Half-Life: Episode 3 remains one of the great ifs in gaming history. Originally set to follow episode 1 and 2, its cancellation left the series hanging on a cliffhanger that was never immediately resolved.
Now, on the occasion of Half-Life 20's 2th anniversary, Valve has talked about its development in a brand new documentary showing never-before-seen footage, a brand new Ice Gun and a bunch of new concept art. You can check out the gameplay segment from the documentary in the video below.
Among the details shown in the video, Episode 3 would take place in the Arctic and focus on Alyx as a companion character. In addition to the Ice Gun, the video shows a blob-like enemy that could be split into several parts. According to the documentary, the team had completed a "collection of playable levels in no particular order" and expected to be able to release the game within a year or two.
In addition to the new gameplay material, writer Marc Laidlaw, founder Gabe Newell and others also speak candidly about why it was never released, ultimately coming down to a lack of exciting new ideas and other reasons. At one point Laidlaw jokes, "Are we allowed to cry in this documentary?"
The reason for Episode 3's cancellation has been the subject of much debate over the years, mainly because Episode 2 ended on a bleak cliffhanger. In an interview with IGN shortly before Alyx's release, Valve's level designer Dario Casali described it in part as a matter of expediency. Laidlaw would later reveal the plot in a story called 'Epistle 3', starring 'Gertie Freemont' and 'Alex Vaunt' – playing Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance.
It's possible to detect a lot of regret at the decision not to continue with episode 3. At one point Laidlaw jokes, "Are we allowed to cry in this documentary?" Others talk about how episode 3 probably could have been released in retrospect. Newell says, “We could have released it. It wouldn't be that hard. My personal failure was that I didn't see it. I couldn't see why Episode 3 would deliver anything."
Valve finally released Half-Life Alyx in 2020, sending the story in a new direction, but many fans remain sad about Half-Life: Episode 3 (not to mention the lost Half-Life 3). Now, 20 years after its release, Valve is celebrating Half-Life 2 amid unconfirmed rumors that a new game is in the works. In the meantime, the entire documentary, which delves into the intense development of Half-Life 2, is worth watching.
Image source: Half-Life 2 Documentary / Valve
VIA: ign.com
