Evading the Combine Charger

Just a little video mucking about with the first Charger encountered. Inspired by a request by Timur 56255.

[@krollic]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that reverse psychology isn't the Combines greatest strength.

[@timur5241]

I don't get it

[@PaLaS0]

@@timur5241 that's reverse psychology in a nutshell for ya

[@timur5241]

@@PaLaS0 what is reverse psychology?

[@PaLaS0]

@@timur5241 I'm sure you understand what it means in the usual life, it's hard to explain op's post as they use multiple unnoticeable words like "go out on a limb" that create a difference already, it's supposed to confuse and manipulate you into doing the thing they want by doing/saying the inverted action Tldr: op might be waiting for criticism The tldr is also made to confuse reader, what it means is their opinion is fact based that they are willing to fight you for it

[@timur5241]

@@PaLaS0 ok

[@hankj.wimbleton6272]

Who else still remember the ruthless aggression HL2 Combine shotgunners?

[@flarfo348]

they still give me nightmares to this day

[@Neo2266.]

Just try Mmod, they’re a top tier pressure unit

[@badcop9297]

they don't fucking care if they get shot they just rush you like the Japanese but with a shotgun

[@JustAnAverageGuy5731]

They're a pain.

[@korshun7172]

Other soldiers: “I will throw grenades and shoot energy balls, I’ll use basic tactics to outstand my enemy, I will be smart and therefore safe-“ Brown fvcker: “IM RUN IM CLOSE IM SHOOT MAMA SAYS IM SPECIAL”

[@hmrdev-billnye8166]

"Hostile is experiencing extreme panic." Basically describes all my encounters with this guy. For me, he is more scarier then Jeff or on the same level as him. Also funny ending.

[@RescoeZ]

Yeah at least Jeff is blind and easily distracted. Plus he doesn't have a shotgun.

[@uwunora]

He is easily the scariest guy for me, I was just playing through my 2nd playthrough earlier and this guy was terrifying while Jeff was honestly not that hard lol. This guy pushed me, made me stumble, and actually made me panic

[@ariabritton9669]

"considering he's armed with a shotgun, he's got quite the aim" no, that's just accurate to how a shotgun works IRL. the spread of shotguns in real life is much, much tighter than is usually depicted in videogames. they are also lethal at much further range too.

[@horizonz_]

"Target is friendly" *Flips charger off*

[@timur5241]

Now it makes sense why AI is "dumb" in this game. If they were smart enough, it would be completely impossible to fight em.

[@kkoolboy16]

Timur 56255 I guess

[@andusensei]

Initial playthroughs were really tense with these guys. But now I really wish their AI was beefed up a little. Isn't there a cut animation of them charging the player with a stun baton? That would have been horrifying.

[@DanielFerreira-ez8qd]

Be thankful their AI was built without actual military training. that is 100% possible and would be legitimately terrifying

[@RescoeZ]

Check out 3:19 on this vid, one of the charging animations is shown kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJeoioSkbst9htU

[@ariabritton9669]

i think they removed that for the same reason they removed the fast headcrab and fast zombie; too scary in VR. though i would love to see it. the whole point of VR is to simulate what it would be like to live in the game. you SHOULD be scared of certain things. it just adds to the immersion.

[@Kapin05]

Utterly terrifying the whole way through. Very impressive AI!

[@chemica7vortex921]

Its alr

[@Glacieux]

What does the A in AI stand for?

[@chemica7vortex921]

@@Glacieux Artificial

[@Glacieux]

@@chemica7vortex921 wait, what does the I stand for?

[@chemica7vortex921]

@@Glacieux Intelligence

[@apfunit1544]

4:04 "Hostlie is eperiencing extreme panic" And you nod your head in agreement. XD

[@waffler-yz3gw]

dude these guys always shred the hell out of me, the range on their shotguns is insane. my first encounter was literally "ooh a charger, ive seen these guys" "why'd he stop, he's all the way over there, there's glass in the way, he really should be getting closer" *death*

[@badcop9297]

"target is friendly" "You can come out now" *doesn't come out* "alright fuck it I'll send you to jesus then"

[@avcables_]

If the AI was smart enough, it’d be impossible to play.

[@DrawinskyMoon]

Not really, no harder than playing pvp with other “trained” humans.

[@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413]

@@DrawinskyMoon multiplayer vr shooters are hard though

[@jkeebla]

@@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413 thats because unless you have real life combat training you're basically just going in with a gun and (maybe) decent aim

[@user-tzzglsstle585e38]

@@jkeebla The hardest part about it is not the aiming, but the movement. So even if you have training; it doesn't matter much if you aren't used to moving in vr.

[@EnclaveFanboy-118]

I like how they brought back the limping concept that was used in Half-Life and it's expansion pack with the HGrunts for Combine enemy types in Half-Life Alyx to make it seem more realistic. Although I don't think there's any unused Tau Gun attachments on the Charger shotgun, a double shot mechanism maybe but no Tau Gun.

[@idioticed4379]

Nah, it was a taucannon, it's In the files

[@EnclaveFanboy-118]

@@idioticed4379 ah, but they never use it. Maybe because Valve didn't want to complicate things for the player. Also, they had an animation for switching to the stunstick and would actually run towards the player and hit them but it was dropped to avoid a focus on melee combat.

[@YTUP-kq7pp]

someone should make a HL:A mod where the ai is brought to its full potential, with all the unused animations, stuff on models, and the tau cannon into the game, even add Fast headcrabs back.

[@Armin2012]

9:25 ah, perfectly cut explosion moment

[@ismaciodismorphus3320]

Wow imagine if you had to evade one these dudes without weapons just hearing his footsteps slowing trekking behind you while you need to do a time based puzzle or something would be scary as fuck

[@Loglob]

Kind of like the chapter 7 Jeff?

[@that_one_guy1002]

That final second of him just blasting you really shows the exact second those Daggers killed you.

[@Shiggy]

Target is friendly _throws grenade_ Disregarding last call

[@amber.mp4]

these guys are MASSIVE as well.

[@chingusdingus3359]

When I first saw these things, I shat myself.

[@CasualFire]

4:22 was oddly hilarious for me. Also, I fully expected that crate to get kicked into your face at 3:24.

[@pizzarune5]

8:31 Wait, what!?! You can't just drop that fact and not include a picture or video!

[@letskissnow987]

Check out the channel Jaycie, has a great video dedicated to the tau cannon and unused content related to it, its called Half Life's Tau Cannon - Valve Archive

[@i-dislike-handles]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZvUmIyAhrmFl5Y Go to 16:33 on that video

[@misterr_chadsgaming9020]

the charger walking backward after investigating the explosion was hilarious

[@MbakItsumi]

6:58 bruh he just moon walk.

[@tellot5458]

Duuude in the moments where you had a mere pillar to hide you was nerve-wrecking...... and when you threw the box at him to get away that was pure anxiety moment

[@STEPANUNIVERSAL]

Ah, sweet to see you're now performing requests. I hope you'll do some more in the future, because as always I would tell that I'm an everlasting viewer of yours!

[@A_Random_Person324]

"hostile is hesitating" the quick nodding of the head makes that so much better. the ending is also perfectly cut and i love it lmao

[@tomithino456]

9:29 moments before death

[@thefriendlybot1485]

did anyone mention that they can hear nearby footsteps?

[@AstraLee-Investigator_Sapling-]

A video on the differences between each difficulty setting would be interesting. Shots to kill each type of combine, if they have different aggression levels, etc

[@RescoeZ]

I'd have to check, but I think changing the difficulty level just makes your weapons less effective like in HL2.

[@timur5241]

@@RescoeZ but why don't they affect AI behaviour?

[@BranchIfNotEqual]

@@timur5241 I think the developer commentary mentioned that tripmines are more punishing on hard? Haven't tested it myself

[@timur5241]

@@BranchIfNotEqual I wasn't talking about tripmines o_O

[@RescoeZ]

@@BranchIfNotEqual yes iirc on easy and normal difficulty nothing will happen if you fail the wall mine mini game. On Hard they explode if you mess up.

[@allu2681]

Man, this video makes me want to get a VR headset even more than i wanted before. but i just dont have money for it.

[@TheRealBFKelleher]

when I got to this guy I just panic-chucked a grenade at him right as he put his shield up. It ended up right between him and the shield, killing him. I was also playing on story level difficulty because I'm bad at video games so your mileage may vary on this tactic.

[@Auditer2009]

It would've been cool if he knew where you were and used movable cover against you. Like crushing you against the wall using those crates.

[@Dasistrite]

Man what if they could peek behind objects and corners? That would be fucking scary as fuck!

[@subliminal_Crusader]

what if overwatch told them this "Charger, cease the delays. Flank the shadows, eliminate any pests in your path. Let the echoes of your shotgun serve as a warning. Unleash your wrath, and leave nothing but remnants in your wake." then the charger said: "Acknowledged, Overwatch. Proceeding with sweep and engage. Resistance will be neutralized."

[@possiblyzslot838]

I hope when (or if) we get another, non-VR Half-Life game these guys are as smart and aggressive as the one in Patient Zero.

[@ilikemen9965]

i think charger has the coolest voice out of all the combine

[@kylesproul2112]

The tau cannon on the chargers shotgun is probably the ammo which is probably why his gun is a hitscan weapon cause the bullets are like the speed of light. Also it's hard to see but the shotgun has a revolving barrel like the tau cannon in Half life which is probably why it hurts a lot. I don't know combine technology but it's pretty impressive.

[@kylesproul2112]

I take it all back cause I saw the video about this topic so ignore what this comment is saying.

[@ZackSBruh]

​@@kylesproul2112, you can delete this comment if it's wrong

[@hawk18513]

i somehow almost read the title as Evading The Commie Charger

[@ChimeraGilbert]

I find it interesting that they refer to Alyx as 'they' as if they don't acknowledge gender.

[@Juulbakker33]

Really Nice video! Ingame footage is really interesting of the Charger. Will there also be for the other units? Thank you!

[@RescoeZ]

I could do some if folks want to see it:-)

[@pauldeddens5349]

@@RescoeZ I would love to see the Enforcer, isnt that the name of the machine gun guys? They have really interesting behavior, thats both cocky and cowardly.

[@RescoeZ]

@@pauldeddens5349 ah yes that would be the Suppressor, the most distinct unit in the game.

[@Juulbakker33]

@@RescoeZ that would be awesome! i keep an eye out for the next!

[@MisterJohnDoe]

"Almost." Badass.

[@timur5241]

Why is he saying "charging" and "ready to hammer"? Ain't those suppose to be spoken for his unused attack?

[@RescoeZ]

I'm not sure, might be used as to say "I'm readying to attack" or something like that.

[@timur5241]

@@RescoeZ oh ok

[@user-yv4up3jz9s]

Gets shot from behind *_"Almost."_*

[@ronjohnson4217]

It would be cool if you could have an Ending/Death Screen of you surrendering and being arrested, am I the only one who thinks that would be interesting?

[@ronjohnson4217]

@62alarms I know that but if you actually read the start of my comment I said "It would be cool." hence meaning "This would be a cool feature." thank you for responding to my comment.

[@670Noah]

@@ronjohnson4217 bruh, don’t be a condescending prick. You’re original comment was dumb to begin with

[@ronjohnson4217]

@@670Noah Please, do tell me how I was a condescending prick? I merely stated facts to him. Seems someone also does not know how to understand a simple reply to a person, eh?

[@idioticed4379]

@@ronjohnson4217 maybe he was just in a mood, or just have a slight toxic attitude

[@rms1493]

@@670Noah god forbid somebody wants a little bit more of a "peaceful" but equally horrific alternate end.

[@boi5499]

9:13 "You can come out noooow~" *No*

[@ezra5325]

6:40 its so funny

[@VenrezvonVyntari]

If not for the subtitles, I'd never have understood a single thing the Combine, Overwatch, the Overseer or Metrocops said in Hl2 and Alyx, even as a natural English speaker. In my entire playthrough of Hl2, numerous times, whatever they say or the Overseer is just garbo.

[@Smthn_Wicked]

Imagine being a combine and having to report Alyx missing from sightline when they were just scurrying around a pillar

[@miroslavzima8856]

This was the first time when I literally panicked (I got VR the same day as Alyx, so I wasn´t used to the controls yet) and didn´t know what to do. One of my all favourite encounter from whole game!

[@testingsomething6859]

The Charger looks like he's trying to tuck in his stomach to expand his chest to look aggressive while also walking like he has a full diaper.

[@Howtomakeagrilledcheese.]

Pretty terrifying When you see a charger

[@Deltadog55]

I cant describe the amount of primal panic I experienced opening the combine closet in that area to get to a health station just to hear this mfs footsteps creep up behind me.

[@RescoeZ]

Did you happen to set off the fire alarm bell before hand? ;-)

[@leegofilms]

Great video! I love Chargers, they’re like a mini Mr. X. Btw, one thing I’ve had trouble confirming in VR is if the Combine’s “missed” lines work. They use similar line for taking damage so it’s hard to tell. I know their order and response lines are a bit bugged, so I’m curious if these trigger.

[@maxdeqtyarev8044]

Imagine if they made mechanic of them actually doing full sweep of possible hiding spots and Wallhammer had line like *"See you"*

[@sympleton7439]

They're scary enough as it is.

[@ShuckleII]

2:51 MOOOD

[@maroonlegend4374]

“Engaging” *cut off gunshot

[@warlerker]

Nice Ending.

[@Wertguzzzzzzzzzzz]

So if he would have an extra Tau cannon on his weapon he would be 100 times more dangerous.

[@tinmipad4sokabali74]

Valve : let's cut that

[@bn0372]

Unexpected ending

[@bly9077]

Wow i thought this man was kid freindly

[@tabbycar6741]

mom come pick me up im scared

[@JackFoxtrotEDM]

Wait can you actually “stealth” in this?

[@RescoeZ]

You can hide from enemies and maybe sneak around them. However in this particular area if I were to sneak on ahead I'd enter a combat area and he could attack from behind. I would have liked a few optional stealth bits, would have worked quite well with VR imo.

[@tatacain8792]

Did the wallhammer combine jumpscare you?

[@grilledcheese05]

How can people play with snap turn?

[@sagey08-backlash]

rescoez is combine shotgunner

[@THEREISCONVICTHERE]

4:17 middle finger

[@letskissnow987]

Whats with the camera snapping constantly?

[@SlimbTheSlime]

That’s the closest you can get to smooth turning if I remember correctly...

[@RescoeZ]

There is a continuous turn mode, but I prefer using snap. I get why it's jarring watching it though.

[@letskissnow987]

@@RescoeZ ahh its fine, i havent got my hands on the game so i thoight it couldve been a bug or a recording glitch

[@RescoeZ]

@@letskissnow987 fair enough, I'm so used to using snap mode thanks to H3VR.

[@trevorturner6025]

who else wants someone to be a mentally insane person and beat half life alyx with only evading (not counting the parts where you are forced to kill/fight something aka Magic dawg thingy and strider along with whatever else is forced)

[@the-guy-beyond-the-socket]

combine AI in alyx is silly

[@sygos]

can you not record with the quick turn transitions? it gives me a headache

[@ze_glitchy_gamer7629]

3:57

[@XenonPhysics]

Hello.

[@SillyUwUBilly]

Hi.

[@goa141no6]

HOLA

[@-Melancholy-]

Greetings!

[@user-pg2zc4oi6r]

Здраво!

[@hessu627]

Terve