A Fate Worse Than Death | Stalkers | FULL Half-Life Lore

Becoming a Stalker in the Half-Life Universe is probably one of the worst things that could happen to a human, and over the wasteland, The Combine Empire created them and sent them to work in Combine controlled regions to work as mindless synths. For Halloween, I chose to look into the creepiest part of Half-Life - these unfortunate souls.
Who did The Combine chose to become a Stalker? What were they used for? and what physical transformation did they go through? In this video, I explore the lore and story behind the Stalkers in Half-Life.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:55 Background & Overview
03:00 The Creation of The Stalker
08:12 The Uprising
11:17 Legacy
11:56 Behind The Scenes
14:19 Closing Thoughts & Ending
Thumbnail Stalker model by TheParryGod & Sterling Thompson
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Standard Sources
Game Manuals
Half-Life Series Playthrough Research
Portal Series Playthrough Research
Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar
Half-Life: Alyx Playthrough
Portal/ Half-Life Fandom
Old Valve Forums
Marc Laidlaw's Twitter
Breengrub Twitter
Reddit AMA (w/ HL: Alyx Developers)
AUDIO USED
Half-Life 2 OST: Escape Array
Half-Life 2 OST: Lab Practicum
Black Mesa Xen OST: Resonance
Half-Life 2 OST: Triage at Dawn
#Stalkers #Lore #HalfLife

[@Skyrionn]

What is worse? Becoming a Stalker or a Headcrab Zombie?

[@Evilspino]

I’m the first one

[@newcastleman86]

A Zombine!

[@gigamoumantai2696]

Both...

[@SkyChaser-]

Idk man... exploring chernobyl's buildings sounds like a pretty good time.

[@shadow_luc]

well headcrab zombies are still conscious, but stalkers technically don't have any idea of their surroundings so probably a stalker

[@tylerpham6556]

And yet somewhere in an underground facility a woman is doing puzzles for an AI to get cake.

[@Skyrionn]

Poor Chell. It makes you wonder if she's actually in the better position down there.

[@JaesNSC]

Youve been lied to! There is no cake

[@weissendrachen]

@@JaesNSC ~[turret_noises.exe]//

[@Shorkshire]

Portal is in the half-life universe?!

[@sacrismortem70]

@@Shorkshire yes, thats pretty well established

[@NoahGooder]

I always believed killing these things was a kind of mercy kill.

[@Skyrionn]

100%

[@NoahGooder]

@@Skyrionn better yet for a long while and kind of still do I have issues killing combine, because they still in some cases had thier humanity. but when it came to stalkers I would end thier suffering quickly because they look like they are in constant pain.

[@hoperipley1901]

Like civil protection are just like civilians but militaristic, they only joined for a better life…and I don’t blame them.

[@anactualalpaca7016]

@@hoperipley1901 the combine get their penis chopped off

[@jimraynor3132]

I would kill them just cause they were rebels at one time and they’ve been brainwashed into helping the combine. I’m sure if they still had their humanity they’d rather be dead then doing that not to mention what they did to them.

[@ncredux]

These creatures are tragic and horrifying at the same time. But having a creature that is pitiable makes them more compelling than something that just attacks the player indiscriminately and it makes the combine that much more of an oppressive force. Man, it’s freaky.

[@Skyrionn]

100% It adds something new to the game where you actually have to think about what you think is right to do. Kill or let them live.

[@internetwaste]

The Zone operates in strange ways

[@WaltuhWhite815]

Don’t get that creeped out, it’s a video game!

[@melficxx287]

@LordDuck that doesn’t mean you can’t be afraid

[@inkedthedemon]

@@WaltuhWhite815 then if you play a horror game you can’t feel even the smallest bit of fear

[@The_Horse-leafs_Cabbage]

That scene where you and Alyx are trapped in a train full of screaming stalkers... That's still one of the most haunting images in Half Life. I'd almost rather be a headcrab zombie -- because at least there's the hope of death, either by the headcrab or by the merciful hands of a passerby with a gun or crowbar. I wouldn't be surprised if the Combine pulled a page out of "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream," and perpetually kept the stalkers alive--a monotonous, agonizing hell.

[@aisling7540]

Even before that, Alyx's reaction to seeing them dormant in the train made me very uneasy. Her facial expression, body movements, and disturbed tone made her feel almost too real. I could feel the horror she was feeling despite never interacting with the stalkers before. What Alyx said to the stalker stuck with me for such a long time, "I hope to God you don't remember who you were." The animators and voice actress deserve an award for that scene.

[@The_Horse-leafs_Cabbage]

@@aisling7540 that's something I never really stopped to think about. The voice work of the Half Life series, and how much weight it gives to the games. Especially with Eli and Alyx. Alyx was a fantastically endearing character, and is probably the emotional core of the series. And Eli always had a genuine warmth to his voice... Probably why the end of Episode 2 still hurts to think about. Then again, voice work in most Valve titles is often a cut above the rest (just look at Portal 1/2 and TF2).

[@Skyrionn]

It's probably one of the worst game universes to land in. So many awful ways to fall into terrible situations.

[@The_Horse-leafs_Cabbage]

@@tekrit3249 true, lol Unless you've got one of those fast headcrabs... Tho at least with those, you'll probably won't last long enough to worry about that.

[@The_Horse-leafs_Cabbage]

@@Skyrionn Reminds me of the draft one of the previous writers released a while ago for an episode 3/4 follow-up. Especially the stuff regarding the Dyson sphere surrounding the planet. I can't think of many video games that perfectly capture the true essence of a dystopia like Half Life... One where successful revolutions are won by the skin of their teeth. Most games feature a pretty fragile dystopia, even if the stories are just as engaging (Rapture from Bioshock comes to mind). Oddly enough, Dark Souls also features a just as harrowing world as HL, tho without the hope of a "Freeman"

[@VeryRareEgg]

In episode one (I think it was that one) where you crash in a train full of stalkers, when the stalkers started moving and groaning I got really frightened. I was even more frightened after I took a minute to really think about what they were. I don’t care what anyone says, half-life is definitely a horror game.

[@Skyrionn]

It is 100% a horror game. Ravenholm set the standard there.

[@noahhamilton5974]

Seriously, did they have to make the headcrab's mouths so goddamn horrific?

[@NKiwi2903]

When I first played this game I was still a child and I remember being literally stunned by fear when they groaned that I just endured the horror for a while, while being to scared to move. Good times.

[@VeryRareEgg]

@@NKiwi2903 I’m only 13 and I recently finished this series this summer , I heard of it as a child and I remembered it so I got it. It was an amazing game but when I got to ravenholm it still scared the living daylight out of me, just seeing all the zombies, the music,, and especially the fast zombies were so scary for me.

[@VeryRareEgg]

@@noahhamilton5974 I know right? Headcrab zombies are just as scary as the backstory of stalkers for me, if not more terrifying

[@jnev5572]

Completey agree that we missed out on the stalkers not living up to their name, would've been extra creepy if we came across some that weren't fully transformed that could still get a few garbled words out or something too.

[@theironycomedy6]

I'm imagining something similar to the zombies, where they're just talking in reverse.

[@Skyrionn]

I'm glad you think the same way. Maybe there were some secret Stalker experiments that we could encounter in a future game. I'm hopeful anyway!

[@alyx3154]

that's a really good idea for a mod

[@naturesquad9174]

I imagine valve played with that idea and decided it was 'too' grim

[@Silly-g]

Well, they had sound clips that were cut that sounded like high pitched laughter, and screaming rather than the scripted sounds they make in the final game.

[@bobrobbinson_thebigheist]

Damn, half life's lore is DEEP. I could listen to people speaking about it non-stop

[@Skyrionn]

Listen away!

[@darkySp]

I spent a whole night with a friend, drinking rum and beer and I told him the entire story of the Half-Life games and his thought at the end was simply said a "whoa......" So much lore in this game and not even laid out before you.

[@boneblyat7.628]

Attention Stalkers!! An Emission is Approaching!! Seek Shelter Immediately!!

[@OneFreeMan17]

@@darkySp I need friends like that 😮

[@SkippySanctus]

Same

[@combinecommando001]

Let's bear in mind that originally, Half-life 2 was meant to have even more implications of the horrors of what the Combine has done ever since the 7 hours War. What we were given as the final product was a much tamer version of that plot. So let that sink in for a moment.

[@Luemm3l]

Mt favorite although horrifying concept from the beta was some sort of vr game where the citizens played these flying slicing drones, the flipside being they thinking they play a game and in reality slaughtering their own. Talk a out twisted and sadiat8c

[@combinecommando001]

@@Luemm3l Imagine the guilt you'd feel the moment you found out the truth, man talk about being evil for the sake of it.

[@leonelmartinez7725]

​@@Luemm3lThis is where the fun begins

[@leonelmartinez7725]

I mean they removed cremators which they're job was to burn bodies so I can imagine the beta stuff being more darker and more deaths

[@missingindy]

I don’t remember who said the quote, but the Stalkers remind me of a quote I once heard, but this is gonna be kind of extrapolated since I mostly forgot it: “True horror is not strong, it is weak. It is something you want to kill out of disgust.”

[@Skyrionn]

I recognise something along those lines too!

[@CypressCircuit]

I believe this is a description of "Fridge horror" as it is known. Where something is implied and it does not set in unless you REALLY think on it, or dig deeper for it.

[@Duspende]

It is worth mentioning that the reason their legs were removed was not to limit mobility directly, but specifically to bolt their peg legs to the bone so that they would feel pain with every step they took, to make them suffer for their "crimes" against the Combine for the rest of their lives. Which limits their mobility, but indirectly. Just thought it was worth adding.

[@slevengrungus]

I didn't think the combine even cared about punishing. I just thought they saw themselves so far above humanity that they didn't even look at them as anything more than ants to be exploited as workforce

[@Dinoenthusiastguy]

Where is that mentioned?

[@lord_razur]

@@Dinoenthusiastguy Another commenter from a month back also brings this up From Synthemesc: "I remember in the extended game manual that my friend got when he bought half life 2 (when it first came out - yes, I’m old), it said that the metal limbs were also added to actually cause the stalkers pain with every step. Horrendous."

[@murilo7794]

@@slevengrungus making an example out of someone discourages rebellion, so it serves a practical purpose.

[@slevengrungus]

@@murilo7794 The stalkers have no way of communicating this pain. There is no practical purpose to doing this. It just inhibits their ability to work. Now if this is confirmed to be true I wont say anything. I just think it sounds dumb

[@Crustle1]

This video showcases why I often consider HL a horror game above other genres. Horrific to imagine being turned into a stalker 😬

[@Skyrionn]

I feel the same. It's absolutely a horror game at heart.

[@aarondumbsoidk5660]

I would say sci-fi horror

[@hoovysimulator2518]

My older brother who is at least 10 years older than me said it was a horror game to try keep me away from any shooters back when I was still very young.

[@leonelmartinez7725]

I played it when I was 10 and thought this was a horror game

[@Dunkskins]

I hated the train crash scene in Episode 1 where they're all going mental and poor Alyx has that one right in her face.

[@Skyrionn]

It was deffo a tense part of Episode 1

[@rift3068]

I think I read this from another comment: Imagine a campaign where you play as a ragtag group of rebels. During an ambush, one of your teammates, who pulled you out of wreckages and punched combine like they were sandbags, gets captured. Later near the end of the campaign, you find a stalker with the same tattoo as him

[@foxonfire7]

I would weep like a child, like that would destroy me emotionaly. Then, i would in true human fashion, stand back up and obliterate the combine and their wretched machine fueled by suffering of destroyed civilizations and echose of sentience, starting with the clog in the machine right in front of me. I am sorry my friend.

[@dimsthedimwit600]

Reminds me of Wolfenstein:The New Order, where something simmilar happens

[@Hyperion-5744]

For this reason resistance members should carry cyanide pills since they probably can't be turned into stalkers once they're dead. As always good video skyrionn. Also on prey they have mutilated humans which are similar to the stalkers and they're probably inspired from the stalkers too.

[@Skyrionn]

I think the Cyanide Pills is a good idea. I'd do the same if I was a part of the resistance. Would never want to become a Stalker.

[@RipRLeeErmey]

Their bodies are also probably pretty worthless to the Combine if it's loaded with toxins, too. Even if they wanted to do something with it, the presence of so much cyanide in it would probably make them think twice about recycling the body.

[@ikeraragon7725]

@@Serveck I never played the original prey, but Arkane's Prey also was excellent and criminally underrated

[@theredking254]

@@ikeraragon7725 damn right it was

[@wojtekpolska1013]

yeah, this commonly was used by resistance members during WW2, as Nazi interrogations were known to be very harsh

[@patrlim]

I always forget how lovecraftian the combine are.

[@romanfrancis4133]

Then stop forgetting you little fucker

[@Skyrionn]

I love how inspired by Lovecraft Valve were

[@KaaxItzam]

I thought it was genius to combine Lovecraftian horror with Orwellian horror. Surveillance states will eventually decay and collapse because the bureaucracy and upkeep are too expensive to be sustainable - but what if the overlords are fuelled by practically infinite resources and even aided by psychic beings. Valve even delves into Gothic horror, with Ravenholm being most notable. The Stalkers could also be seen as an element of body horror.

[@nagihangot6133]

@@Skyrionn Lovecraft was more paranormal than scientific as The Combine are.

[@stormlordeternal7663]

@@nagihangot6133 Then again to Lovecraft the scientific practically was paranormal. The combine are so advanced technologically and so vastly powerful that they might as well be compared to eldritch gods, Earth was merely a standard backwater planet to be conquered and assimilated by them like it was routine.

[@BlackChicken710]

Personally i never found killing stalkers a dificult decision even now after finding out how they were made i would dispatch em even quicker

[@Skyrionn]

same

[@anactualalpaca7016]

You're saving them more than anything, I'd hope someone shot me if that was me lmao

[@madorb4384]

Dang

[@findingfuji]

The existence of the stalkers really reminds of the novel, "I have no mouth and I must scream"

[@oodie6284]

I always thought the Stalkers were mechanical beings with pinkish bodysuits to protect their inner workings. I wish I still thought that.

[@Skyrionn]

An innocent mind there. The reality is so much worse.

[@specialism640]

You know what they say. Ignorance is bliss

[@boneblyat7.628]

Attention Stalkers!! An Emission is Approaching!! Seek Shelter Immediately!!

[@botondzoltannagy8849]

@@specialism640 knowledge is harmfull

[@paulgoogol2652]

It's kind of correct. But their history is a bit tragic.

[@subject198]

I always wondered: "Who are the Overlords of the Combine? Advisors are also species that were enslaved to plan the attacks."

[@mstech-gamingandmore1827]

I always thought of it as a collective of many different bases spanning multiple dimensions that all come together to perform their task of world domination. There isn't one man in charge up at the top, dismantling the Combine would require taking down every single base in every single dimension. I wonder how this will play out in (hopefully) future games. Maybe they want to go for a hopeless and depressing ending just like Episode 3 and how Marc Laidlaw intended it. Or maybe they want a cathartic ending where we end the Combine once and for all, in that case my theory probably would be impossible to fit as it doesn't make for a clean linear storyline. Or maybe we will get a bargain ending where we banish them from Earth but allow them to continue enslaving other parts of the universe.

[@Wazzamaniac]

I always thought the advisors WERE the combine

[@mstech-gamingandmore1827]

@@Wazzamaniac Unfortunately, they are only mere cogs in the dehumanizing machine.

[@snage-thesnakemage]

@@Wazzamaniacsame!!

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

Ever since time travel was introduced, I wondered what if that master race were humanity? Think of the situation we are in now, polluting and damaging the planet, lacking and going to war over resources, and becoming dependent on machines. What if it was like an extreme version of WALL-E where humans developed to the point where we could no longer use our natural forms?

[@mprojekt72]

Stalkers always creeped me out far more than headcrab zombies. When Alyx tries to lighten the mood with her zombine joke, I thought it would have been more suitable for the stalkers. Alyx - "A Combine zombie... that's... that's like a zombine. Heh! Zombine, get it?" Gordon - :silently judges Alyx: (BLAM)

[@Skyrionn]

Gordon's silence spoke volumes.

[@mprojekt72]

@@Skyrionn In my more silly thoughts, he seemed to reconsider his romantic interest in her, at that moment, and she lost out to the crowbar.

[@denifnaf5874]

What if the nihilanth had it's legs amputated and a metalic thing atach to it's lower half, because it was captured by the combine but somehow managed to escape a part of the stalkerification proccess

[@shawermus]

I don't think it was stalkerification but just modification, similar to striders and etc. Stalkers are basically worthless easily expendable units. While I don't think combine wanted to get rid of nihilanth entirely

[@owenkegg5608]

Most of nihilanth's modifications were to allow it to take control of the vortigaunt slaves. I also think the legs just never worked to begin with? Not sure where I read this though. The metal thing on its lower half is what let's it fly, supposedly.

[@denifnaf5874]

@@owenkegg5608 sounds like the combine atached a third arm to it so it'll controll vorts easier

[@nickconway2008]

@@denifnaf5874 they did, if you look at it closely in the OG half life you can see that it's sewed on, with stitches and stuff

[@housewilma4904]

i mean the nilhilanth said the combine got the rest of his species so thats actually a potential unit for a half life game i imagine theyd be the heavy war units of the combine.

[@sninctbur3726]

"God, I hope you don't remember who you were..." -Alyx to a Stalker

[@flipflipthegruntking4572]

TvTropes has an interesting quote in the Nightmare Fuel section regarding Stalkers. "These things were once human; whatever they are now wishes they still were."

[@JackFoxtrotEDM]

You’re partially right about the synth creatures. Synths are actually clones, copies of the originals that are more synthetically built made than their organic counterparts (hence the term “synth”). So they’re not organic creatures turned synthetic, they’re synthetically-built units using the biology of what they were based off of.

[@housewilma4904]

yeah thats why the synth subject in fallout 4 always irritated me as clones and ai are two entirly diffrent things synths are clones enhanced with cybernetics while codsworth and curie are example of AI.

[@FuckGuidelines]

This is exactly what's going on with the grunts in black mesa

[@racer927]

@@FuckGuidelines I thought the AGrunts were mutations of the Vortigaunts rather than Synths.

[@Walternity]

5:06 Fun fact, Episode 1 actually improved the stalker's models. For some reason (probably for compatibility reasons since model changes between episodes causes disfigured animations when playing multiplayer servers that just have the default half-life 2 models) this model change isn't present in Garry's Mod by default when you mount Episode one. The stalkers in Episode one still have their eyes visible behind their masks which are yellow and foggy. You can force the episode 1 stalker models by using GCFscape and putting them into Garry's Mod or you can watch Episode 1 gameplay footage of the stalker train to see this.

[@lhejlrludljcjpcofiysiwkts]

It’s so terrifying to think of having part of me removed by an oppressive invader because it isn’t “efficient enough”

[@lukasskrypetz5667]

Imagine how grotesque they’d be if we saw them in Alyx.

[@Grayson-tk5hn]

i ruined the 69>:)

[@gobeldigoo]

@@Grayson-tk5hnI ruined the 70 >:)

[@Grayson-tk5hn]

@@gobeldigooNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@gobeldigoo]

@@Grayson-tk5hn YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

[@Grayson-tk5hn]

@@gobeldigooAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[@comediccomrade5716]

Choosing ascension as the music for the background chapter was so smart and fitting, great job!

[@Skyrionn]

I'm glad you picked up on that! I'm always playing around with new music to try and set the tone.

[@0BucketMask0]

The thought of my limbs being removed and replaced with metal prongs so I can barely walk and can only interface with the tech of my alien subjugators has always been horrifying to me.

[@furrycircuitry2378]

The thought of being mentally broken to the point of not even having any humanity left leaves me very terrified

[@Nyllsor]

Great to still see new HL2 content. This game just never gets old.

[@Skyrionn]

There's still so much more to cover!

[@cheesemanthe2nd]

I think it's interesting how you can still see their hairline, even though all their other body hair seems to have fallen out, implying the combine regularly shaves their heads. Unfortunately we are yet to see this shavage in universe so we can only theorize.

[@TheRealGears]

now imagine a stalker with long, majestic, flowing locks of hair.

[@cheesemanthe2nd]

@@TheRealGears the reality the combine doesn't want us to see

[@Bhatt_Hole]

Shavage?

[@cheesemanthe2nd]

@@Bhatt_Hole I'm being a little ironic because it's something that doesn't really mattrr

[@ShrinkShronk]

I think they even still have some of their body hair too when you look closely!

[@be_quiet_and_drive]

Very similar to servitors in 40k. It's extremely disturbing in that universe too. A fate worse than death.

[@Daburubareru]

I 100% relate exactly on how I feel you explain it about them I always find that Zombies and stalker in HL2 have the most depressing story they have because they used to be "peoples" who they were as exactly Grigori would always explain why they were like that now.

[@Skyrionn]

I'm gonna try and look into the zombies for a future episode and see if is worse than the fate of a Stalker

[@zapplower2014]

I really love that you create your own scenes in gmod or half life (not sure which game you use)! Makes it way better to understand and more entertaining!

[@Autisticguywithacamera]

The stalkers are horrifying, especially since I think maybe most of what's been done to them is fairly doable irl with modern surgery. I don't think even the Nazis went so far as to do what the Combine did with the Stalkers.

[@Skyrionn]

It's scary to think that this could potentially be a possibility.

[@Gustyguy]

Thats actually terrifying

[@jessiemeisenheimer8675]

Yeah, looking through the list of nazi experiments it doesn't come close.

[@MagklJellyBeanPastelLucidDream]

@@Skyrionn this intrigues me a lot.

[@EmbeddedWithin]

If I would choose wether to live in a world like half life 2 or ww2 Germany, I’d pick world war 2 germany

[@JessiContingenC]

I really like the cinematics you put over your topics. It drives the point further and captivates me a lot

[@Skyrionn]

Thanks for watching. I do my best to make them as visually appealing as I can.

[@tamalsur4614]

This is such a well researched video. Thanks for this gem, it gives a very deep insight in to the half life universe.

[@Samn3212]

I remember in the extended game manual that my friend got when he bought half life 2 (when it first came out - yes, I’m old), it said that the metal limbs were also added to actually cause the stalkers pain with every step. Horrendous.

[@quaiacka]

Great job on another fantastic Half Life lore video my man! i think I've watched every single video on your channel now👍

[@Skyrionn]

Glad you like them! There's a lot of videos on the channel. That's commitment!

[@thatguy7602]

I wonder what terrifying unused concepts were in the Beta, which is considered even darker than released HL2

[@Skyrionn]

I'd love to dive deeper into the Beta at some point. I'm sure the stalkers were much worse.

[@AxeltheKing1000]

@@Skyrionn oh trust me the was.

[@ackthegreat6697]

i mean if hl1 in its early stages had a monster which would assfuck you to death im sure that valve didnt hold back on the hl2 beta. i never got into it that much but im sure it would make your normal joe cry and vomit

[@pustekuchen8956]

i love your detication and passion you put into the lore of half life and the video! thats worth a sub

[@ariasdad]

I've only recently learned about HL2's much darker beta version and these guys creeping around behind us would have been really interesting.

[@Skyrionn]

I do wish we got a few of the features in the beta in the retail game

[@davesthrowawayacc1162]

I thougth they were called Stalkers because they kept wondering into restricted areas, because the Combine hadn't programmed them properly into recognising no trespassing signs, resulting in the Combine personnel constantly telling them "Get out of here"

[@fonze916]

A stalker that crawls at you from behind sounds creepy as hell. Not just creepy from a gameplay point but also might add a little humanity to them. Like as if they want your help but are scared of punishment when you look back at them, mistaking you for a Combine soldier. It could answer the question whether they actually know what they are or not. Making them and the Combine even more horrifying.

[@buldozerdxx1929]

What a great vidceo man, I hope to see you make another one like that!

[@Skyrionn]

There's more on the way! It seems the creepier, the better!

[@AngelofGrace96]

Man, that was so sad. You're right though, it'd be so cool to have them stalking you from behind. Oh shit I just realised that's probably where their name came from

[@Skyrionn]

I'm hoping there is some sort of mod that explores the original idea.

[@AxeltheKing1000]

@@Skyrionn that is. Missing information. Have the original stalker aka the creepy ones. 😎👍

[@KiiXii]

“The most horrifying fate in the half life universe” Headcrab: “helo der”

[@Skyrionn]

They're coming soon.

[@Skrenja]

It's honestly a coin toss to which is worse.

[@Dogue83]

The Advisors arent synths, they are essentially combine nobility

[@snage-thesnakemage]

That’s what I thought? Is there anything other than framing(them being in trains and being rare) that tell us this tho?

[@Dogue83]

@@snage-thesnakemage Dr Breen directly answers to them

[@WikiPeoples]

Awesome video! Really love these in depth analysis of the half life lore.

[@malfuy9558]

What I love about Half-Life story the most is the fact that you never encounter any "real" Combine. Combine, Univeral Union, Our Benefactors - those are all just names for something that no human, and probably many other enslaved species, never really encountered in it's true form. Combine advisors are made to look as if they are the core species of the Union, and humans learned about them only after twenty years of occupation, but when you really dig deep, you find out they too are just slaves, only very poweful and valuable ones. That makes Combine such a devastating oponents. By creating transhuman Overwatch army and asimilating human technologies, they ensured that majority of fighting on Earth wont directly affect anything outside of Earth, except some synth warmachines assisting the Overwatch. Their strategy is to turn every conquered world against itself, rather than spending their own resources on fighting rebels.

[@agentcaninemutt]

imagine the last bit of sentience in these things crying out for anything confused and terrified

[@SN-hp6zb]

The fate of the stalkers is horrible. They belong to the must gruesome things I have seen in video games. I always thought to make it even more horible would be small variations in the stalkers you see. Different body heights, female stalkers, maybe remanants of tattoos to give them a bit of faded individuality. Those were people that lived their lives, what is left is just sad to see. Thanks for the video.

[@shocktnc]

Thanks for the new vid, I did not realize I was watching a video posted less than 30 seconds ago!

[@Skyrionn]

Hope you enjoyed it! Super early gang!

[@newcastleman86]

Catching up on your videos. I got married this past weekend. Ready for some lore!

[@Skyrionn]

Omg! Congratulations buddy! I'm super happy for you!

[@newcastleman86]

@@Skyrionn Thanks! means a lot.

[@codymcgrath2.3bviews3secon7]

Congratulations mate

[@baimo_ofc]

are yall still together

[@newcastleman86]

@@baimo_ofcstill in the fox hole together.

[@MrPrussianjester]

I'm glad they reworked all aspects of the stalkers. Rather than the skeletal appearance of the concept designs, the fleshy desiccated look really hammers home they were once human. It brings forth questions on what parts of our existence makes us human. Sure a literal stalker through the game may have heightened tension but it's got nothing on the implied threat of your fate at the hands of a combine homogony. Them being relatively weak also shows who holds the yoke with combine sympathizers.

[@somedudethatripsplanetinha4221]

"To even allow such a feat on the human brain, where it could be turned on and off on command" Laughs in induced coma

[@nojuanatall3281]

Laughs in alcoholism

[@snage-thesnakemage]

I thought the advisors were the actual combine race?! Finding out they’re just another assimilated race is insane!!

[@GigachadAKM]

This game needs to be remastered with modern graphics and physics. Still arguably the best game in history.

[@derhackerthetofu]

i really love this series. i love the games and this videos are by far the best way to get detailed lore. maybe you could make a video about the hunters? we dont get much in the game itself. they seem new because alyx does not seem to know them. are they normal in the deeper wastelands or are they used to hunt high ranking targets out in the wild? so many questions. even the weapons are new and dont seem to be just a bigger version of other combine gear.

[@Skyrionn]

Thanks for the kind words! I do have Hunters on my list. It'll just be one of those things where I'd need to gind enough information on them. Stay tuned!

[@deathmaster38]

i love half life lore, please keep em coming

[@Skyrionn]

Will do! Thanks for watching :D

[@wojtekpolska1013]

the stalkers aren't fighting resistance members that sneak into the citadel - in fact in game they are neutral enemies - they will not attack the player unless attacked first

[@3Crisstopher3]

4:35 "these new limbs could interface perfectly with Combine terminals" *shows them missing every button*

[@dxfan18]

The whole "turn around jump scare" thing would have been cool, maybe possible today. The developers really picked the scariest look for the Stalkers to, every single sense of individuality was ripped from them. God damn the Combine.

[@Skyrionn]

It truly is one of the worst things that could happen to a human. I do wish we would have had the jumpscare thing though.

[@dxfan18]

@@Skyrionn It could totally work today, maybe it pins you down like a dog in COD and you have to click/press a button to kill it quickly. Same with a headcrab, it tries to latch on you have to melee attack before it zombifies you

[@spamuel98]

Anyone else think this sounds like an awesome premise for a fan made peripheral game? Like, a medical doctor manages to keep his mind after being turned into a stalker, and breaks out once the revolution kicks off in earnest, only to set off on a mission to return to some semblance of normalcy using his own medical knowledge and the Combine information on stalker creation. There'd be a lot of stealth to trick the combine into thinking you're still a normal stalker, and a bunch of diplomacy to reassure resistance fighters that you're still human.

[@gabanciano]

Great video! You're going all out with Half-Life. Love it!

[@Skyrionn]

It's one of my favourite games and I'm loving diving into the lore. Thanks for watching!

[@Cotton_Door42]

for EVER ive been trying to find a video explaining what these goobers are. thsank you so much

[@Skyrionn]

I'm glad I could help!

[@samuelantoniocastillomeza5034]

I wish we got to see Stalker versions of Vortigaunts since there were now Earth population now too. I wonder if the Combine attempted to make Stalkers out of wildlife like headcrabs and antlions.

[@DoctaM364]

eh, The combine found another use for them. Batteries. Their vortessence energy seems to be able to keep the powers of gman in check. Seen in HLA and even the episodes

[@membles69]

There are Vortigaunt slaves, but they aren’t super modified.

[@AlonsoArismendi]

@@DoctaM364 in noka prospekt you can see a combine shild being powered by vortessence energy

[@samuelantoniocastillomeza5034]

@@AlonsoArismendi The Combine has enslaved the Vortigaunts and even use them as energy source but I wonder if they ever got to the same levels as humans did in being turned to Stalkers.

[@AlonsoArismendi]

@@samuelantoniocastillomeza5034 they are more useful for energy i presume

[@SicsF9]

Thank you for doing These Videos! I always Listen to them when falling asleep, cause ur voice and the way you Talk is so calming! .p.s Are you planning on doing Overwatch 2 Lore?

[@Skyrionn]

Glad you like them! Thanks so much for the donation too! It means a lot. Overwatch isn't really my genre of game sadly.

[@Ayoub-lv3yl]

I love your content keep on it ❤

[@penelopehawk6427]

Another great lore video you're awesome.

[@Skyrionn]

Glad you like them! I appreciate you!

[@rolandasgrigaitis708]

If I was a Freeman I would actually have an existential crisis. Image no matter what you do you feel like this is your destiny. You try to go back but your pathway is always blocked by something and you can only move forward. I would feel like I'm being watched and every wall is placed there just so I couldn't wander off, just like in a video game.

[@DaveTheScwede]

I do like the idea of them being more "active" but I wouldn't want them to be combative. The idea of a Stalker seeing/sensing the player wandering around, talking etc, and being drawn to them? That sounds really interesting and eerie. The idea of running around the Citadel doing challenges, only to turn around and find a Stalker leaning into you... shudder! No combat, no violent intent, just the whimpering of an entirely maimed and subjugated member of the human species. Whilst I appreciated the in-game version which largely ignore you, I'd find it way more tragic if they could sense you, but had not the willpower or cognitive abilities remaining to communicate anything.

[@SomeStonedDude]

It's been so long since I've played hl2. I never even had a second thought about the depth or meaning of... anything really, other than what was spoonfed to me. It's great to learn so much about a game that, by extension, brought me thousands upon thousands of hours gaming, and some of the most memorable moments of my life. Great video, thank you.

[@Onehronaut]

If you have a chance, replay it in VR with the (free) HL2 VR mod that was released a month ago. It’s fantastically done.

[@cameroniandcheese1287]

Thank you for talking about this, I’ve always wondered what the stalkers were

[@gamesux420]

Half life has some of the best horror sci-fi concepts but all you ever associate it with is like, fighting zombies and combines. Yeah ravenholm is cool and all but also it has ALIENS FROM OTHER UNIVERSES THAT TURNED OTHER ALIEN RACES INTO FLESH MACHINES!

[@Skyrionn]

A great way to view it. I always think of the brutal mutilation the Combine gave other species.

[@Skrenja]

I think the Half Life universe is unparalleled. Even though it's a fantasy sci-fi game, it feels so authentic and grounded in reality. It's definatley the most believable, visceral sci-fi setting I've ever experienced in a game. I imagine that if a hostile alien race were to enslave humanity -- it would be _exactly_ like HL2. Not to mention the parallels HL2 draws to real life totalitarian regimes and the dreary, Eastern Bloc setting that has yet to be replicated.

[@kirikei]

I'm currently playing xcom 2 and it's fascinating how the lore about aliens enslaving several alien species to conquer life is similar. I dont know if it is a coincidence but the half-life franchise has been such an inspiration on so many level (story-telling, game engine...) I hope to see more of this universe and it hurts a bit to play the HL games again knowing the cliffhanger has us holding on for years

[@Fingeringmyboarddude]

The covenant

[@Monsi_in_germany]

you jumpscared me bcs i put up the volume to hear the music in the start and your voice just jumpscared me like hell naw

[@MajorZeroCELL]

That's, as always, a great video. Leaving a like :D Okay, now let's watch the video.

[@Skyrionn]

Thanks for the visit I appreciate the support!

[@hundkebab2433]

Man i love all these lore videos from games popping up lately Great way to pass the time at work

[@ANGRYMUNCI]

I find Stalkers horrific imagine being a rebel and getting captured and getting your arms and legs amputated and feeling the excruciating pain and agony as well as getting your reproductive organs ripped out of your body and having metal plates placed on your eyes and stumps and being forced to be like a zombie for the rest of your life it’s just Horrific

[@keanunotReeves8127]

im playing thru halflife2 part 2 and about to face breen i the combine stucture in the center of city 17 and my first encounter was thru a vent and they were walking i saved and havent been back they are scary and this informative video gave me a reason to play again

[@Skyrionn]

I hope it goes well!

[@keanunotReeves8127]

Why is that they have such a strange walking animation? Its like they are doing a job yet are droning around the complex.

[@CplBaker]

Wow I didn't know it had lore this deep. Thanks for my new rabbit hole!

[@existingperson]

the combine has gotta be one of the best fictional dystopian societies, their evilness is not only really messed up and uncomfortable to think about, but it makes sense and doesn’t seem over the top

[@d_shadow.]

Im E a r l y? I guess I'll say that your videos are great to have on in the background. You have a nice voice, and they seriously help me sleep better than white noise-

[@Skyrionn]

I've been told this a lot. Regardless of how you watch my content - I do appreciate it!

[@Fuer64]

Honestly, since the whole stalker part is gone it makes no sense that it's called stalker. Really cool video lol

[@Skyrionn]

That is one bit that confused me too

[@Jonas-km4qx]

Great video!

[@rooty_rootz]

The stalkers have only gotten more scary to me as I get older and more afraid of my own body

[@ambrusraul2297]

3:37 We have might have underestimated the creation and use of the stalker . Breen said it himself : Immortality is within our reach . the scientists of black mesa did not capture the Xen species to hurt them but to discover ways and benefits for humanity . Being a stalker may not have meant you are against the combine . As freely as they choose to join the ranks of the metro cops hurting their friends maybe just to get some food it was their choice . In case of stalkers at the beginning i think mutilated marines from fight with vortigaunts or ill people with brain injuries like myself or missing limbs They had nothing to loose anymore and if that was going to help humanity to reach immortality by subjected to surgeries ... it s not all black or white if my limbs are taken away from me and it s not the combine i might consider alternative ways of life even discard my body completely if those experiments mean that we can transfer our brains to augmented bodies and no need for food or drink anymore . Immortality is in our grasps . Maybe stalkers are just the dead husk in an ongoing attempt to do us good

[@bsclips7034]

Truly an interesting idea

[@kabob0077]

Stalkers and the Chimeran Menials have a lot in common... But the Menial still has its limbs so the Stalker has it a bit worse.

[@gabrielvareberg5044]

imagine if the resitance found aperture michigan most likely they would find G.L.a.D.O.S's remains and a portal device and the combine would have the one thing they needed

[@yuh8137]

Im pretty sure they have found aperature. In portal one glados says things that make it sound like she kept them away from the facilities. Makes me think she gave them technology in return for them staying out of her business

[@calebbowen6406]

Another banger of a video. Keep it up! You're my favorite lore youtuber.

[@Skyrionn]

That's very kind of you to say. I appreciate it

[@therealevilmudbug]

The contrast between half life and half life 2 is amazing. I feel like it had a more serious feeling. Not saying half life 1 is silly or anything, but just isn't as dark.

[@Skyrionn]

Half-Life 2 absolutely took it to a new level

[@dodgyyoutuber9560]

Removing the organs seems unnecessary. Just cos you don’t need them doesn’t mean it’s better to remove them.

[@codymcgrath2.3bviews3secon7]

Oh brilliant wasn't expecting a video on stalkers

[@Skyrionn]

Hey Cody! Creepy topic for spooky season :D

[@codymcgrath2.3bviews3secon7]

@@SkyrionnYeah right on time! I'd love to see a video on zombines

[@chickenassasintk]

My like and comment. Really loved this video. I was wondering, do we actually know they are no longer sentient. Because it is mentioned in HL 2 E1 i think that its the worst punishment the combine do. And i thought it would be really horrifying if they (the stalkers) were still actually conscious of what is happening and what who they were but are unable to control themselves.

[@muratsmg62]

Stalkers in Cut Content for EP1 were much bigger including a extended Stalker Train scene with Alyx giving a Full Detail of how they were created *One of the voicelines even has Alyx saying F-Word!* There's an SFM animation replicates the scene, You can probably find it by just saying... Half-Life 2 Stalkers SFM/Animation whatever

[@kelteel]

I am still sad we never got episode 3. But anxiously waiting what the future brings. I mean, episode 2 only happened 15 years ago

[@stuartburns8657]

I enjoyed HL:a in VR when it eventually arrived, but not holding my breath or a sequel. I'm 48 now, been waiting a long time forc Ep3 lol

[@S2MLE100KILL]

"Want a break from the Stalks?" 4:46

[@_Mimi_711]

Im new to this franchise, you’re great at introducing me to it.