Why does The Freeman not talk?

AzH · January 28th, 2008, 03:33 PM

That is the question I pose to you today.

CAW · January 28th, 2008, 03:39 PM

Perhaps he has nothing to say.

AzH · January 28th, 2008, 03:44 PM

But with so much going on, you'd think he'd at least say something, even it is was just "oh-em-gee, the Combine are n00bs lol" or something.

CAW · January 28th, 2008, 04:38 PM

The situation is so overwhelming. He's at a loss for words.

Leroy · January 28th, 2008, 07:10 PM

I've got it he never learned how to talk, but only learned to understands people.

FeelFree · January 28th, 2008, 08:25 PM

He's a "quiet workhorse"...

or

He has seen so many things(aliens killing people, people killing aliens[its like a warzone]) that his mental health is so f-ed up that he doesnt talk.

Thunder · January 28th, 2008, 09:22 PM

Maybe he was taught to do as told and not ask questions at Black Mesa.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. · January 28th, 2008, 11:30 PM

Since YOU (the player) are Freeman, he says whatever you say

Leroy · January 28th, 2008, 11:54 PM

Or he had his voice box extracted.

MyNameDidntFit · January 29th, 2008, 03:07 AM

Its for the purpose of immersion because when you play as a character in your mind you develop a personality for that character. With a character like Gordon Freeman the character he is is entirely of our creation; we choose his actions, we choose how he thinks, etc. Whereas if he were to talk it would take away from him being "our character" because what he says is programmed by the developers so he becomes more their character than yours.

Leroy · January 29th, 2008, 03:11 AM

That makes alot of sense.

AzH · January 30th, 2008, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by MyNameDidntFit

Its for the purpose of immersion because when you play as a character in your mind you develop a personality for that character. With a character like Gordon Freeman the character he is is entirely of our creation; we choose his actions, we choose how he thinks, etc. Whereas if he were to talk it would take away from him being "our character" because what he says is programmed by the developers so he becomes more their character than yours.

Perhaps, but this discussion ties into your concerns about HL becoming too NPC orientated. If they want to take us down that road they need to really consider having Freeman talk to these NPC characters. It's starting to look strange that they talk to him yet he ignores them. If you were Alyx, for example, would you not want to ask him why he doesn't talk? Or perhaps give him a piece of paper and say, 'hey how's about some tips on defeating striders'?

MyNameDidntFit · January 31st, 2008, 03:30 AM

True, but Valve will never make Freeman talk as it would entirely screw with the Half-Life image. If he talks it is no longer Half-Life.

Sure, it is a bit weird that he never talks even when people talk to him but I think the NPCs respect him and what he has been through enough to not pester him about not talking. It makes sense. If someone lost their legs in a war do you badger them about not having legs? No. Well some might, but they are arseholes.

Leroy · January 31st, 2008, 04:42 AM

Also what is the G-man, what is he for anyways?

MyNameDidntFit · January 31st, 2008, 04:47 AM

No-one but Valve know what/who the G-Man is and what his motives/goals are.

There is endless speculation into it and there has been since Half-Life came out.
I just hope Episode 3 brings some answers... Although the Half-Life series seems to have a 'for every answer you get you will also get 58 more questions' thing going.

AzH · January 31st, 2008, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by MyNameDidntFit

Sure, it is a bit weird that he never talks even when people talk to him but I think the NPCs respect him and what he has been through enough to not pester him about not talking. It makes sense. If someone lost their legs in a war do you badger them about not having legs? No. Well some might, but they are arseholes.

Ahh, but this is not true. There are comments to Freeman of 'you're a man of few words aren't you' and 'you don't say much, do you'. So they do mention it, and he's just ignorant.

MyNameDidntFit · February 1st, 2008, 01:52 AM

Yeah, but only Alyx says these things. And both of those comments are near the beginning of Half-Life 2. After that no-one mentions his lack of speech.

Basically I still think it all comes down to what I said earlier about Valve wanting you to feel that the you are the character. If he spoke then it wouldn't be your words making him less you.