The Complete Half-Life Timeline - From Half-Life to Half-Life Alyx

Summary

This video script from The Leaderboard offers a detailed walkthrough of the Half-Life series, from its inception to the cliffhanger ending of Episode Two. It summarizes the narrative of scientist Gordon Freeman's journey through the Black Mesa Incident, the Seven Hour War, and the subsequent Combine occupation. The script also teases the upcoming VR adventure, Half-Life: Alyx, set before the events of Half-Life 2, and leaves viewers eager for more.

Takeaways

• 🕶️ The script introduces 'Half-Life: Alyx' as a new VR adventure set before 'Half-Life 2', emphasizing its significance within the series.
• 🧐 It provides a recap of the 'Half-Life' storyline, focusing on the Black Mesa Incident and the subsequent events that led to Earth's invasion by alien creatures.
• 🔬 The protagonist, Gordon Freeman, is a theoretical physicist at the Black Mesa Research Facility whose experiment with a Xen crystal causes a catastrophic event.
• 👨‍✈️ The script details the roles of various characters like Barney Calhoun, Gina Cross, and Colette Green, who have their own stories within the 'Half-Life' universe.
• 🛸 The Combine, an interdimensional empire, conquers Earth and installs a Suppression Field to control humanity after the Black Mesa Incident.
• 🚂 'Half-Life 2' picks up with Gordon Freeman waking up twenty years later, in a world under Combine rule, and his journey to reconnect with the Resistance.
• 🔫 Gordon Freeman's iconic HEV suit and the gravity gun are pivotal tools in his fight against the Combine and various alien species.
• 💥 The script describes the climactic events of 'Half-Life 2', including the destruction of the Citadel's Dark Energy Reactor and the subsequent explosion.
• 🐶 The loyal companion, Dog, plays a crucial role in assisting Gordon Freeman throughout his adventures.
• 🕊️ The Vortigaunts, once controlled by the Nihilanth, now aid humanity and the Resistance after Gordon Freeman's actions in the first 'Half-Life'.
• 🛸 The mysterious G-Man appears at pivotal moments, influencing events and offering cryptic messages about the future.

Q & A

What is the significance of the year 2000 in the Half-Life timeline?

The year 2000 is significant as it marks the setting of the original Half-Life game, where the protagonist, Gordon Freeman, works at the Black Mesa Research Facility and the events of the Black Mesa Incident unfold.

What is the role of the HEV Suit in the Half-Life series?

The HEV Suit, short for Hazardous Environment Suit, is a protective exoskeleton worn by Gordon Freeman that provides protection from radiation, physical trauma, and other dangerous energy discharges, enhancing his survivability throughout the series.

What event is triggered by placing the Xen crystal into the Anti-Mass Spectrometer?

Placing the Xen crystal into the Anti-Mass Spectrometer causes a Resonance Cascade, which opens a portal to the alien planet Xen and puts Earth at risk, leading to the invasion of creatures from Xen into Black Mesa.

What is the Black Mesa Incident and how does it affect the Half-Life storyline?

The Black Mesa Incident is the event where the Resonance Cascade occurs, causing an alien invasion and the destruction of the Black Mesa facility. It serves as the starting point for the Half-Life series and has a profound impact on the subsequent events and storylines.

Who are Barney Calhoun, Gina Cross, and Colette Green, and what are their roles in the Half-Life series?

Barney Calhoun is a security guard at Black Mesa who later stars in his own adventure in Half-Life: Blue Shift. Gina Cross and Colette Green are scientists who hand Gordon the Xen crystal and have their own stories in Half-Life: Decay, playing significant roles in the unfolding events of the series.

What is the Combine and how do they impact the world in Half-Life 2?

The Combine is an almighty interdimensional organization that conquers planets and absorbs them into its empire. In Half-Life 2, they use Portal Storms to invade Earth, quickly subduing humanity and installing a Suppression Field to control human reproduction, effectively dominating the planet.

What is the significance of the G-Man in the Half-Life series?

The G-Man is a mysterious figure who oversees events and occasionally intervenes to guide the course of the story. He is responsible for placing Gordon Freeman in stasis and later waking him up to continue his role in the unfolding events.

What is the role of the Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator, also known as the gravity gun, in Half-Life 2?

The Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator, or gravity gun, is a device that Gordon Freeman acquires in Half-Life 2. It allows him to manipulate objects and enemies with gravitational force, serving as a versatile and powerful tool throughout his journey.

What is the Seven Hour War and its outcome?

The Seven Hour War is a conflict that occurs after the Resonance Cascade, where the Combine uses Portal Storms to invade Earth and subdue humanity within just seven hours. The war ends with humanity's surrender, negotiated by Dr. Wallace Breen, leading to the Combine's control over Earth.

What is the significance of the Borealis in the Half-Life storyline?

The Borealis is an Aperture Science ship mentioned in the script that contains mysterious and powerful research projects. It is significant as Dr. Mossman is trying to locate it, and it is believed to hold potential keys to understanding or combating the Combine.

What is the cliffhanger ending of Half-Life: Episode Two, and how does it affect the characters?

The cliffhanger ending of Half-Life: Episode Two sees Eli Vance being killed by a Combine Advisor, leaving Alyx Vance and Gordon Freeman in a dire situation. This event deeply affects Alyx, causing her to mourn her father's death, and adds tension and urgency to the story.