What do you think Aftermath is about?

[Fliko]

I was thinking.....
Lets assume, from the screenshot, that you are safe from the Citadel explosion, and playing as Gordon Freeman. You know how some citizens are turned into Stalker..... well, maybe you are about to be turned, into a Stalker to make use of you, while keeping yourself from harming the Combine..... but, someone comes to save you, help you (Maybe DOG and Alyx, or maybe even the G-Man himself)
Just my own thought :)

[Qwert93]

The aliens in Xen will break free of the Combine's grip, and so you team up with the Combines to kill all of them, or vice visa.

[Marx! II]

Let us hope and pray for a level wherein we may fight alongside our brave Vortigaunt brothers.

[Samon]

Your escaping City 17, the citadel is going into meltdown and the entire city is now open to the wasteland population. Namley antlions, bullsquids, headcrabs, houndeyes and dare i say Gargs.

[screechrocket]

shepard fights race-z, a new combine race from the universe named xan.

[The Mexican]

Race-z? dont you mean race-X.

[Jintor]

uh...

He is joking about ideas that Gearbox has. Did you not notice his deliberate mis-spelling of the universe named Xan?

[Onager]

Gordon teaming up with some combine soldiers would be cool.

[Laivasse]

shepard fights race-z, a new combine race from the universe named xan.

Don't forget the special ub4r-empire, who will be called Mixorz, and they'll arrive to kill the Combine for sullying the name of intergalactic empires. They will be 20x the power of the Combine, they'll put 10 citadels in every street, and every single one of them will have an assjet.

[ríomhaire]

You must escape to city 14

[hi_ted]

It will start by escaping from the Citadel which is either about to blow up, fall over or blast in to space (IGN). Once the Citadel is gone, the barriers to City 17 will be lifted, allowing all the outside menaces to enter such as zombies, antlions, gargs...etc The player will have to venture somewhere outside of City 17, perhaps to a new City or underground/coast. Teleportation may be involved.

[onboard]

The citadel isn't destroyed because of the blue beams repairing it, you can see it in the screen with alyx in. However, its going to go nova and take out city 17 pretty soon. So its mass exodus from City 17, led by gordon and alyx. But the combine force fields are down so all the xen animals come in. The stalkers are free from combine control so I guess the combine are too. The combine soldier in the screen looks different, he has shine to him and straps on his arms.

[Mattigus]

Gordon won't be escaping the citadel, dammit. If you've beaten the game, you would realize this. The G-Man puts you in limbo until you're needed again. Why would he take you out of limbo only 5 seconds afterwards? Half-Life 2, common sense 0.

[Samon]

Gordon won't be escaping the citadel, dammit. If you've beaten the game, you would realize this. The G-Man puts you in limbo until you're needed again. Why would he take you out of limbo only 5 seconds afterwards? Half-Life 2, common sense 0.

Thats what were waiting to find out. Confirmed in PC GAMER was the fact that you DO escape the citadel.

[capteeni]

LOL is all i can say. BTW the name can tell you what it is about.
Aftermath After citadel blowing and because breen said dont do that, you do that and aftermath of it will be Aftermath, just like that...very simple answer :dork:

[J_Tweedy]

So what will the climax be? i mean, there are no major evil characters to chase, except that slug on the screen that breen talks to.
Everyone knows you have to have a climactic point in the story. It'd better not just be a big building with lots of combine

[Fliko]

I imagine Valve and Marc have something cooking up.
Maybe this will be about the G-Man?

[BrimStone04]

all u guys with the idea of the walls coming down and all the animals outside the city come in are awesome, just gets me thinking how many new species we may see, i just cant wait now. seeing stalkers, the green creatures that u see in the citadel, all sorts of possibilities. i have faith valve is gonna not dissapoint us

[Samon]

all u guys with the idea of the walls coming down and all the animals outside the city come in are awesome, just gets me thinking how many new species we may see, i just cant wait now. seeing stalkers, the green creatures that u see in the citadel, all sorts of possibilities. i have faith valve is gonna not dissapoint us

Don't thank them, thank valve - thats whats actually happening

[Trinityxero]

i have faith valve is gonna not dissapoint us

just got done playing the pariah demo... thought it was guna be good but uh... its less than mid road... after math will probly be hey this is good ya ya where hl3 I smell HL3!! where is it? :cheers:

[hi_ted]

Why would they call it Aftermath? It's obvious something will happen in regards to the Citadel or the Combine and this will be the lead up to Half-Life 3...unless they have further episodes in the making.

[DieHard]

The citadel isn't destroyed because of the blue beams repairing it, you can see it in the screen with alyx in. However, its going to go nova and take out city 17 pretty soon. So its mass exodus from City 17, led by gordon and alyx. But the combine force fields are down so all the xen animals come in. The stalkers are free from combine control so I guess the combine are too. The combine soldier in the screen looks different, he has shine to him and straps on his arms.

w00t! the combine are free'd! I've wanted to fight WITH them ever sence the start of the game. :borg:

[Angry Lawyer]

I'm leaning towards the thought that you'll fight the Stalkers. They've been lobotomised - they're not smart enough to rebel, or help you.

It's called "Aftermath", because it's about the consequences of destroying the Citadel.

-Angry Lawyer

[kupocake]

Here's my take on what could happen. Marc Laidlaw I am not :P

Introduction: G-Man wakes you up, says something about your contract being extended. Pops you back atop the Citadel. You and Alyx are knocked down by the explosion, have to get to a stable section of the Citadel, lots of explosions and running - you have no weapons.

Chapter 1: You and Alyx make it to the massive interior sections of Citadel and make your way down the structure. The citadel appears undamaged. Soldiers are fleeing, Stalkers are trying to repair the place.

Chapter 2: Power dies in the citadel - either as a damage limiting exercise or because something critical has exploded. The lower levels are pitch black and you are fighting Stalkers and Black-Elite Combine soldiers. You eventually find your way out into the streets over a combine bridge and through a formally impassable forcefield complex.

Chapter 3: Kliener's broadcast tells everyone to leave City 17 any way they can because the Citadel is going critical. He proposes a truce between human combine and resistance forces to assist in the evacuation. Reports come through that the powerloss in the Citadel has effected the outlying city wall defences and that agitated wasteland creatures are trying to invade. Gordon and Alyx fight synths and stalkers in the streets.

Chapter 4: Token Sewer Level! Excuse to get zombies in, with new zombie types and a hydra cameo (yeah, dream on ^^).

Chapter 5: Alyx and Gordon emerge from the sewers smelling kind of funny. They are futher from the Citadel now and the antlions are already here - lots of fights with Antlion Guards, climaxing in a massive fight (think the Nexus Plaza but with Antlion Guards instead of Striders).

Chapter 6: Moving to the station, everyone is being loaded aboard trains. Rumours abound of uprisings in other cities. Alyx and Gordon ride up front on the train because Gordon likes choo-choos (^^) Suddenly, the Antlion King lumbers into view a earthshatteringly runs after the train, Gordon is left to fight it off with all his weaponary, and kills it. In its death throes, it swipes at gordon with one of its gargantuan limbs and time freezes, the G-Man appears and says something profound. The Screen goes black and the credits role. And the player says:

"I paid $35 for that?!?!"

[narc]

Personally I think G-Man going 'hiya gordon, shit was gonna put you in stasis for a while but changed my mind' is a lame ass way of continuing the story.

I reckon something will happen on top of the citadel that ****s with G man and his powers which means you and Alyx are in stasis while the initial explosion happens, saving you, but then you come out of it due to unforesee circumstances/powers that be beyond Gman's power and then you're on your own trying to escape the Citadel. It would be cool if Valve gave the player the impression that gman is 'killed' or something happens to him i.e no sightings througout the game but then at the end he comes back and takes you away.

[Barney_Calhoun]

Alyx and Gordon ride up front on the train because Gordon likes choo-choos

LOL! Kupoartist, you are my new God.

[Ekinflog]

"I paid $35 for that?!?!"


:laugh:

[Samon]

So what will the climax be? i mean, there are no major evil characters to chase, except that slug on the screen that breen talks to.
Everyone knows you have to have a climactic point in the story. It'd better not just be a big building with lots of combine

Who knows? I'm pretty sure Valve will conjur something, and you won't be fighting the Advisor either - you just destroyed the citadel dark fusion reactor, and no longer can the combine get to earth because it powered thier tunnelling entanglement device.

I'm guessing Breen may yet turn up for another attempt at stopping Gordon.

[Noobulon]

I wonder if Breen will turn up again, having undergone the 'host body' process that the Advisor was suggesting to him.

Valve were going to have Breen appearing half-mutated with Combine technology at the end of HL2. It's somewhere in RTB.

[Samon]

I wonder if Breen will turn up again, having undergone the 'host body' process that the Advisor was suggesting to him.

Valve were going to have Breen appearing half-mutated with Combine technology at the end of HL2. It's somewhere in RTB.

Well he never actually under went the host body process and we don't know the outcome of his his conversation with the Advisor.

Originally was going to be undergoing Combien transformation to become immortal once you had reached the citadel.

He is still in human form.

[ríomhaire]

If I get put in a room with a stalker I don't know what i'd do. Possibilities:
1. Run away, I couldn't hurt them because I'd feel too much sympathy
2. Take them out of their missery
3. ;(

[MiccyNarc]

Thats what were waiting to find out. Confirmed in PC GAMER was the fact that you DO escape the citadel.
You do escape the Citadel as Mossman (I pray)

[hi_ted]

You do escape the Citadel as Mossman (I pray)
This is the best trump card you could hand out...
VALVE - "the continuation of Gordon Freeman's adventures"

[MiccyNarc]

This is the best trump card you could hand out...
VALVE - "the continuation of Gordon Freeman's adventures"
Mmm, source? And if it's a gaming magazine I'll kill you.

[Samon]

Mmm, source? And if it's a gaming magazine I'll kill you.

Steam update.

[MiccyNarc]

Steam update.
They are playing with our minds.
And remember, they didn't specifically say that you will be playing as Gordon.
"Continuing Gordon's adventures" could mean that you're just continuing from where Gordon left off, leaving good ol' Gordie behind.

[Samon]

They are playing with our minds.
And remember, they didn't specifically say that you will be playing as Gordon.
"Continuing Gordon's adventures" could mean that you're just continuing from where Gordon left off, leaving good ol' Gordie behind.

This must stop. You play as Gordon Freeman. It was said in the recent valve visit. God just stop this already. YOU PLAY AS GORDON. No more denying it :flame:

And playing as gordon is a good thing.

[Noobulon]

:D This will carry on long after Aftermath is released...


Think about it - we never actually saw Gordon in Aftermath!!
It could have been someone else!!!
That big explosion could easily have taken out Alyx's eyesight...We just don't want to believe in it
:sleep:

[stanners]

HI guys, how are u doing, hows the family?
i mean the gaiming family.

love your work on the forum, oh by the way im a noob!!
i like ice cream and dictionaries. hope i get to know you guys better.

oh yea live in Texas, coolest country in the world

Love you all, be healthy and CS ROX!!!

P.S. PPG SUX!!!!! yea man!!!

[MarcoPollo]

What do you think aftermath is about


Your jking right?

[Rennmniscant]

Kupoartist:- I love your ideas and chapter reviews!!! :bounce:

Stanners:- Yes, very interesting approach to both Aftermath and Newbieness... :sleep:

[BeaverMon]

What I'm thinking is the entire City 17 gets teleported to Xen when the Citadel explodes.
I mean come on. HL3 should be able battling in Xen, or working on some huge vacuum cleaner to suck the Xen Creatures back in Xen, then excape Xen, close the boarder to Earth, and that will be that.

Gordon will finally undo the incident in Black Mesa.

[Samon]

What I'm thinking is the entire City 17 gets teleported to Xen when the Citadel explodes.
I mean come on. HL3 should be able battling in Xen, or working on some huge vacuum cleaner to suck the Xen Creatures back in Xen, then excape Xen, close the boarder to Earth, and that will be that.

Gordon will finally undo the incident in Black Mesa.

City 17 is destroyed, and you can't teleport a city ;)

[ReDeemer_]

City 17 is destroyed, and you can't teleport a city ;)
Why not? Half of houses, pieces of asphalt, parts of cars, dead bodies etc.

[BeaverMon]

Okay. Then maybe Gordon will teleport to Xen while City 17 blows up with the Citadel.

[Samon]

Why not? Half of houses, pieces of asphalt, parts of cars, dead bodies etc.

Because its pretty much impossible. And overly cheesy if that happens - which it doesnt, as already confirmed in PC GAMER :)

[Rennmniscant]

What I'm thinking is the entire City 17 gets teleported to Xen when the Citadel explodes.
I mean come on. HL3 should be able battling in Xen, or working on some huge vacuum cleaner to suck the Xen Creatures back in Xen, then excape Xen, close the boarder to Earth, and that will be that.

Gordon will finally undo the incident in Black Mesa.

Very abstract idea, but I don't like the idea of going back to Xen again. How are they going to teleport ALL of c17? I also like the idea of going to an identical c14 or something.

[BeaverMon]

Ok, maybe the idea of teleporting all of City 17 is far fetched, and probally impossiable, and just alittle stupid. :P

But the point is, HL3 should end with what Gordon started, which would mean going to Xen and closing the residence cascade, then trying to defeat a boss in Xen, while trying to excape Xen before the rift closes, or Gordon will be stuck in Xen forever.

But if he manages to excape, sure, every human on Earth will probley be dead that didn't excape the blast of the Citadel of City 17, but Gordon will be a hero, AND...as a bonus, learn the mystery of the G-Man.

[Cole]

Why would the enter City 17 get teleported to Xen. The teleport WAS NOT set for Xen.

Anyway, what will aftermath be about?
The Aftermath of HL2!!!
OOO! DID I WIN!!!
No seriously, did I?


Well think of it like this,
In Black Mesa, in the start the enviroment was our enemy. Things would fall, lasers would come out. Since the citadel is blowing up and things..why not try and made the enviroment your enemy once again in the start :).

[r2000]

Why would the enter City 17 get teleported to Xen. The teleport WAS NOT set for Xen.

Anyway, what will aftermath be about?
The Aftermath of HL2!!!
OOO! DID I WIN!!!
No seriously, did I?


Well think of it like this,
In Black Mesa, in the start the enviroment was our enemy. Things would fall, lasers would come out. Since the citadel is blowing up and things..why not try and made the enviroment your enemy once again in the start :).
Exactly.

[halflifeguy]

Its about me taking a dump......................lol...............i like potty humor

[lonestar]

Since the citadel is blowing up and things..why not try and made the enviroment your enemy once again in the start :).

this is a sweet idea. i really hope for it.

[kirovman]

Yeah, you play as Gordon Freeman. As the G-man walks out of the door, he has forgotten to restrain you, and you walk out of the door behind him and see...the beginning of the Aftermath expansion...

Maybe.

[Rennmniscant]

Why would the enter City 17 get teleported to Xen. The teleport WAS NOT set for Xen.

Anyway, what will aftermath be about?
The Aftermath of HL2!!!
OOO! DID I WIN!!!
No seriously, did I?


Well think of it like this,
In Black Mesa, in the start the enviroment was our enemy. Things would fall, lasers would come out. Since the citadel is blowing up and things..why not try and made the enviroment your enemy once again in the start :).
Excellent!

Keep in mind also folks, that there is the possibility (small though it may be) that HL will continue past the expansion, and maybe even beyond 3!
From my experience, expansion packs aren't necessary to continue a plot from part 1 to part 2. It may just be a really cool sub-plot or side-quest.

[Frraksurred]

Co0l. Lots of creative conjecture here. I have a couple of ideas of what may take place...

In HL you'll recall all the aliens (except headcrabs, zombies and Gargs) were being used against their will. They all had neck and wrist shackles on and seemed to be under some kind of mind control that the Vorts in HL2 have escaped from. With this in mind, I believe the Citidel is not destroyed, but rather disabled. Releasing thousands of Combine Soldiers, Civil Patrol, etc. to think for themselves. Some stick with the Combine cuz it's all they know, others rebel, join the resistance or just go freelance (hence Alyx and CP fighting side by side against an Ant Lion Guard).

Since the Citidel is powerless, perimeter shields come down allowing all kinds of wildlife to run amuck. Hopefully includung old favs like the bullsquid, houdeye, ichythaurous (however it's spelled) as well as new creatures we have not seen yet.

My theory is you work your way back down the Citidel, picking up tidbits of info about Breen and the Advisor, finding technology Eli and Kliener can use to build a portal to where ever the Advisor is. When you reach the ground you must fight through hords of otherworldly wildlife side by side with Vorts, Combine and resistance alike. Kliener sends you on a "parts run" (hopefully involving the tanker level cut from HL2) for the new portal technology and in the end you face and Combine enhanced Breen guarding your way to the Advisor.



...or we could just spend the entire game following Alyx around drooling. :D

[gabriel]

this is what i want to happen in aftermath:

alyx dies (she's right there at the center of the blast. i mean come on)

gordon is in stasis again due to g-man

you don't find out the mystery of g-man (because that would take away the fun of not knowing)

you play as someone else (maybe barney, that'd rock)

and you're trying to lead the people out of city 17 before the citatel melts down and obliterates everything

in the meantime, xen creatures invade city 17 from the outside of course

while leaderless combine try to regain their dignity by shooting you

and the whole thing would climax with a HUGE xen/human/combine war on a HUGE battlefield

But yeah I know, Alyx lives, and you play as Gordon. but whatever they do, it'll still be great.

[Samon]

Co0l. Lots of creative conjecture here. I have a couple of ideas of what may take place...

In HL you'll recall all the aliens (except headcrabs, zombies and Gargs) were being used against their will. They all had neck and wrist shackles on and seemed to be under some kind of mind control that the Vorts in HL2 have escaped from. With this in mind, I believe the Citidel is not destroyed, but rather disabled. Releasing thousands of Combine Soldiers, Civil Patrol, etc. to think for themselves. Some stick with the Combine cuz it's all they know, others rebel, join the resistance or just go freelance (hence Alyx and CP fighting side by side against an Ant Lion Guard).

Since the Citidel is powerless, perimeter shields come down allowing all kinds of wildlife to run amuck. Hopefully includung old favs like the bullsquid, houdeye, ichythaurous (however it's spelled) as well as new creatures we have not seen yet.

My theory is you work your way back down the Citidel, picking up tidbits of info about Breen and the Advisor, finding technology Eli and Kliener can use to build a portal to where ever the Advisor is. When you reach the ground you must fight through hords of otherworldly wildlife side by side with Vorts, Combine and resistance alike. Kliener sends you on a "parts run" (hopefully involving the tanker level cut from HL2) for the new portal technology and in the end you face and Combine enhanced Breen guarding your way to the Advisor.



...or we could just spend the entire game following Alyx around drooling. :D

Your partially correct, the citadel does lose power and all of the city defences go offline leading to an invasion by xenish wildlife. However the game is focusing on fleeing from the city and getting the citizens out because the citadel is going to go into meltdown (Says Marc Laidlaw, for the record) which is basically a nuclear explosion destroying the city.

The humans/Gordon don't have the firepower or capability to even attempt to attack a combine world when they are busy with thier own if you think aboout it.

Plus with the Citadels reactor gone critical theres no way you can even get the frequency for a combine world because the tunneling entanglement system is destroyed ala the combine can't get to earth either.

[Rochet]

i just hope this game doesn't get delayed like hl2 and hl1, that will sux.

[r2000]

Goddamn. Are we all really thick-skulled?
Citadel is collapsing. Melting. Its you along with Alyx, and maybe overwatch, vs. Xenogens. Lots of them. Myrmidonts, headcrabs, and hopefully many many other alien species. I'm predicting gonarch and garg bosses