Vortigaunt | |
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Half-Life series character | |
A Vortigaunt in Episode Two | |
First game | Half-Life (1998) |
Vortigaunts are a fictional alien race in the Half-Life series by the Valve Corporation. In Half-Life and its three expansions, Vortigaunts are frequently encountered by the player as hostile non-player characters. The Vortigaunts are depicted in Half-Life as being an enslaved race native to an alternate dimension called Xen, subserviant a large Xen creature called the Nihilanth, which itself is a slave to undisclosed masters. In Half-Life 2, the Vortigaunts have broken free of their slavery, and actively assist the player and other humans in resisting the Combine occupation of Earth.
Vortigaunts are shown as a very communal and cultural race, believing in force that binds the fabric of the universe and each Vortigaunt together, as well as producing a tradition of poetry and music. Vortigaunts also display the ability to summon and command energy with no technology. In the video games, this ability is used for various activities, including as an attack method or simply to power up electrical equipment. In addition to their role within the Half-Life series, Vortigaunts have been made into a plush toy by the Valve Corporation.
Character design
In Half-Life 2, the Vortigaunts are voiced by Louis Gossett, Jr. It is mentioned in Raising the Bar that Gossett was chosen partially due to his role as the alien in the film Enemy Mine. In Episode Two, he is replaced by Tony Todd.
Attributes
Society
Vortigaunts are intelligent and social creatures. In Half-Life, they serve as basic ground units for the Xen forces, often supporting heavier troops fighting the player and the humans in the Black Mesa Research Facility. They are shown as being capable of developing intelligent strategies and tactics to take on their enemies. Initially, Vortigaunts are shown to be enslaved to the Nihilanth, a large creature on Xen itself a slave to unknown superiors. On Xen, the Vortigaunts are shown to be used as factory workers and drones. In Half-Life 2, Vortigaunts indicate that this slavery has lasted for generations. Despite this, Vortigaunts are shown to have developed an intellectual culture, valuing poetry, music and philosophy. The death of the Nihilanth at the hands of Gordon Freeman at the end of Half-Life frees the Vortigaunts from their slavery; consequently the Vortigaunts see Freeman as a messiah-like figure.
Vortigaunts possess their own method of vocal communication, which, in Half-Life 2, they can be heard using and referring to as "flux shifting". This method of communication involves both speakers vocalising at the same time and cannot be understood by other species who lack the auditory anatomy to intepret the sounds. Vortigaunts use scattered English words in Half-Life to taunt the player, although by Half-Life 2 they have learned to speak at least the English language fluently, albeit using archaic words and grammatical structures. In addition, the Vortigaunts believe in a binding life-force referred to as the "Vortessence". The exact nature of the Vortessence is left unclear, although it is revealed that Vortigaunts believe the Vortessence is the fabric of the universe and connects everything.
Depiction
In appearance, a Vortigaunt is a somewhat humanoid figure with two legs and two arms, but has an additional arm protruding from its thorax. Vortigaunts possess digitigrade legs, allowing them to move quickly. In addition, Vortigaunts have mottled green-brown skin, sharp teeth and clawed hands. Vortigaunts have a slightly hunched posture, and their faces are dominated by a large red eye, surrounded by five smaller eyes. Vortigaunts are also able to summon energy to their command without the need for any equipment. In-game, this ability is most commonly used as a means of attack, with Vortigaunts hurling the energy towards foes. In addition, Vortigaunts have been shown to be able to use the energy for other purposes, such as assisting in repair work, removing rubble and blockages, recharging the player's HEV suit or powering up electrical generators. Enslaved Vortigaunts are depicted with green collars and shackles, although the means by which these control Vortigaunts is not explored. Vortigaunts are not typically seen wearing clothing, although one Vortigaunt in Episode Two is observed wearing a lab coat.
Appearances
Half-Life
Vortigaunts are first introduced as one of the primary enemies in Half-Life. They are frequently encountered by players throughout Half-Life and its three expansions, Opposing Force, Blue Shift and Decay. They are portrayed as one of the sentient races of Xen, often working in groups or with more heavily armored Xen troops.[1] In the later stages of Half-Life, Vortigaunts are seen working in factory-like environments, constructing or maturing the more heavily armored Xen troops in cocoon-like capsules under the direction of other aliens in the Xen hierarchy.[2]
In the cooperative multiplayer expansion Decay, players have the opportunity to assume the role of two Vortigaunts if they score highly on all missions. In this bonus mission, entitled "Xen Attacks", two Vortigaunts, given the designations Drone Subjects X-8973 and R-4913, are given a mission by the Nihilanth, the highest creature in the Xen hierarchy, to retrieve a number of crystals stolen from Xen by human scientists from the Black Mesa Research Facility.[3]
Half-Life 2
The role of the Vortigaunts is substantially changed in Half-Life 2. Now acting as allies to the player, Vortigaunts are shown to have been freed as a result of Gordon Freeman killing the Nihilanth at the end of Half-Life. Instead of acting with hostility towards humanity, the Vortigaunts are actively engaged in assisting the human resistance against the Combine, a multi-dimensional empire that has invaded and occupied Earth in between Half-Life and Half-Life 2.[4] Vortigaunts are frequently shown at resistance compounds and stations,[5] often performing maintenance work or providing help with experiments, and sometimes assist the player by using their energy abilities to recharge the player's HEV suit.[4] However, a number of Vortigaunts are still shown to be in captivity, as at various points in the game, Vortigaunts are shown to be used as slave labor by the Combine.[4]
Vortigaunts play a greater part in the story of the series in Half-Life 2's continuations, Episode One and Episode Two. In Episode One, Vortigaunts use unexplained powers to rescue Alyx Vance, the series' main female character, from the top of the Combine Citadel in City 17, saving her from the explosion of the Citadel's reactor at the end of Half-Life 2.[6] The Vortigaunts also free Gordon Freeman from the stasis imposed on him at the end of Half-Life 2 by his enigmatic employer, the G-Man, much to the G-Man's irritation. Episode Two dedicates much of the early part of the game to the Vortigaunts, with a group of four Vortigaunts working to heal Alyx Vance after she is injured by a Combine hunter.[6] One Vortigaunt accompanies the player and acts as combat support on an expedition into an antlion hive. In the latter stages of Episode Two, a number of Vortigaunts are observed in the White Forest missile silo, performing various tasks to facilitate the launch of a satellite to close the Combine's super portal.
Cultural impact
Merchandise
The character of the Vortigaunt has been popular enough to inspire the creation of a Vortigaunt plush toy. Designed by one of Valve's own artists, Dhabih Eng,[7] the toy was released in December 2006. Due to the proximity to Christmas, the Vortigaunt was accompanied by a to-scale Santa Claus hat.[7]
Reception
References
- ^ "Life Forms". Planet Half-Life. IGN. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
- ^ "Half-Life—Walkthrough: Interloper". Planet Half-Life. IGN. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
- ^ "Half-Life: Decay". Planet Half-Life. IGN. 2006-11-12. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
- ^ a b c "Half-Life 2 Allies". Planet Half-Life. IGN. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
- ^ "Half-Life 2 Walkthrough—Chapter 4: Water Hazard". Planet Half-Life. IGN. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
- ^ a b "Half-Life 2: Episode Two Allies". Planet Half-Life. IGN. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
- ^ a b "HL2 Vortigaunt Collectible". Valve Corporation. 2006-12-05. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
External links
- Vortigaunt at Combine OverWiki, a Half-Life Wikia