After the Striders are dispatched, Gordon returns to the Base and receives an unexpected thanks from Magnusson.
Before the rocket launch and out of Alyx’s earshot, Eli tells Gordon that he believes The G-Man’s message is a warning regarding the Borealis, telling Gordon to destroy it and promises to elaborate further.
He then tells Gordon that he is very proud and thankful of him, saying he “couldn’t be prouder of you even if you were my own son”.
The rocket is then successfully launched, closing the superportal and preventing the Combine from calling in reinforcements from their homeworld.
Alyx reveals that she found and fixed up an old helicopter that they can use to fly to the Borealis.
As Gordon and Alyx prepare to depart to search for Dr. Mossman, Advisors attack the helicopter hangar.
They telekinetically pin Alyx and Gordon to the wall and seize Eli. Eli warns them both that the Borealis must be destroyed and then tells Alyx he loves her and to look away as the Advisors proceed to kill him, probing his mind in the process.
Dog arrives and fights off the Advisors, forcing them to escape the hangar and freeing Gordon and Alyx from their control.
After they fall to the floor, Alyx runs to her father’s side and holds onto his lifeless body.
As Alyx cries over Eli, the screen fades to black and the credits roll.
Click on the thumbnails below to open a 1024 pixel wide image.
WARNING: The screenshots contain spoilers.
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I won’t be covering the Episode Two achievements in the same way as I did in the Half-Life 2 TREE event, because they are less chapter based. However, the CombineOverWiki has nice list that is very useful.
This post is part of the The Replay Experience Experiment event. This is a chance to replay all the Half-Life games and discuss them based on our experiences since we first played them.
The intro and trivia text are taken from the CombineOverWiki, a fan-supported, editable wiki covering the Half-Life series of games.
On the left is a complete text walkthrough for Half-Life 2: Episode Two.
It has been written by Stanley E. Dunigan and updated with all the tricks and tips from PlanetPhillip.Com readers.
It is in PDF format, meaning you can open it directly in modern browsers or download it and print it.
(Left-click to open and right-click to save)
You can purchase Half-Life 2: Episode Two directly through Steam and could be playing in within moments, depending on your internet connection.
WOW, just WOW. Best end of any Half-Life game without doubt. Amazing voice acting, incredible title (think about it), never been so excited about playing the next game as I am after finishing Ep2.
Poses more questions than it answers and keeps us on the edge of our seat.
Emotional and moving.
Gotta hate Valve just a little for making us wait so long.
Playtime: 9 minutes
I kept up to ya, using “FFs 2013” cinimatic mod, the graphics are real nice! This was a very sad ending, but what a cliffhanger! Great setup for (I hope) HL3! I hope I don’t end up in a nursing home (at my age) before it’s released! Maybe it won’t take as long as DNF, but I won’t hold my breath!! 😉
“couldn’t be prouder of you even if you were my own son”
I’ll admit, I water up a little bit when I hear that, especially knowing whats about to happen.
And the ending; it’s the only one I can think of that shocked me. I just never saw it coming. Hurry up with EP3/HL3 Valve; I want to make the Combine pay!
Since this is the last game in the HL series (for now), what’s the next TREE going to be? I’m pretty sure Portal and Portal 2 will be next, since they’re technically part of the HL universe. After all, you do see Aperture Science shipping containers aboard the Borealis in the previous chapter…
Yes, Portal and Portal 2 are part of the HL universe, but I don’t cover those games on the site any more. TREE is finished! There will be more events though, just not directly related to the games, but to the maps and mods, like the 100 Summer Days of Nostalgia.
agree with phillip … the ending of ep2 is outstanding and leaves us with plenty of idea,s ….. is eli dead … will alyx and gordon get married .. will dr kleiner develop manic depression … and will barney become the new administrator of black mesa … theres loads of possibilities
first time I didnt like ep2 as much as ep1,however second visit and I could see why many prefer this outing ….. amazing scenery and fighting the striders …..
think about it .. were could ep3 ( if there is a ep3 ) or hl3 start ?… I think it may be set around the borealis which is mentioned in ep2 … and wasnt judith mossman last seen on the borealis … a adventure on a ship would be intersting,however it would only be a chapter and then get rescued by a helicopter to one of the hl2 citys ( but not city 17 )
the antartic has also been mentioned as a new location for hl3 ….but its all rumours !
personally ive given up on looking for hl3 information ….. why cant valve just update us …… I mean a “yes” or a “no” … but it may be that their paranoid after the hl2 source code was nicked prior to its release …
..or it could just be that all there is of HL3 is half-filling a tatty shoe box at the back of the valve stationary cupboard. Only THE GABEN knows for sure, and it’s not telling..
So T-Minus One was a purely story chapter. There was action on the end but Dog made all the job.
First we see doctors Kleiner and Magnusson preparing the launch. At this occasion we can notice the strange behavior of Magnusson. I think he never thanks or congratulates anyone before.
Then Gordon launch the rocket, reminding of ” On A Rail “. That led to a disaster at Black-Mesa, isn’t it ?
No matter, the Portal is now closed as Episodes 1 & 2 scenarios are. We can now switch to Episode 3, at least I suppose it is that it was planned, we have more chance to see HL3 before EP3.
I remained puzzled about this last discussion with Eli. Does he had any doubt about what will soon happen ? For me it sound like last will.
Personally I absolutely didn’t saw it coming, even I have been spoiled about Eli’s death. That was the same feeling when Alyx had been injured in first chapter, in worst. Probably because of the acting it still shock me now.
In conclusion I felt Episode Two was right better than Episode One, with many novelties and a unique ending. Regarding that, I am agree to wait some years for a worthy sequel.
G-MAN SIGHTING
I didn’t and doesn’t want to see him.
CAUGHT MY EYES
L UNCH ?
PLAYTIME
10 minutes
MY FRENCH LET’s PLAY
The elevator has no control and Alyx is pressing just a shadow.
“anomaly of 8 and a half pounds”? What is Izzy talking about 😛
Woah I can launch a rocket! Forgot I had that honor hehe and notice how the LAUNCH spells LUNCH after the A was plastured?
Well now I wanna ride that chopper in the last map but ugh.. that ending.. while very emotional it just leaves you there, hanging..
My favorite game has ended 🙁
Playtime: 11 min
8 and a half pounds must be more or less Gnome size….. Just my guess. (Unless you were being ironic?)
Didn’t Lamarr get launched into space?
Good point, had forgotten about that…
A nice exposition chapter to end the game. I’m surprised it’s a chapter on its own, but I’m betting it’s so Valve could use the genius “T-Minus One” title for it.
I loved how good the rocket launch and the control center looked. Makes On A Rail pale in comparison. Right out the window is a great vista, and the shape of the ceiling lets you watch the rocket on its way up, brilliantly done.
On playing this chapter for my third time, I thought they really seem to telegraph Eli’s death in some of the moments leading up to the final scene, as Olrick mentions. It’s still a powerful scene and of course it leaves you hanging. At least the helicopter didn’t get destroyed as well.
Playtime: 9 minutes