Epistle [SFM]

Based on:
www.marclaidlaw.com/epistle-3/
Song: "Triage at dawn" remix by Vandoorea
• Half-Life 2 - Triage a...
/ @vandoorea
I haven't been able to make very much progress on anything these past few weeks. Now that I can start doing stuff again, I thought I would make a tribute to the series that literally inspired this channel name

[@hubanimations]

Imagine being a theoretical physicist seeing fully functioning dyson spheres.

[@raisingthejay]

Would've creamed myself

[@OneFreeMan17]

Like staring into perfection

[@toybox8165]

​@@OneFreeMan17Gordon Freeman in the flesh

[@CT-4849]

@@toybox8165or rather the hazard suit

[@nullt64]

​@@OneFreeMan17gordon freeman y carne y hueso,o bueno mas bien en carne y traje de proteccion Att:gman

[@ScruffyGamerAnimations]

"Carbon stars with ancient satellites colonized by sentient fungi. Gas giants inhabited by vast meteorological intelligences. Worlds stretched thin across the membranes where [the] dimensions intersect... Impossible to describe with our limited vocabulary!" ~ Breen 2004

[@samuelsheridan6629]

My thoughts exactly.

[@thecuchikiller]

Pensaba que era el unico que se acuerda de esa frase

[@Valkyries733]

Scruffy Gamer We could have predicted this

[@peppermillers8361]

Man, the feels.

[@greyscaleb1537]

Yeah when we really realize that we are Nothing against the Combine.

[@arkhanhind2613]

Gordon looks at the screen like "Can you believe this shit?"

[@MouseGoat]

lol, yea bit wird ending there

[@Revan498]

at that point I think he was venting over valve screwing over half life, with Alex's desertion serving as a metaphor, but yeah, not quit what we were hoping for...

[@peppermillers8361]

yeah, it cracks me up. I was hoping for a bit more with a possible appearance and the Vortigaunts and the beach scene.

[@Thewizard8078]

@@peppermillers8361 well the beach scene is here

[@peppermillers8361]

@@Thewizard8078 yeah, I noticed later on. I wish we had just a bit more of it, though. I love the inclusion nonetheless.

[@satinsguard]

"I was left alone, riding the weaponized research vessel into the heart of a Combine world. An immense light blazed. I caught a cosmic view of a brilliantly glittering Dyson sphere. The vastness of the Combine's power, the futility of our struggle, blossomed briefly in my awareness. I saw everything. Mainly I saw how the Borealis, our most powerful weapon, would register as less than a fizzling matchhead as it blew itself apart. And what remained of me would be even less than that."

[@Bacho5]

Damn those tears again

[@bourbon2605]

Its too much those words hurt me.

[@Luger-bt2rq]

im really glad that that now is just a timeline now that Alyx change the future

[@hsilver]

freeman you fool

[@quakethedoombringer]

I like how Lovecraftian this sounds

[@lenakan8990]

This actually conveys the powerful feeling Epistle 3 gave off... It's all so hopeless, melancholic, distant and nostalgic and combined with the Triage at Dawn remix was just perfect. It was such an emotionally charged story. "Expect no further correspondence from me regarding these matters; this is my final episode. Yours in infinite finality, Gordon Freeman, Ph.D."

[@user-tn7zz4yp4x]

This really shows that the whole fight against the alliance is a futile affair. This is a universal organization that captures entire worlds. What humanity represents against this background is a miserable anthill. Even Gordon Freeman himself understood this, even he, a man who lived through several lives in one, who was able to do the impossible - accepted it. Alliance are too strong, they cannot be defeated. Everything is in vain.

[@specter7227]

@@user-tn7zz4yp4x But what about our legendary G man?

[@dementia4452]

​@@specter7227the Combine did manage to imprison him in Alyx. Who knows if they'll do it again

[@CS-si4nn]

@@dementia4452 it'll probably end up with G-Man being the Nick Fury of Half life universe. He has been busy creating an army of skillful soldiers to fight the alliance

[@user-tn7zz4yp4x]

@@specter7227 G-Man is a character who is vitally important to have employees to fulfill his own goals and the goals of his employers at their hands. If he could do everything himself - he would have done it a long time ago, which can be said about other creatures in the boundless multiverse - a man in a suit cannot be one of a kind, in some worlds there must be those who have the same abilities as him, or even stronger. And yet, the Alliance is still not stopped - the universal alliance has captured countless worlds, because it is simply not possible to stop the real army of harvesters. Just think about it - the Alliance definitely possesses not only the Dyson Sphere, the greatest, and infinite source of energy of the stars themselves - but also technologies for manipulating dark energy, which is the very component of the worlds, and is not only in someone's hands the most powerful weapon - but also, probably, a way to change reality itself (thanks to dark energy, expansion occurs in our universe, the Alliance probably used this property so that their home world, or maybe others too, existed forever, and this is just one example of the possibility of using this energy). If the universal union could be stopped, it would have reached this point long ago, but no one is capable of it. The greatest probability of the nature of the Alliance is that it is an eternal machine, a program that was once laid down to capture and hold worlds - and such a machine will forever fulfill its will, because in the case of combines, they can forever provide for themselves. Just imagine - the Alliance's bureaucratic apparatus is so perfect that it is both reliable and effective, it is impossible even for any perfect machine that sooner or later will have a mistake - but not for the indestructible, mechanical system of the Alliance, which can support itself for eternity. The Alliance imprisoned G-Man, from which he could not get out - this shows that he has ways to deal with such creatures, not excluding their destruction. Perhaps G-Man and his employers know how to defeat the universal alliance, and strive to do so -with the help of other beings capable of resisting the Alliance regime on captured worlds, like Gordon Freeman. About such a success, given the scale of the combine forces, one can both doubt and assume, because we know very little about G-Man, as well as about his employers, at the level of the fact of their existence. The only way to defeat the Alliance is to drive it out of the captured world, and not let it invade again.

[@Diesel_Budgie]

If one fan can do this in less than a week...

[@Cram-kj8iw]

no

[@autsogiyoucef8676]

@rob dude calm down u roasted him :(

[@MisterPogman]

rob Dude HE WASNT TALKING ABOUT 20 HOURS BUT 1 FREAKING MINUTR DID YOU LOOK AT THE LENGTH OF THE VIDEO He didn’t say that this ONE FREAKING GUY CAN MAKE HL 3 you dumbass

[@As567na]

What a whole community could do in a month...?

[@bingchillin248]

the beginning of this animation is just like the ending for HL:A LMAO

[@FallingGameplay189]

holy shit lmao

[@tfunasty]

lmao xd

[@veorangejuice733]

First thing i thought when i saw this

[@andreacavalcanti6857]

Foxu bruh

[@GloriG_C17]

Getting draged by gman to see your lovely partner getting Statis

[@TheCyborgCast]

Former writer saying "Fanfic" if this is how it ended. It seems nice.

[@bongibot1104]

TheCyborgCast it's the original plan, so technically not fan fiction.

[@kokobeen]

we say fanfic to keep it legal

[@bongibot1104]

kokobeen ahhh, I see. Kinda sad how this is now forced to be fan fiction, you can't even truly get the satisfaction of this ending to be canon.

[@TheCyborgCast]

This is actually was the original project, but that came to Valve on how they will do the HL3.

[@jockeyfield1954]

oh boy, it's definitely considered a fanfic today

[@Jessica-el5yx]

Beautiful, really gives you pictures of what Marc Laidlaw wanted Episode 3 to be, may one day someone create such a game as beautiful as this and as equally fun.

[@SkroklmanCZ]

Well people are already working on epistle 3 :D

[@Jessica-el5yx]

I'm fairly certain Crowbar Collective (the developers of Black Mesa) know how to contact the voice actor for the G-Man, they have a, what I think is, voice actor for Eli Vance, the voice actor for Kleiner, not sure about Magnusson and Alyx though.

[@NostalgiaCassetteCity]

*COUGH* Project Borealis *COUGH*

[@SkroklmanCZ]

Master Spoon yep. :D

[@Jessica-el5yx]

Someone's actually doing it? Oooooh boy.

[@XG417]

We have received your final epistle. Know that wherever you are, whatever you plan to do from now on, wherever you may end up.... You're still a symbol to all of us. We're still behind you all the way. Thank you. We are honored to have fought alongside you through all these years. Our long, arduous wait for you is finally over, and we can continue your fight from here on out. Till we meet again. We love you.... Dr. Freeman. -From a citizen finally at peace

[@DrewFr33m4nn]

TheDecepticondude not gonna lie I teared up reading that.

[@Bacho5]

Every time I read those comments I blame valve for this situation we are in

[@rickroll4117]

@@Bacho5 and now the situation is cleared.

[@MrXuliest]

@@Bacho5 welp.

[@xylonus]

this has juat begun, freeman still have a long way to go

[@darandomator4010]

Hats off to remember all the good times we had with the Half Life series. The mods, the games, black mesa, garrys mod ect. Thank you Mark Laidlaw for giving us the closure that we desired for so long.

[@redenginner]

There is still the final work to be done. The community is coming together to make the finial episode, to give full closure and allow the half life games to be played in their entirety, until the time that the series can receive its next installment by the hand of another generation.

[@damonnugent1993]

Least we got Black Mesa Xen to look forward to.

[@no1noob37]

I've read Epistle 3 and it can't be a Closure guys.There are still answers to be given. EDIT: How do you tink we would explain that ending?

[@damonnugent1993]

Of course there are. It wouldn't be a Half-Life ending if it tied up all loose ends, that's actually why we kept playing these games in the first place, the way the story slowly became clearer yet just scratching the surface of the happenings and the grander scheme of things, this kind of story was always intended to be questionable in many ways, there would always be cliffhangers, there would always be more questions, that's the formula, and I think it fits pretty well. But I am curious, what questions do you have, in regards to Epistle 3? I may be able to answer them for you.

[@no1noob37]

There would always be cliffhangers with no clear ending?But then what about the Combine,the G-Man and Alyx Vance?Would G-Man make her the new Rebellion leader?What was wrong with Gordon and he left him to die with the ship?I knew he wanted to get rid of him,since he mentioned at the end of Half-Life 2 that he would "choose for him if and when his time came round again".And it was pretty clearer at the beginning of Episode One where the Vorts blocked his way and took Gordon away.Would he be an enemy in later games after Epistle 3?However,one thing is certain IMO.Where Gordon was extracted after Epistle 3 is probably a lifetime when no Rebellion,no Combine and no G-Man would be present on Earth.An Earth which would be mostly isolated or at least with a couple of humans and if it's possible still a couple of Xen creatures to fill its inhabitance.

[@alexandergray0]

Adrian being held and lost in the void , Shell walking on the earth with no purpose , Kleiner back at the white forest , Barney dead or alive far away with rebels from his close friends and Gordon alone and finally found his bitter freedom while writing this letter to us . I wonder how he held all the stress and emotions within his 2 -3 week time without even saying a single word but we all know you have the loudest mind . This is my own farewell to you Dr. Freeman , its been an honour to experience all the things with you together .

[@Bernardos2002]

He didn't "Predict" HL:A, Epistle is refference to Epistle 3, it is the vision of what HL2:E3 would be to the official HL writer, it has been released on 2017, it has everyone names swaped but it is Half life( like GMan-Mr.X Alyx-Alex)

[@adsdsasdsds2320]

Yup i noticed it the 3rd time i have seen this

[@OmnipotentGoggles]

Come in, Laidlaw. Do you copy? Forget about Freeman, we're abandoning the franchise. If you have any last card game ideas, mark them on the tactical hat. Otherwise, get the hell out of here. Repeat: we are pulling out and commencing Artifact. Get us money or get below!

[@AmBush2048]

This comment needs more attention.

[@kathyevans3989]

OmnipotentGoggles Best comment ever

[@petersinkworking6198]

Lol

[@etheth3134]

"Goddamn i cant believe this!"

[@Thlormby]

This is a red letter day.

[@Temmoie]

Ah, finally, Gordon gets to take a good rest for real now. Your first day at work, not only you had to fight murderous aliens but damned Government military forces. After hours of fighting for survival, you don't even rest, you just somehow wake up in the middle of war between combine and human. Best ending ever. He deserves a good rest and a life he wants.

[@damonnugent1993]

Gotta feel bad for him though. Returning to his home without Alyx, in an era where his friends are likely long gone. But no one is more deserving of a rest, too true.

[@mikeexits]

"No one is more deserving of a resssst..."

[@rickroll4117]

@@mikeexits and now there will be no rest for him.

[@MrXuliest]

now there is no rest. ONLY MORE FIGHT.A

[@xylonus]

at least this sfm predicted the future, alyx got hired by gman. now its up to freeman for some work

[@Phantasmagoria32]

oh meh gawd this is the greatest sfm graphics in sfm history

[@B100inCP]

Source (2) Filmmaker 2 confirmed?

[@torchlighthdssickhateracco4824]

and gawd this is sfm and no animal porn

[@FirestormDDash]

+Josef Heiter I see what your did there.

[@spincer3033]

Security big eye idiot Have you seen Deviant Pictures Films SFM?

[@equinoxo8813]

The only problem is that you put in two Dyson Spheres instead of one. This ruins the scale of the Dyson Sphere in general, and doesn't make it as immense as just one. Stars are massive, and when they are right next to each other like that, they look small.

[@NavidIsANoob]

Agreed. Having one, unimaginable astronomic Dyson sphere just looming over Gordon like some kind of cosmic god... It would be so beautiful.

[@Error-ke1tf]

Yeah the two dyson spheres kind of looked strange. Far smaller than they should have seemed. The visual distance was off by a lot. My only gripe with the animation though. That and I always pictured Alyx as having been compelled to follow Gman through some mind-altering effect, rather than going willingly.

[@Khrayfish]

I'm fairly certain most large stars are part of a binary star system, so probability does suggest you'll have two Dyson spheres. The Dyson spheres shouldn't be moving as fast (if at all) though, that's the main issue I think.

[@Error-ke1tf]

Moving parts is a rather noticeable error, yeah. Makes them seem off-scale. Something moving that fast would reduce planets to dust on impact. Still don't like the inclusion of binary stars regardless. Difficult to manage them and the affect of additional gravity could make them unstable so I don't see the combine choosing a star system with two stars, the letter suggested only a single Sphere. The resources being taken off Earth were probably being used to build the Dyson Sphere in Epistle 3, as the amount of resources required for such a project would take up far more metallic alloys than a single star system could provide. So two dyson spheres, risk of gravity manipulation aside, wouldn't be feasible. But hey, Combine do what Combine do. Still like the Dyson twist a lot though. Explains why they're draining the sea dry.

[@bugjams]

Who said they're Dyson Spheres? Couldn't they just as likely have been star ports, or generators, or both? The technology and race of aliens needed to make such a thing would be so advanced, we could only guess what we were looking at. Perhaps the blue glowing orbs are actually living beings, kept alive by alien technology. The unfathomable, mysterious nature of the alien objects provides a much stronger emotional sensation than if we simply knew what they were.

[@sirgordinni5154]

Plot twist: Gordon finds Wheatley and the Space Core and together they destroy the Combine.

[@samuraijackoff5354]

Sir Gordinni don’t forget Lamarr.

[@rtdeop-2550]

father girgori

[@aaronmendoza9675]

Plot twist father grigori and lamarr are the same person

[@skinnybuggo]

tbh i would like seeing this in a game

[@coffeetext]

Interesting choice of HEV Suit addons.

[@lemmys.kelton8183]

Cozy freeman

[@thefilozof01]

This dude knew the story before alyx went out

[@christopherrq4842]

"You watch your computer screen, reading the words that Laidlaw wrote. A tear falls down your face. You see the truth of your situation, just like Gordon did on the deck of the Borealis. You are old. No longer a child. Your responsibilities only grow each day. You have less and less time to spend playing games. You remember your friends and the times you shared in Half-Life and Half-Life 2. You realize they are over now, finally. The last hope you clung to HL2 Episode 3 is done. Just as your childhood is. You are Gordon Freeman. A man sailing a ship in space to his destruction. There will be no Vortigaunts to save you." --Anon

[@peppermillers8361]

Christopher RQ _tragic_

[@noba04]

actually the vortigaunts did get Gordon out in time before the Borealis got destroyed. He was sent to the future.

[@mike7DILFLUVR]

Christopher RQ Vorts did save him though..

[@Crrrow]

No, We are Adrian Shephard. Waiting in a black featureless void.. Waiting to be set free by someone, anyone. and let our story continue.

[@ottoleois9323]

@@Crrrow And hoping to hell that that idiot brother doesn't show up.

[@Anomidae]

I haven't been able to make very much progress on anything these past few weeks. Now that I can start doing stuff again, I thought I would make a tribute to the series that literally inspired this channel name also should mention I'm seriously considering doing a remake of pyrotale. Stay tuned, yo

[@totallynotapuffball9119]

No offense, this is great, but I think you're better at more surrealistic things.

[@Ghost-be8pb]

Anomalous Materials please. Animate the full thing. Give us something Valve won't.

[@The36th]

No offense but putting "fanfic" in quotation marks is there for any serious reason besides showing your hate towards Valve and subscribing to the idiots who went to crazy-spree and spammed all across other websites and left a lot idiotic negative reviews? I was ready to give you like, but when I saw it I decided to leave dislike. Do nice movies, don't pick up sides in stupid conflicts between greedy corporation and naive idiots who believed in HL3. This is fanfic. Either write it without marks or just skip that world entirely.

[@chkltsoul]

You're getting upset for all the wrong reasons, my friend...Or should I say "friend"?

[@VirtualPrawn]

The36th you "alright" there buddy?

[@GreenTrapped]

Now... when Half-Life 3 isnt just a meme, isnt just a rumor. It is a game legend. The series is a legend, the one and only Half-Life. Even if VALVe isnt going to make this game, release it, we know by guys like this, we can make our own Episode 3. If we want, even better than VALVe's games. If you agree, let me know it, in any way, reply, like the comment, any way you want. Because in the deeps of this community, i know there IS people who thinks the same. EDIT: And because, this video was made on the engine of that game, maybe using some other programs, but the that this WAS made on the game engine, inspires everyone to do something great, good joob anomalous materials, because of the people like you, we know that sometime we will have our episode 3...

[@freetoplayking7362]

Лев Нарышев I agree we could make a mod of half-life 2 that finishes the story called half-life 3 and I would be more than happy to write the story once I play all half-life games before that to get a better idea of the story to make it be more faithful and satisfying (I still haven't played any games in the series)

[@GreenTrapped]

Then i really recommend you to.

[@damonnugent1993]

Forever a Half-Life, eh?

[@freetoplayking7362]

i'll think up the story but at this point I already thought up the ending but I wont tell since it'll spoil it for you edit: actually, do you think that the story should end in a happy note, melancholy note, or a downer ending (to make it feel more like a cosmic horror story)? i'm asking since it's very unlikely for me to be able to write multiple endings in one story due to difficulty in implementation of them all

[@thetimelords911]

+Kevin Acosta They are legends in their own ways

[@christopherball7151]

Dammit. The level of want for this is immense. I truly despise Valve to thing tragedy

[@damonnugent1993]

Definitely shows that this wouldn't have been too over-hyped or a failure to the series, eh?

[@williambrunsdon1189]

Imagine if this was what was shown and not artifact, just more polished. The crowd: Screaming for over 10 minutes before half of them pass out and over 10 reported dead.

[@LambdaCore]

This is wonderful and it amazes me how fast you put that stuff together!

[@tanayyy2875]

Say that to Valve and GabeN

[@killio54321]

Jesus FUCK that swing into the Black Mesa tram broke me It still hadn't really me hit that old valve is gone Oooh this hurts

[@wildsancho8465]

killio54321 well if it helps the black mesa xen is going to be finished in December

[@goxy287]

@@wildsancho8465 got some news for you fellas

[@mikeexits]

Valve's back baybeeee

[@243lda]

I logged onto my other youtube account just so I could like this video twice.

[@paddeux]

A word to describe this SFM: Beautiful.

[@paddeux]

Just... Wow...

[@bluespy377]

Star wars and wallhammer 40k fans : haha combine is weak The combine :

[@satinsguard]

Feels weird watching this now that HL: Alyx is out and throws this story out the window.

[@PebsBeans]

rip epistle 3

[@PootisDuspunsurHarambe]

Episode Three: The Borealis was housing a giant portal to the Combine Overworld. That's why in the "teaser' images,the Borealis is semi-covered with Combine technology. That also explains why there's also Combine Advisers in the images.

[@aliozanerbektas]

"Come along with me now, we have places to do and things to be." G-Man

[@bradenmartell7639]

This brings a tear to my face

[@Fusorf]

ITS HERE BOIS !!!!!!

[@FallingGameplay189]

It's finally happening.

[@luckymcgamer7747]

The intro partly predicted half life alyx ending

[@riezki4086]

Nope

[@ZidaneTribal93]

Goosebumps. Imagine if we saw that in the real game. I would have been crying 😭 Gaben why

[@explosivecommando9100]

Dont worry

[@rickroll4117]

A new journey begins

[@ZidaneTribal93]

My faith is restored

[@hoangtrannhat1208]

HL The great and sadness Story of a lone scientist, battling odds far above his ability. Taking humanities last ship, last hope for survival, and driving it right into the heart of the combine. One last fight, one last sacrifice, so that we can all be free men.

[@elijahbowers1]

This was gorgeous and the music choice of triage at dawn was of course perfect

[@martincasas3854]

im just an normal person watching a virtual video thing that is just scared that this Master Piece get lost and forgotten by our generations this game gave me fun and never ragequit now Goodbye Mister Freeman See You in Later. Now he is just in an infinite battle he can win but maybe not possibly he reached the world of the combines and he is just there his last moments or preparing to fight alone. Maybe its just an new home and resting place where he can go to other worlds but who knows atleast he is in our heart. Goodbye Doctor Freeman We Will Miss You And Honor You And LeidLaw Hope You Have a Good Life And a Good Future We Love You Too LeidLaw Oh and a anon thanks for giving me a good time remembering this game

[@christopherrq4842]

Is it ok that I let a couple of tears out? I'm not gonna lie, I have not been a fan of the series for a long time like plenty of people in here, I played the first Half Life game in 2012, since then I became a huge fan of the series and it took me less than 5 months to finish all the games I've replayed the Half Life games multiple times, specially HF2 Episode 2 (My favorite), and reading Epistle 3 by Marc and seeing this video makes me really sad, it makes me feel kind of empty, I was really never on the hype train for HF3 or either of those things, to be honest I would only check once or twice every 2 months to see if there was any update or anything I'm sad because reading Episode or "Epistle 3" and watching this just makes me wonder how truly a masterpiece this could have been, it would have been amazing, the plot, I can't just imagine how extraordinary it could have been Thanks Marc, for sharing that masterpiece with us, it was a beautiful plot, and I'm sure it would have been a splendid game, rest in piece Half Life You will always be remembered

[@fireengie8488]

took you less than 5 months to finish all the games? im sorry what? how the fuck did it take you that long

[@TeufortCTF]

how the fuck did you enjoy episode 2, the final parts of it with all the striders is cancer for me

[@TheCjvega3571]

Thank you for making this and thank you Marc Laidlaw for the closure we needed. I remember playing half life back in college almost 20 years ago. Such great memories. Wouldve been nice to see what happened to Corporal Shepard.

[@OnionKiev2137]

Have you just fucking prediced a fucking future???

[@SaikoX95]

"Fanfic" yeah right. Great video man

[@blackjacka.5097]

Saiko Not really a fanfic,just unused story.

[@satinsguard]

Where's the Vortigaunts? They were supposed to get Gordon out of there.

[@antolleon7813]

The teleportation to the Dyson Sphere was long years everyone forgot about Freeman :(

[@Vienna3080]

Imagine fighting a global war by yourself all to realize it will mean nothing to a civilization that controls vast universes, like throwing a rock at an Ocean

[@genarosiles8840]

Im gonna be Honest... I cried a little, becuase i franchise i grew with it, its now Gone. I was 8 years old when i played Half life, It was a amazing game, but when i finished episode 2.. It was the end for me. I waited 8 years for a update or news from Half life. Now im 16, knowing the fact that Valve decided to cancel Episode 3 was so heart breaking to me, and the worst part they decided to make a dumb Card game. The good thing is, that Mark decided to finish the trilogy, ending it. Thanks Mark for fighting against Valve system and Ideology and Gave us a hope for reading the end of Episode 3. Most game i grew with were Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead, Portal, Metal Gear Solid, and DOOM. Few games are good and strong. Left 4 dead 2 had great and awesome ending, watching how Coach, Rachel, Ellis and Nick survived thanks by the previous character we played before. Team Fortress is struggling so Hard to keep alive, i cant believe people are comparing Overwatch over Team Fortress 2, both games are good. But i grew and played with Tf2, and the sad part is that the Communitty is so little and keeps strong, For Example NISLT, Karma Charger, Jerma, and few youtubers comments opinions regarding about Tf2 small, yet strong communitty. Portal is connected with Half life, the only things that worries me most, is about Chell. Did she really Escaped? I hope so. And Half life... Half life is Like *LOGAN* Or Samurai Jack. I cried so much knowing that Mark has ended the Franchise. Thanks Half life Communitty for keeping Strong like Metal Gear Solid, Dead, but we keep shinning like Diamonds. I will always keep the memories. Thanks guys...

[@Mixmaximum_]

Actually, The Parish is the conclusive chapter of L4D2. The Passing is located between the first (Dead Center) and the second (Dark Carnival) And also, nobody at Valve officially ended the HL franchise. They just... stopped making it, sadly. I know it's unlikely, but never say never. I surely won't lose my hope.

[@genarosiles8840]

Mixmaximum Thanks

[@damonnugent1993]

It'd probably become Half-Life Forever.

[@genarosiles8840]

PICKLE RICK sorry...

[@christopherrq4842]

Playstation VR Game Channel So you have to be born when the game realizes to play it? I mean its not like he could just grab a PC or Xbox and play Half Life right? What a stupid piece of fucking shit

[@DoggyBingBong]

Sometimes I dream about threes

[@Fusorf]

I got interstellar vibes when the dyson spheres appeared :o

[@winternightst7001]

we cant kill the combine, but we can get them out of earth

[@TheOne-ud8rm]

Most of the time I feel like valve/steam became the combine and the fan bases that want closure,a new and fun zombie game,3rd title or a update based on a class, became the Resistance. Reason why I hate valve is because they are wasting there time with a DOTA CARD GAME and are ignoring their fans and not making a new exciting title in which they haven't made a game in the half life/portal or Left 4 Dead universe in years... And in the end of Marc Laidlaws HL3 script like he said the combine cannot be stopped

[@rey.jazzzzy]

"Doctor Freeeeemaaaan." "...Recently my employers have recommended to me that I... dispose of you. Hmm. Over time, I came to realize that this 'child' whom has accompanied you throughout your endeavors... Rather, whom you have used for your own personal benefit and put in such danger, is much more of a valuable asset than what I had originally deemed her as. And as such, Mr. Freeman, I must now extract from you another payment owed for this cruelty and negligence you have caused her..." -- _Brief pause to swallow saliva_ -- "My employers will be very pleased to learn that you are... no longer of any use. Good-day to you, Mr. Freeman."

[@blackjacka.5097]

Blu the Scout What the fuck did Marc Laidlaw smoke?Alyx doesnt compare to Gordon,he fought against entire armies for fucks sake!

[@damonnugent1993]

Gordon was getting further and further from Gman's influence. This was implied in the episodes. Valve said somewhere that as early as EP1 that they wanted to show Gordon 'free' for the time being from Gman's control but also show the potential consequences that could arise from that. What are *you* smoking?

[@seamuspink9098]

It has been 5 years bros

[@mikeexits]

This is amazing, thank you. I would love it if someone made a more detailed, lengthy animated film depicting Epistle 3, but I understand that this is more of a highlight reel/summary of it. It's amazing in its own right. Well done! And great song choice. :)

[@Nom1fan]

Dude I've watched this like a 100 times now =] Kudos for creating something so beautiful so fast!! The epic part where Gordon looks at the huge spheres with the awesome music...just give me chills every time. You deserve way more views!

[@heather99ful]

All of this is an illusion you are still in the nhilanths chamber

[@heather99ful]

He hasn’t rise’d and shine’d

[@PebsBeans]

it's all just a dream he still works at black mesa

[@arftrooper2057]

This is so amazing! The concept alone of what the combine’s home world looks like is fantastic, not to mention how stunning the visuals are. The music is on point and the film flows well. It is so amazing. The only thing I don’t like is that this video doesn’t have at least 50k likes because thats what it deserves.

[@TravisaInc]

agreeed

[@arandompersoncon]

This literally gave me chills, it's so beautiful. It game me an emotion of sadness and like, butterflies in my stomach. Just seeing Gordon staring at the stars of the Combine realizing his fate it just is, amazing.

[@Cooliflower]

Anomalous materials, the person that made Art from SFM.

[@LNERfan]

So... am I to believe that the entire Half Life franchise was just Gman's elaborate plot to build Gordon up, introduce him to Alyx, get them close together, and then take Alyx at the last second for no good reason? Was all this just Gman fulfilling some bizzare, cross-dimensional cucking fantasy?

[@mamadussnake8309]

gman wants the sweet vance puss puss

[@akan8057]

gman has control of Gordon, but loses it in episode 1. Because of that, and the fact that the vorts protect Gordon from the gman powers, then he focuses on alyx and in episode 3 he needs to get rid of Gordon from a perhaps fearful in the future may intervene in his plans

[@Yetoob8lWuxUQnpAahSqEpYkyZ]

Gordon did all the leg work, Alyx possesses something Gordon doesn't.

[@mikeexits]

If you listen to Valve News Network's "Ask the G-Man" podcast (Letting off Steam), it'll add a very humorous spin to this. It's totally worth the full 90 minute time, I swear; it's a voice impressionist doing a PERFECT G-Man impersonation.

[@yigittekin7644]

Ağlamıyorum gözüme epistle 3 kaçtı :,(

[@MauricioJara]

This makes me realize that fighting the Combine won't result in any victories. But hey, at least it's better to die trying.

[@guragat2]

yeah

[@MatthewPalaje]

Thank you for taking the time to create this! I really enjoyed it. The part at the start with Alex and Gman walking away was amazing.

[@kaakabe]

alyx is taken by gman now its time to set adrian free freeman and shephard ..... even gman cant win

[@remgl5431]

Im crying right now. Best masterpiece ever made

[@Knight_Of_Eleum_Loyce]

but wtf does it mean? call me stupid but I'm too lazy to read Marc Laidlaw's "Epistle 3".

[@Pokefan3332]

Please make more of this! I love your work and I would love to see this made into more of a series

[@jackfryer2270]

Dude, I don't even know how many times I've watched this video. How beautiful and interesting it is... I can watch this video for the rest of my life

[@MikkaBMIKKAZX]

Wow, I think you've done a really good job at capturing the desired feeling of the game. I know not many people are fussed on epistle 3, but done like this, I reckon it could be a killer.

[@DovaDopler]

ITS BACK BOYS. HL3 IS CONFIRMED .

[@Jooglesberry]

This is so simple and short, yet so fantastic and satisfying.

[@AntzolY111]

I cried oh my god So good This is what i been waiting since 07' Thank you!!!

[@tompycz2225]

A beautiful world valve created....as long as it lasted...

[@jordanproductions5878]

How u do that background

[@Exagoraa]

did you ever figure out how to do the background?

[@mertdenizyaran9740]

@@Exagoraa i dont think so no one answered the poor guy

[@mr_man-to7bv]

@@mertdenizyaran9740 chicken noodles

[@HazzardousEco]

Even if it is just a 'fanfic', it's good to have closure after all this time... Excellent job on this SFM short Anom; capturing that moment where Gordon realizes how truly powerful the Combine are was nicely done =)

[@mbnnn3447]

Every now and then i come to see this animation again it's fucking beautiful

[@SommerSen]

We need someone to make this playable, no matter the cost or time, just DO IT! (And yes I know that games are difficult to make but the point is that it can be made)

[@nirubik8909]

видео 2017 года . до выхода HLA ещё 3-4 года , а в видео показано как GMan забрал Alyx

[@anoriginalusername4289]

I didnt noticed the floating Citadels until now

[@Testsubject276]

This deserves more exposure than it's getting, it's so cinematic...

[@dominik9401]

Success of Steam killed Half-Life, crazy to think that every cent you spent there was one more nail in the Half-Life 3 coffin.

[@CplShephard1]

She's gone Gordon...

[@ybeeqs]

Good grief I haven't seen anything this good in a long time. Keep it up!

[@Kralich]

this was outstanding. very, very nicely done.

[@mrdingleschnat8436]

All because he was fucking late

[@sei-core]

Hey man, I fucking love you for this. Best graphics ever made in an SFM short. This leads me to ask something: did you use anything else next to SFM to achieve these effects? Thanks in advance!

[@Anomidae]

In sony vegas, I applied a bloom effect which raised contrast. Otherwise, it's SFM. You can see an unedited SFM screenshot of the dyson scene here: twitter.com/AnomalousMater/status/902317147556241408

[@sei-core]

Wow, amazing work, I'm stunned! Thanks for your answer!

[@geoffg9351]

This gave me chills, what an amazing work seriously. I hope this comment pushes you to expand a bit more on what you see the epistle being. Subscribed!

[@revo0157]

Gordon: Ah shit, here we go again..

[@joshuadobbs4453]

Yes 👍

[@damonnugent1993]

BEAUTIFUL! Just... ugh... that was... beautiful. The visuals, scenes... everything.

[@connorvaughn7968]

Maybe Half Life was supposed to end this way? Idk...... Knowing how deep this entire storyline is, I wouldn't doubt it if Ep.2 was supposed to be the end. maybe you as the player are supposed to realize that the situation is helpless, that when a radioactive isotope is unleashed, it can be contained until it decays into its next half life, then the next, then the next until its just dead... Maybe that was the point all along?

[@adumbcanadian773]

This is really good keep up the good work!

[@ethanbear360]

I love the giant floating Citadels

[@CS-si4nn]

Those things are dyson spheres

[@Lesd_1208.]

Y los fanaticos de Warhammer 40k piensan que pueden superar esta escala...

[@akuthemasterofmasters1117]

the combine homeworld, again, I do wish they would just make hl3 already, the final confrontation with the combine would be the most epic shit ever, on their home planet

[@vodkice2416]

The music along with the amazing animation gave me goosebumps and it was pretty cool.

[@pikkuadi]

This is absolutely incredible.

[@lovepepsi7477]

"that's why i'm here, Mr Freeman, I have recommended your services to my employers and they have authorized me to offer you a job. They agree with me that you have *limitless potential* " -HL1 "You've done a great deal in a small time span, you've done so well in fact that I've received some interesting offers for your services. Ordinarily I wouldn't contemplate them but, these are extraordinary times, mmh?" -HL2 I don't believe the ending of Epistle 3. No way would the G-Man throw away such an invaluable asset, not only because it would be dumb as hell, but I also seriously doubt he even has the liberty to make that decision. I also really doubt Alyx is a more valuable asset than Gordon, and even if she is, it's not worth letting him die like that.

[@damonnugent1993]

You do make some good points, but didn't Gordon start to break away from Gman's control in the episodes? an asset with limitless potential is good and all, but an asset with limitless potential that's gone against you? that's a bit of a pickle and it does make sense with how Gman regarded Alyx in EP2, he did save her for a reason after all. Maybe it was an early draft, maybe it was just skeletons left, maybe it'd be more different in the potential final product, but it's likely all we're ever gonna get of the actual 3, and it may be the only actual closest to 'Half-Life' thing we'll ever get out of 3. With much of the writing team and animators, artists gone, what would 3 be without them? i mean, you gotta admit, the writing style and detail of events, character's situations, plot elements, it paints a realistic picture of where the series was gonna go and how EP3 was always planned to be the finishing of the HL2 story arc and the rest after not being influenced by Marc Laidlaw and being just a whole new chapter, basically. But it makes you wonder, what is/was/would a HL3 be about? i could see it involving more of Gman and the Shu,ulathoi-Vortigaunt's history, finding out the true force behind the Universal Union and going to different universes, assisting in rebellions, maybe going to the Aleph Universe like it was planned in one of Valve's oldest and cut games, Prospero, interestingly Valve ended up recycling Prospero into Half-Life and Portal.

[@WELSHGAMER99]

mariopepsi Eh not really. Gordon become lose from the G-Man's grasp thanks to the Vorts. So he became unreliable. Plus I think Alyx proved herself after killing Mossman showing that she is ruthless and has a strong will. Thus The G-Man saw no need for Gordon Freeman anymore. But that's my theory.

[@BenieTheDragon]

Do remember the Gman said to Alyx in Episode 2; "My dear, when you see your father again, utter these words; 'Prepare for Unforeseen Consequences'." It was clearly a warning to all of them, to not cross the Gman. Yet, he ends up saving her. The story goes straight then hits a wall. Plus, Gman was not happy how the Vorts were keeping him from controlling Gordon, and wanting him to 'pay' for it.

[@sunhammer420]

BenieTheDragon - she was just the messenger in that case, the message about unforeseen consequences wasn't meant for her. think about it, alyx recovered from a strider impalement, patched up by intergalactic vort shamans. surely that makes her more worth than a beardy old guy who had an intense dmt trip halfway through his life.

[@mr.nonexistent9303]

Hansky - if you're referencing Gordon as the beardy old guy. Gordon is still the same age as he was in the first half-life. because he was in stasis, he did not age. same happened with Shephard, we still don't know what exactly happened to Adrian Shephard still, as he was also put into stasis by the Gman. plus, throughout all of these games, Gordon is seen as the most valuable asset of them all, fighting his way through black mesa 48 straight hours with no sleep, as well as the events of half-life 2, fighting almost a whole week without sleep against the combine, trying to help the resistance. of course the H.E.V suit pumps adrenaline into Gordon to keep him at it, but you've got to admit, Gordon straight out of MIT right into the black mesa labs, survives hell, basically making the HECU Marines terrified of him, legitmately saying "Forget about Freeman." that goes without saying that Gordon is more than just some old guy. Gordon is a one man army, and I can't simply agree with this ending because Gman would not simply throw the man with the experience away towards his death, seeing as he basically fought the combine, single handedly pushing them back from city 17, and rectifying one of the larger problems which was Nova Prospekt. he's to valuable.

[@unofficialmeme5972]

The meme is over. The truth is finally revealed...

[@PebsBeans]

Episode Three confirmed

[@firkejdjneii28283]

@@PebsBeans yes

[@rewindproductions7261]

Love this reference to Marc's intended story for episode 1.

[@user-ws9ed7fm2v]

Where have I been before? It's great, it's beautiful🤯🤯