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Gordon Freeman is the fictional protagonist of the Half-Life series of computer games.
Facts known about Freeman include that he is a graduate of MIT, having earned a Ph.D. in theoretical physics. His thesis was 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. A native of Seattle, Washington, Freeman harbored an early interest in theoretical physics, such as quantum mechanics and relativity. After observing a series of teleportation experiments conducted by the Institute of Experimental Physics, applications of teleportation became Freeman's obsession. Eventually, he became disappointed with the slow pace of teleportation research in academia and began to search for a job in the private sector. By coincidental circumstances, Freeman's MIT mentor Dr. Isaac Kleiner had taken charge of a top-secret research project at the Black Mesa Research Facility and was looking for some associates. Freeman was an obvious choice. He accepted the job offer, in hopes that part of the immense funding would go towards civilian applications of astrophysics and quantum computing.
As of the events of the first game, Freeman is employed and lives at the top secret, integrated research facility known as Black Mesa Research Facility, located somewhere in New Mexico. He is assigned to the Anomalous Materials department, located deep inside the mountain, doing nuclear and subatomic research. Quite humorously, even while having obtained a Ph.D from the prestigious MIT, what work that the player actually does (pushing a cart) as Freeman does not require any intellectual knowledge. This is also poked fun of in the beginning portion of Half-Life 2.
Freeman is bespectacled, bearded, and is quite athletic. Although seeming to be an expert with weapons and explosives (depending on who is playing the game, of course), Freeman had actually not handled any weapons until the Black Mesa incident (aside from the butane-powered tennis ball cannon he constructed at age 6). What separates Gordon Freeman from other games heroes is that he is a scientist – a rather unlikely kind of hero when compared to past characters such as Duke Nukem, or the generic soldier types in many other games.
One fateful day Freeman and his team perform an experiment that goes horribly wrong. As a result, the space-time continuum is ruptured, allowing alienFor the 1979 movie, see Alien (movie). For live organisms which are not from Earth, see Extraterrestrial life Aliens are foreigners to their surroundings. The word is commonly used in law to denote non- citizens of the country of their whereabouts, and in lifeforms to enter the facility and begin killing any humans they can find. Freeman finds himself hunted by two groups: the invading aliens and a militaryMilitary (from latin militarius miles "soldier") as an adjective describes anything related to soldiers and warfare. Used as a noun, it is equivalent to Armed force. See also Armed force Martial art Militaria Military history Military rule Military by cou cleanup team that has been sent to contain the situation, silencing aliens and surviving personnel alike.
After numerous adventures, and after eliminating countless aliens and soldiers, Freeman manages to travel to the alien home world and eliminate their "leader" as well. After which, Freeman is offered a job by the mysterious G-Man, who is often spotted observing Freeman from a distance (and perhaps manipulating his fate as well), seemingly evaluating him. (Screen messages players see when the Freeman character dies refer to 'Subject Freeman', who 'failed evaluation'). Fans assume that he arranged for the whole incident, as the G-Man can be seen talking with some scientists before the experiment, and since it is known that the sample which caused the accident had "just been delivered that morning". Although it is not made very clear by the plot, the sample that causes the resonance cascade at the beginning of the game is made from the same material as the crystals in the lair of the final monster at the end of the game.
Half-Life 2 begins with the G-Man speaking to Gordon. The scene is somewhat psychedelic, with the G-Man telling Freeman he must "wake up and smell the ashes." It is presumed that Gordon accepted the G-Man's job offer at the end of Half-Life, and has been working for him ever since. During the course of the second game, Freeman battles CombineCommon Usage A combine can be: a combine harvester used in agriculture a combine car a type of railway car a corporation syndicate or zaibatsu all terms for vast, monopolistic commercial institutions. to combine the act of forming a labour union from the forces in order to free humanity from its grasp. Periodically he meets up with and fights alongside organized resistance forces and friendly NPCs such as Barney CalhounBarney Calhoun originated as one of the hundreds of nameless non-player characters (NPCs) in the original Half-Life. His witty one liners and helpful service as cannon fodder managed to endear him to many gamers. Spoiler Warning Players were finally able and Alyx VanceAlyx Vance is a fictional character in the first person shooter computer game Half-Life 2 (2004), sequel to Half-Life (1998). Alyx is portrayed as a young, 20-something woman living in City 17, a presumably Eastern European city under the rule of an alien. Half-Life 2 "concludes" just as cryptically as its predecessor did, with perhaps even more questions unanswered.