For anyone who wants to know the music/ambience used in this video: 0:57 hl1_song26.mp3 1:32 citadel_hub_ambience1.mp3 2:44 citadel_drone_loop3.wav 5:48 vlvx_song25.mp3 6:47 hl2_song31.mp3
If you've ever properly looked at the combine soldier AI, you'd see how advanced it is and how that's barely reflected in-game. It sucks how the encounters and level design were never really made to complement the combine's AI.
I've been playing Gmod lately, and damn those tactical movements and behavior is coded into their AI. They can actually form a firing line behind a low wall.
Half-Life AI is the same way except it's shown off better, the Military can only do 1 action at a time for balance, but the shear amount of things they can do is incredible especially by 1998 standards.
I'm guessing they wore white instead of any attempt at camo as an additional indicator to their combat prowess and lethality. In the same way that space marines in WH40K or stormtroopers in star wars didn't wear camo, with the intent of sacrificing ability to remain hidden for the sake of being obvious, likely in an attempt to inspire fear in their enemies, i.e. "we don't need camo because if you see us it means you're as good as dead". Or so they thought...
@@RescoeZ It's barely visible because the difference in color in the pattern is so faint so I never really notice it. But unless they're going into an environment with snow it would still pretty much have the opposite effect of camo, and even in a snowy environment the red on their arm and helmet would stick out like a sore thumb. They're obviously not even trying to blend in where the regular combine soldiers seem to at the very least, make an attempt not to stick out in their environment, so I think it is the Combine's attempt at making the elites more intimidating, if not then grossly underestimating their enemies. lol
The soldier's behavior in the end segment was just showing how a massive portion of the maps weren't designed properly, restricting them from using their full potential. Shame they did that. The AI was so advanced even for now.
@@93camping They don't even bother to make a source version of OP4 and BS. There's no way that's coming. Now the community is what Valve once was, passionate and putting effort.
Actually the bigger collar means the armor they are wearing, you can see that Soldiers also have collars and crotch protection, this indicates they are sporting Level 3 armor protections, Elites sports bigger collar, fatter armor and a bigger crotch portection, meaning it's a Level 4 vest.
What I meant about the collar was the Combine must think Elites hold some value or they wouldn't bother giving them better armour. I didn't know there were different levels of armour though, that's interesting to knoww.
@@RescoeZ Their armor is probably from the pre-war Era, i have a theory that our weapons are way more effective and deadlier than theirs, if you notice the Synth weaponry, or the Transhuman Arm arsenal, their weapons are either pulse related, dark energy, or explosive flechettes, highly effective against flesh or organic targets, but, their weapons are unable to penetrate cover and walls, maybe vehicles too, that's why they use rushing tactics and employ multiple grenades to flush targets into the open and blast them, that also explains why they use our kind of arsenal aswell, with the USP, MP7 and the SPAS-12, what further supports this theory is the fact that in the Beta, there was supposed to be Merkava tanks, that the Combine were probably unable to destroy, but managed to kill the crews and capture them. Also the ammount of APCs we find the in-game that only have missing tires.
6:48 This general behavior is due to the standoff behavior in that particular part of the map, which map makers can use to modify NPC cover behavior. (See the Valve Developer Community article on Standoffs.) 7:09 The cover nodes in those areas are set to a specific kind (either Crouch Cover Medium or Crouch Cover Low), which means Combine will crouch walk/run to those cover spots during a standoff. 7:24 This is actually just the Combine Soldier getting up to move from one cover node to the one beside it.
@@ileryon4019 i don't get why black mesa didn't use it, they probably could've but i guess cutting down on a rail to a 3 minute chapter that nobody cares about is much more important still hate that they cut down that chapter, it was really fun in the original game. thank god there was an uncut version on the workshop
@@slavarodu5062 but these guys did it way before us the closest we have to that is steroids, and even then, those can kill us the combine probably made their own advanced tech when we were still using swords and bows
@Thefirst Decade No, the problem is that less and less people are interested in the Half-Life franchise. The original fans are literally dying, or leaving gaming behind them as they have kids and jobs. Show Half-Life to any kid nowadays, the modern gamer, they'll either have no idea what it is, or they'll ask "is this garrys mod??" It's sad to me.
5:50 How could I have never noticed that before? It’s been 5 years since I’ve played Ep2 and thought that combine radio chatter was just a flaw from Valve. But no, the soldier was right there!
@@PyroFTB Nah, that voiceline could've easily been played without an Elite there to speak it. Infact, the Elite doesn't even speak that line directly, there's a sound entity placed near him that plays "Target One", then tells the Elite to run away.
@@infernohellfire6806 the last clip showing an elite. Its i episode 2 and Rescoe that elite to show the dirtied model of the Elite that was unused 5:52
Yea, the colors being white and red is actually a tactic to put fear into those rebelling or enemies, also due to white being a fairly bright color it actually makes it harder to aim or at least in real life it does.
They'll use energy balls on the deployable turrets as well. At least, first time I played that's how they took out the turrets in the teleport sequence. It left quite an impression.
6:30 Their uniforms are dirtied because in HL2 Episodes Elites work on muddy lands and roads instead of buildings like Citadel. Such a perfect detail from Valve.
I really wish they just gave the Combine soldiers in episode 2 that dirt texture. It would make more sense considering how most of them just came out from City 17 being destroyed
Much of the AI for this game (both enemy and friend) are incredibly sophisticated (compared to other games of its time), they just appear to be dumb because of map design
the Combine AI is actually one of the smartest AI of all times. It's just they don't live long enough for the players to experience some of their more interesting AI due to their low HP, speed and damage, bad Accuracy in vanilla HL2 (not in the Episodec), most of the maps didn't made to complement their AI such narrow spaces and catwalks (not adding solid covers and routes for the AI to move around and flank), the player being tanky even on hard difficulty.
Health plays a huge role in player's perception of enemy's Al. It is known that enemies higher health seem to be smarter to players despite having the exact same Al. When those enemies have low health and deal low damage players don't see them as a threat and just stomp them. If that soldier has so low health, that he dies just in few shots... why would he try to ambush you anyway? But if you increase their health and damage they become a serious problem and a worthy opponent. Player would have to think on how are they going to defeat that enemy, they try different strategies and utilize their other abilities. Player is going to be surprised when Al opponent adjusts to the player's actions in an intelligent way. So basically increasing health makes the same Al seem smarter. It was utilised in half life 1. Hecu marines have 80 health on hard difficulty, compared to 50 health in lower difficulties. That major increase in health made a lot of players to believe that they are more intelligent on hard difficulty than they are on normal. To this day players say that they utilize more tactics and maneuvers on hard! It was used in FEAR with replica soldiers gaining more and more health throughout the game. And so valve tried it in half life 2... Not very effective due to increase in only 20 health and with player's high damage weaponry this health increase is barely noticeable.
@@mredgeworth4428 It's basic AF what are you talking about? They're using scripts on the maps, jesus christ, so much ignorance. If you want actual good AIs then you got the F.E.A.R squad soldiers, they actually know how to flank the player.
Improved Combine which includes AI, Aim, Fearsome elite soldiers, etc. Share your ideas for the next features and subscribe for more: ru-vid.com/show-UCsa7abkH-k9aJ6sL8beJ0BA Thank you!
It feels very refreshing to see a game taking its' enemy grunts seriously. Minus being roled over by Freeman, combines appear to be surprisingly well organized (and well thought through by designers). Or perhaps i've just stoped playing games with competent enemies...
Game is rigged in a way, to ensure that rebels win: they have perfect proficiency with weapons, just like player does, while only Overwatch Elite have perfect proficiency with their weapon. Rebels also have only slightly less health, than combine soldiers, while also being able to restore their health from medics(combines have no field medics and don't use healthkits). Difficulty doesn't actually increase enemy's health, it simply makes player's weapons less powerful, but all NPCs keep their weapons at same level.
Improved Combine which includes AI, Aim, Fearsome elite soldiers, etc. Share your ideas for the next features and subscribe for more: ru-vid.com/show-UCsa7abkH-k9aJ6sL8beJ0BA Thank you!
I remember the first time I played thru this game I thought they were scientists. Why scientists were heavily armed and decked out with skull ensignias I am unsure
I have a feeling the armor Combine soldiers and elites is extremely bulky and heavy. Part of the physical augmentation must go to their overall strength in order to even be able to bear the weight of all their gear. Even though they get deleted by a .44 Magnum to the chest, but ya know.
The side stepping towards the end is a term called "Slicing the Pie." Usually used by the military to advance into cover and so on. Also I think the high collar could be extra protection for the neck.
Fun fact about the room ay 5:35. You can rapidly open/close the door, and each time you do this one more soldier will spawn inside. You can do this untill you fill whole room with them, leading into epic grenade throws.
Based on things Breene (spell?) says towards the end of the sequel, I dont think Elites are technically following him. He words make it seem like their conditioning will have them generally listen to Breene and others that are close to the top, but any act against the Combine means they instantly see you as the enemy with out anyone having to say anything or order anything (while nothing the Advisers do would ever be seen that way). Maybe I am splitting hairs, but that idea that they can instantly do so and this likely requires conditioning (programming? since they are most definitely modified heavily for that suit to make any sense) made them seem more creepy, but also cooler than the other forces on the earth. They were more like those other modified beings that came from other worlds - less human. They listen to Breen simply because the advisers agree he is the admin of earth, but would instantly kill him if he did anything "wrong".
I'm sure there's mods out there to reimplement the "dirty" textures for the Elites (and Overwatch in general during Episode 2), but I do wonder whether or not they were intentionally cut or are unintentionally broken. I can't see any real reason why Valve wouldn't use those textures in Episode 2, they fit the theming really well. Wonder if the Half-Life 2: Update mod fixes this...
If it isn't just my game, then my theory is there is only the one texture file. For soldiers, there's the texture file and then a noalpha texture file. If one is changed but not the other the texture won't change. Episode 2 gives a new skin but no new noalpha one. I got the dirty Elite skin to work by saving a copy of it and renaming it to the same name as the noalpha file.
@@RescoeZ Huh, that sounds like it's the culprit, but why would Valve not alter the noalpha files as well? Maybe a slip-up do to time constraints? I can't recall if it's working on The Orange Box copy of the game (which is what I have at the moment), so it could be something wrong with your copy, but with your noalpha theory it makes me doubt that's the case. But now that I think about it, were the textures implemented in the trailers/early screenshots for Episode 2? I'm intrigued.
Makes me think about the further augmentations regular Overwatch Soldiers go through just to become Elites. Sure these guys are the best of best, but without any aspect or semblance of humanity left much like their regular counterparts, and definitely a something that sets them apart from Civil Protection. The Combine sure as hell know how to make the best soldiers
No clue why this is recommended as I haven’t looked up anything Half Life in a long time (god damn I just realized how old Ep2 is). Anyways, this is great. A proper analysis of all the combine including armor, colors/decals/design, animations, voice lines, AI, and oddities would be awesome. I watched your CP one and it was really cool but I kept waiting for you to break down the armor and more stuff about the humans who actually put on the uniform (I mean, you did kind do the last thing). You seem to have a love for the background chatter and VAing in general and I think that’s awesome and you should keep doing what you love. But more videos like this while still doing the VA stuff would be incredible. Really made me want to learn more. And yeah I know a wiki exists but that’s not the same.
RescoeZ I enjoy your videos. The ones analyzing the combine especially the sniper one. I learned that them shooting random objects in order to destroy concealments and coverage for the player. Plus the deflection technique used when shooting at the player got me hooked instantly.
7:30 According to the Valve Developer Wiki, two areas marked with "Crouch Cover Low" will be traversed while crouched. There's a warning there that apparently sometimes soldiers will shoot through props if you use this in wrong areas, but I never totally understood it.
I found it funny that it's possible for your turrets to kill all the Elite soldiers when you go through the teleporter, really removes the tension from that scene
**Insert bullet being launched out of pistol, as it hits your epidermis protecting your Skull and penetrates through it, causing major brain damage and fractures, causing your brain to shut down, killing you easily**
The whole running to cover while crouching can be seen for the first time in the E3 trailer with Barney. Would be cool if more Combines used that animation.
YAY som hl2 content great channel small tip: there are a lot of texture HD mods for the game, they make the textures look a heck of o lot better keep the hl2 content going!
I think that they have bigger collar to allow them better head movement to check more places even when are they deployed in smaller numbers than regular soldiers.
4:27 Nope Its Based On Relationship for those any npcs who are friendly to you for ex: Zombie always set to "enemy" but if you change the relationship settings and put "Friendly" The Elites will Fire AR2 Balls. except neutrals. If you had Garry's Mod you may have fun Testing Combine NPC's here
@@RescoeZ You Gonna need Enchanced Sandbox then activate NPC Friendly Spawn then set Squad mixing on Combine Soldier's, "doesnt work on metrocops" and you need an addon called anti Friendly fire then SPAWN MANY COMBINE ELITES AS YOU WANT!!!! now enjoy :)
