Half-Life 2 Question
 

This question is directed towards anyone who has played the Half-Life series:

I'm about to starting playing Half-Life 2 for the first time via The Orange Box, but I was wondering if I should read up on a plot summary for the original Half-Life or if that is not necessary?

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Depends how much you want to envolve yourself into the game. I didnt and it turned out just fine. A lot of the stuff is explained to you and you progress, and even more is explained in the episodes. That being said just try to listen to what teh NPCs are saying. Even the ordinary people off the street give minor clues when provoked.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Hmmm... To me it really doesn't seem all that necessary...
I know Jason's a bit more into Half-Life, maybe he'll disagree :p

Some of the supporting characters from HL1 make a return (and will hint that you should remember them from Black Mesa, the complex in which HL1 took place), but in the original they had absolutely no personality... They were just there to help you open doors and fight monsters.

Your "old boss" from Black Mesa makes a "return"... If you aren't familiar with the original, you may think you're missing out on something... But you're not... He wasn't even in the first one.

The circumstances in HL2 have changed drastically and in such a random way, it seems like it'd stand on it's own just as well...

The only real important plot details I can think of is that various dimensional rifts were opened up, and at the very end of HL1, Gordon is detained by a mysterious suit (everybody calls the G-Man)...

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

What DH said.

I would say that you will not enjoy HL2 more if you read up on it's history.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Half-Life 1 in a nutshell (you can stop it at the Half-Life 2 part):



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=devEDGtgZ64

Basically, you are scientist/badass Gordon Freeman. You work for super secret Black Mesa. Things go haywire, aliens come. Stuff blows up. You blow stuff up. You fight crazy alien boss. You get hired by the G-man. Credits roll. You're not missing much (other than the best first person shooter EVER made).

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Actually your right, I do disagree. I think you should spend a couple minutes and read a brief story summary of the original Half Life. I mean there's really not much to it and a lot is left to mystery anyways, but I mean it will only take a few minutes of your time and will only enhance the HL2 experience, not detract from it.

BTW, your in for a real treat. Prepare yourself for a GOOD fps, as in not Halo.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Thanks everyone.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Please do us all a favor and add "I hate Halo" to your sig. That way you have to waste your energy typing it at the end of every post you write.

"There is one thing more cowardly than the conformist, and that is the fashionable non-conformist" - Ayn Rand

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

you may find this useful too:
http://members.shaw.ca/halflifestory/index.htm

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Is my ability to hover objects in-front of me some special thing or is it just me picking up objects?

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

That's just you picking up objects with E. You will need to pick up so barrels I think...it gets a lot less annoying when you get later in the game and you get some new tools.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

This game is pretty awesome so far, but this hover-ghetto-like vehicle doesn't control so well.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Bond, your avatar is giving me suggestive thoughts.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Sorry, I'm currently having a love affair with Grey's Anatomy.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Squirting the lotion onto my hand as we speak.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

This game is rather disturbing with the little critters that attach to your head. They're rather obnoxious as well.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Ravenholm?

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Yes.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Ravenholm is fun. It makes using a saw blade fun again.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

I just finished Half-Life 2. Wow! An amazing game. I look forward to playing Episode One and Two at a later date...

but, what the hell is up with this G-Man? So he transports Gordon into parallel universes? He seems almost like an "Architect" type character from The Matrix.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Yeah kinda... He magically puts Gordon to sleep at the end of HL1, then magically makes him reappear some 10-20 years later on the train at the beginning of HL2... Then magically freezes him again at the end of HL2...
It's all kind of magical...

But I haven't come across any real details as to who/what he is in my experience with the HL franchise... So until they do I vote that he's Jesus.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

There are a lot of theories about the G-Man that are widely accepted. I'd finish episode 2 before googling for them though, I'd hate to have anything ruined for you.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

I actually haven't started playing Ep 2 yet either (despite owning it since it's release) and I wiki'd G-man only to find out that he apparently makes a more significant appearance in Ep 2...

Now I need to try to pull myself away from WoW :(

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Eh, I wouldnt say his appearance is more significant, per say...He does have another nice appearance though, but it really dosent answer any of the big questions. As for Bond, im glad you enjoyed Half Life 2. It stands up amazingly well, and dont forget its now over 3 years old.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Dude, some people still play WoW here? :)

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

I still play WoW. I gave up raiding a long time ago. But every other month or so my friends and I sign up again to start a new alt. We quit every time we hit 70, though.

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

Haha, that's awesome.

My highest alt is lvl 27, I hate alts. The fun starts at lvl 60/70.

I quit more than a year ago, since then I've only played the free TBC trial, which I didn't like. I'm also afraid that if I start playing again, I will want to be the best again, consuming my life. :)

Re: Half-Life 2 Question
 

I was off the WoW for a solid 3 months before caving...
lvled up a Druid to 70...

I'm usually more like thatmariolover though... I hit the max level and get bored...

Half-Life 2.