The G-Man

The G-Man, as he has come to be known by fans and filenames, is a mysterious blue-suited man who plays a pivotal role in the Half-Life series. The G-man has an uneasy complexion and a strange manor of speaking; not to mention abilities not typical of a human.

The G-man also appears on one of the covers of Half-Life 2, with Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance on the other two versions.

The G-man is terribly mysterious; even before the Black Mesa incident, players see him somehow involved with the Black Mesa Research Facility (See sightings in the episodes Black Mesa Inbound, Anomalous Materials, Insecurity and Dual Access) as well as the United States Marine Corps military base in Santego, Arizona (See mentions in the Op4 manual as well as sightings in the episode Boot Camp). Even during the Black Mesa incident, the G-man is seen interacting with both personnel of Black Mesa (Seen in Welcome to Black Mesa) as well as the USMC. (Seen in "We are Pulling Out") He is also seen interacting with members of the resistance (seen in Highway 17) and around Combine facilities (see sightings in "A Red Letter Day" and Nova Prospekt), not to mention being seen on various televisions and monitors in the game (Seen in Route Kanal, Water Hazard, and twice in Anti-Citizen One)

The G-man also seems to have been performing a series of observations during the Black Mesa incident; watching several subjects' progress through the incident (including, but not limited to, Dr. Gordon Freeman, Cpl. Adrian Shephard, Barney Calhoun, Dr. Gina Cross and Dr. Colette Green), evaluating them. Such observations seemed to focus around Dr. Freeman and Cpl. Shephard, and was not always passive. (The G-man came to Shephard's aid on two separate occasions, see the sightings in Welcome to Black Mesa and Pit Worm's Nest for more information) The culmination of these evaluations resulted in:


 * Dr. Freeman being hired and awaiting assignment, which he received at the beginning of Half-Life 2.
 * Cpl. Shephard being detained "for a time."
 * Mr. Calhoun managed to escape Black Mesa and get "Out of Range" of the evaluator.

It is unknown what fates befell Dr. Cross and Dr. Green.

The G-man has exhibited the ability to teleport himself and those around him, as well as slow the passage of time, in addition to apparently is either oblivious or immune to dangerous events around him, being seen both in a room full of Headcrabs (in the episode Lambda Core) as well as a room occupied by Antlions duking it out with sentry turrets (in the episode Nova Prospekt). Finally, attempts to damage the G-man seemingly fail, as projectiles either miss or ricochet off the G-man

Not much is known about his personality, though he is self-described as someone "who adapts and survives against all odds," and has mentioned a mysterious group of "Employers" whom he answers to and apparently follows the orders of, despite his own feelings of the issue. (Example: In Opposing Force, the G-man mentions that he feels Corporal Shephard would be more than capable of keeping silent on the Black Mesa incident, however his employers are "not quite so trusting," forcing the G-man to settle on simply detaining Shephard.)

A popular if wild theory by fans has it that the G-man is Gordon Freeman from the future. This is based on similarities in their facial structure. Valve employees have denied this theory.

=Sightings=

Half-Life
Black Mesa Inbound

Anomalous Materials

Unforeseen Consequences

Office Complex

"We've got Hostiles"

Power Up

Apprehension

Lambda Core

Endgame

Opposing Force
Opposing Force Manual, Page 2/Blue Shift Manual, Page 19

Opposing Force Manual, Page 7/Blue Shift Manual, Page 20

Boot Camp

Welcome to Black Mesa

"We are Pulling Out"

Pit Worm's Nest

Foxtrot Uniform

"The Package"

Conclusion

Blue Shift
Insecurity

Decay
Dual Access

Half-Life 2
Point Insertion

"A Red Letter Day"

Route Kanal

Water Hazard

"We Don't go to Ravenholm..."

Highway 17

Nova Prospekt

Anti-Citizen One

Dark Energy

Other
Uplink Seen looking through a window as a Gargantua tears apart a large room filled with computer machinery. As Uplink doesn't fit canonically into the Half-Life series, this sighting can be disregarded.

=Quotes=

Half-Life
Endgame "Gordon Freeman, in the flesh... or rather, in the hazard suit. I took the liberty of relieving you of your weapons; most of them WERE government property.  As for the suit... I think you've earned it.

The borderworld: Xen, is in our control, for the time being. Thanks to you. Quite a nasty piece of work you managed over there. I am impressed!

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.

You've proven yourself a decisive man, so I don't expect you'll have any trouble deciding what to do. If your interested, just step into the portal and I'll take that as a yes... Otherwise, well, I can offer you a battle you have no chance of winning... rather an anti-climax after what you've just survived.

Time to choose...

WISELY DONE, MR. FREEMAN! I will see you up ahead!"

Opposing Force
Conclusion

"So, Corporal Shephard, we meet at last. Please, don't think that I've been avoiding you; a great many matters require my attention in these "troubled times." I do hope you understand, and now I require a further indulgence on your part. I cannot close my report until every loose end has been tied up. The biggest embarrassment has been Black Mesa Facility, but I think that's finally taken care of itself."

A nuclear bomb destroys Black Mesa

"Quite so.

But there is still the lingering matter of witnesses. I admit I have a fascination with those who adapt and survive against all odds: They rather remind me of myself. If for no other reason I have argued to preserve you for a time.

While I believe a civil servent like yourself understands the importance of "discretion," my employers are not quite so trusting, and rather than continually subject you to the irristable human temptation to tell all, we have decided to... convey you somewhere you can do no possible harm; and where no harm can come to you. I'm sure you can imagine there are worse alternatives."

Half-Life 2
Point Insertion "Rise and shine, Mr. Freeman! Rise and.. shine.  Not that I wish to imply you have been sleeping on the job; No one is more deserving of a rest... and all the effort in the world would have gone to waste until...  Well, let's just say your hour has come again.  The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world, so wake up Mr. Freeman.  Wake up and smell the ashes."

Dark Energy "Time, Dr. Freeman?

Is it really that time again? It seems as if you only just arrived. You've done a great deal in only a small 'time'-span.

You've done so well in fact that I've recieved some interesting offers for your services. Ordinarily I wouldn't contemplate them, but these are extra-ordinary times, hmm?

Rather than offer you the illusion of free choice, I will take the liberty of choosing for you. If and when your 'time' comes round again. I do apologize for what must seem to you to be an arbitruary imposition, Dr. Freeman. I trust it will all make sense to you in the course of... Well, I'm really not at liberty to say.

In the meantime.... This is where I get off."

Half-Life 2: Episode One
Undue Alarm "We'll see... about that."

Half-Life 2: Episode Two
This Vortal Coil "Ha ha... Doctor Freeman.

I realize this moment may not be the most convenient for a heart-to-heart, but I had to wait until your friends were otherwise occupied.

Hm.

There was a time they cared nothing for Miss Vance... When their only experience of humanity was a crowbar coming at them down a steel corridor. It seems they've grown to share my estimation of her worth.

When I plucked her from Black Mesa, I acted in the face of objections that she was a mere child and of no practical use to anyone. I have learned to ignore such naysayers when quelling them was out of the question.

Still, I am not one to squander my investments... and I remain confident she was worth far more than the initial... appraisal. That's why I must now extract from you some small repayment owed for your own survival.

I'm not asking for anything that goes against your nature. Merely the favor of her continued protection, while she acts as medium for a message of some importance.

See her safely to White Forest, Doctor Freeman. She may require more care than was previously the case.

I wish I could do more than keep an eye on you, but I have agreed to abide by certain... restrictions.

Mmm. Well... Now...

(To Alyx) Listen carefully, my dear. When you see your father, relay these words: 'Prepare for unforeseen consequences.'"