The Failure of the Half-Life Episodes

[Blink]

An interesting viewpoint on the way Valve have handled the Half-Life series, and how they could have approached it has been posted over at LambdaGeneration:

The very existence of Episode Two and the way it ended, though emotionally significant, is a big part of the reason why the series has been put on hold for so long. Certain issues are immediately obvious. How does Valve start the next game when we expect to continue on from the point we left off after five years of absolute silence? How does Valve move on from such a cliffhanger, and build on all the set-up in a way that’s faithful to an intricate narrative spanning four games, without alienating a new audience?

Well worth your time, so give it a read.

[source-maps]

gave it a read, agreed with some of his points but I wouldn't want to miss out on episode 2, because it was really a great episode.. not a lot of games that really make me feel sad or worried about the characters in it

I'm just worried that Hl3 or what ever, will have it's expectations so high it will disappoint a lot of people

[Epifire]

I think this guy tends to rag on EP 2 a bit much as I personally found it to be an Apex of the story. However in the case that it used traditional game play, it made me feel like it was also closing a chapter to that tradition. I get the feeling that the changes were going to be so dramatic that Valve had to go back and rethink their game play strategy. This taking part in the long wait.

This read gives some interesting points, but also throws on the overcoat of a heavy bias against the Episodes I find. All I can say if I ever met, or talked with the guy who wrote it is, "never underestimate what Valve has in store for that sequel". Just take the recent Portal 2 for example. I believe that was back story going into the support of what EP 3/HL 3 is going to entail. I really wholeheartedly believe this next Half-Life feature is going to be over the top once again. Maybe I put to much trust in Valve, but hey I just have my doubts about them letting their number one franchise fall. Maybe those Episodes were getting stale fast, cause if that is what Valve was thinking to, would you rethink your strategy being them? Just something to think about for the rest of you guys.

[nub]

I don't see how Valve couldn't pull off a really good opening for HL3. They don't have to do a direct follow up of Episode 2's ending. It would be more fair to the characters if they did, but if they want the wow factor that HL2's opening had, they might have to abandon the idea of a direct follow up.

The article mentions the drastic change of setting from HL1 to HL2. They could easily do the same thing in HL3. You have a clear goal in mind by the end of Episode 2 and it's located in a very distant place in the world. Here's just a real quick idea I brainstormed while reading the article. I'll put spoilers around it in case someone as somehow managed to not play through the whole series by now:

Valve could simply start you off flying in a helicopter in the arctic, with a very crestfallen Alyx (with a new outfit suited for the arctic) riding along. Dog can come along too, also refitted for the freezing cold if need be. Hell, even Barney maybe? We haven't seen him since the end of Episode 1. Anyway, Valve could quickly recap the events that unfolded at the end of Episode 2, mainly Eli's death and the nullification of the super portal via the rocket; all with some very emotional dialog from Alyx. They could make the inside of the helicopter feel very "Half Life 2," then as soon as the helicopter lands and you step out in to the freezing arctic wilderness, you're introduced to a completely new canon. A nice, fresh start for the series that doesn't completely abandon Episode 2. Simple but effective.

We don't need anything super fancy for Half Life 3's opening. Just for Valve to artfully execute the opening via one or more of the characters and really convenient timing. If that makes any sense to you guys.

[joe_rogers_11155]

Valve is in a pickle. It was just too much of a cliffhanger in Ep2. How can a fully-fledged Half-Life 3 pick up from there? It would have to be an Episode 3 instead, to bring a complete close to the European mythos of the series. I really think we should NOT go to the Arctic yet, but there does not appear to be much else to do in the White Forest...unless White Forest is besieged again by Advisors. So maybe there is no choice but to abruptly leave Europe behind, but I don't think we would be well-served to simply go to the Arctic for Half-Life 3.

I think a good way to start Episode 3 would be another G-Man intervention, where he freezes time and walks up to the scene where Alyx is mourning Eli's dead body. He might explain more about Eli's history, the unforeseen consequences, some more exposition on Alyx's involvement...

...not enough to give away the whole story or something like that. But the G-Man can save the story of Half-Life just as much as he can muddy the waters. He is, after all, the PIVOTAL character in this story...almost more so than Gordon himself.

A fully fledged Half-Life 3 would almost mandate a trip back into stasis beforehand, maybe by G-Man or maybe by the Combine (the "highest bidder" may just become the Combine)...but we have to awaken to a completely new world order AGAIN for it to succeed.

[MaK]

Guys have some faith in Valve. You can almost guarantee that valve has beta versions of EP3 that are nothing like the final product just as HL2, HL1, and TF2 did. It's taking them so long because of that reason, that's how they make good games. Also it's going to be big as they've said before, and Gabe has given out hints that it's still being worked on. As opposed to the EP3/HL3 argument, who really cares anymore, we all just want another game.

[Major Banter]

Guys have some faith in Valve.

QFT. This is Valve, gentlemen. World leaders in the industry. It will be good.

[stoopdapoop]

I don't see why hl3/ep3/whatever would necessarily have to begin right where Ep2 ended. A small amount of time could elapse, just like with every other sequel in the half life series.

Ep2's ending wasn't really a cliffhanger at all. Hl2's was. Ep1's was. But the events of ep2's story were more or less completed. There is no suspense.

[nub]

What stoop said.

Consider Half Life 2's ending. Right before the Citadel's dark fusion reactor blew up in your face, Gman froze time and talked for a bit, then the screen went to pitch black and the credits rolled. That's a cliffhanger because you don't know what the hell just happened. Episode one's ending is far less "wtf" but is similar in nature (minus Gman). Car smashes in to train, vision goes blank. Credits roll. Cliffhanger.

Now, Episode 2's ending wasn't a cliffhanger at all. The rocket worked, Eli died, and the Advisors that ambushed you in the hangar were scared off by Dog. Nothing left unsaid. In my opinion, it's a definitive enough ending for the whole Half Life 2 canon.

[source-maps]

OMG NUB ELI DIED>?! D:

no but seriously tho, I guess you could see the 'what tech is on board of that aperture ship' as a cliff hanger
I know it's not really a cliff hanger.. but there are so many questions man D: !

just dying to know everything and get some closure XD

[Jangalomph]

I agree, episode 2 could very well be an ending. But I don't think we'll see an ending until the combine race is destroyed by freeman and his crew.

[Saxon]

The story could be picked up again on the helicopter ride to the Borealis, it would be a classic Half Life way of opening and would be a tidy way of picking up a story left alone for 5 years.

Gameplay wise... yeah the article is right. People are going to have altered expectations for the next iteration, just throwing out the standard tunnel shooter gameplay with occasional puzzles isn't really going to cut it. It was still an acceptable style when EP2 was released, but after years of COD/etc that formula has become pretty stale: after such a long absence Valve will certainly need to do something revolutionary.

[Epifire]

after such a long absence Valve will certainly need to do something revolutionary.

I don't doubt that they will. People seem to think that they cannot handle this load or something, I mean common? After playing Portal 2 I have no doubt that they will do something awesome with the upcoming sequel in the Half-Life series. Elite Developers that are needed to pull off something really good require two things I believe, time, resources and of course inspiration. All of which I think is doable for Valve since they can take their sweet ole time to make something marvelous.

Call me a huge fan boy of them but I have great faith in them.

[Saxon]

Oh sure, there's no doubt they could pull off something revolutionary if they put their minds to it and feel brave enough to make such a release. I'm just saying they'll need a good reason to justify such a lengthy development period.

[Knights]

I want another hl1 experience