What Can Make Half Life 2: Episode Three A Success?

Basically came across this idea by conversing with buds on Steam about what can be implemented into Half Life 2 Episode 3 to make it a success. Half Life 2 in addition to the episodic sequels are some of my favorite titles on PC and I'm certain some of you may share the same. At the core, what do you buds think can be essential to make Episode 3 a success?

To start I'll list a few to jumpstart some ideas:

-Improved Source Engine

-More great depth in knowing/understanding Alyx Vance

-More scenarios with Dog

-Continuous support with the Gravity Gun in solving problems to navigate the environments.

Feel free to comment buds...

Gordon Freeman. The journey awaits...

I can't even begin to explain how much I'm sick of Alyx. She's cool to fight with, but beyond that, I wouldn't mind leaving her in Episode 3. However, I really want to know more about the G-Man's purpose in the story, and to see Gordon's effect on Earth besides just around City 17.

An awesome story, More info and stuff about Alyx and of course some nice scenary :)

Also some back story to other characters would be cool.

I feel if they can incorporate a solid Aperture Science scenario into the mix with the ability to use the portal gun, and still give you a modified gravity gun that is usefull as a weapon .. I would be most pleased.

Would definately love more Alyx Vance exploration, and would like an oppurtunity to bring back to life her father.

Most importantly I want an ending that wraps everything up real nice .. i want to know we were victorious over the fascist element that invaded our world with the coming mishap at Black Mesa.

To be the "Free" Man !!

To make it wildly successful all they have to do is release it. :DLocke562

Agreed

Portal gun.

Got to agree with the portal gun. If they can create levels that require the use of both the gravity and portal guns, it could take gaming yet again to a whole new level. The question is, can Valve pull it off? Of will they take the easy way out, and just make episode III a linear conclusion with more of the same?

the valve ceo said something about he is wondering if they should push out hl2 ep 3 with a new counterstrike on that engine, or wait a few more years to make a new engine with an all new counterstrike and all new half life game and in the mean time push out hl2 ep 3 with nothing really new

I know that there has been a lot of talk from fans who believe that they will incorporate the Portal Gun into the next game, but... after recently beating the all the games... I'm starting to doubt it. I mean... knowing Valve they will probably do something that we won't expect. Sure it would be nice to have both the 'Half-Life' and 'Portal' games come together in a way (which I'm sure it will judging by the end of the second episode) but having the Portal Gun wouldn't have that "awe" effect on a player IMO. Maybe we could get a modified Portal Gun but... I think it would be kinda lame to have the same Portal Gun from 'Portal' (don't get me wrong... it's actually one of my favorite Valve games).

Umm as for making it a success... I guess varied environments/ gameplay, that's something that Valve already does with this series. I would like more memorable/ bigger puzzles like the broken bridge in HL2: E2. I'm not expecting any changes to be made to the engine other than it being slightly modified. As for weapons... they're fine, but if there are any additions that would be nice. I really liked that there were new enemies in E2 so... more of that. A new vehicle could be interesting... perhaps a helicopter or something? Maybe Gordon/ Alyx manage to take down one of the Combine airships/ dropships (not sure which is correct) but yeahh I would like a new vehicle.

The thing that they really have to nail with this episode is the story. I'm really looking forward to how they're going to tie 'Half-Life' and 'Portal' together. I also want some more questions to be answered. And definitely a memorable ending that will keep fans satisfied until HL3.

How about a whole new engine, as great as the source engine is in how modifiable it is, there needs to be a new engine used by Valve.

I don't think the portal gun would be good in a half life game. I would love just more of the same with a little bit more info on Alyx.

I think there has to be the portal gun, even for a short while. I mean, there are levels on the Aperture Science boat!

[QUOTE="Locke562"]To make it wildly successful all they have to do is release it. :DVlaimir_Lem86

Agreed

Thirded!

Just make it as good as episode 2 & i'll be happy.

Oh, & get rid of Alyx. When Freeman has an epic fight on his hands she 'disappears' leaving you to do all the hard work.

Just make it as good as episode 2 & i'll be happy.

Oh, & get rid of Alyx. When Freeman has an epic fight on his hands she 'disappears' leaving you to do all the hard work.

TheFragcat

Basically came across this idea by conversing with buds on Steam about what can be implemented into Half Life 2 Episode 3 to make it a success. Half Life 2 in addition to the episodic sequels are some of my favorite titles on PC and I'm certain some of you may share the same. At the core, what do you buds think can be essential to make Episode 3 a success?

To start I'll list a few to jumpstart some ideas:

-Improved Source Engine

-More great depth in knowing/understanding Alyx Vance

-More scenarios with Dog

-Continuous support with the Gravity Gun in solving problems to navigate the environments.

Feel free to comment buds...

OoSuperMarioO

I totally hear you on that one mate, there are many things people would like to see more of, and questions to be answered. It's been a few months since i went through the game (Been on good ol' TF2 and CSS) but i'd like to know more of what the G-mans intentions are, he seems to be the character we know least about.

I also agree with you on Alyx, shes Gordons closest ally yet i could speak for us all in saying we want to know more about her/understanding her. A new source engine would be great, although the one so far has been a treat to play on, i wouldn't mind seeing an upgrade or what not.

And what about Dog? Well we all want to see more of Dog! In all honesty, he's probably one of my favourite characters ever to be introduced into a video game. And i also probably speak for everyone when i say how much i love watching him tear to pieces a Strider, or even taking out a group of combine soldiers and an APC within seconds, so more sequences with Dog would be fantastic.

Another one or two enemies i'd like to see in the game - such as combine assassins, and the crab synths and mortar synths that you only see towards the end of the game being shipped out of the citadel.

And also like others have said, aemotional and memorable ending. But not to mention an action packed story to make the whole game seem like a grand finale.

TPJ McGinnes.

I just want them to round off this particular story arc and go out with a bang. Episode 2 was great, so just build on that and tie up any loose ends. I'm not so concerned about seeing an updated Source engine this time around - save that for the next major release.

Speaking of which, I think Half-Life 3 should do another fast forward and offer a new setting and characters (while bringing back a few old favourites).

hmmm hard decision here... i say more of a journey into the unknown, make us ask more question in the end of episode 3

After episode 2...Alyx must change for the worse. She's been very nice and calm up to this point, but she must have reached her breaking point by now. It would be incredibly interesting to see her lose it in combat and go beserk, clubbing enemies to death in rage out of sheer revenge.

So far the "love" affair has been fairly fruitless and the story hasn't hit us hard enough...to see Alyx degrade will hit us gamers in the heart where it hurts us the most - and elevate the Half Life franchise toeven greater heights, even morethan Bioshock's psychological horror.

Cryengine 2 !!! :D, just being silly here

1.Kill off Alyx.

2.Much more combine and zombies (better zombies even).

3.Sensible coop, not coop thrown in.

Thanks pretty much all I can think of off the top of my head w/o changing the engine and crap.

Success? No puzzles, no difficulty, naked Alyx, some cool monsters, cry engine, achievments, autoaiming, portal gun which totally unappropriate to hl universe, manga robocop killing godzilla babe with big **** wake up for ffs!

[QUOTE="TheFragcat"]

Just make it as good as episode 2 & i'll be happy.

Oh, & get rid of Alyx. When Freeman has an epic fight on his hands she 'disappears' leaving you to do all the hard work.

OoSuperMarioO

Yeah, she's pretty much the heart and soul of Half-Life 2.
Without her, you'd just be a nameless mute mowing down hordes of aliens - which worked 10 years ago, but I think people need something more engaging nowadays.

I just want more walkers. I loved the ending to Episode 2 and the epic battle between all the walkers, but I thought the first encounter with them in the original HL2 was more entertaining for some reason. I want them to bring that back....

Length, more action, bigger scale. Update the source engine, phyics and graphics wise. Co-Op would be amazing, possibly something similar to Left 4 Dead.

Make a Counter Strike:2 to release with it.

i cant belive people are saying they dont want alyx. she was brilliant. astounding character development imo

what i would love in ep.3 is a bit more story for the amount of hours you put in. i love hl2 so far, but one (i) just get the feeling that im only being shown a tiny portion of the story, theres no backstory at all, and im itching to hear more and see more of it and the world they live in. i still dont even get the storyline properly, how the combine came to be and stuff, but hopefully that will be solved by black mesa: source.

[QUOTE="OoSuperMarioO"]

[QUOTE="TheFragcat"]

Just make it as good as episode 2 & i'll be happy.

Oh, & get rid of Alyx. When Freeman has an epic fight on his hands she 'disappears' leaving you to do all the hard work.

Planeforger

Yeah, she's pretty much the heart and soul of Half-Life 2.
Without her, you'd just be a nameless mute mowing down hordes of aliens - which worked 10 years ago, but I think people need something more engaging nowadays.

if you want more engagement how about a protagonist who talks! seriosuly the whole mute scientist thing is getting lame. its great to see the world and the different people but there isn't any interaction when the hero doesn't do the most basic form of interaction. what would have been great would be to see how this whole hero/messiah idea has taken its toll on Gordon with people he cares about dying/getting hurt. other than the basic advancement of the Source engine,new weapons,new enemies,concluing the story arc,sandbox-ish gameplay similar to Crysis would all be welcome additions.

[QUOTE="Planeforger"]

[QUOTE="OoSuperMarioO"]Alyx adds so much to the universe bud. Greatly admire the company of Alyx, granted it's not like she gets in the way to make the gameplay frustrating.

crazyfist36

Yeah, she's pretty much the heart and soul of Half-Life 2.
Without her, you'd just be a nameless mute mowing down hordes of aliens - which worked 10 years ago, but I think people need something more engaging nowadays.

if you want more engagement how about a protagonist who talks! seriosuly the whole mute scientist thing is getting lame. its great to see the world and the different people but there isn't any interaction when the hero doesn't do the most basic form of interaction. what would have been great would be to see how this whole hero/messiah idea has taken its toll on Gordon with people he cares about dying/getting hurt. other than the basic advancement of the Source engine,new weapons,new enemies,concluing the story arc,sandbox-ish gameplay similar to Crysis would all be welcome additions.

After episode 2...Alyx must change for the worse. She's been very nice and calm up to this point, but she must have reached her breaking point by now. It would be incredibly interesting to see her lose it in combat and go beserk, clubbing enemies to death in rage out of sheer revenge.

So far the "love" affair has been fairly fruitless and the story hasn't hit us hard enough...to see Alyx degrade will hit us gamers in the heart where it hurts us the most - and elevate the Half Life franchise toeven greater heights, even morethan Bioshock's psychological horror.

Solidus171