The Mystery of Gordon's Helmet
Half-Life’s biggest mystery isn’t whether the G-Man is a time-travelling Gordon Freeman, but whether or not he wears a helmet. That’s right, rather than wondering why the silent scientist is conducting tests on a group of mute test subjects, we should be concerned about whether he’s rocking a head accessory. Riveting stuff, I know.
The debate began with the first Half-Life, and stems from conflicting statements by concept and 3D designer Chuck Jones and developer Valve itself. Jones says Gordon wears a helmet, while Valve says he doesn’t. Jones says Gordon wears a helmet to prevent headcrabs from latching onto his head, but looking at the Gordon model in both Half-Life and Half-Life 2, he never wears a headpiece. Promotional art for the game also depicts Gordon without a helmet.
So, who’s right? Well, Jones is. But only for the original game. He says Gordon does wear a helmet, but that headcrabs can still latch onto his head due to its “loose-fitting facemask.” However, this would mean Gordon would be unable to see, which makes his ability to navigate the facility and prevent the resonance cascade from occurring even more impressive.
There’s also the issue of Combine soldiers in Half-Life 2: Episode 1, who are grappled by headcrabs despite wearing helmets. Gina and Colette, two NPCs in the PS2 spin-off Decay, also don’t wear helmets. Lead writer Marc Laidlaw suggests Gordon ditched the helmet due to “helmet-hair,” with no in-game evidence of Gordon wearing a helmet in the second game.
But that’s the issue – there’s no in-game evidence of Gordon wearing a helmet in the original, despite Jones’ assertion. Valve also says Gordon wears no helmet, but that’s for the sequel. The HUD also plays a role in this debate, with fans wondering whether Half-Life was an early prototype of Google Glasses. Jones says this is false as the HUD should only appear after obtaining the HEV suit, which Gordon doesn’t have when the HUD first appears. However, the HUD also doesn’t appear until obtaining the suit in Half-Life 2, a game which also lacks a helmet.
The oxygen meter displayed when swimming underwater is also a point of contention, with some saying Gordon must have a helmet due to this mechanic. Jones also says this is false, as the HEV suit automatically regulates oxygen. This still doesn’t explain why Gordon can only hold his breath for ten seconds, but perhaps he’s just late and didn’t find the helmet, going straight to the test chamber.
Valve and Jones may have cleared this up years ago, but with only one game in a decade and a cliffhanger ending, speculation will continue. It’s also possible Gordon wears a helmet in the first game but not in the second. As always, only time will tell.
Featured image credit: Valve Software.