Gordon Freeman to return in 2012 (in small plastic toy form). Also, replica portal guns for all!

Want to know exactly what you'll be sticking on your shelf and trying to justify as a legitimate piece of ornamental decoration next year? Well scroll down and I'll tell you.

Outside of the Half-Life universe, Pyro, Heavy and Demo Man figures are coming from TF2, and Left 4 Dead 2 is getting Boomer and Smoker figures. No word on sizes or pricing yet, and given the obvious gaps in the line-up I'd assume these are only series one of what will probably be a long string of releases. The future possibilities though, are great. It would be insane not to predict a big expensive GLaDOS diaorama for example, and surely both sets of Left 4 Dead protagonists are going to be coming eventually too.

No pics of the first batch yet, unfortunately, so until they turn up, enjoy my mock-up of NECA's talking Gordon Freeman action figure. Just pull the string to hear all of your favourite Half-Life 2 catchphrases in Gordon's original voice!

July 22, 2011

Long-time GR+ writer Dave has been gaming with immense dedication ever since he failed dismally at some '80s arcade racer on a childhood day at the seaside (due to being too small to reach the controls without help). These days he's an enigmatic blend of beard-stroking narrative discussion and hard-hitting Psycho Crushers.