Not only that I grew up with Half Life but the game also helped me socialise and fix my social anxiety thanks to the great community it has. Half Life will forever have a huge place in my heart.
HL2 is shit tho... i have played so many times and yet im still bored with how ugly they made it look but the coast is pretty and ravinholm is a good chapter
@Nickolas Mondragon The difference there is that CPs are not augmented. Bad Cop has his name for a reason. Still, I would like more games from the Transhumanist forces perspective
Yes, the landscapes in this game really showcase that feeling well.The empty wastelands, the scarcely populated coast and forests, the draining sea and the endless gloomy weather and fog, the once occupied homes raided by the Combine.It's all in there.
This part in HL2 has stuck in my head since I was a kid. seeing the bridge, walking up to it, carefully navigating the trusses and support beams. Its stuck in my head, everytime I go through a tough life change I get the image of the bridge in my head at some point. Maybe it has something to do with the thick fog, the solitude, the difficulty of balancing on the support beams. seeing it conveys inevitability and mystery, the bridge extends out beyond your sight and its the only way to progress forward. Subconsciously, this level had a massive impact on me, which is funny considering its simply an action puzzle piece, not a scene or character interaction, yet it conveys.. something, a lot of things, the atmosphere is just superb.
Well if youre using this as a scenery to represent a harsh moment, it means you have deep insightful potential, and thats kinda lacking nowadays. Or at least its not that used to get through hard moments like I'd hope for.
Makes me think about what horrors each combine soldier went through to become what they are now. Each soldier was as much a victim of the combine. When I think about it I almost feel bad for killing them. Maybe that was intended.
Weren't the combine soldiers the ones who joined willingly? Although for some of them you could argue survival, and the combine soldiers were treated very harshly, I wouldn't call them victims. Stalkers however, they were the ones who are the victims of the combine.
Makes me think of the Lost German soldiers after the War in Europe ended, they escaped death so many times and they finally had the Chance to go back home, but the home they knew like the back of their hand and loved dearly is now nothing more than ash and rubble.
My friend, you're not the only one who whishes that. But, its kind of like you wish to forget the game at first. What if, you forgot when you played Half-Life 2 and then you then don't play it again?
The Combine Soldier in the video looks like he's having an existential crisis. Gazing off into the distance; asking himself the purpose of life - _"why am I here? What is the point in it all?"_ ...Either that or he's just watching Freeman noclip and bunny hop across the map.
@@willfish4428 _"Oh you expect me to believe that? And anyway how do you think our Benefactors will react if I tell them that their plans are being foiled by a flying man in an orange romper suit?!?"_
Christ, could you imagine partially coming to in such a state? Remembering a vague feeling of who you used to be, stuck in a mutilated form you can’t escape from? What a nightmare.
Combine soldiers aren't stalker like creatures in full-body suits. They are normal human beings who willfully joined the combine with promises of a better life... well... better than other normal citizens at least.
@@taco8077 That is actually completely wrong. Citizen Protection are totally human, but any "people" that are part of the transhuman arm of the combine overwatch are transhumans, and the worst kind, the kind where any part of being human that gets in the way of being a weapon has been stripped from them.
you can see the stripped soldiers in nova prospekt look completely human, but with pale skin and dead cold lifeless eyes, some of them hooked up to machines on their face that probably wipe their brain into a clean slate to remove any undesirables. they aren't stalkers per-se but they arent fully human anymore either. some became transhuman willingly or were forced to as part of an 'upgrade' for a job well done or whatever. theyre on a quota i think, i dont remember the overwatch voicelines, but it speaks about becoming transhuman for better benefits or whatever
The Combine soldiers have been modified so much they’ve reached the point that they aren’t even considered humans anymore. In Nova Prospekt you can clearly see in one of the cams that the soldier undergoing the procedure has a device in his throat and modified legs. That means anything below their belly button is just robotics now. They’re also equipped with a artificial voice changer and microphone in their throat. These people have been modified so much that if their mask was to be removed they would suffocate because it’s probably the only thing that’s allowing any oxygen into their system. Like Darth Vader. Their brains have also been wiped and have been reinstated with information relating to combat training and whatever else the Overwatch wants them to know. Which means they don’t remember anything from their past life.
Oh. My. Goodness. This almost makes me cry. I remember first playing the game and coming to this bridge part, with this INCREDIBLE music that makes you really feel like you’re there. You can almost hear distant screams in the actual music. Nostalgia man, nostalgia.
I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing the first time I played this part; my whole world felt differently, more monotone, more matte, more existential
The reality of your situation sinks in and all you feel is the will to survive. Raw, basic, and authentic, baby. Trusting your instinct to pull through this dangerous situation...all that remains is a connection with your true self...the person you really are.
What I find so beautiful about this moment in HL2 is how hollow the melancholy is. In a world where a worldwide state is hunting you, you are still put in a place where it seems there isn't any threat at all. You could almost just sit on the beach relaxing, knowing somewhere far out in the world is the combine hunting you. Yet you don't feel danger, but this strange sense of paranoia crawls around you. It's one of the most complex feelings I've ever had. Bravo Valve
I feel the music on the Half-Life series is a key factor of what makes it so good. If you put some generic action music over this section it would play out a lot different. If you had some generic action music the player would be instantly put into a mode on their brain that tells them to get going and move fast, but they chose this song, instead of feeling hunted all the time you just feel lonely. Long but not in danger, just nothing as the far as the eye can see, and you admire it, then continue on with your journey.
Already made it, on my old channel. (I don't have any connections to this channel anymore, but it's still there.) But it is not the original wind effect from the bridge. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sXP8buVQeaU.html
onlylightyears the only thing is the combine don’t feel any emotion other than anger, so you wouldn’t really get to invested in any characters or your own, unless he is the so called one free man.
Gustavo Fring Barney was in civil protection, not the overwatch trans-human military. The overwatch is where (sometimes high ranking CP officers join willingly) people are forced in with their memories wiped along with their emotions. Barney joined civil protection willingly as a spy.
a lone combine human solder contemplating where they came from both individually and evolutionarily speaking, where he is now both on the ruins of his old civilization and in a suit with a gun and gas mask, who brought him the suit and what he is as a result of wearing it, and the change for humanity between the moment before and after the war.
maaan, the 2005, i'm just a school kid waking up early in the morning to take another hour in hl2 before school.. this chapter stucked in my head, i'm going to school alone, there is no people around, it's sleepy morning you know, fresh spring weather, some lazy sun and no clouds, this music playing in my head and i'm slowly walking and walking, thinking about life and how big it is. well 15 years later i'm here. just want to wish you a good day and enjoy your life
half-life 2 atmosphere: *totalitarian dystopia, all hope for humanity lies in one scientist who was a half hour late to work one day 20 years ago* also half-life 2 atmosphere: *nostalgic masterpiece where nobody feels unhappy*
"Whenever I hear this, I imagine a Combine soldier on the bridge looking out to sea. There's something that seems familiar about the view in front of him, as if he feels something, but cannot remember what it is. Then, as quickly as it came, the feeling is gone, replaced by the sound of distant gunfire and reports of Anticitizen One." -Rescoe Z, another video, another time.
Imagine what the Combine feel like when Gordon arrives and quickly overruns their operations and sectors, i'd imagine it was a similar feeling the Covenant had when Master Chief broke into their bases, he just comes in fast and leaves just as quickly, like some bat out of Hell. Gordon being like a subatomic particle zooming out of control, being present in one place, then appearing in another. Must've been scary, when they realized how serious the threat became.
Gordon being a nucleus particle (not necesarely subatomic) is probably the best metaphore for him. He zooms in places is hard to stop by any barrier and creates a chain reaction wherever he goes.
same, except im preparing for my final physics exam i'll have next tuesday with legitimately 280 pages to study. I'll let you guys know how it turned out after i do it lol
That combine probably didn't have a complete memory replacement. He probably remembers a bit of his past human life until he was forced into this kind of surgery.
Most likely it was the same operation as the rest, but either by a mechanical failure, pure chance, or overused tools, (the combine would probably mindwipe hundreds per day between stalkers, and soldiers) this one soldier remembers, and that's dangerous to the combine, the one thing they would fear is their own forces going against them (conscripts from HL2's beta, who were soldiers without the mindwipes, easily betrayed the combine)
@@pyrra581 MINERVA: Metastasis is a HL2 mod made by a guy who later went on to develop for Valve. The plot is basically this. Long story short, the soldier that keeps his memories remembers losing his loved ones to the combine and goes on a revenge tour after uplinking to an old satellite. It does not go well for the combine.
Yes, No arguement, I go so far as to say that kelly bailey is a musical genius, These soundtracks feel like they werent created by humans but one guy made all of this
Я надеюсь, сюда когда-нибудь заглянут русскоязычные ценители этой игры, которые забрели в такие дебри, по итогу найдя этот эмбиент. Не знаю почему раньше я не любил вторую Халфу, возможно, я не понимал значимости этой игры, её глубокого мира, о котором приятно думать неоднозначно. Открыв для себя эту игру по-новому, я не могу теперь прожить ни месяца, не зайдя послушать это атмосферное звучание.
@@ВасяПупкин-е5с2в Я помню, когда я еще в конце далеких 90-х годов первый раз притащил от друга и запустил первый HL (притом он был даже английским и WON-версия) и побегал там буквально минут 20, даже костюм не надел, то пришлось потом тоже отлёживаться с больной головой. Чудом не удалил тогда этот шедевр. Потом как-то попривык. А вот когда играю во вторую часть, то тоже бывают неприятности, голова нагреваться начинает и всякое неприятное.
No it isn't. Or "possibly", it's a modified version. The intro song is called Shadows Fore and Aft. Have a look at the HL2 soundtrack video and compare the two. I don't blame you though, I thought the same.
This, this right here is the theme of Half Life 2 to me. Sure, action is a major focal point of the game. But it wouldn't be Half-Life without those quiet, introspective moments.
2:28 Dear Lord, when these C-sharp and G notes strike along, I swear, it sounds like a bell of doom, mourning over the forsaken humanity. Kelly Bailey - you're a freaking orchestral synth genius!
The best chapters in hl2 are: Ch.6:"We don't go to Ravenholm" Ch.7:Highway 17 Ch.9:Nova Prospekt Why? Because i feel as if these chapters really go into detail in introducing the horrors the combine has done to our planet, i fear that the same might happen to us IRL, but not by aliens, but by ourselves
@@NewGlock836 I'm not saying it's bad, I'm just saying that Anticitizen one happens in the third stage of the Combine's history on earth, while what you see before are remnants caused by the aftermath, with the one starting it all being the 7h war, if not the Black Mesa Incident Actually, I like Anticitizen one, with our benefactors being my favorite during that timeline; the above comment are my favorite chapters during the aftermath timeline
@@asimplepie2279 I mean that if you lived in hl universe it would be real life for you and therefore you would not hear any music whatsoever. >Thanklfully half life is in VR so ican do just what I wanted to do. Escapism is reserved for weak and foolish.
While i sleep i listen to this i remember old valve who promised us for new half life since 13 years many people died many things happened some of them didnt make it to this time and seen half life alyx but valve come back and be the company i know Be productive and dont leave us im now 37 years old if i died this message is my last thanks valve ... Edit: if i didnt reply when hl3 is released i am already dead Thanks valve thanks hl community
I absolutely love this theme. It feels strangely peaceful, with a sound resembling that of a seagull. It also feels very sombre and depressing, and for me, really encapsulates the lack of hope humanity has against the evil that is the Combine.
This is one of the things AAAs (apart from valve) will never understand. They will never understand what makes a game an ACTUAL masterpiece. It's not the story, gameplay, characters or if you were the first to invent some feature or use some technology first. It's the impact and atmosphere the game provides. The background lore and the things that don't get shoved in your face but gnaw at the back of your head. Constantly shaking your nervous system making you wonder what really is going on in this dimension. The soldier gave all of his humanity to serve an alien overlord yet he broke free from his restrictive cybernetics and brainwashing just for a moment. A second. A fraction of a millisecond. You can see and hear all of that in this here video and it's fascinating. I will never forget the Half life series because it's one of the series that immersed me THE most of any game I ever played. No cutscenes and no goofy voice actor for the main character. Just you in control the entire time. Not talking because you can't you can't interact with that dimension, you're restricted to the tools you have in your current dimension. Yet you feel as if you're part of that world, taking action against the brutal alien threat. It's the best series ever made and my favourite is definitely the original Half-Life 2. Damn you read all of that? Must be a wanna be philosopher like me.
I just played half life 2 this year for the first time (cos it came out when I was a fetus) and this game broke me emotionally, making me feel nostalgic even though it was my first play through
I hear what you're saying. This music fits so great with vast open space of water, bright sunlight, and desolate, rusty bridge. Valve designers and Kelly Bailey are true geniuses when it comes to creation of desolation feeling - both in HL and in Portal.
Imagine an HL game where you play as a combine soldier after the portal and the borealis are destroyed, you no longer have orders from the overwatch and you're roaming around exploring in hope to find something that will help you remember who you once used to be.
Half life: Forgotten You're a experienced combine soldier who was unlucky enough to get his memories replaced right before the citadel explosion, you wake up as a survivor, not remembering a thing, only greeted by dead bodies and zombies in the remainings of city 17.
The soldier is doomed, he will die for the Combine. He has no choice and yet an ounce of humanity still get's through the cracks, supressed by the Combine's technology.
As the Combine soldier leans on the rail...he stares out into the distance...he slowly starts to feel a feeling he has never felt...dred...he is fearing about his life...most combine soldiers didnt feel this...but...he felt it. Now he must find a new passion...a free passion...he must be... *HUMAN*
I remember the time that was 7 years ago. I had no job and was completely lost not knowing what to do. So I decided to play hl2. It really helped me to relax a little. And now when that period of time pops up in my memory this music starts to play in my head and I can feel that atmosphere. Now the time is rough too. Probably, it's the roughest time of my life. I'm on the bridge again. Just trying to keep my mental balance.
A lone Combine Prison Guard Is standing on the bridge.Thinking about how He Survived Nova prospekt. He was lucky that he got shoot in the leg and not in the head. He played Dead. After 1 hour he tried to get up. So he found health charger and used it. He got up. He went out of Nova Prospekt. Just as he turn around.Nova Prospekt just exploded.He then walk away. He hide from rebel patrols.After 10 days of walking He was at the beach.He found the bridge. So he went up.Look at the sea side.Trying to Remember why this place look familiar and then the lone Combine Prison Guard Vanished Without a trace...
Listening to this song today, reminding myself that this masterpiece came out in 2004. Nearly 20 years ago. Kind of ironic, because this piece of music has a very "What happened, where did the time go?" kind of vibe to it. I remember the day when I brought this game home from Best Buy like it was yesterday. Man, life moves fast, but Half Life 2 will remain still as the best game ever made.
this music in the climate of this bridge makes me feel a huge emptiness that fills me completely ... I realize that I am only halfway to the goal (end of the game) and it is not known what may happen next ...
At the beginning of this year, I moved across the united states from the east coast to the west coast to become a missionary. Upon moving into my home, all I had was a mattress, my suitcase, and a pc that had a few games installed on it, Half Life 2 and Cry of Fear were the only 2 games I played in the time I didn't have internet, and Half Life 2 truly did change my life. This part especially has always sat in the back of my mind on just how cool of a mission it was!
I still remember the first time this song kicked in at the bridge on my first ever playthrough, an overwelming feeling of isolation and melancholy washed over me like a tidal wave as I made my way along that bridge, I too remember stopping and staring out into the sea as that feeling really sunk into my soul, a game never made me feel like before or since, it was a truly spiritual experience, this game is an utter masterpiece, and this moment in the game conveys that in every way.
I think this track made me really realize the situation the game is set in. Right now, Gordon was crossing underneath a bridge on his way to take out the combine. Such a small man on his way to do a great thing for the world and universe. The right man in the right place. Its almost as if this song foreshadows something. I feel like the song is telling me: keep going.
Every time I come back to this game to replay it every year I stop to listen to this music in this moment in the game and just look off into the distance....thank you valve for making the best game of all time
So when I was listening to this I thought of something. Maybe the combine overwatch only had their memories removed and not their free-thinking and that the only reason they don't rebel against the combine is that the combine is all they have ever known.
Good morning and welcome to the Black Mesa Transit System. This automated train is provided for the comfort and convenience of Black Mesa residents and visitors to the Black Mesa Research Facility. The time is 08:42 AM. Current topside temperature is 91 degrees with an estimated high today of one hundred and five.
Probably my favourite part of the game, the mysterious mist and music, the ocean right under you, always being scared that the bridge collapses as soon as a train goes by and makes it shake and an eerie undescribable weird feeling i always get
That Bridge, it felt like a sanctuary, a different dimension, like when you walked thru the door with the loading screen, it feels like going thru a portal. It feels liminal, almost. A place of transition from one part of life to another. A crossing ground where you must navigate carefully thru the derelict beams. I cant describe it well enough, words cant do it justice, but i just cant help but feel a connection between certain events and the feelings i had in them, in my life and this bridge, i played it as a child, thru thick and thin, Sick and Healthy, Sad or Happy, it felt like a place that could welcome me no matter what, if you need an escape to think about whats happening around you, or do the opposite, this game was the way to do so for me.
Kinda sad to think about them giving away their humanity. I’m pretty sure he’s just watching the coast for movement or something, not enjoying the view
This image is perfectly in place, and yet the combine soldiers have most of their humanity striped away. But maybe somehow, by looking into the vast ocean, this soldier may remember what he once was. A man of passion, of kindness, maybe one of justice. Perhaps this reminds him of a time before the combine invasion... before the 7 hour war... before everything changed...
When that NPC says, "Sometimes, I dream about cheese". Most people write it off as a funny joke or goofy NPC dialogue. In reality he's right. Most of Earth's natural fauna went extinct after the Xen Infestation and 7hr War. That includes important livestock and plants based foods. It's also heavily implied in Half Life Alyx that livestock such as Cows and Pigs are extinct now. They were one of humanity's most important sources of food. Now they're gone never to be seen again. This part of the game really makes you realize how fucked Earth has become. And even with a miracle that the Combine leaves Earth, It'll never be the same again.
Dude literally the same thing happened to me with this piece. I didn't remember it as a kid, but replaying the game now a days this track works and makes complete sense in this game. I think this is the best song in the half-life series.
Я ненавижу свою жизнь, быть подростком в России это боль, каждый день приближает меня к суициду и эта музыка идеально олицетворяет моë состояние, я осознаю что я никто что я не на что не способен, что я просто пустой человек и во мне нету ничего, я даже боли уже не чувствую
Chaval, eso le pasa a todo el mundo. Si tienes una filosofía de vida autodestructiva, cámbiala. Tu único problema es la soledad, no lo que describes. Porque lo que describes que te pasa, me pasa muchas veces a mi en un mental breakfown de esos. Solamente tienes que salir de casa cada día, y hacer actividades con gente, eso puede ser entrenar o ir a la iglesia o a estudiar. Pero lo que te tiene depresivo es el movil, es el ordenador. No tu situación, o tu país. Espabila.
