Evolution Of The Combine Soldier (Half-Life 2)

A quick look at the evolution of the Combine Soldier from Half-Life 2.
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Music: • Radiation Hazard - Une...
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[@TheExperienceYT]

Something to note is, in the files of the anon-hl2 leak, the metropolice are actively afraid of gordon when they see him, stating "YOU'RE THAT GUY!" "OH GOD!"

[@benjaminizquierdo4700]

I mean the dude singlehandedly took down a alien invasion and killed a bunch of military and combine units, most of the time with a crowbar. Who WOULDNT be afraid of him?

[@User-pf2mn]

When you hear a man capable of running at an insane speeds to pierce or bludgeon combine soldiers with better training, you better know when you see him, and you better be scared.

[@StarWithAPencil]

Wish we could've seen that in game.

[@bar_max4807]

Random Metropolice: Alr so.. I was just on patrol.. Right? I saw this man in an HEV Suit, that ram at 25 mph with a crowbar in hand, killing my teammates, I managed to get out alive but now I’m not even go- OH GOD YOU’RE THAT GUY! RUNN!

[@1030k]

"i was just minding my own business until this guy in a orange suit just flies at me, back facing towards me"

[@ElmeriThePig]

Common fact but still worth of mentioning: The shotgun soldiers had the normal soldier's uniform until Episode Two's/Orange Box's release. Valve probably realized that the shotgun soldiers are deadly, and they needed and different uniform, so that you could easily see if they're shotgun soldier or not.

[@patrikpoppopnapc3608]

I played only the orange box version soo yea i definitly did not know that

[@lancecorporalmikebeebop9640]

If I remember correctly, I read that the Nova Prospekt guards did something similar; the shotgun guards used the rifleman guards’ uniforms, but then shotgun guards were given unique uniforms to make them stand out from rifleman guards when the standard shotgunners got their own unique outfits.

[@Blurns]

Then they overdid it with too many soldier variants in HL:Alyx.

[@lancecorporalmikebeebop9640]

@@Blurns the suppressors were cool, but I feel like making the standard soldiers, chargers/shotgunners, and ordinals/captains different soldiers instead of using the original combine soldier designs was stupid.

[@commanderpeanut8029]

@@lancecorporalmikebeebop9640 Well in its defence, it is possible its different because it takes places 5 years before HL2, or that it's a different unit, we did encounter them in the Quarantine Zone after all, and the ordinal has a Vortigaunt insignia.

[@soh1430]

I love the care Valve put into designing the Soldiers looks. I wish they would reused the Forest camo for Ep2 and the Bug eye helmet design really reminds me of the Suppressor from Alyx an Evolution maybe.

[@Blurns]

I wish they put as much effort into the Soldier's look as they did with the ones they made in HL:Alyx. Pretty sure the forest camo was deliberately avoided for EP2, because it was too effective.

[@spinosaurus9518]

@@Blurns i think its just that it doesnt make sense that during a whole shitload of crappiness they go through that they would make THAT and dont forget the citadels literally being destroyed man so they wouldnt care about camo not that it actually is effective just give it a more grassy look to it or bit of black and shade into and its definitely effective.

[@Blurns]

@@spinosaurus9518 They added dirt and mud stains to the texture in episode 2. Though I think the updates might have fucked something up and given the same textures to HL2 & EP1.

[@MrPikaGammer]

Fun fact, they really would have resembled U.S. Military men if they used the Camo and the Rifle from the first piece of concept art due to it being a really weirdly shaped M16A1

[@andyfriederichsen]

I wish the other camo designs made it into the game, but the Combine soldiers in Episode 2 were meant to be soldiers that came from City 17.

[@onutrof1157]

2003 Leak sounds: Regular english Retail version sounds: Minecraft enchanting table language

[@leon217]

I really enjoyed hearing the old Combine voices. I've always loved the Combine radio chatter, it sounds so cool.

[@jimbob3255]

Combine soldiers are amazing in design on the fact that lore wise, the combine stole human technology. Probably using human military knowledge and specifically built these soldiers to effectively combat and restrain humanity when they took over. Probably using those cut combine alien designs you see in the citadel on the ride up during the first invasion during the 7 hour war. How they adapt their combative units to fit the world and people around them to make them more complacent. It really scary and shows how much power this force has that they can adapt on the fly like that.

[@jimbob3255]

I'm curious if that's why Barney sounds so different in his civil protection suit compared to the others. His voice sounds more like the 2003 versions compared to the updated retail metro cops. Maybe they just didn't have the time to re-record voice lines or as a call back to the older voices.

[@overlordmgcover2262]

Well the humanoid combine units encountered (except for the CP's) are transhuman (or posthuman as Kleiner calls them). They have been stripped of their humanity by the military machine.

[@lancecorporalmikebeebop9640]

Random side note: I would love to see a canonical showdown between the HECU Marines and the Combine Soldiers. Two opposing forces, but each side has their strengths and weaknesses.

[@balticbvll2987]

7 hour war

[@NoNameTaken117]

Well there is Hunt Down the Freeman (This is a joke dont buy the game)

[@mryayayify]

As far as the lore goes, that can only happen in the Seven Hour War.

[@teopazdrijan1008]

@@mryayayify Not even there, since they surely didn't have human soldiers when they got on Earth

[@tonkobanjo]

HE SAID OPPOSING FORCE LETS GO REDDIT

[@domthree]

this is actually a topic that i've been thinking about for a long time, thanks radhaz, very epic :thumbsup:

[@vladcucu9186]

It would have been interesting to see the alternate color schemes used to differentiate the combine soldiers based on their environment, like borwn-ish and green-ish colors on the coast levels and the more orange ones in the city. It might have helped with making the combine feel more varied in the main game after many of the other types got cut, even if likely for good reason. Also, if you feel like the alternate helmet is bug-eyed, check out the design of the combine medic from Half-Life 2 Survivor.

[@teopazdrijan1008]

Yeah, man. That camo soldiers use should be an urban camo, and those that were outside on Highway 17 or somewhere like that, should have had some brownish-greenish patterns. At least two more patterns and it would have made the world feel more immersive, having special camos for specific regions

[@muratsmg62]

There's one more Combine Soldier Design from Early Episode 1 *At the time it was called Aftermath* It has Blue-Green colors, red eyes and Combine Core Symbol on thier pads. I think this was used for Combine Shotgunners

[@alfredalfiesiv7082]

Can I get a look at the textures?

[@crafter5458]

I believe you're thinking of the aptly named "Skullbreaker" combine soldier, you can find fan recreations I think.

[@Sapphiregamer8605]

@@crafter5458how did they even get the name?

[@crafter5458]

​@@Sapphiregamer8605I'm not actually sure, I just know them by that name. I think it originated from GMod or GameBanana.

[@Morgul207]

@@crafter5458they got the name from the fact that they had large Combine Elite “skull breaker” emblems in them.

[@jawnaisiri]

3:41 It is also used for the Combine Zombie/Zombine in Episode 1 and 2

[@Chubbs70000000]

The music is always perfect on these videos. Great watch

[@theconsulfromthehl2betagam446]

I like that goofy looking fella.

[@shreksnow1918]

It’s definitely interesting to see how the designs changed over the game’s development. As well as how they changed between games (I know it’s barley noticeable between the Episodes and HL2, but you can see a pretty drastic difference in Alyx. Not sure about Citadel because I haven’t seen much for that). One thing I don’t like about the Combine units is how they’re voices are only really understandable with subtitles because of the weird voice filter. Because of that you can’t really hear the squad communicating like you could with the marines (they’re also really dumb because the levels weren’t designed around them, and only truly act intelligently in Nova Prospect). Great video!

[@mrsubject1]

Combine soldiers are my favourite enemy in games probably and to see the amount of effort put into them from development is amazing thanks

[@bouribou4073]

really fascinating vid ! the combine soldiers are such cool design, happy they didn't keep the bug eyed ones lmao. I really like the fact they seem to have taken some beta inspiration for hla combine designs, which look more like workers then actual soldiers, which makes sense since their job in alyx is to clean up xen flora and fauna. i gotta say i did like the yellow hazmat looking stuff under the armor in the beta, but it does make sense why it was changed.

[@cocototo3852]

0:51 the man rapping

[@haveyous]

Hell even Eminem's afraid to diss him

[@slayerrealm4845]

better title: radhaz raps about the combines

[@PedanticPig]

I think the retail Combine Soldier death and pain sounds are still heavily processed HECU grunt sounds. Also, I wish I knew what kind of vocoder effect they used for the retail soldiers and metrocops - it's such a unique and distinctive effect that I don't think I've ever quite heard replicated elsewhere. Anyone have any ideas?

[@minicurtas5581]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2TThZlrocqJqM0

[@Captain0]

1:38 First row, fourth and third column are awesome looking variations of the Combine Soldiers.

[@skipfighter]

I love the combine and its design. Great video mate keep it up.

[@justarandomyoutubecommenter728]

I honestly really like the bug eyed helmet, I dunno why, I just find it better suited than the cyclops elite helmet; though I admit the cyclops helmet has far scarier implications for the soldier wearing it.

[@MrRiceKrispyNotTaken]

fun fact the leak combine solider voices where pitched down in code randomly something that was cut from the final game

[@andyfriederichsen]

I love the camo designs from the concept art. It would have been cool to see Combine soldiers with forest camouflage in the areas outside City 17.

[@alienheaddog1540]

1:37 The 4th one looks the best in my opinion

[@Mahagion]

I never knew about the vcc wiki until now! I'll be checking that out soon. Great video! Really managed to peak my interest in this stuff again.

[@hankj.wimbleton6272]

Can't wait for the evolution of the Combine Elite.

[@mynameisfrancis4986]

Love these type of videos where you deconstruct these characters and maps

[@bonpari_koshmariki]

Good job as always, RadHaz!

[@springytaco7587]

great video like always!,it's interesting to see the design of the combine soldier gradually progressing to what we have today B)

[@unoriginalperson72]

nobody has recreated the M16/M4 seen in concept art, definitely one of the most forgotten weapons

[@TheManOfJazz291]

I see ya a lot on richter overtime streams

[@JustGront]

The gun in the Concept-art looks more like a Spas-15, also is funny how is the few one that is actually holding an actual gun and not 2 blocks together that are supposed to be a gun

[@systemshocker2875]

Your forgot the "cs_" sound files(one of which was used in e3 2002 and e3 2003) as well as the 2000 sounds(inside the near and far folders in the leak)

[@grummanf14tomcat40]

Great video as always Mate.

[@narrowgauge0727]

i love the original combine soldiers, the concept art and the hl2 beta elites in particular, i really like 80s and 90s era military tech and they look like a sci fi version of stuff like that, same reason why i love the hgrunt design and hate the black mesa hgrunts. the concept art with the PASGT flak jacket and the elites with the czech gas mask and alice suspenders look very cool. though i still like the coloring of the 2002 and 2003 soldiers aswell, i think they are straight upgrade to the retail ones. however theres another voiceline pack in the test file in their sound folder, they are very cool voicelines and sound great. also the hl2 beta combine soldiers have very cool animations. sad they wernt mentioned

[@TrilosonicResolutions]

I agree. It really captures the 90s "future soldier" aesthetic, I wish they went with the earlier designs and kept the H&K XM29 and GR9. I especially like those weird, bright, colorful camouflage patterns. It's like an evolution of the HECU's urban camouflage pattern.

[@narrowgauge0727]

@@TrilosonicResolutions i personally like the 2002 and 2003 camos the best, it looks like urban camo and some sort of identifcation. though some combine rocking the m81 woodland or urban warrior camo (hecu camo in opfor) would look very cool basically im a nerd who likes late cold war era tech and aesthetics (1980s and 90s US infantry look awesome)

[@wolfcl0ck]

Argh! Ya shoulda let me know you were workin on this, that page is super outdated thanks to stuff we've learned since 2020! We have the pre-2002 soldier's textures (now adays we usually call this rendition early 2002 or e3_hydra.) What more, we have a texture from a soldier that came after 2000 and before the pre-2002 model! Alas!

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Aww :( I wasn't aware of that... Well, I'll be careful next time!

[@cashwm]

Another awesome video as always man! These beta videos are always an interesting watch :D

[@cjlkicks]

So, I think the "Very First Iteration" (the one in that presentation screenshot) is one the those concept art soldiers. If you look close, it has the vest, and very similar color scheme. And im certain it was an entirely different model than what we have today. (The orange plating on the left arm is obviously 3D if you look hard enough), Not to mention you can see knee protection and a larger ammo or "utility" pouch.

[@redfiretf2]

CORRECTION: the early 2000 model uses the design of the first pieces of concept art shown in the video, and uses the same pouches as the old combine elite model i do believe that the flak jackets that the conscripts wear are also worn by the early combine soldiers (conscripts were meant to be serving under the combine as soldiers, but as a human soldier, and they were undercover resistance members) they also, for some reason, have hair, and the orange emblem thing on their arm is based on what was shown at around 1:44 in the video

[@unusualis_cool]

>see rad video >click it >no stream >can't donate

[@rnrailproductions5049]

I like how the early Overwatch soldiers wore basically 1980s and 1990s era U.S. Military gear. Such as the PASGT vests and Alice Webbing.

[@matijajovic8125]

Another great video! I like the pre 2002 version the best because of the red eyes. Are you going to make a video about Field Intensity maybe?

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Thanks Matija! I'll look into Field Intensity, see if I can maybe work on a video soon.

[@matijajovic8125]

@@RadiationHazardYT Good man! I hope that you will enjoy Field Intensity. It game me a lot of Opposing Force on steroids vibes.

[@quaqyt4173]

My opinion might be controversial but, i like the 2003 voices of combine grunts more than the retail to be honest, makes them sound more dreadful and scary to face, like imagine hearing them speaking in this voice when theyre around the corner, and you know you'll have to confront those half monsters any second now.

[@Zmeeed01]

The Retail Combine: "Sector is not secure... AARGH! _beeeeeeep_ "

[@TheMiner16]

No wtf they sound annoying af not scary in the slightest

[@christopherrobin7984]

Nice freestyle at 0:53 lol

[@claude3608]

you're incredible, Radiation Hazard

[@RUGER5264]

This is the first time I’ve seen this intro. It Had me laughing for minutes. 0:19

[@ashtray378]

Best channel to date

[@mrbodo8233]

Why don't you make the soundtrack for Dark Interval?? Your soundtracks are amazing and fit perfect for that mod and atmosphere. Send an email to the creators of the mod and say to listen your soundtracks!!! Keep up the good work pal!!

[@mrbodo8233]

By the way, can you post the background music of this video? I love this slowed version!!

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Thank you MrBodo. I appreciate that :) I'd love to contribute to projects like DI or RTBR. But those teams have a specific vision for their games and I feel I might not be able to live up to that vision or artistic style. RTBR already has great music, and I can guess DI will also work on music later on in their development stages.

[@RadiationHazardYT]

@@mrbodo8233 I'll share this instrumental in a future upload on the second channel. It still needs some fixes/EQ to sound better.

[@mrbodo8233]

@@RadiationHazardYT that's really awesome, I listen your music everywhere, I just love it!!

[@nfwrambo]

The two color schemes you like remind me a lot of the replicas from F.E.A.R.

[@PJoter_1]

Ok,now i dont want to be promoted to combine : /

[@cosmiccynic2757]

great video, i've always been fascinated by beta content.

[@JHenryEden]

1:45 looks like it came straight from navarro.

[@bitterman213]

Bug eye big nose helmet with the orange-highlights uniform and a beta sniper rifle is the hardest look of all time

[@MillywiggZ]

They were really trying to get that insect/locust idea across with the soldiers’ gas masks in the earlier designs.

[@jockeyfield1954]

i prefer the final soldier design to any other you see in concept art (as i believe that if it's not in the game, it shouldn't be in the game). however, i really wish valve kept the more bulkier armored part you see in the concept. the soldiers look out of place in a lot of areas, which makes sense, they're alien designed suits, but it's out of place in a way that just makes them ugly to look at, but i think it can be fixed if valve made them look bulkier as if armor was just crammed onto their person with disregard to how the guy underneath felt. not too much as to turning them into a slow moving tank, but just enough to where they're less ugly to look at in areas like the coast, because right now, they look fat. as for the elites, their white color and odd mask makes them stand out, but not in an ugly way like the basic soldiers, which i like

[@teopazdrijan1008]

If there was something I could do to change or add on soldiers would be add different camos, add some of that 'body armor' you're talking about and some ammo pouches on them. They look kinda naked in comparison to the real soldiers on the battlefield who have ammo on them

[@curlyfry2047]

I still think that one Bata concept with the trench coat looks the best

[@Headcrabman9999]

The old combine soldier voice lines were just over-vocoded HECU lines.

[@Manuqtix.Manuqtix]

If you play hl2 as Gordon Freeman you fight the weakest soldiers without any military experience in the combine army

[@Xeller_real]

Awesome

[@wadmodderschalton5763]

Do a video on the Half-Life 2 Beta Skybox textures please.

[@PolishPsycho2704]

1:16 that guy looks kinda cute

[@iviachinery677]

I do not like the story of the beta but I do like the look better then release. Combine looks way better in beta.

[@ic0nic707]

1:18 reminds me of the suppressor in HLA

[@brummbar9332]

One version of the Combine Soldier that isnt included that should be is the Early Half Life ep1 Green Shotguner Texture that appreaed in a few pre release screenshots or the One in the Hlaf-Life 2 Death Match main menu

[@protocetid]

What’s with the wiki having DDoS protection up?

[@trekker105]

Big guy on the left in the thumbnail looks like Xi Jinping

[@luissantiago5163]

Oh hype

[@rizalinaperito2311]

Combine frog

[@alang.bandala8863]

Heey, this can be a series, right?

[@saltz7349]

Radman please do civil protection next 🥺

[@computr166]

i dig the camo ones

[@malikarsyasakani]

I wished Valve kept the 2002 Variant of the Combine Soldier. It looks so cool.

[@felixkranken9675]

Man I wanna make my own soldiers now, but I can only do low poly things in blender.

[@Journey_Awaits]

The bug eye mask is based on a soviet chemical protection mask, all of the masks are real designs to be fair

[@spinosaurus9518]

im confused ever since HL:A was released and showed its combines the current day removes them and actually changes the grunts into soldiers like removing them permanently instead of like improving and upgrading them (no im not talking about valve removing them im talking about the combine removing them in the present day)

[@enocescalona]

wait, what about the Combine Elite? those got a few drastic redesigns too, did you made a video about that already?

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Not yet. Might cover both the Elites and Metrocops in separate videos.

[@enocescalona]

@@RadiationHazardYT sounds great, the Combine Supersoldier is one of my favorite designs...as long as it is white, if it is brown, it looks a bit like a potato, lol

[@kumi6797]

cool

[@the100radsstalker93]

If you ask me the sentinel is the coolest combine ever.

[@03noah_]

0:52 I thought you were singing 😂

[@cuanta9441]

the combines, i like the models but the last whit black helmet and the yellow thing in arms i think its better.Anyways the voice of the combine in the early version its better, at least i can understand their voice not like retail...but something i need to say the spanish version of hl2 the combine voice are more clear and better (anyway i like more playing on english)

[@georgeolaroiu3807]

You idea Antlions Evolutions!

[@Sim_2007]

i think the beta combine soldiers look a lot cooler than retail even tho they look so similar, i just like the bulkiness and colours more i guess but obviously the civil protection designs are superior ;)

[@DaRealBruner]

Would love a mod which adds all retail and beta soldiers and metro police, including combine assassins and elite metro cops.

[@elitemetropolice4551]

god damn

[@cindoryan3563]

whats the song

[@mitkodimtrov3914]

I downloaded 2003 combine soldiers they were kinda talking like the hecu like you can tell what they were saying kinda easily but the bms hecu

[@vasyanandropovich2437]

say how add different combine soldiers in half life 2?

[@spitfireloverplays6253]

hello mate

[@the9thheavy742]

interesting

[@ChimeraGilbert]

Speaking of beta designs, I kind of wish Half Life Alyx used some of their artist's earlier combine soldier designs

[@eldkfwkd321]

Valve cut Combine Assassin. It is shame.

[@teopazdrijan1008]

Ahh, shame they didn't go with more camos, that would have looked cool

[@mirmir8116]

Coolbeans!

[@unoriginalperson72]

I find it funny how the 2001 combine was recreated by Wolfcl0ck recently so this video is outdated by 0.1%

[@user-dk9ul2to2s]

STAHP

[@calymteboekhorst9293]

Actually, most soldiers are pure human from accross the world

[@seifoswaglel5823]

Notification gang report in

[@lambda-m1676]

Affirmative.

[@henrimela8495]

I like how they don't have pauldrons like every other dumb sci-fi soldier.

[@halflifelover911]

me fr

[@patrikpoppopnapc3608]

Im here withnin 5 hours

[@portermations1142]

And then there's the average Ukrainian soldier

[@karmap0lic768]

Manlit imagine being shorter than 6'0