Who hear actually understands the ending? *SPOILERS*

[t3nacious]

After the ending, I was left with mixed feelings. Sure it was awsome how they did the ending, but it really didn't give closure to anything that happened in the game. When Gman appears near the end telling you that he is going to use you for later assignments, and that this was just a test, is that supposed to mean that everything that just happened wasn't real? Or has Gman tapped into Gordon's mind?

[HumaNoiD]

can you state at least one thing that was explained in hl1/hl2? this game is about questions, not answers.

[RomeoJGuy]

if you follow all the clues you will know exactly what is going on.

[t3nacious]

I took your advice and now the ending makes perfect sense. Gman IS Gordon.

[taso]

Quote:

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t3nacious opened his big mouth to say:
I took your advice and now the ending makes perfect sense. Gman IS Gordon.

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and how'd you come up with this.

[Draken]

Quote:

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t3nacious opened his big mouth to say:
I took your advice and now the ending makes perfect sense. Gman IS Gordon.

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that would suck. we all wanna kill gman and we'll have to kill gordon to do so

[RomeoJGuy]

You dont learn about gman Im talking about the combine.

[Grantax]

which clues?
can't you just tell us what you mean

[t3nacious]

*whisper voice* I think he was making it up...

[m4dmk]

I don't think I picked up totally on the storyline. Could someone please list the theories, or explanations presented in the game? Such as who and what the combine are exactly (compared to the military in HL1 maybe), would be appreciated

[t3nacious]

From what I gathered, the humans worth keeping were taken to the citadel. From there they were put in the pods, and then made into combine. But I may have it wrong.

[RomeoJGuy]

Quote:

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t3nacious opened his big mouth to say:
From what I gathered, the humans worth keeping were taken to the citadel. From there they were put in the pods, and then made into combine. But I may have it wrong.

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no they go to nova prospekt. Notice how when you were saved by barney you were heading towards a train bound for nova prospekt. At nova prospekt they turn you into stalkers. The stalkers then are sent to the citadel via trains and either become Soldiers for the combine or workers in the citadel.

The real combine can bee seen only breifly in the breen veiwscreens.

[m4dmk]

Can you write a few more theories, or things that the different people are RomeoJGuy?

[aC.50|B>]

well i just finally got to finish the game as i've had a really hectic week(finishing it also made me 1/2 hour late to work caz i knew i was close)

my first inclination after finishing the game was to come in ranting saying "this game has no storyline whatsoever!" but in all reality it actually has a very fluid and dynamic storyline, only unlike other games its not just handed to you on a silver platter. Part of me liked that fact, part of me felt empty without it.

my only gripe with the main story is the lack of backstory bridging any kind of gap of what happenned in detail between black mesa and city17, yes we know the combine attacked and earth surrendered, obviously somewhere in there they also took over xen as we're now suddenly allies with our enemies from the first game. but why?! and how?! i wish there was one slow part where you could get more than "the freeman is well respected by the eli vance" from the vortigaunts.

the ending definately left something to be desired, it was cool, it was somewhat innovative, but it was short. i mean ok great... this probably did really happen i doubt it was a dream, the gman was just using you again as a pawn for his needs, like nobody saw that comming. obviously he has some kind of portal control over time as he can basically stop it and remove you from it. the only thing thats keeping me somewhat in check is the fact that theyve basically said theyre gonna make hl3 off of some derivative of this engine and therefore it wont take all that long to come out (not another 6 years anyway).

i'm also holding out as to see what they do with expansion packs... if theres a blue shift i can see them doing alot with barney in this one as you only see him at select times and theres got to be alot he accomplishes. i can see a similar expansion with alyx and dog. and obviously an opposing force expansion as the combine would really be inciteful, much moreso than the original OF.

if those happen i think i'll be fullfilled with all i could hope for of a back story (but probably not much of an explanation of where it goes afterward).

but i guess we just have to wait and see :\

[aC.50|B>]

oh and i agree with rjg's explanation of nova prospekt and the stalkers, but only to an extent. the stalkers are labotomized drones that the combine uses as their servants, but i dont think that stalkers and combine soldiers are one and the same. as you can see from the combine soldier model in the gcf that doesnnt have a shirt/helmet on they are very much more humanoid than stalkers become. just with the addition of a couple "ports" for whatever needs to be connected.

also the city guards (forgot their exact name) are completely human as far as i can tell, barney didnt really do anything decieving to get the job, it just seems like its a combine supportive job you can opt for as a citizen to be held in a better respect than typical civilians.

the worms you see on the viewscreen in the citidel in the transport glitch and finally at the end are what the combine truly is. by definition in the prima guide they are combine overseer's and are the true intelligent master combine race.

i just wish there was a little more story content and you have to believe there wouldve been but they had to get this game rollin or ppl were really gonna start losing interest.