ELI5: What happen between Half-life and Half-life 2 ?

Lucretiel · 4 months

There's a lot of good information about this that can be gleaned by examining Dr. Vance's office at Black Mesa East during HL2. Basically, the resonance cascade of HL1 got the attention of the Combine, who invaded earth shortly after Freeman was put in stasis. They defeated all of earth's military forces in 7 hours (hence, the 7 Hour War). They proceeded to subjugate humanity and begin draining earth of resources, most notably its oceans, the results of which are plainly obvious in City 17 and the surrounding coast. Cut ahead some unknown amount time (Generally agreed to be about 20 years) and Freeman returns.

City 17 is the seat of the Combine's power on Earth. It doesn't hold any particular significance than that, and in fact there are many other citadels like the one at the center of City 17 across Earth.

Gordon's importance isn't entirely clear yet. He's more of a symbol of human endurance against alien invaders to the rest than anything, though he's undeniably proficient with a wide variety of weapons. The G-Man's interest in him means that he probably has some other significance as well, but what that is has yet to be explained. (Though Valve has promised it will be explained more completely in the sequel)

EDIT: changed HL2EP3 to "the sequel," as it isn't clear at this point how exactly the sequel will be named

ModernRonin · 4 months

I read somewhere that HL2 takes place 20 years after HL1

Something like that. Alyx was a little girl when the resonance cascade incident at Black Mesa happened, now she's grown up. So if you ask me, 15 years minimum.

There's a theory that the G-Man put Gordon into a "slow teleport" (a teleport where time inside passes very very slowly) at the end of HL1, and then pulled him out at the beginning of HL2. That would explain why Eli (Vance, Alyx's dad) says: "You haven't changed one iota, how do you do it?" to Gordon when he arrives at Black Mesa East during the first parts of HL2.

I know there was some war going on Between the combine and the earth

It's been over for a long time at the point that HL2 starts. They called it the "Seven Hour War", because that's how long it took the Combine to completely steamroll the united military forces of Earth once the portal(s) opened. There's still a tiny guerrilla resistance movement, but it's been pitifully ineffective until Gordon shows up.

What's the purpose of City 17?

Multiple reasons, probably. One is to keep all the remaining humans in one place so they're easier to control. But another one just as important can be summed up in one word: Antlions.

The Portal Storms raged across the Earth, (and still do according to Marc Laidlaw) spreading Xen life forms across Earth causing the people to move into cities for protection.

http://half-life.wikia.com/wiki/Seven_Hour_War#Battle

If you played HL2:Ep 2 you saw how the citadel had enormous ground pounders around it, constantly thumping on the bedrock to annoy the antlions and prevent them from burrowing in under the city. You see how overwhemingly deadly the antlions can be during the "Sand Traps" part of HL2.

Why is Freeman so important?

Several people in the story (most importantly, the G-man) seem to believe that Gordon Freeman can tip the balance of large scale events if he's put into the right part of the situation at the right time. The G-man explains this, obliquely, at the beginning of HL2 as he pulls Gordon out of stasis and puts him on the train that's headed in to City 17.

what's the connection between all of this and the events of HL1?

HL2 is the world that came about because of the events of HL1. It's just like any sequel. The events of the first one happened, and that led to what happens in the second one.

q80king · 4 months

I read this guide about a year ago, it's pretty good at explaining the half life timeline http://members.shaw.ca/halflifestory/

Hope this helps.

SpaghettiWizard · 4 months

This might help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHxyZaZlaOs

Be sure to watch them all

Pilpecurb · 4 months

If these two havent beeb posted, here here is a very, very good timeline which emcompasses the games, including Portal and other related games not labelled Half Life.

Also, this wiki is very comprehensive.

faitswulff · 4 months

I had a waking nightmare that I will settle down, get married, and have a child. When she turns five she will ask me, "Daddy, when will Half-Life 3 come out?"

I just graduated college. Gabe, please save me from this fate.

no1stunna · 4 months

Why isn't Half-Life 2 called full life?

mxkofod · 4 months

This will explain everything.

lambdacomplex · 4 months

'Why is Freeman so important?'

Question has now been asked 1,003,459 times. Next question to follow is 'SO IS THE G MAN REALLY GORDON FREEMAN?¬?!?!?$£"$3GRFGWQ#'

That was me strangling the person that asks it at the end.

thehungynerd117 · 4 months

Portal 2 takes place years after Ep2 (and maybe Ep3) but i dont see how that answers your question just putting it out there...

pxl · 4 months

There was an IAmA by a developer from Valve working on the HL3, x months ago ... Does anyone have a link to this?

gburnaman · 4 months

In a five year-old's terms?: The Resonance Cascade drew the attention of the alien empire collectively known as the Combine Empire or the Universal Union. The Combine already had the control of multiple universes of life(although the extent over their power with each universe is unknown, they might be still exploring other universes). They came to earth through the same quantum rips the Nihilanth's forces used. It should be noted here that the Combine are probably interested in the earths water and human teleportation technology, they've got us outpaced in almost everything else. Humanity was still defending itself from the forces of Xen and Race X(who only appeared in isolated pockets). Most humans moved into large walled cities a few months later. The Combine found earthlings huddled together in cramped hastily built slums and took the advantage, started a war called the "7 Hour War". It probably might have lated 9 hours except that Doctor Breen, Black Mesa's old administrator recognized the danger Humanity was in. Presumably using ties with the government Breen made contact with the Combine and surrendered, his motion backed up by the government presumably. The Combine turned humanity into a slave race, set up the Suppression Field so that humans couldn't reproduce and then set us to work draining the oceans and harvesting minerals presumably. The Overwatch was set up as a branch of human-Combine super soldiers to keep "peace" and keep their new found slaves safe from the aliens still left from the Resonance Cascade. Enter Doctor Freeman and you've got Half-Life 2.

2truthsandalie · 4 months

This explains everything

Moldavite · 4 months

[deleted]

mrdizzy · 4 months

Hey, your English is pretty good. I didn't even notice it being bad.

WorstAccountOf2012 · 4 months

Gordon Freeman watches furry porn and masterbates furiously. Everyone knows this.

creepingdeathv2 · 4 months

why don't you play the both the games and find out yourself ... I assure you they are probably the greatest games you'll ever play! The entire half-life series is incredibly immersive and absolutely brilliant to say the least.

seltaeb4 · 4 months

How is halffy formed?

you'll need to login or register to do that

create a new account

login