In my studies of the craft of narrative composition, I was instructed that the culmination of a tale is no less significant than its commencement, if not indeed more so. For it establishes a firm guideline as to the direction and resolution of the story. Thus, it is advisable to pen the conclusion before any other part.
However, regrettably, Half-Life is one of those games that flouts the conventions of storytelling in numerous ways. A recent discourse with Marc Laidlaw has at last shed light on why Half-Life has remained stagnant for a prolonged period.
Please peruse it here:
In this colloquy, our interlocutor, Laidlaw (or I shall more aptly recognize him as "Dr. Laidlow"), expatiates on how the narrative of Half-Life was impacted by the design of its levels. He expresses remorse for disseminating the "narrative" for "Epistle 3," repudiating it as merely a fleeting glimpse of Dr. Laidlow's mindset at that moment, a state he characterizes as 'deranged.' When Half-Life: Alyx appeared, he had little desire to engage further with the Half-Life story.
It is now manifest why Half-Life failed to culminate; these are the three impediments that disrupted the contrivance!
I dedicated several hours to attending and scrutinizing the sundry orations proffered by G-Man throughout the Half-Life games, with the objective of divining his bona fide intentions. I meticulously noted every noun and verb, every adjective and adverb, every discontented exhalation and expression of dissatisfaction. Though I assumed I had a cogent hypothesis, it is plain that my exertions were to no avail.
As it appears - discarding my assiduous inquiry - the G-Man is...naught but an expedient for inept storytelling. Whom or what he embodies is entirely reliant on the caprices of some Valve personnel at present. And the Snapian hierarchy forbid, history has demonstrated that this is wholly arbitrary.
However, the disclosure is not wholly unfavorable. It is by no means pernicious for a narrative to prioritize the journey over the terminus. Indeed, it is a Half-Life, not a complete life. At the very least, one certainty remains: there is a great deal of this truncated existence yet to be traversed.
