HL3: Episode 2

[Frraksurred]

I know the actual title is HL2: Ep2, but even Gabe has said they consider it HL3.

Anyway, there have been several upgrades for this next epsisode. Dynamic lighting so that models now self shadow. Cinematic physics, so that environments are more destructable. Higher res textures, updated models, new enemies and weapons. Yadda, yadda and the proverbial yadda.

There are several sites with vids. 3DGamers has all of them together for convenience, but Filefront and others have them to. Definately worth checking out.

[Adaman]

If they consider it HL3, they should of called it HL3. It's just extra chapters of HL2 though. Having the name Half Life 3 would of probably sold more copies, so i don't know why they didn't go with that. HL3 will probably be a whole different story, so maybe that's why these are just extra little bonus episodes.

[Terry]

Nah, interview with Gabe indicated it's actually HL3.

There will not be anything else in this universe after Episode 3.
They are going to answer everything.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Nah, interview with Gabe indicated it's actually HL3.

There will not be anything else in this universe after Episode 3.
They are going to answer everything.

Whoa, whoa, whoa....so they're going to wrap-up the ENTIRE Half-Life universe storyline within the next 12-15 hours of gameplay (i.e. Ep2 and Ep3)???

I guess it can be done, but it seems so.....anticlimactic. Don't you guys agree? The original Half Life came out in 1998 and truly revolutionized the genre and really gaming in general in alot of ways. Then we waited 6 long years for a sequel that was superb but that answered nothing (if anything it created more questions), and now it is ALL going to be wrapped up in 3 meager expansion packs (yes, sorry Gabe, but thats basically what they are) with 5-7 hours of gameplay each?

I guess I just figured as a Half Life fan, that the series started with such a huge bang, and there was so much hype and expectation surronding the sequel, that I figured the series would finally go out as tremendously as it came in....not with the release of a couple "Episodic content packs", and suddenly be over.

Wow. Now I'm kinda bummed.

[mr_oh_so_ice]

Yeh I am bummed too, I figured the expansions would solve the HL 2 story but leave off on a slight cliffhanger that would get wrapped by HL 3 a few years later.

[Adaman]

I doubt anything is final yet. I wouldn't just say there will never be Half Life 3...nor would i say Half Life 2: Episodes 1, 2, and 3 are actually Half Life 3. If they were Half Life 3, they'd be called Half Life 3. That's my stance on it. I don't care what Gabe thinks =p

If the series were to end at the end of these episodes it would be a shame, but i really don't see it happening. Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world though, I thought the first Ep was done very well. The 3 episodes in a whole will probably be quite satisfying. Valve is really great at what they do.

[Terry]

Ep2 is longer than Ep1
And if Ep3 is longer than Ep2 then the whole 3 episodes will be larger than HL1 and HL2 combined.

I would say that would sum up and solve the whole story pretty well.

[Sinnersis]

I've also heard that Valve intend to end the Half-Life series with these three episodes, but then we've all heard similar statements / rumours from other studios before (e.g. Westwood, RIP, stated there would be NO sequel to C&C: Red Alert. We all know how that turned out ). So I'll first, wait and see how episode 3 ends before coming to any conclusions.

It has been stated that Valve that they consider episodes 1-3 to be Half-Life 3. They released it this way so that there wouldn't be another 5-6 year wait before "Half Life 3."

Either way, I'd like to see the series continue. After all it does have one of the most engaging "worlds" ever created for a computer game, or for that matter any media form.

[Kamakazie]

HL2 - Episode 3 will not be the last Half-Life. Unless Gordon somehow dies at the end. Then hopefully we'll get HL3 starring Lamarr!

[DJBeanPole17]

What are the basic storylines that go along with each Episode? I will probably never play them because I don't have time. But I don't want to spoil other people looking forward to playing them so perhaps there is some link I could read about them if no one feels like divulging it themselves?

[LordVampyre]

guess it all comes down to if they think they can make money off of it... if they can they'll do more.. if not.. byee

[mr_oh_so_ice]

What are the basic storylines that go along with each Episode? I will probably never play them because I don't have time. But I don't want to spoil other people looking forward to playing them so perhaps there is some link I could read about them if no one feels like divulging it themselves?

Why not just read an FAQ at GameFAQs.com. You can probably figure out most of it through that.

[Kamakazie]

What are the basic storylines that go along with each Episode? I will probably never play them because I don't have time. But I don't want to spoil other people looking forward to playing them so perhaps there is some link I could read about them if no one feels like divulging it themselves?

The first episode chronicles the escape from City 17. If anyone knows anything futher than this please mark it with a spoiler because I would not like to see it

And play it, it only takes a few hours and it develops the characters better than most RPGs these days.

[DJBeanPole17]

Kam, I would definitely love to make an attempt at playing it, but being a fulltime student while working about a 12hr/day job doesn't leave me much freetime [+BONUS!!!!!!!!!! = GIRLFRIEND]

I will google for it when I have time

[Un4given]

I don't understand you guys. Here is how it goes down.

1. They finish driving out the aliens.
2. The reproductive dampening field goes away and people start breeding like rabbits again.
3. Gordon and Alex get hitched.
4. Alex gets fat and cuts her hair, and then spends the rest of her life making Gordon miserable...just like any other marriage.

See, they could easily wrap that up in a 6-8 hour episode.