Poll: Gordon Freeman: Does he need to talk?

[Gildedtongue]

While he doesn't talk in the game, it's not hard to imagine that he is communicating to people (other than enemies via the communication of violence), by their reactions to Gordon.

In Black Mesa East, Alyx will look at Gordon and smirk when Gordon is being lectured to concerning the Resistance's guidelines, perhaps a quiet snarky comment Gordon gave over to Alyx. When Gordon meets Barney while in disguise, he tries to joke and comfort the possibly freaking out scientist (He had just been teleported into a fascist regime with nothing, alone and friendless, but, turns out he had several friends where he went to.)

I guess I'm saying that Gordon Freeman does indeed "talk" it's just that rather than a voice actor, the player is supposed to put in the dialogue.

 

[Insert Funny Name Here]

I don't know...

In the worst character thread someone made good point about he is you and your experiences should be used to shape the character into your own thing (Or something to that affect)

Although I don't like Freeman, I don't think it is because he doesn't speak. I don't think I like him cause you don't see any emotions. But its harding seeing emotions in first person...

Id say he is fine the way he is. But maybe there could be an option for him to speak if the player wants it.

 

[SnowCold]

No, and no main charactar in any game that doesn't involve controling multipule charectars all the time (RPGs) should talk, it needs to have the feeling that he is a virtual you, that you control him, not guide him.

 

[Nazulu]

Well both games are great and he didn't say a damn thing so NO!

 

[munx13]

No. His crowbar does the talking.

 

[mangus]

If Gordon Freeman spoke... what would he have to say?

I vote no.

 

[thicknavyrain]

He's a theoretical physicist, he doesn't have time for talking. Everything he's doing in Half Life is just absent minded playing around as he's working out the kinks in Quantum Theory in his head. If he spoke he might lose track of his equations and have to start all over again...

 

[Error117]

Nah, being a mute has almost become iconic with Freeman, and him speaking would just spoil the character. It would be like taking away his crowbar.

 

[JC175]

Does anybody need to talk... Think about that...

Yes. We do. Of course.

But Gordon needs to talk just about as much as link does. And that's not much.

That was the exact same example I was going to use.
"Does Link need to speak?"
No. He's a badass - he doesn't need words.

I agree. The only possible exception would be if he had some incredibly badass line right at the end of episode three that all of a sudden twisted the plot upon itself, while at the same time being fucking awesome. Please, Valve.

 

[Iron Mal]

I think that if Gordon Freeman is going to be lauded as such an interesting character and if Half Life is to be credited for having an interesting story with rich characters then the protaganist should at least say something at some point (silience and the word 'no' are both major killers to a conversation).

The fact that he consistantly says nothing adds to my justification of labelling Dr. Freeman as 'yet another power armoured space marine' that earns so much ire and hatred from the 'creative' gaming community (he fights aliens and monsters, he says nothing to anyone and blindly follows orders even when he's supposed to be a visionary or leader and he does nothing except kill stuff and get from A to B).

Finally, as I previously mentioned, Gordon Freeman is supposed to be an idealogical visionary or leader in HL2 as far as I could tell. A silent visionary or revolutionary makes about as much sense as a kid-friendly porno movie.

 

[ICantBelieveItGoesBoom]

Perhaps when the series is truly over he should have one line in a stupid voice as a final joke to the series.

 

[FranzTyphid]

valve know that gordons speech thing is iconic basically so they might not make him talk at all
but i think he might say something at the very end of episode 3

 

[number2301]

Freeman was never a visionary or a leader, the resistance put him in that position but all he ever did was kill a lot of people.

He works without a voice, I couldn't imagine him speaking seeing as you're constantly in the first person. Sure Halo works with the Master Chief speaking, but as far as I remember he only really speaks during cut scenes which aren't in the first person.

 

[ZeeClone]

I think it's an immersion thing. When he starts talking we start playing as a character who has a backstory, not as some awesome badass dude who keeps being dragged into and out of time.

My tuppence worth, I don't want him to start talking. It'd ruin my willing suspension.

 

[brenflood]

Like the American Supreme court, this thread needs a dissenting opinion on record. Here it goes:

I despise the silent protagonist cliche'. I know the idea is to insert your personality into Gordon Freeman's head in an attempt to create a greater level of immersion. However, I'm not a scientist. My life does not consist of a series of gunfights and seesaw puzzles (nor would I would it to). So, naturally my thoughts would not be those of a person who was a scientist. I'm sure Gordon Freeman would never think "Hmm. This game looks amazing with the HD texture pack installed. Too bad it reduces my frame rate a bit. I should look into getting a geforce gtx 260."
Another issue I have with the silent protagonist cliche' is that you'll end up knowing more about every character around than you will about Gordon. Also, Gordon has little chance for character growth and emotional depth as a result of his silence. I would simply like some insight, and not just the small amount other characters give you. People will lie. It doesn't have to be through an actual voice. KOTOR did fine with just text selection, and really let you create the characters emotional inner-workings.
That being said, giving the character a voice now would be pointless. It would only serve to upset, well, pretty much everyone on this page. My main complaint with the silence it is that it takes place in a game that prides itself on realism (or relativistic sci-fi realism). The game gives explanations for many other common FPS elements such as the health bar, but it never explains why he never talks. If he's mute that's fine, the game should establish that. If he can talk and chooses not to, I would think some characters would comment on it at some point.
Bioshock was a game where the silent protagonist worked really well for me. The character never speaks besides as the voice-over in the opening cinema, and throughout the rest of the game you're pretty much alone. You don't get much face to face time with other people, and the radio Atlus is using to talk to you is one-way. And that lack of interaction really serves to create a great sense of isolation.
There are times when the player is controlling Gordon Freeman and other characters are on-screen in combat situations. The ability to yell to Alyx to get out of the way of your gun would come in handy. Also, the ability to apologize if you do accidentally shoot her would be nice and seem logical.
This all being said, Half life 2 is a fantastic game, and lack of a protagonist's voice does not hurt it. However, a very well done protagonists voice done from the beginning and done well would only improve the game. Of course, a poorly done protagonist's voice would hurt the game.

 

[Overlord_Dave]

They deliberately didn't put any mirrors in the game so that the player would feel like they were Gordon Freeman. If you add a voice it would completely ruin that effect.

 

[FranzTyphid]

i sometimes respond to the characters in order to feel more part of the game
i think thats what valve wanted....

 

[iJosh]

maybe?