I imagine that token role will be expanded considerably by the end of the trilogy. We've only got a third of the story arc remember.
Yes, but what good's that now? He should have been in this episode and it was weaker through his absence... he was long rumoured to have an important role in Ep1 and to be losing his temper due to his lack of control over Gordon. That's what I was hoping for, some real development with his plot or more information about Gordon. There's nothing to say he will even have a significant part in the upcoming episodes. It's all ifs and buts.
Episode 1 in comparison has some fairly meaty (by Half-Life standards) plot points at much more frequent interval.
I must have have missed them then.
Nothing progressed? Nothing was revealed? No the secrets of the Half-Life universe weren't unveiled but we did find out the following:
Those points are all so trivial and contribute nothing to the Half-Life universe.
Look, I'm a real fan of the Half-Life series, I just want something substantial to go on. Valve keep stringing us along, with us always beleiving that the plot will come in the next episode. Well, HL2 didn't reveal much about the Gman, nor did Ep1... why should I have any faith that it will be coming in Ep2? Currently the plot is akin to a shitty B-movie, when the potential is so much more. I doubt we'll have anything worthwhile come out of Ep2 or Ep3 either, as that will be saved for HL3 (or not as the case may be).
PS - I want better enemies. The Combine aren't even close to as cool/effective as the grunts from the original - they're so faceless and just seem to be cannon fodder. After playing games like FEAR (which I didn't even like) it just highlights the weakness of HL2's AI... they don't seem like real people/creatures.
NEway, I don't regret buying it but I'm going to have to seriously consider whether Ep2 is worth it. Op For was great because it felt so different, so fresh - this feels like more of the same.
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Emotinomicon: Emoticons of the Dead
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."