the people over. All he really wants is more power.
In HL1 you can see that Gman has the lambda logo on his suitcase: in HL2 its gone! In addition, there's a painting of the research crew in HL1 in HL2 near Kleiner's lab. In the painting you can see all the doctors in HL1 except one that was crossed out. That could have very well been Gman.
<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think it would make more sense that the scratched out person in the picture of the science team from Black Mesa was the administrator, Breen.
-The Overwatch refers to the specific military (legion?) that is in charge of taking over earth.
-The Combine is the name of an entire intergalactic empire, who seems to create their troops by modifying races they get from planets they have taken over. That would explain how striders and stuff look organic. They are like half organic/ half machine made by the Combine. Also, their seem to be two diffrent air units in HL2 those whale/bug looking things then the regular helicopter ones. I think the bug thing is like the combine elite forces, ones made specifically for taking care of big problems. While the regular helicopter was just made by the Overwatch, for fighting on earth only.
-Vortigaunts. I think these guys are a species going extinct. They paid Gman to create the accident at Blackmesa. That way they would be able to retreat to earth from the combine that was slowly taking them over. They also paid for gordons services for helping to stop the combine from taking over their last home(earth).
-Xen in general: I think this is like an interdimensional highway. A planet has to crack into this place to start traveling between dimensions. This is why
A: The combine where able to get to earth after the accident at blackmesa
B: Why antlions are now on earth, they were from another planet that was hooked to Xen.
C: Why headcrabs are on earth. And as for why the combine use them: The combine can't quite control them, but use them pretty much as biological warfare. They can't convert them, but they are still useful.
D: Why everyone seems to fight everyone else: Earth pretty much opened itself up to everything that was connected to Xen, none of which seem to be friends.
-Breen: Was normal when he was the Admin at BM. Was taken over by the combine shortly after invasion, allowing them to take control of earth.
-Overall: I think it's the Vortagaunts Vs The Combine. The G-man is part of neither, he mearly rents out elite troops to the highest bidder: The vortaguants as of right now.
-Striders: A genetically and Technically modified version of some species taken from another planet, used by the combine to fight.
-Combine Helicopters: The ones that resemble fish, another modified lifeform that is being exploited by the Combine.
-Overwatch helicopter: A modification of ones that already existed on earth, used when the Elite combine ones are not needed.
Yeah.
Doctor whatshername says that the combine cant use their teleporters to do anything but simply come to earth, they have to "rely on local transportation once they come from <b>their dimension</b>"
Also, when i went to read the newspaper clippings, eli started talking and i quote as best i can: "Thats doctor breen. He (mockingly said) "NEGOTIATED" the human's surrender to end the seven hour's war. THe combine rewarded him with power."
Ok, so thats how breen is in power in all these cities (at the train station you can hear some dudes talking about how they saw enough of him in city 14). But then what is this space slug thing, is it combine? He is obvoiusly talking to it about his escape from gordon, but he says something like "i cant survive in that atmosphere", so why doesnt he just escape to one of his other Citadels or something?
I dont think its Vortegon vs Combine here, i never saw very many vortegons, especially not any doing any fighting.
And the combine have obviously learned to control/enslave headcrabs, who in HL1 were on the same team as the vortegons. Thats another peculiar thing.\
-e- I JUST HAD A REVELATION
If the combine are indead an intergalactic empire that adapts other species, this would explain breen's "MAKE HUMANS BETTER" motives!! he wants to adapt humans to join the combine!
You don't really know, because while yes with the GMan's help, gordon saved the world in Black Mesa and again he saved them from the Combine.
Or did he?
Perhaps Gordon inadvertedly doomed the entire world through his actions. After all, he was the one in the test chamber that day; He is the one who cleared the path through Xen for the US Military to make their way through, which caught the attention of the Combine. Remember what Breen was yelling at the end, about Gordon blowing up the dark fusion reactor, and what will happen when the citadel falls over. It makes sense, so when you beat the game, you're also more than likely dooming everyone in City 17 and its surrounding area to a horrible death.
Perhaps the GMan is some form of angel, or perhaps maybe the devil himself? You can't deny there is a 'messiah' element to Gordon, always showing up to save the day. Or perhaps unknowingly destory it?
According to the ending of HL1, Xen is a border-world, meaning its something in between Earth and other worlds. Also, the GMan says it is in "our" control, whoever our is. At the end of HL1 it is assumed that he means earth's, but now, who knows?
Perhaps he is a third race that we don't even know about, one that is at war with the Combine elsewhere in the universe? One that may potentially give a rats **** about humanity? (which the combine obviously doesn't)
A good sequel's storyline should certainly raise more questions, but it should also answer the questions from the previous story, which HL2 didn't do at all.
And now, random HL2 fact: The part Barney is pinned down by sniper fire, when you get to the top floor of that building but are not yet in the line of fire for the snipers, they start shooting at the birds, even as they fly up and into the air. Just kinda funny to see these two blue laser lines following a crow :P
[edit]
More thoughts:
Perhaps Breen is the same form of 'being' as the GMan, though less powerful? Remember what Breen said in his speech while Gordon is rampaging through Nova Prospect, something along the lines of ".. he has no covert ops training and I have it on good authority that in between now and Black Mesa he was in no position to have developed such skills" or something like that. This implies Breen knew that Gordon was put in a Stasis during those 20 or so years.
Perhaps Breen really does have Humanity's best intentions in mind? After all, if your choices were either conformity or extinction, I can understand how he could choose the later. Perhaps if the rebellion wins, Breen knows the Combine will simply erradicate the entire human species, and so by stopping the rebellion he is actually trying to save our race?