Half Life 2: Most Memorable Moment?

[Insomniak]

Let's keep it simple, since most of us are at the point now where we're finishing our first playthrough. What was your most memorable moment from Half-Life 2, and why?


It's a hard pick for me, there are so many amazing images flurrying through my mind after completing the game. The whole thing is one big memorable moment.

However, if I have to pick, my choice comes from the last level. After Alyx has let you into the elevator, and told you to be careful with her hands pressed against the glass, as you descend into the reactor with her peering down after you, the music starts, and you know this is it. It is time to decide the future.

For me, that had a greater impact than anything I'd ever seen in any other form of entertainment. Movie, video game, anything. It was such a human scene, someone you'd fought tooth and nail alongside, ordinary people putting it all on the line in the heart of the enemy's strength to do what must be done...all or nothing...no ties...

On one hand, it's the epitome of cliche, but I think here Valve illustrates WHY it's the most imitated situation in story climaxes...when it's done properly, with the right build up, it hits home like a meteor...

So, what about you folks?

 

[GreatBarracuda]

kinda like when masterchief's looking out the window at earth being bombed in the Halo 2 trailer.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

When the combine soldier knocks a can onto the floor and tells me to put it in the trash can, but instead I put it in his face. Then I got a good shock or four.

Ok maybe not the best moment, but maybe funniest.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

When I was running away from the combines and I started swimming in the water and while they were shooting at me I could see the bullets penetrate the water and leave a trail in the water. I was amazed though unfortunately I could not have taken my time to look at it more closely.

 

[NYHoustonman]

Meeting Dog.

Hard to choose, though :\.

 

[flyboy84]

The whole navigating the substructure of the train-bridge on highway 17 was pretty cool for me..

 

[tranceport]

When I got my suit back. I almost cried.

 

[MemberSince97]

Originally posted by: tranceport
When I got my suit back. I almost cried.

 

[Luthien]

Using the gravity gun to knock cars and other debris off the road and using it to catch and toss those sticky balls and catch and smash those saw blade flying things against walls.

 

[ViRGE]

When you're on the airboat, and the huge smokestack is falling over right in front of you.

 

[skace]

When dog comes tearing down the street, throwing a giant combine jeep screeching into enemy forces and then leaping onto their plane with uncanny dexterity.

Theres other moments, but that scene just sticks in my head, dog was the best kept secret of HL2.

 

[WannaFly]

Originally posted by: skace
When dog comes tearing down the street, throwing a giant combine jeep screeching into enemy forces and then leaping onto their plane with uncanny dexterity.

Agreed.

The first teleport scene was pretty good also.

 

[Farmer]

Yeah, expect you never really 'fight' alongside dog. He's almost just eye candy.

I was quite amazed at the level of detail in the Citadel level, when you are going through on the 'train.'

And then there's that couple that you see twice, sitting on a couch, once in the beginning, once at the end (expect, at the end, they're dressed up in a Resistace get-up).

 

[RZaakir]

The whole Follow Freeman chapter was just classic for me. Particularly the part bookended by two big strider sequences (outside of the "Capitol" building and on the desolate roortop). That was the most intense gaming experience that I have ever had.

It's funny how I hear all of the Matrix references made by people but really the most intense sequences (and plotlines) seem to be lifted straight from the Terminator films. I mean really, they even have a machine called the "Hunter Chopper."

 

[slag]

My favorite part was playing with the crane. I loved picking up the boxcars and tossing them around, stacking them up, etc.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

exploding barrells!!!

 

[Drift3r]

Getting an army of Antlions to attack the prision !! THEY ROCK !!!!!!!! I love killing combine troopers with my precious horde of antlions !!

 

[Farmer]

Yeah, the crane was awesome. If this were any other game, the only thing you could've picked up was probably your buggy (if it even had some crane type deal like this). But this isn't any other game.

Gripes:

No OICW as a playable weapon, even though it is obviously been coded in.

 

[VIAN]

The ending was the most memorable. Because the game was good until that point.

 

[PrayForDeath]

The ending scene, especially when the explosion freezes and the G-man comes and says his good ol' lecture. There are other scenes, though, such as leaving Father Gregori in Ravenholm after all he's done to me, and when meeting Eli Vance and his assistant and her arguments with Alyx and what follows later....

 

[datalink7]

Originally posted by: slag
My favorite part was playing with the crane. I loved picking up the boxcars and tossing them around, stacking them up, etc.

Wow... why did I NOT think of that!?!

 

[jonn]

Mine was when the gravity gun was transformed and i dragged my first soldier to me, held him up by one leg, shook the crap out of him, then tossed him to what looked like 100 feet in the air and watched him "smoosh" on the walkway in front of me
BUT, i loved dog, wish he had been a bigger part of the game, and the ant lions, was sorta weird after driving over them, shooting them, then the table turns and they are your alies, you felt like well, preotecting them? strange feeling to get from a game.
The negitive was the ending for me as it was others, great buildup, so so climax. Could have been a lot better considering how the rest of the game was put together.
Would have been great to have Alex, her dad, and DOG! all fighting along side you to end the game.

 

[oboeguy]

Originally posted by: Insomniak
However, if I have to pick, my choice comes from the last level. After Alyx has let you into the elevator, and told you to be careful with her hands pressed against the glass, as you descend into the reactor with her peering down after you, the music starts, and you know this is it. It is time to decide the future.

For me, that had a greater impact than anything I'd ever seen in any other form of entertainment. Movie, video game, anything. It was such a human scene, someone you'd fought tooth and nail alongside, ordinary people putting it all on the line in the heart of the enemy's strength to do what must be done...all or nothing...no ties...

On one hand, it's the epitome of cliche, but I think here Valve illustrates WHY it's the most imitated situation in story climaxes...when it's done properly, with the right build up, it hits home like a meteor...

Really? I thought it was pretty cheesy. I admit the build-up was pretty cool, thanks to the superb voice-acting.

My favorite moment, without question, was getting the HEV suit. When you put it on and the "Valve music" plays, holy moly! I was hooting and hollering out loud, pumping my fist in the air. It was the key moment of the best game beginning ever (the action scenes that followed capped it off nicely).

That being said... I found a lot about the game annoying, but that's probably best left to another thread.

P.S. OK I lied. I liked the ending -- if you're not going to have any semblance of a plot it's a really great ending.

 

[Trevelyan]

Getting the suit back was so sweet... the music from the valve logo went on and I just about crapped my pants right there.

 

[Bumrush99]

I loved everything about the game except the Citadel, which felt rushed and was far to easy. The most memorable moments in HL2 were the non-fighting scenes. The first time you walk out in to City 17 was the most jaw dropping moment in my long gaming history. The flying cameras zapping your eyes, the Nazi-Like combine troops patrolling around, the interrogations, everything about City 17 was an awesome lead-in to the battles ahead. I also loved the scene where you were introduced to Dog and got to play catch