•  
  • ClayMeow
  • Level: 30 (31%) 
  • Rank: Wicked Sick!
  • Member since: Jan 4, 2004
  • Last online: 11/26/09 10:33 am PT
  • My Emblems:
    • Rank: Registered Member
    • Popular
    • Greatest Game Hero Bracket Submitter
    • Greatest Game Hero Preliminary Voter
    • Virtually There: E3 2009 Microsoft Conference
    • Virtually There: E3 2009 Nintendo Conference
    • Virtually There: E3 2009 Sony Conference
    • Virtually There: E3 2009 Day 3
    • Rank: Registered Member
    • Popular
    • Old-School
    • PC Aficionado
    • Artistic Genius
    • Voted Twice
    • Tagger Maker
    • Public Access
    • Virtually There: E3 2007 Microsoft Conference.
    • Virtually There: E3 2007 Nintendo Conference
    • Virtually There: E3 2007 Sony Conference.
    • Virtually There: E3 2007 GameSpot Show Zealot
    • Tokyo Game Show 2007
    • Competition Welder
    • Readers' Choice 2007 Chooser
    • Fear the Reaper
    • Virtually There: E3 2008 The Big Three Conferences
    • Virtually There: E3 2008 GameSpot Show Future Outlaw
    • Readers' Choice 2009 Chooser
    • Webby Awards People's Voice 2009 Voter
    • Remarkable Member
    • Virtually There: E3 2009 Day 1
    • Virtually There: E3 2009 Day 2
    • Virtually There: E3 2009 Day 3
    • Virtually There: E3 2009 Sony Conference
    • Virtually There: E3 2009 Nintendo Conference
    • Virtually There: E3 2009 Microsoft Conference
    • Greatest Game Hero Preliminary Voter
    • Greatest Game Hero Bracket Submitter
     
     
    Close

My Friends

My Recent Ratings

Title Score
Team Fortress 2 9.5
The Orange Box 10
Titan Quest 9.5
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends 9.0
Half-Life 2: Episode One 9.4
Far Cry 9.0
Resident Evil 2 9.0
Neverwinter Nights 9.1
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 9.6
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within 9.2
28Aug 09

The Man, The Legend, The Free Man

All Time Greatest Hero - Gordon Freeman

What makes Dr. Gordon Freeman the all time greatest hero? People often bring up that he doesn't talk, like that is supposed to disparage him in some way. Apparently these same people enjoy sitting through cinematic cutscenes depicting game protagonists in the developers' vision, speaking as the developer wants. Unlike many other developers, Valve took a different approach to Half-Life's protagonist, Gordon Freeman. It's not that Valve was too cheap to hire a voice actor (one can see evidence of voice acting in the many NPCs), but rather because Valve is letting you BE Gordon Freeman. Every time you play a Half-Life game, you do not play AS Gordon Freeman, you ARE Gordon Freeman.
All Time Greatest Hero - Gordon Freeman
Gordon Freeman graduated from MIT with a Ph.D in theoretical physics and wrote a thesis entitled Observation of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Entanglement on Supraquantum Structures by Induction Through Nonlinear Transuranic Crystal of Extremely Long Wavelength (ELW) Pulse from Mode-Locked Source Array. How many other game protagonists have a Ph.D or have written any kind of thesis, let alone one on such advanced matter? Disappointed in the slow pace of teleportation research, Freeman decided to take a job at the top secret Black Mesa Research Facility. At the mere age of 27, his life would be forever changed.
All Time Greatest Hero - Gordon Freeman
One moment he is a theoretical physicist performing the menial task of pressing a button, and in the next moment he is defending himself against hostile aliens. Donning a Hazardous Environment (H.E.V.) suit and equipped with a mere crowbar, Freeman goes from geek to badass in no time. This is one of the reasons Gordon Freeman is the all time greatest hero. He is not a soldier. He is not a half-god. He is a scientist. He takes on throngs of enemies out of necessity, not because it is his job. He quickly adapts to his situation and becomes a soldier of the resistance on his own accord. For all intents and purposes, he becomes a modern day messiah. He eliminates the evil alien race, the Nihilanth, thus freeing the Vortigaunts who later join the human resistance against the trans-dimensional Combine Empire. In doing so, he is not only praised and referred to as "The Free Man" by the Vortigaunts, but he is also called "The One Free Man" by Earth's survivors. Furthermore, the Combine recognize him as the single greatest threat to their empire, referring to him as "Anticitizen One." The fact that an alien race that spans several dimensions considers Gordon Freeman its number one threat is further evidence that he is the all time greatest game hero.
All Time Greatest Hero - Gordon Freeman
Now some may argue that because the Half-Life series isn't over, he cannot be considered a hero, let alone the all time greatest hero. After all, we do not know for sure that he'll "succeed" in Half-Life 2: Episode Three or any other subsequent Half-Life games. But should not a person be judged by all his actions and not simply his or her last deed in life? Even if somehow Freeman dies in Episode Three, is he not already a hero? He already saved Earth from one alien invasion, he freed a whole alien race, and he has given Earth's remaining survivors hope for the future.
All Time Greatest Hero - Gordon Freeman
If you do not view Gordon Freeman as the all time greatest hero, I can only assume that you have never played the Half-Life series the way they were meant to be played. You have never experienced the true immersion Valve provided in the Half-Life games. You never BECAME Gordon Freeman. And if that's the case, I feel nothing but pity for you, for you have truly missed out on one of gaming's greatest gifts.

Half-Life 2: It's just that awesome.

Be sure to vote for Gordon Freeman as All Time Greatest Game Hero here!

  • Posted Aug 28, 2009 6:57 pm PT
  • Category: Editorial
  • 27 Comments

27 Comments

  • madman608

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 12:07 am PT

    It was either snake or freeman, man. I do agree, not a lot of people realize that he IS a character, and DOES have great qualities.

  • maverick_76

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 11:26 am PT

    Snake will win.

  • maverick_76

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 11:27 am PT

    Really good case for Gordon though, he just happened to be in the bracket of how we define greatness.

  • SYdoggXxX

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 12:53 pm PT

    That's certainly a valid argument for the Freeman cause but personally I still can't view him as a great character.

    I'll start by saying that I'm big fan of the Half Life series and I've certainly enjoyed the level of immersion it presents. Having the story and interaction with the characters presented to you without ever breaking from the game is a genius move that really makes you feel like a part of the game. But that's exactly why I can't view Gordon as a character. He's more of a vehicle, one that allows the player to transport themselves into the Half Life universe.

    When I think of a great character I like to think of someone with a personality, something that makes that character stand out and be unique. The rest of the cast in Half Life certainly comes to mind when thinking of solid characters. Alyx in particular is a character I love and wouldn't trade for anyone else. But Gordon? Would you even notice the difference if he wasn't the character you were playing as? I certainly didn't notice it in Opposing Force or Blue Shift.

  • SYdoggXxX

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 12:53 pm PT

    (Stupid 1500 character limit!)

    I don't see anything wrong with enjoying a character that's portrayed the way a developer wants. In fact that's the only way a character can be truly presented or developed (unless we're talking about a Role Playing game). What little we know about Gordon (his Ph.D, MIT background, etc.) wasn't invented by the players, but by Valve. Players can pretend they're Gordon once the game starts, but at the end of the day the only facts about the character that will be accepted will be those presented by Valve.

    Bear in mind that this response isn't meant to be a criticism of your position but simply a counter point to your argument.

    I'll finish by saying that it will be interesting to see the outcome of the potential (almost surely) confrontation of Freeman vs. Snake. In the meantime I'll continue to curse Gamespot for not including my favorite character of all time, April Ryan from The Longest Journey, in the goddamn competition...

  • ClayMeow

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 1:06 pm PT

    Thanks for your counter-analysis, SYdoggXxX.

    I definitely understand your points, though I would argue that the reactions of others around him tells you what Gordon's personality is like. I think there are also very few protagonists in games that you actually care for. Gordon is one of them.

    As for the omission of April Ryan, I can't fully comment, as I never finished The Longest Journey (and never played the sequel), so I can't say whether she qualifies as a "hero" or not.

  • Davidonsnake

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 3:23 pm PT

    "Valve is letting you BE Gordon Freeman. Every time you play a Half-Life game, you do not play AS Gordon Freeman, you ARE Gordon Freeman."

    I'm afraid I'm not as good a video game hero as Solid Snake, but I did like your point about how he adapts from geek to badass. I agree with SYdoggXxX and I want to thank him for describing how i feel in such a descriptive and understandable manner. I am a big fan of Elder Scrolls Oblivion so I understand how Gordon helps increase the immersion BUT I believe that while this would make Freeman a good character/hero, it would cut him short of the title greatest (for reasons stated by sydogg). you said " the reactions of others around him tells you what Gordon's personality is like. I think there are also very few protagonists in games that you actually care for. Gordon is one of them." well in the case of solid snake, not only do the reactions of others tell him what his personality is like but you also get a really good sense of it by actually seeing him do things and express his beliefs and motivations,

  • Davidonsnake

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 3:23 pm PT

    thus strengthening his character in the eyes of the player. Furthermore, I can safely say that thanks to the last few cutscenes of MGS4, its kind of hard not to consider snake as a character that people would care for. In the end, you really feel snake's suffering in the microwave chamber when you are frantically tapping triangle (my thumb got sore). and who can forget the final cutscene that had every MGS fan holding his or her dear breath? I think Hideo Kojima deserves a lot of praise for presenting solid snake's character to the players and for making the players feel for solid snake and his struggle...sorry if anything I said was a little unclear and I really appreciate what you did for Freeman because I would have done the same for Snake

  • ClayMeow

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 3:53 pm PT

    Thanks for your feeback

  • SYdoggXxX

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 8:41 pm PT

    @ClayMeow:

    Thanks for appreciating my comment.

    I would like to point something out about your response (something I want to make a blog about in fact), and that is what exactly are people interpreting as a hero in this competition.

    I remember I read some comments in the forums claiming that characters such as Niko Bellic from GTA IV shouldn't be included because they're actually anti-heroes, and seeing you comment that you're not sure whether to qualify April Ryan as a hero because you didn't finish her game (which I assume means you don't know if she was successful or not in her quest), leaves me wondering if people are interpreting the "hero" concept in the traditional way, that is a character with pure intentions that accomplishes something outstanding in a heroic journey.

    I guess I kind of differ here, since to me this competition should be more focused on great characters, regardless of whether they're heroes, anti-heroes, or neither. Personality, uniqueness, and charm are the main factors that I take into consideration when deciding whose a great character or not. I suppose that's part of the reason why I'd choose certain "heroes" over more established and popular heroes.

  • SYdoggXxX

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 8:41 pm PT

    @Davidonsnake

    Thanks for the compliment on my comment!

  • ClayMeow

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 10:04 pm PT

    @SYdoggXxX

    That has been one of the biggest points of debate on the forums. The problem is that the term hero means different things to different people. What the contest should have been called was "All Time Greatest Game Protagonist". There's no debating what a protagonist is, but classifying someones as a "hero" is clearly open to interpretation...though I guess it certainly makes for more lively debates. lol

  • netsol2

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 7:21 am PT

    Snake or freeman

  • david_lck

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 11:31 pm PT

    Great read, and yes Gordon Freeman truly is a hero that has faced many adversaries and lived to tell about them. Oh wait.

  • fize4ever

    Posted Sep 5, 2009 4:56 pm PT

    he looks like house
    by the way is he related to Morgan freeman or something ?

  • Flamma_Man

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 12:06 am PT

    I've always love Gordon Freeman as a character myself. The one thing I fine most interesting out of any of his qualities is that he wasn't a solider, a space marine or even a cocky bad ass. He was a scientist.

    Until he had to quit his day job once he accidentally started a chain of events that lead to the enslavement of the earth. However, he's on the way to setting things right.

    Now that is truly bad ass in my honest opinion.

    Lovely post. Reminds me why I love Freeman as a character so much.

  • Flamma_Man

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 12:13 am PT

    ...

    You have Link as the All Time Greatest Game Hero on your bracket...

    Isn't this post a bit hypocritical in the end?

  • sequekhan

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 3:58 am PT

    @Flamma_man: Ah, but there is a difference between who he wants to win, and who he thinks will win. Isn't that right Clay? =D

    I have too many heroes I'd like to see win. I'm actually hoping for several ties, so that perhaps three or four heroes win. That would be epic.

  • ClayMeow

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 7:07 pm PT

    @Flamma_Man
    As sequekhan said, there's a difference between who I want to win and who I think will win. Freeman is my favorite and who I want to win, and at first I had him winning my bracket, but then I came to the realization that GS is predominantly filled with console fanboys, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Sony fanboys cause Freeman to lose to Snake. Awell...ce la vie.

  • Flamma_Man

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 10:06 pm PT

    @ ClayMeow:

    Well, that's understandable. I was just confused by the fact that you're telling us to vote for Gordon Freeman even when you have Link as the winner. Kinda confused me.

    Anyhow, here's to hoping Gordon Freeman wins. Or at least makes it to the finals.

  • Greth206

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 11:31 pm PT

    I feel kinda left out, being basically Sony my whole life, and never playing MGS...any of them, but having played HL2, EP1, EP2.(Orange Box, best deal I have ever seen for any video game.) I have to be biased to Gordon, because those were some great games. And I have to disagree with the whole 'Your main character doesn't talk, so he really isn't a "character"' argument, because I have played some great games where the talking ruined the whole thing.(Mainly war games with excessive cursing, I realize it IS war, but really, I don't need an f-bomb everytime you get shot at.) And that was the beauty of Half-Life. Everyone else talked, and by what they said, you grasped the urgency of your situation. And to tell the truth, I can't think of a voice for Gordon...

  • MajorGamer531

    Posted Sep 7, 2009 9:13 pm PT

    Gordon Freeman represents the user. He represents a free man running around in the game developer's world. A vote for Gordon Freeman is a vote for yourself!

  • loopy_101

    Posted Sep 8, 2009 11:58 am PT

    I think Snake will win, otherwise it'll be some sodding Nintendo character.

  • akmex

    Posted Sep 8, 2009 8:07 pm PT

    awesome. finally someone who's not a teenager.

  • Curlyfrii87

    Posted Sep 9, 2009 8:36 pm PT

    There is so much WIN in this blog... i can't even add anything!

  • ClayMeow

    Posted Sep 10, 2009 9:27 am PT

    Thanks, much appreciated!

  • mr-krinkles

    Posted Sep 11, 2009 12:05 pm PT

    *shrugs

    The Half Life games are great but it's not that much of a big deal what Valve did with Gordon Freeman. That was done in practically every early FPS, e.g. Wolfenstein and Doom. Same concept.

My Recent Ratings

Title Score
Team Fortress 2 9.5
The Orange Box 10
Titan Quest 9.5
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends 9.0
Half-Life 2: Episode One 9.4
Far Cry 9.0
Resident Evil 2 9.0
Neverwinter Nights 9.1
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 9.6
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within 9.2
advertisement