Whether fans and gamers of the survival first-person shooter video game franchise, “Half-Life,” believe it or not, this year actually marks the 12th year since “Half-Life 2” was released in the gaming consoles and the PC.
While reports and speculations about “Half-Life 3” have been dropping on the internet like flies since two or three years ago, game developer Valve Corporation has been uncharacteristically and eerily quiet about the whole thing.
In fact, it is for such reason that a number of game critics now believe that either Valve Corporation is developing the perfect “Half-Life” game in “Half-Life 3” or that the highly-anticipated video game would no longer come out, given the long and agonizing wait from “Half-Life 2,” notes Tech Radar.
It should be noted however that although “Half-Life 2” was released 12 years ago, Valve Corporation has actually released “Half-Life 2: Episode Two” nine years ago. There were rumors then that Valve would follow it up with “Half-Life 2: Episode Three” but it never materialized.
An alternative for ‘Half-Life’ gamers
There have been a couple of independent game developers who attempted to fill the void that was left open with Valve’s non-release of “Half-Life 3.”
There is Richard Seabrook, who released “Prospekt” which actually takes gamers back to the “Half-Life” universe. The game features 13 great levels showing new enemies, story elements, as well as music and voice acting.
Critics believe that the game is good enough that it could almost pass for an official entry into the franchise. The good news is that Valve Corporation has given its blessing to Richard Seabrook to use the “Half-Life” universe in “Prospekt.”
There is also the terrifying “Episode 2 mod Nightmare House” which feels like it could be related to Gordon Freeman’s imagination if gamers would use their own imagination as well including the game’s familiarity of Valve’s Source engine.
“Half-Life 3” is a sequel that everybody seems to want so desperately, and when indie developers are doing such a good job with cranking out “Half-Life 2” mods and add-ons, the highly-anticipated game is somewhat becoming a meme, which is never good for a game’s street creed.
If Valve would care to check history, when a lost game suddenly reappears after years in development hell, the result is often terrible and does not even come close to living up to the legacy of its predecessor games. That was the case for the game “Duke Nukem Forever,” critics point out.
The sequel to “Duke Nukem Forever,” despite its vastly improved graphics, was not enough to justify a lengthy wait if the gameplay is not up to standards and that the less is said about its story, the better it would be.
Down in the gutter
As per IGN, “Half-Life 3” is a long-awaited but still not confirmed video game. So whatever is coming out of the internet about the game, those are merely speculations.
There have been reports early last month that “Half-Life 3” is almost down in the gutter when word came out that Marc Laidlaw, the series writer for “Half-Life,” has confirmed that he has already retired from Valve Corporation.
He said during an online interview that his time working on the series is already behind him, and that information alone already puts “Half-Life 3” in jeopardy.
Laidlaw is the reputable science-fiction writer who has been working with Valve since 1997. He was the sole writer for both “Half-Life” and “Half-Life 2,” and has also crafted the game’s wider narrative.
The writer did not say whether he has finished the storyline or plotline for “Half-Life 3” before leaving the development studio at Bellevue, Washington of Valve.
The fan who asked the online question or made the informal online interview with Laidlaw also shared the exchange on Reddit, and has since drawn numerous comments from gamers, mostly those who have been waiting for updates on “Half-Life 3.”
Laidlaw shared that he has retired from Valve mainly for personal reasons and that he hinted that his departure from the development company was perfectly amicable.