Is Opposing Force cannon to the half-life series?

[Alexis Wasilla]

I am just wondering...

[Lucifer Sam]

It's generally agreed that it is.

[phillippi2]

Well, Valve has said that Adrian will play a part in EP. 3, though that may change before the game is finally released

[Jack Krauser]

Originally posted by phillippi2:

Well, Valve has said that Adrian will play a part in EP. 3, though that may change before the game is finally released

that mean never because some people said that valve claimed that there will be no more episode for half life 2 and start making half life 3

[Kermit the Forg]

My rule is: if it is in the Half-Life Complete Pack, it is canon. The only exception is Decay because it was a PS2 exclusive.

Originally posted by phillippi2:

Well, Valve has said that Adrian will play a part in EP. 3, though that may change before the game is finally released

Originally posted by Barney Calhoun -HL:BS-:

Originally posted by phillippi2:

Well, Valve has said that Adrian will play a part in EP. 3, though that may change before the game is finally released

that mean never because some people said that valve claimed that there will be no more episode for half life 2 and start making half life 3

I don't know what they're talking about.

[elderstyx]

Originally posted by phillippi2:

Well, Valve has said that Adrian will play a part in EP. 3, though that may change before the game is finally released

What are you talking about? Valve never said Adrian would be in Episode 3 or Half-Life 3.

[Rusty_S]

I remember when these games came out, they were not considered to be canon because they were made by gearbox software and not by valve. I personally hope they are canon but at the time they were released there was no word of Half Life 2 so those games were just expansions that could or could not be true. I personally think they are not considered canon as of now because they would hinder the story writers and limit on what they can do.

Plus did we forget the next stage of mutation in the headcrabbed zombies? What about Race X aliens? Theses two were found in Opposing Force and we havent seen any more mutated zombies or race x aliens other than in Opposing force.

[Gorman Freedon]

Yes, the expansions are considered canon. I'm not sure if Prospekt (Opposing Force's fan-made sequel) is part of the official storyline, because while Valve didn't make the mod, they did support its development.

[Kermit the Forg]

Originally posted by Gorman Freedon:

Yes, the expansions are considered canon. I'm not sure if Prospekt (Opposing Force's fan-made sequel) is part of the official storyline, because while Valve didn't make the mod, they did support its development.

Prospekt is only a mod, and therefore non canon.

[Rusty_S]

Gorman Freedon, well if that is not canon because Valve did not make the mod, then Opposing Force and Blue Shift are not cannon as Valve did not make those games either as they were made by Gearbox Software.

[Kermit the Forg]

Originally posted by Rusty_S:

Gorman Freedon, well if that is not canon because Valve did not make the mod, then Opposing Force and Blue Shift are not cannon as Valve did not make those games either as they were made by Gearbox Software.

They were overseen by Valve and officially released as expansions for Half-Life. Valve wasn't involved in the development of Prospekt at all, they just granted the developer access to sell it on steam.

[Rusty_S]

Still doesnt change the fact that a huge majority does not view Blueshift and Opposing force as canon though. Some people do and it seems that more and more are which is a good thing. But doesnt change that when they first came out they were not considered a canonical storyline for Half life which I always thought was strange considering in Opposing Force you actually revisit areas that Gordon was at and even interact with him some what.

[Kermit the Forg]

Originally posted by Rusty_S:

Still doesnt change the fact that a huge majority does not view Blueshift and Opposing force as canon though. Some people do and it seems that more and more are which is a good thing. But doesnt change that when they first came out they were not considered a canonical storyline for Half life which I always thought was strange considering in Opposing Force you actually revisit areas that Gordon was at and even interact with him some what.

I'm pretty sure it is at least 50/50 between who thinks they are canon and who doesn't.

[Rusty_S]

Maybe now it is. But I remember when they came out it seemed more of a 50/50 split. In any case doesnt matter as I said I would like to see them become without a doubt canon. I thought the story between the two were great.

[✪ Grimlock]

Originally posted by Rusty_S:

Maybe now it is. But I remember when they came out it seemed more of a 50/50 split. In any case doesnt matter as I said I would like to see them become without a doubt canon. I thought the story between the two were great.

The stories of half life, opposing force, and blue shift are so closely linked that whoever thinks of it as non-canonical is an idiot. You follow Gordon Freeman into the portal. You see Gordon getting dragged off to the crusher. You see Barney at the beginning of Half Life. Adrian is referenced in blue shift. It's too deep for it to be non-canon.

[Rusty_S]

I agree, but doesnt change the fact that back in the late 90s early 2000s before HL2 came out or was announced, most people just didnt believe it to be a canon story because it says Gearbox Software when you start the game up. I dont know why people think that but its just strange. I personally liked the story and liked how you got to see everything. If I remember right its been too long since Ive played them but I think in blueshift you see gordon being dragged to the trash compactor which is what I think you are meaning as I dont recall seeing Gordon dragged to the compactor in Opposing Force, I do know you see Gordon quite a few times as Shephard though always just out of reach.

Be nice if they did like a "Blue Shift 2" game where it shows what happened to Barny after he escaped leading up to Half Life 2.