Half-Life 2 Beta - Everything You Need To Know!

An in depth look at the Half-Life 2 Beta, a darker, more depressing version of our favorite first-person shooter (and how you might still get to play it one day thanks to the modding community).
In this video you will learn everything there is to know about the fascinating, dark and sinister early build of Half-Life 2. Find out how Gordon Freeman's journey was originally meant to play out and learn more about all of the cut content. We'll also delve into an incredibly promising mod called Dark Interval, that aims to re-create and re-imagine that lost version of the game.
#halflife #halflife2beta #hl2 #hl2beta #darkinterval #gordonfreeman #gman #valve
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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
02:13 - Raising the Bar
08:57 - Welcome to City 17
12:30 - The Wasteland
18:03 - The Arctic
21:21 - Return to City 17
27:48 - Raising the Bar: Redux
30:46 - Dark Interval
39:08 - Conclusion
Credits:
You can download all the beta content seen in this video in one epic build at HL2 - Project Beta. Half-Life 2 Beta: Mega Build is a compilation of all fixes, patches and mods made for it since 2003.
hl2-beta.ru/
Other mods:
Dark Interval - www.moddb.com/mods/dark-interval
Raising the Bar: Redux - www.moddb.com/mods/half-life-...
Dark Interval: Old Build - www.moddb.com/mods/dark-inter...
Cremation - www.moddb.com/mods/cremation
Missing Information - www.moddb.com/mods/missing-in...
Missing Information 1.6 Global Pack - hl2-beta.ru/index.php?action=...
Get all the Half-Life information you need at Combine OverWiki:
combineoverwiki.net/wiki/Main...
G-Man in Source 2 by CoreyLaddo:
/ @coreyladdo
Thanks for watching!

[@NeonNovaFilms]

A few things have been brought to my attention, so I'll just address it all here: • I've made a few plot mistakes, like after Kleiner's lab Gordon leaves together with the Doc and Barney and a whole bus ride section plays out. • Canals section was not longer in the Beta than in retail. I read that it was online, but apparently this is wrong. • You first meet Captain Vance at the Air Exchange facility itself, not in the depot prior to it. Concerning the issues I pointed out with Dark Interval, turns out I was imagining that sh*t lol • The physics; weight of props is correct and that's just how the Source engine is. • Likewise, with getting stuck on obstructions. • Apparently, the HUD displays no icons for weapons when Gordon is not wearing the HEV suit. • Air Exchange is actually the setting of Dark Interval's Part 3, so I was wrong in my assumption that it wouldn't be included. It will be interesting to see what role it plays in the game, because the air is not toxic enough for gas masks. I also want to clarify that I have used maps from various mods intentionally for a more pleasant visual experience, as the old maps are rough looking and are very much unfinished. This video is meant to give you an idea of how the game would play out, rather than showing off the actual leaked maps. Therefore, I've used a mixture of both. And the criticism towards RTBR is of course, just a personal preference and not an actual, factual flaw. It's clearly a very ambitious project and has a lot going for it. I didn't mean to just straight up hate on it, just sharing my opinion. Like I said in the video, I did my best to include all of the most noteworthy details, I am not as knowledgeable on this stuff like a lot of people are and I have only recently discovered the Beta. I just found the world and the universe fascinating and was inspired to make a video on it. Feel free to point out anything else that I got wrong, I actually appreciate that! And huge thanks for watching :D

[@isaiahsimmons5776]

canals was probably shorter but with more tidbits. but it does seem to have more interesting, walkable areas then the actual canals. i think theres a crane puzzle section in one of canals maps too. and in some fixed versions u can find bullsquids and some other leaked shit sometimes around. its very interesting, i can see why it feels longer honestly. also there seem to be less or not at all any water, but from what i know the airboat was already planned, so maybe it just result of it being unfinished and u arent actually suppose to walk that much.

[@breezy5797]

Great Video! One small, insignificant nitpick. You mention the synthetic scanners featured in the dark interval section. There actually are synth scanners in hl2! They're the ones that drop the hopper mines during the uprising.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

@@breezy5797 Oh, cool, didn't know that. Thanks for bringing it up!

[@stuglife5514]

What I wanna know, where tf are the links? KZbinr always says “lInKs iN tHe dIscRiPtIoN” and there’s never any fucking links. Why? I’m not in the mood to troll through google looking for this shit.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

@@stuglife5514 mate, all the links are in the description.

[@vapo6372]

I'm sad that the AK was cut in the final version, keeping in mind that the final story takes place somewhere in the eastern europe, it'd make perfect sense that such long lasting, mass produced weapon would stick around. It'd be a great weapon for the resistance, since, it is often depicted as such in many forms of media.

[@alicorn3924]

I know right? The AK (and it's variants) is _the_ guerrilla weapon.

[@TheSixteen60]

Well, the AK (whatever variant it is that was before the 74) just seems obsolete around the time period that HL2 occurs. The AK-103 would’ve been a more suitable idea.

[@bluegum6438]

I think they wanted to maintain a somewhat surreal tone divorced from any obvious real world connections

[@vapo6372]

@@bluegum6438 there are actual well modelled soviet cars in the game that takes place in eastern europe dude, i dont think the "surreal tone" was the reason of AK removal

[@bluegum6438]

@@vapo6372 you'd only know that if you're from Bazakhistan or some shit, I certainly didn't It's in Eastern Europe somewhere but that's different from a literal real life gun you might actually personally own

[@Celerott]

I prefer the Eastern European architecture, but would rather have the darker overall look. The poison air, long train ride, more variant Combines, longer levels...I think taking both and meshing them together would be something truly great.

[@Dornana]

can you imagine a level in an orthdox church on in a historic place? for an example somewhere in an ancient byzantine building or something like that would be cool af

[@vaskoz3700]

i like that its an eastern european city becase it makes you feel more not at home and as if you were reloacated because the majority of gamers are english and citizens

[@boreal3255]

@@Dornana qqqqqqq Qantas

[@gbak9396]

@@Dornana there is a byzantine monastery in lost coast

[@arthurpietrogarcia1057]

I Agree with you for the exception of longer levels.

[@totallynoteverything1.]

I like the both settings: -the Bladerunner and 1984 esque world, polluted and dirty environment after the combine takeover. -the Eastern European esque world, Earth and Xen taking over the ruins of the old world after the combine takeover.

[@alicorn3924]

There's a comment up above that wants those 2 aesthetics be mushed.

[@ShadowSumac]

@@alicorn3924 Bad idea. One of my least favorite things, when it comes to HL2 Betas is an attempted to merge Beta and Final styles. Its just doesn't work, IMO.

[@RazorsharpLT]

I mean - i understand the original style and why they wanted it. They didn't want the combine to be overtly evil, they don't want them to scream "Oh, we're the bad guys" straight when you get out of the door. They want you to question what is happening, is this normal? Where am i? What is going on? Although most people appreciate the atmosphere more than the confusion. When i was growing up i wanted the OG atmosphere too, but when i became older i understood why they did what they did

[@user-ol7bt4wp1j]

This beta honestly is the closest we g And i feel like that the source/source 2 engine would be the probably best engine to use for something like a blade runner game

[@hubertop1247]

How would it get more 1984 than it already is in the release?

[@tastethecock5203]

While the beta looks cool, with everything being dark and gloomy it in my opinion lacks contrast. In the release game there's a variety, and things you can contrast dark-er aspects too. You leave out of Ravenholm only to enter the beach area that was probably was a resort before, and this supposed natural beauty and sunny weather is contrasted against ruins and drying up ocean, and unnatural Combine structures tainting view. The unsettling vibe in the release version is much more subtle than in beta. It doesn't make just everything dark and gloomy and expects you to be depressed, it puts unsettling tones in the familliar landscapes. Came for example with City-17 citizens. Yea, them wearing gasmasks due to air being polluted and toxic is iconic and very oppressive, but at the same time seeing their faces and facial expressions gives them much more character. You realize that these are real humans who are being oppressed and dehumanized. Their more lighthearted attitude again, has an unsettling tone because you know how they live, and what they complain about, making seem like the more lighthearted moments are these people's last attempt to keep their sanity from slipping away by entertaining themselves with joking around.

[@Mr_Bones.]

On top of all of your completely sound points, I just want to add that I have replayed HL2 to completion over 30 times. If the game was dark and depressive, I would not have played it more than a few times.

[@thematrixdll]

I'd argue that by having, at a first glance, normal looking city with only little visible tweaks the Combine have put into its architecture and infrastructure and then gradually ramping up the changes Earth has suffered through makes for a severely darker mental picture of Half-Life 2's world, with the bridge level being the crescendo of players realization just how utterly fucked everything and everyone is.

[@writershard5065]

Excellent points though I don't think the beach was ever a resort. Still, it's definitely meant to reflect the natural beauty that once existed there but is now decaying under the weight of the Combine's resource extraction efforts.

[@me67galaxylife]

this tbh

[@ShadowSumac]

HL2Beta had a lot of contrasts between location. Well, supposedly - from polluted and dark City 17, player goes to visit bright and sunny Ravenholm, then dark Antlion caves and once again bright Wastelands and industrial nightmare of Airex. Tone of the game and locations would have been really different compared to the final version anyway, but contrast would have been there. I love HL2 to bits, but beta offers something really different, which I also like.

[@onlywithbuts1781]

It's 2022 and Half Life franchise continues to be as interesting and captivating as it was during its launch. Thank you for making a documentary worth of a video, no matter how many times i watch content like that, it never gets old.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@johndoe-xu1on]

Yeah but what pisses me off is that they fked us out of this. This looks so much more interesting

[@RootVegetabIe]

@@johndoe-xu1on Maybe. But it's easy to look at unfinished work and imagine it being the best it can be. The fact the we fill in the blanks with our imagination is what makes it seem like so much more than it is. They wouldn't have scrapped all of this work for no reason if it was really working out. The grass is always greener.

[@emekaasiegbu3697]

thats why hl1 and 2 are the best games ever made

[@chrismarzarella2106]

Tell jabba the hut to get off his fat lazy ass and make the third.

[@spliffern2662]

One of my favorite little touches to Dark Interval is that there's tire marks at the end of the docks at the beginning of the game, implying that someone killed themself by driving into the sea.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

That's so cool, never even noticed that.

[@alicorn3924]

oh...

[@Mr.Needle-Hamster]

That's tragic 😥

[@ArvelDreth]

"Did you know Half-Life 2 was originally meant to be dark and sinister?" The retail product may take place mostly during the day, but it's absolutely just as horrifying. The oceans are still being drained and instead of air exchange, there's the suppression field. Which seems a far more aggressive and overtly genocidal, and is extremely depressing as the far more empty streets in the retail product give everything such a lifeless and depressing feel. The HL beta is so full of its own kind of life, even though it's menacing and dark, it is still far more vibrant and lively.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Okay, you edited your comment, so I'll write a new response lol In my opinion, the retail game is more chipper, even though it has lots of dark elements. To me the Beta concept art gives off a darker and more depressing tone, but that's just concept art. We don't know what kind of vibe the actual game would have had. HL2 obviously has an oppressed world, I'm not denying that, and the Combine is doing a lot of messed up things. I love HL2 and it's one of the reasons why I love it. I'm just really into the Beta concepts as well and was inspired to make a video on it. But of course, not everyone agrees that the Beta concepts are more interesting or that they're darker, and that's fine. I love the discussion, as long as you don't judge the whole video by the first sentence :)

[@ArvelDreth]

@@NeonNovaFilms I wasn't judging the whole video by the first sentence. I was just being a little dramatic. I do still like your video overall, I promise. On HL2, the only thing I don't like about the retail release is that it feels like Alyx, Barney, Kleiner, and Eli have an attitude that clashes with the tone of the rest of the game. Even the minor background NPCs are more consistent, saying stuff like "I'm working up the nerve to go on", "If I talk to you out here, we'll both be in trouble", "don't drink the water; they put something in it, to make you forget", and the very depressing line "you're scaring the pigeons..." which hints at the idea that the civilian lives a life so devoid of basic fulfillment that all he can do to fill the time is watch pigeons. Yet despite how horrendous the situation is, the main cast are all cocky and cracking jokes. I think that the bright lighting conditions would affect the mood less if they appeared to take the situation more seriously.

[@casmith1998]

@@NeonNovaFilms i’m sorry, but saying the retail game feels more “chipper” is just flat out incorrect. the beta’s atmosphere is far more overt and in your face, whilst retail’s is a lot more subtle and inspired. rather than going in a grim, gritty direction with its tone, they instead went in a lonely, melancholy direction, which I think fits the more depressing reality of the situation the game is trying to convey.

[@Numinon]

@@casmith1998 Flat out incorrect on perception, perception being subjective? I completely disagree with all of this, on a subjective level of course. I think the reason beta's atmosphere works as well as it does is because it IS in your face, it conveys ideas without speaking a single word, ideas that maybe can't even be put into words. Atmosphere is immersion in its most fundamental form and subtle atmosphere to me just means having done a shoddy job at making one.

[@casmith1998]

@@Numinon I mean, if you’re incapable of appreciating subtlety and nuance, sure lmao

[@gamesergeanthd]

I'm a big sucker for this early half-life 2 version, hopefully one day the modding community can manage to recreate all of its chapters into one cohesive complete journey and in a decent quality.

[@Kernowparadise]

The Half-Life 2 Beta deserves to be a Canon storyline set in an alternate reality; a possible change in time that G-Man could have created. The end scene of Half-Life 2 Episode 2 in its own way is an alternate timeline since what the G-Man did to save Eli in Half-Life Alyx, so why not this? This alternate reality is so much darker and more grim, and it makes the Combine look much more menacing yet interesting, it makes you really think about stuff like: "Why did they bother poisoning the atmosphere if everyone's wearing gasmasks anyway?". I love everything about the series and like Half-Life 2, I can't help myself but to love the Beta as well. It is incredibly interesting and the darker atmosphere draws me in to really start asking the big questions, especially when playing the actual Betas from 2001-2002 and the recreation mods.

[@WindiChilliwack]

If Valve made a another "half life alyx" i want to have Adrian Shepard in this alternate reality

[@bigyacks6913]

Yea they could base off something like the multiverse different reality possibly?

[@petarvasiljevic8764]

I think that ending in HL:A isn't an alternative timeline. Gman simply changed the future.

[@Kernowparadise]

@@petarvasiljevic8764 G-man changing the future created an alternate path, instead of Alyx mourning over her father's death and taking revenge on the Combine, she is now captured at the expense of one Advisor now being dead instead of Eli. Both are canon, yet only one can be followed, and the one that we will follow is the one created for us by the G-man at the end of Alyx.

[@petarvasiljevic8764]

@@Kernowparadise So do you think we have the multiverse stuff happening here?

[@noclick]

very good video, the editing was top notch i'm glad people are still talking about the beta

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Appreciate that! And yeah, I'm completely obsessed with those old concepts!

[@ultimatediablo70]

i like you

[@videoplayback_]

*DMAN YOUR HERE TOO KEEP MAKING HALF LIFE 2 VIDEO BTW NOCLICK!!?!!*

[@apesevolved]

hl2 beta should have its own "black mesa" remake

[@Skikopl]

Hey noclick

[@NazarovVv]

A man after my own heart. I cannot even begin to explain just how stellar the production of the video is. I’ve always had this fascination with the version of Half-Life which existed in my head from all those early screenshots and concept arts in the video game magazines and thank you so much for including links to everything used to make the video, for one I always wanted to see the wasteland side of the city wall by the canals. That said there is just something special for me in the released version, you see I am from Bulgaria. And when 14 year old me inserted those 5 CDs (only to ask me to download Steam right after) I saw something amazing. I knew City 17, I’ve been living in it my whole life. Sure it didn’t replicate any real places but it “felt” the same. It was a profound experience. And sure enough years later in an AMA, Victor Antonov confirmed he mainly based it on Sofia, not actual places in the city but more its atmosphere. HL2 showed me that the depressive City I lived in had a beauty and showed that otherworldly and somewhat inhuman aesthetic Eastern bloc cities have. And just look at the impact City 17 still has on gaming and design. Very few in game cities are ever remembered as actual characters in the story. I believe the shift to lighter aesthetic was the correct one in the long run because the released version of the city had felt “nostalgic”. Like everything was already lost and a distant memory and that was just so much impactful than the absolutely suffocating oppression of the darker concept. Nostalgia is a hell of a drug which alters our perception and perhaps that’s why we remember it so fondly, not just because 18 years have passed but because it was nostalgic from the get go. Anyhow those were my two cents, sorry for the wall of text

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thanks for sharing, man. And I'm glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@purplebatdragon]

This is the most unique setting I've seen in a long, LONG time. Pathologic is the closest I can think of to this, but this is all downright INSPIRED. Thanks for putting these projects on my radar, 'cuz now I'm hyped.

[@ethanlivemere1162]

I went down the beta rabbit hole on the Half-Life wiki myself, almost 2 years ago. I vented my obsession with the beta by doing something really stupid: I started the enormous project of writing out the beta storyline in a novel-length fanfic. It's called _Anticitizen_ and I have three chapters ready and available to read, and the fourth chapter almost finished after one and a half years. So yeah, I think it's fair to say I'm pretty deep in the beta rabbit hole.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

That sounds cool, good job!

[@MrAB-fo7zk]

Link?

[@lonelynadino1836]

Ight we need this.

[@GOING_POSTAL666]

if youre still working on it id love to see it!

[@residentevil1.5nerd]

Where can I read these

[@daveeverett3169]

You didn't need to make this video extremely high quality but you did. I hope your channel grows big!

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Getting even a few comments like this makes it all worth it. Really, thank you for the kind words!

[@Nogardtist]

quality is there algorithm needs quantity and yet they say they care about small creators define small creator is it 10K subs their definition of smoll creator micro creators are so small most of the time even digital abyss dont want them

[@playroblox-si5rn]

@@NeonNovaFilms your editing is is similar to a youtuber with 500k subs

[@GAMELASTERv2]

this! And also that it's 4K, I absolutely enjoyed to see all the amazing sceneries in 4K! Thank you

[@NeonNovaFilms]

@@GAMELASTERv2 my pleasure!

[@maximiliandort3489]

I think the HL2 we actually got is just as dark as what he beta was, just not as "on the nose". The oceans are drained in sandtraps, the procreation suppression is there, it's just presented more subtle.

[@whiteknight7wayne493]

I think Neon Nova explained it when he mentioned pacing. The more in ur face gloom may have possibly transalated to less sales or maybe they had obvious disruption and deadline pressure after the leak....i think Far Cry was released during the delays and prob added to that pressure too. All in all its great to have the mods now/soon. In life shit happens. Im sure they wanted to originally match the fully epic story of original Half Life even tho part 2 is no slouch . Half Life is def one of the greatest ever. All great productions. Super memorable.

[@ImperialCaleb]

Yeah having the atmosphere/setting be so damn blatant isn't as interesting. The beta got comically evil sometimes, like the video game where you play as a manhack and kill people but little did you know you're actually killing real people!!!1 It's like what some 12 year old youtube commenter thinks is dark and serious but is too dark to even take seriously. Like you expect some NPC to say "wanna find breen? he's right next to the coffin superstore over there, next to the noxious fume factory, on the corner with the child slave labor camp to the left, with the child slave graveyard to the left of that of course, oh and if you hit the eternal torture pod warehouse you've gone too far." Honestly I find it strange that these sort of things were even considered at one point, it reminds me of the CIA brain boy (and other) concept art from Half Life 1 that were just totally ridiculous. Guess that's just how development works.

[@bluegum6438]

​@@ImperialCaleb Completely agree, most of the cut content was rightfully cut. I think they may have realised they needed to ease off the gas on how hard the planet was getting rammed because it would make the fight against the Combine feel a little pointless, and they are scarier if they just don't care instead of doing B-grade schlock garbage like the Manhack Arcade in the pursuit of grimdark

[@buzinaocara]

@@ImperialCaleb Thanks for that comment, I've tried to convey all that more politely not to irritate people, but I also feel the same way as you. And by god how disappointing it is to see the amount of 12 year old youtube commenteres are here saying they'd actually prefer the B-movie Hellraiser-like HL beta. I bet if that's what they actually got, most of them would actually find it too cheesy once it was in front of them. Kind of Homer Simpson's car phenomena there.

[@dallas9397]

⁠​⁠@@buzinaocaraI absolutely respect this take, but I personally disagree. While some parts of the game would best be cut, I think there are a lot of amazing and cool scenes that could have been brought into the retail version. The landscape/architecture gives me a very interesting aesthetic that is much more uncanny then the homely and humble feeling of the retail version, and it might be just me, but all the sublime feelings invoked by the Half Life 2 Beta, makes it feel so much more compelling and inspiring how a perilous journey soon gets a sense of hope as you fight through impossible odds.

[@LooseGripHandle]

Honestly this storyline feels like original half life setting. Glorious.

[@legoneb]

I like the final version more honestly, it's much more realistic politically. There's a minimalist streak to the worldbuilding that makes it much more intriguing and engaging. The beta version feels almost like Jak II, the combine are cartoonishly utilitarian and takes you out of the horror of what the combine are really doing.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

That’s an interesting take!

[@non-shockingtopics7563]

This. You put into words what I could not.

[@sirpretzel822]

100% Agree, One of my favorite things about Half Life 2 is how empty the world is. It clearly shows the horror of what combine has done to humanity, without ever drawing direct attention to it, which creates a much lighter yet uncanny atmosphere that feels a lot more immersive than the Beta's oppressive dark future. I'm honestly split on which looks better though, the atmosphere of the Beta is so rich so much more distinct but the final game has that eastern European architecture with clear skies and serene landscapes that are just beautiful in their own right.

[@SammEater]

For sure, the first thing I thought while looking at this was Jak II's Haven City.

[@mccperin]

i agree completely! while i do like how rich the beta is, i must say it was almost a bit silly n very out of character how much the cmb 'cared' about the earth. the vibe that i got from the retail version was a lot more realistic; that it was simply *just another world they'd conquered from a multitude of universes they were ruling over, so they didn't really bother with it very much.* while supressive n authoritarian no doubt, it was like they were just using our planet as a military base/factory. the beta made it seem like the earth was oh-so-important in order to have weather control and air exchange n so many measures n so many things happening at once... but like... *why* r they wasting so many resources on this planet? there's probably a lot of planets similar to earth that they have conquered, so why give them anything but the bare minimum?

[@teopazdrijan1008]

The gameplay in HL2 is so much more straight-forward and I wished that Gordon was a bit longer as a civilian in City 17, but also there wasn't so much to show in the retail one as opposed to the beta, so....

[@ShadowSumac]

I would love that too, but given how long initial City 17 chapter would have been, I am afraid, a lot of people would be complaining that "there is nothing to do in the beginning of the game, except walking around". I mean, original City 17 chapter was 8 maps long (later cut to 6 maps) and that's before we go into underground tunnel (1-2 maps) and, finally, Kleiner's lab, where we experience failed teleportation sequence. So its basically 7-11 maps of just walking around and watching scripts, before you get HEV suit and a first weapon.

[@hecku]

Vertigo seems like it would have been an utterly incredible mission, crashing into a building and having to scale down it fighting Combine all the way down, and slowly revealing an all-out war on the streets below. A lot of people don't give the concepts of the Beta enough credit, saying that the final version was objectively better and that all of the stuff was cut for good reason, but I don't think they are completely right. It's true that what we got was still great, but I think had Valve finished most of the concepts from the Beta and given most of them more polish rather than just immediately cutting them out, it could have been a masterpiece in the same proportion as the original Halo trilogy. Great video.

[@odstat1949]

H E L L O

[@lionocyborg6030]

There’s also the manhack arcade being cut because valve felt while it was a cool concept, it wouldn’t have been fun to play. Dark Interval’s manhack arcade proved them wrong and the fact they were real manhacks was made subtle by disguising the environments in the “game” with system shock cyberspace filters. They even had a sense of humour and called the arcade cabinets “Hack-Man”.

[@lja1993]

I do think you're right, and I hope if they ever continue the series that we are introduced to some of these original concepts and ideas. Don't get me wrong, I think the final product was an absolute masterpiece of a game. I just wish they'd even made it a longer game, adding and refining a few more of these original beta ideas that sadly didn't make it in!

[@IkesDaddelbox]

To be honest, I'm happy with the City 17 we got. As an East German I can relate to this environment much more than to a New York setting. The commieblocks give me a feeling of oppression and nostalgic comfort at the same time. It's an extremely uncanny feeling to walk through this city in a video game that looks like a location somewhere around your area. It feels very real, I never feel the same kind of immersion with the usual American or Japanese styled environments in video games. Also, it's interesting that Ravenholm is a remnant from the early versions. Like the forest temple in Ocarina of Time. Also a location that feels vastly different from the rest of the game for the same reason.

[@villings]

yeah me too

[@seggsmann2599]

So, jetzt reicht es! Die Mauer wird errichtet.

[@Miszter]

Me too. :) Greetings from Hungary!

[@independentthought3390]

I think American cities look extremely generic and plain. City 17 was one of the main reasons Half Life 2 was such a big success. Way too many games were at the time, and still are, set in a generic US city. I think we would all appreciate if more devs set their games someplace else.

[@lionocyborg6030]

Aberdeen in Scotland also feels a lot like City 17 during college days or job interviews in bad weather. It even has a canal/storm drain that is actually an old river the city was built on top of (it comes to the surface between houses a couple of times) and the old town/bridge of don area really feels like the ruined outer City 17 with crime rate comparable to Glasgow. Modern day London is like Half Life too though it could also be seen as the city of Glass from the first Mirror’s Edge game.

[@shogxn_official]

Quality content 🔥🔥🔥 You're probably the first person I've heard on KZbin say they actually prefer the 2001 era. Ngl, while I adore the game we got, the darker 2001 aesthetics just draw me in way more and ooze atmosphere. Also, gotta agree with you on the physics in Dark Interval feeling off. They made a different version called Dark Interval: Old Build Mod and while it's unfinished, it feels like a playable version of the older story with the long sections of just exploring. Definitely reccomend it if you didn't know about it👌

[@NeonNovaFilms]

I thought I was the only one that noticed the physics in DI. I’ve been told there’s nothing wrong with them, but I’m not sure. And yeah, I played the Old Build for this video too. I really liked it! Glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@shogxn_official]

Good lord.. can we turn some of the likes on this comment into subs??? 😂 ya boy is struggling

[@jonahc2807]

Something tells me that his channel is about to blow up

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Hey man, I can only hope! Really appreciate the support!

[@rezsi4584]

I just simply fell in love with this alternative world concept of halfe life 2. i just adore the whole atmosphere and the world building.

[@praralexander7561]

As much as I love the darker esthetic present in the beta, I feel that the style present in the final game is a lot more unique and recognizable.

[@pouncelygrin6699]

The retail version feels like the before of beta, where the Combine's destruction of the planet is just starting and the beta is the supposed aftermath of it. You know what I just got an idea pop in my head, the main character of the retail version could have been someone different and then Beta version gets released and the main character becomes Gordon. The main character could be like the tutorial or intro to the world's destruction through the Combine's hands and as he progresses through the game he becomes the person to help in freeing/waking up Gordon Freeman and then the real game starts and it becomes a surprise to people like "there's more?!"

[@lionocyborg6030]

I love Half Life 2 the way it is but I do prefer the darker stuff from the old beta era as it really hammers home how monstrous the combine is, which only really hit home to 11/12 year old me in Episode 2 with the hunters and advisors. Other than police brutality, Ravenholm being headcrab bombed and the stalkers in the finished game, the game felt like a dark episode of Kim Possible tone wise and the draining of the oceans wasn’t clear at first: I thought it was just low tide or a neap tide at worst. The beta removes the ambiguity with the sea being much further away than the actual coast, requiring Gordon to traverse the wasteland of the old sea floor to reach it. We also have things like the stenographer’s chasm, manhack arcade, City 17 old town amongst the outer canals, air exchange, arctic weather control building and Dr Breen looking and sounding a lot creepier.

[@spartains5493]

From what we know of the Beta, I would've preferred it to release I think. It continued a lot of the themes from HL1 (especially militarism) and felt a little more nuanced in terms of continuing the story from HL1.

[@SisyphusSRB]

Sure, but Half-Life 2 is objectively a Superior game to Half-Life. Half-Life one didn't have much of a story, shit happened, aliens attacked, government was sent to clean you up, go through levels and fight the government and the aliens. It's some pretty basic shit, still good tho, I really enjoyed HL, HL:OP and HL:BS. However, Half-Life 2 improved the franchise a lot, with incredible graphics for it's time, physics, gameplay was overall much better. The story was really cool, 20 years later, dystopian and shit. They couldn't just do the same shit they did in Half-Life 1, it wouldn't be as succesful as it is today. The last level was a bit dissapointing to me because I was expecting some kind of a boss fight, but when the mysterious G-man started speaking I got goosebumps. Level before that was extremely hard however, so I guess it's fine. My only real complain is that they're not making more Half-Life games because the universe is really interesting.

[@spartains5493]

@@SisyphusSRBThe Half-Life universe is really underdeveloped, especially Half-Life 2's portion. We don't know anything about the 7 Hour War, we don't know what happened between the war and HL2, we don't know how Eli and Kleiner became the leaders of the resistance, we don't how the resistance was formed, we don't know what happened to, or what is happening, in the rest of the world, and so on. The Combine are by far the worst developed part of Half-Life 2. The force they leave on earth gets steamrolled by the resistance over the course of a few days, and that's just around City17. If they can't control a single city, who knows how they've managed to control an entire planet. They're really a pathetic enemy. I know people like to prop up the HL lore, but past the 7 Hour War, there isn't actually much lore there. Its all fanon and speculation. I certainly don't think we can call HL2 an objectively better game than HL1, either. The physics are cool but the puzzle aspects haven't aged all that well and are more of an annoyance than a positive experience imo. They only really serve as breaks in between combat, which would've been better spent on fleshing out the story, rather than submerging blue barrels to lift up a ramp. They were HL2's gimmick, and once you've played through the game a few times, it gets old really fast. Half-Life 2's gameplay is notoriously bland, too. Both the movement and the gunplay are incredibly rudimentary. The only notable gameplay change from HL1, besides it being smoothed out, is being able to sprint. I'm not trying to shit on Half-Life 2. I do like the game, and the gravity gun is really fun, but realistically, it's a pretty standard shooter. That's why it's been a right of passage for PC gaming for the past 20 years; its easy to get into and teaches you everything you need to know about PC gaming.

[@BladePocok]

Not sure why or how this video was recommended to me out of nowhere, but worth every minute of it! Great job, loved the scenes and the overall atmosphere, patiently waiting your next project :)

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Ah man, this is why I do it. Thank you for your words!

[@lazloblazlo]

Very well made video. It’s nice to see some in depth content going into the dark universe that is the HL2 beta.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thank you! Glad you liked it :D

[@raymen4863]

But I feel like they're both just as dark, in HL2 atleast from what you know you can not even possibly imagine what the Combine are possibly doing to us. Unimaginable ways of torture or horrible fates such as being a stalker, if people would look more deepers into the dark parts of HL2 then itd be much more darker or the same ammount as the beta.

[@AngryShooter]

I'm hoping that since Half-Life: Alyx started a new timeline, there's maybe the possibility that sequels in that timeline might be heavily inspired by HL2 Beta, but maybe even expecting Valve to make games might be asking too much. Tho I'm blown away by these mods, I didn't know they were this close to capturing the feel from that beta concept art, I hope they carry through their projects to completion. Also freaking brilliant video btw, please keep up the good work, more than happy to subscribe.

[@MarCuseus]

*Half-Life: not Alyx

[@BabylonGames798]

The beta definitely captured the feel of an alien dystopia much better than the retail version. I feel like a setting like that absolutely NEEDS to feel so dreadful and hopeless.

[@hopelesslyoptimistic8231]

But it wouldn’t make too much sense for the story. The combine look too powerful in beta. There is no believable way a resistance could stand a chance against a force that powerful. In the retail version, combine look much weaker making a resistance plausible. I think HL:A found a perfect balance. They the combine a little more intimidating but made it reasonable. Half Life is more of an action game and such a depressing theme doesn’t fit the power godly power Gordon Freeman has

[@turtlethemurtle3330]

@@hopelesslyoptimistic8231 Yeah thats true, but in the version we got it almost feels like the combine is holding back as they clearly have the power to do everything they did in the beta version.

[@hopelesslyoptimistic8231]

@@turtlethemurtle3330 Because they’re trying to pretend their Earth saviors. Their propaganda is working because that’s why there are so many humans willing to fight for the combine. The beta seems more like a direct occupation but in the retail it’s really just a few advisors and the rest of the force are made up of enhance humans.

[@WELSHGAMER99]

​@@turtlethemurtle3330That's the point. The combine is way too powerful to care about Earth and what they leave behind are glorified janitors

[@kruppinsfm]

I feel like for the best recreation of the beta, they should only use assets from the leak to build maps, and create textures/models etc in the beta style. Making it similar looking to the leak maps n that.

[@Luka2000_]

Half life 2 to this day is my favorite game of all time. Having played rdr2, gta 5, far cry 3 and many many more....I still love half life 2 more.

[@ryatt9365]

32:54 I prefer the Citadel design in the final game but this shot is beautiful. It's exactly what I imagine when hearing about the cut settings in HL2.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Yeah, it's such a perfect design!

[@MrSickNoodle]

I feel that the beta seems more in line with original. HL1 and HL2 feel very disconnected in a way. I get why they made HL2 the way they did, it's very polished and feels more modern. The beta has more of that weird 90s vibe though, I missed that in HL2. Half life 1 is much more bizarre. HL2 went more for realism I think, where as half life 1 was more surreal. Has more of an X-FILES vibe.

[@ShadowSumac]

I think, it is, because, almost all bizarre elements and enemies were cut from the final game, since they wanted to make Combine more transparent enemy, instead of being typical "evil aliens". And they seemingly didn't want to rely on the HL1 style, which in itself owned a lot to the 90s shooters like Doom and Quake (which lead to major disconnection in both style and presentation between the games). As strange as it sounds in today's world of reboots and sequels, Valve were fully committed to create something completely new, a sequel, which barely resembled original game.

[@roddydykes7053]

Yeah when I finally played HL1 in 2019, a long time after my childhood 2004 playthrough of HL2, I was a bit disappointed by how different and dated it felt.

[@buzinaocara]

My favorite parts of half-life are the more ground to earth parts of the science facility in chaos while I tried to survive through it. Ot felt like something that could happen in my life, as if a a natural disaster hit lr a war started as I was inside a hospital, or a factory, or a school, etc. Most of HL1 takes place in very relatable and mundane locations, with just absurd things happening within them. The more ridiculous aliens and outer dimensions feel like the most cheesy and uninspired parts of the game I endure through and try to ignore because the rest of the game is so much good. I think the retail HL2 recaptured those good elements, and reduced the cheesy ones. There are other games for people that like the cheesy and obvious sci-fi and horror themes.

[@ImaplanetJupiteeeerr]

Good video, truly, thanks for this! A like and a sub to you! I like to think that the hl2 beta would have been earth even longer after the combine came, like 10 years more after hl retail, if the resistance couldn't get the combine off earth. Oceans dried and air polluted, the world in complete ruins. I absolutely love the "light but still really dark" vibe in hl2 retail. Things are seemingly ok, but everything still just seems off. It gives its own creepy and dark vibe. :)

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thanks for your support, really appreciate that! I agree with you on HL2’s atmosphere bring incredible, even though the Beta was sick, what we got is unique and can’t be mad at that. New video dropping today, hope you’ll enjoy!

[@mcsmartass8306]

imo I love the world we got. It's way more thought out, in depth, and really gave the combine serious character as sci fi villains by showing how heartless, objective and utilitarian they are. If they had shown up with this goofy Stereotypical Alien "we are the bad guys" motif I would not have cared about half life as much as I do. The best part about sci fi fiction is seeing different people's ideas of what the universe would look like if we truly saw all of it. I'm also happy that their reinterpretations were made recently by the community, because they look incredible now but definitely wouldn't have back in 2004

[@noided4230]

i love when i find small channels with quality videos. keep it up!

[@NeonNovaFilms]

I'll do my best, thank you!

[@replex8889]

One of my Top 10 Videos on KZbin. I love to come back and watch it. The Vibe this Video brings is incedible, The cuts, the music and your commentary bring the Feeling from Half life perfectly to the viewer. I love it

[@NeonNovaFilms]

That really means a lot to me, thank you :)

[@danielplayer5308]

I watched this video for 5 times now 6 by me watching and typing The content is just really good i hope you grow in the next following weeks or days i wish you good luck in this pandemic

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Wow, thanks so much, my man! I really appreciate that. Good luck to us all :)

[@TehJellyLord]

You know, the HL2 Beta for this game honestly feels closer to the kind of vibe HL1 gives off compared to the final version of HL2. HL1 feels like a fight for survival while HL2 feels more like an action movie. I still love HL2 and it’s episodes obviously, but I like to imagine a world where a completed version with all the concepts cut from the beta was what we got instead. Perhaps if we ever actually get an HL3 (YEAH RIGHT LOL) then they could reuse some of the concepts from the HL2 Beta to show the increasingly hopelessness.

[@Wysch]

I would honestly prefer Valve giving Crowbar Collective rights to do Half-Life 2 remake and that remake being based on HL2: Beta. Crowbar Collective imho proved their passion for this universe, so in their hands the story of HL2: Beta could basically widen the story of HL2. But, because Valve of course prefers them working on their IPs, we got HL: Alyx.

[@tennisthelegend]

It's pretty clear that half life 3 is in the works, half life alyx basically confirmed it

[@ShadowSumac]

@@tennisthelegend Relying on Valve cliffhangers is a bad idea.

[@DanielPizarroReporter]

Honestly mate, I stumbled upon this video a few months after you uploaded it, and I can't stop watching it. I love your analysis and ideas, plus your narration. I often just put this video on in the background and just listen to you speak about the Half Life lore and the Beta.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Daniel, thank you for the kind words. I'm really glad to hear you love this video so much. Hopefully, I'll get back to making more HL content soon :)

[@DanielPizarroReporter]

@@NeonNovaFilms if you need any help. Let me know.

[@frxstbite909]

Editing was on point, very excited to see new uploads.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Yes, sir, new video dropping later today! Thanks for the support!

[@bluewave1685]

I absolutely love the 1999-2001 “Skyscraper Era” of development. The green, toxic sky, the towering and menacing skyscrapers, and the shard-looking Citadel looked something straight out of 1984. Though I prefer the retails look for story reasons, I still like the earliest aesthetics the best

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Yeah, the new version is more unique, but like I said, I'm a sucker for that 1984 aesthetic.

[@dr.triceps]

Incredibly entertaining as always. Enjoyed this from start to finish 👍

[@fumez111]

i usually only like vids i might rewatch but you deserve it for the good editing and storytelling

[@alxxz]

Very interesting and informative video! I had never seen all these alternate footage and art of Half Life 2 before! It's incredible how much was cut out and changed for the final product. All this is enough content for another whole different game all together!

[@juke37024]

How the hell do you only have 941 subscribers? This video was in my recommended and is playing out like a 100k+ channel's video. Good script, great readover voice, and beautiful editing. I was encapsulated immediately and frankly your video showed beta stuff I've never seen before. Big props man.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

I appreciate all of that feedback! Thank you! I'm dropping a new video in the next few hours, hope you'll be there :)

[@KnyazArminius]

Honestly Great video you made here man, I love the effort you put into it. I look forward to the day that these mods are complete because though we never got to see the early concepts made into full games (yet) these modders will certainly make up for it.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thanks for watching, bro! Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@aidanisan]

i like what you did with the audio before wasteland that was a really nice touch!

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Glad you enjoyed that :)

[@The-Black-Death]

The difference between the HL2 Beta and Final HL2 is that Final is somewhat more "homely" and recognizable despite it's still grim and bleak setting, whereas the Beta is just PURE bleak and grim and completely dystopian in design, very much in an alien-like or unearthly fashion that even suits well with some of the sound design that went into the Beta as well!

[@Dalek22comments]

Brilliant video, really high quality and enjoyed the whole thing.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thank you, glad you liked it :)

[@RevolverRez]

I honestly prefer the retail version. There's still something left to save, so it makes sense the resistance has more hope. I also find source maps oddly comfy and enjoyable, I've lately heard some people find them creepy and I just can't understand how.

[@sam-sp5zk]

Ever heared the word uncanny It's just creepy to see an super market like mall empty and no signs of life

[@clintgolub1751]

@@sam-sp5zk those are known as “Liminal Spaces”

[@Mr.Needle-Hamster]

So there's a chance that they can win....

[@Jhony781]

@@clintgolub1751 there still uncanny

[@roddydykes7053]

@@sam-sp5zk uncanny valley

[@justinspired6125]

I had no idea there was so much cut content! Really well done video and narration - it was obvious how much research went into it too. Outstanding!

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@kettujabamiesukkeliukko]

Nice video. I've read about the beta, but having even mods about it being played on backround makes me dive more into it. Very good.

[@aptidzhamurzaev3183]

First I saw HL2 beta was back in 2009 (wish it was btc hmmm) I did find it interesting even followed many mods back then on moddb that were trying to recreate the story. As today my interest has decreased but it was really awesome to see this video with so much detail. I learned alot about its origins and different eras.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Glad you enjoyed the video, bro!

[@Nozza710]

How the hell did you see the beta in 2009, it released in 2004 tf 🤔🤔??

[@aptidzhamurzaev3183]

@@Nozza710 When I finished playing hl2 i was searching for other hl games thats how i found out about hl2 beta

[@Nozza710]

@@aptidzhamurzaev3183 oh lol

[@jmacius]

Honestly, your content and channel needs more credit for all the hard work you actually put into editing, quality, narration everything. I’m definitely subscribing, hope you grow more in the future.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

I really appreciate that. Thank you!

[@sam-sp5zk]

@@NeonNovaFilms i enjoyed your video as well and i did already subscribed during the video Back then i only know beta art concepts

[@NeonNovaFilms]

@@sam-sp5zk thank you 🙏

[@devops9506]

Wow, this video... You did a GREAT WORK! Being a huge HL fan I was completely unaware of those awesome mods...

[@GeminiWoods]

Very well made video. Great job!

[@MauricioJara]

Great video! Now, I don’t think the beta would’ve been better than Retail, however I do think some of it should’ve stayed. Not all of it! But some ideas were interesting. I’d argue Retail is as dark if not darker than the Beta but it’s much more subtle, where you have to analyze the world. Anyways, great video, great editing!

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thank you for watching! Yeah, they’re both dark. While having kids in factories is dark, the suppression field is much worse, so I get what you mean. The game is incredible, either way :)

[@sasaider3711]

Suppression field may be as dark as kids in factories, but it makes no sense

[@MauricioJara]

@@sasaider3711 Here’s an example on what I mean that the retail is darker or more intriguing. Some say the removal of the Manhack Arcade makes it less darker. I’d say it makes it darker. Imagine a world where there is no entertainment. At least the citizens had some form of entertainment (while twisted) in the Beta, but in retail, there’s nothing. The closest thing to some entertainment are the Breencasts. You’d go insane like that, and you do see people that are not well in the head anymore. It’s this kind of fridge horror that’s present in Retail that isn’t present in the Beta that I love.

[@canyongoat2096]

@@MauricioJara Yes in the retail version they pretty much have nothing going on at all and it makes it even darker and creepier. In the Beta they still have a functioning society, even if it's twisted and dark. But in retail there is literally nothing, it's almost like the whole planet is just dead and there are hardly any humans left. And the ones who are left are pretty much empty shells of their former selves as they have literally nothing good in their life anymore.

[@ShadowSumac]

@@canyongoat2096 Personally I find idea of functioning society under combine rule to be quite intriguing in its own way. Like imagine hazard suit-clad family watching TV or going outside to buy food.

[@skipfighter]

I have a lot of respect for good editing. Great job mate

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thank you 🙏

[@nemz7505]

Excellent content, gotta admit the HL ost gets me every time - good luck with your channel!

[@einname220]

42min. felt like 10-15 at most ... I love Half Life and Videos about it, no wonder Time flies. Good Job!

[@kralicek2385]

This was an amazing video. Love the metaphorically and literally dark feels of the beta and concept arts. Thank you for the contribution to this amazing community!

[@NeonNovaFilms]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@cmcas]

I prefer the version we got. This version is waaaay to depressive, There are some elements that could have been carried over, like the creature variety and the different locations, the artic chapter and the Borealis. Also a bigger emphasis on the war between human and combine and a deeper look into the combine technology. But, overall I absolutely enjoyed what we got. The dystopian balck sky and all that.. I think it would've be waaay too much. It needed to stay a bit more real.

[@W4ter_M3lon76]

Same

[@chrismarzarella2106]

@@W4ter_M3lon76if that’s how you feel never play SOMA lol

[@W4ter_M3lon76]

@@chrismarzarella2106 oh ok lol thanks i guess....

[@darkomilosevic1659]

The editing style when words and sentences appear on screen reminds me alot of Max Payne 3. It did something similar with glitchy effects with words and stuff. Oh, and I must say, amazing job on the video. There have been other ones discussing the beta, but Ive never seen one go as in depth as your did. Excellent, truly. I'll definitely stick around for more

[@NeonNovaFilms]

I appreciate that!

[@JMBuLLeTCL]

Subbed, gave me nostalgia

[@augustussinclair6493]

While I think Half Life 2 Beta is certainly a really cool idea and I'd love to play it someday along with a revivified black mesa-esque HL2 game(s) remaster, I just feel that the Combine (and by extension the Universal Union) are portrayed as much colder and calculating in the retail version, in Beta - especially after having watched this video essay - they feel more like mustache twirling villains than a cold, calculating, interdimensional empire. It would be really cool if beta and the retail version were just smashed together with the best bits of both.

[@buzinaocara]

I think the retail IS the best bits of beta. They cut the cliches and kept what was inpired.

[@DeeZeeX]

Great video ! Hope to see more Half-Life vids from you !

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thank you! Count on it ;)

[@WarpingFist]

This video is so engaging and exciting. You really went all out with this as the quality is unmatched. You're very inspirational to me

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Wow, thank you!

[@DmnkRocks]

I love this video - very well made! - I really enjoyed your work. - Thank You for that! One thing about the original Storyline and Fan-Projects is Missing: Project Boreales (Fan Made HL seemingly sticking mostly to the "original" storyline - made in Unreal Engine)

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thank you for watching, glad you liked it! I didn’t include Project Borealis because it’s not Beta related and is rather a fan-made sequel basically. It’s supposed to be the Episode Three we never got. It does look pretty awesome so far though 👌

[@stranger5011]

The "wake up and smell the Ashes" makes more sence in the Beta

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thanks, John! I'm happy you liked it :D

[@MaxReckless99]

i really enjoyed this video. its like watching a documentary. love half life and all of its back stories. im a big fan and been playing since the original, and definitely love the darker version of the game

[@selohcin]

Everything from the level designs to the characters was better-formed and better-written in the original. What a shame they didn't stick with the original design! The stripped-down version we got was still better than anything else that year, but what a shame they couldn't make it the way it was originally envisioned!

[@mattmanix5104]

Great content. If you like making these deep dives into lost content or even just older games in general I'd love to watch them. It's interesting to see how deep some of these older games really were.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

You will see more of that on this channel!

[@nighdoblox1670]

This youtuber is so underated, he made a video that looks like it is made by a og youtuber that have at least 1Million subs

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thank you so much for the support! Working day and night on the next one :D

[@bray7934]

Half Life 2 is hands down my favorite game, or really piece of media, ever. My main problem with it is that it is not long enough; I wanted, and still want, more. Though I absolutely love the direction that retail went in, I honestly think that this version had the potential to be even better. It fuels my imagination to no end (something that gives retail such a high status in my mind) and I would want a Black Mesa style fan-made version of all of this. It is rare that a team of developers and artists create something so damn good that even the early drafts are a masterpiece.

[@djthesp]

You deserve more followers. Very nice work on this review/deep-dive into the game!

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Cheers, bro! Glad you liked it :)

[@williamkeene6434]

holy hell the production and editing on this video was top notch, i hope your youtube channel grows large

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thanks for the kind words, I hope so too :) New video dropping later today!

[@d35o75]

I actually prefer the beta version than the current one we have today, the darker atmosphere just feels better, and i love it tbh.

[@aidanistyping]

this is a very good video, the amount of research you did is incredible, you deserve more recognition.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

I really appreciate that, thank you!

[@MadMaxBLD]

Awesome video man, very well made and narrated. You got me very interested in the mods; I always had a soft spot for the HL2 alpha/beta stuff.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thanks, Max! Glad you liked it :)

[@amaranthpeak]

Incredible video. Even with knowing a lot of the information in the video before watching it, you managed to keep it really fresh and interesting. And to answer your question - as much as I love the darker atmosphere of the beta, I feel that the retail is much more unique. Subscribed!

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thank you for subscribing! I'm glad I was able to keep you entertained :)

[@raisadzhamurzaeva9945]

Mycket intressant! Hög kvalité producerad video!

[@tommo120]

Fantastic video! Although now I'm sad we'll never get to see that original vision for Half-Life 2 as it would have been if Valve had made it. The dark atmosphere looks soooooo god damn good in that concept art! It reminds me quite a bit of the old Oddworld games. If anyone has suggestions for games that have an atmosphere like that, I'd love to hear about them so I can try them out!

[@godfreytomlinson2282]

I remember before HL2 came out seeing an screenshot of a ship stranded in an empty ocean and I was so excited to see it in game only to be disappointed to find it missing. Thanks for the vid

[@sygos]

really well done video, high quality

[@RobloxSugarFanta]

the HL2 Beta will forever be incredibly fascinating to me, i could talk about this stuff all day!

[@dabogabo]

Good sum up of the beta content. I personally prefer the East European looks because I live there and I felt a great familiarity and also appreciation from the devs to reference such things, but experiencing a more Dark City/Matrix/1984 style of game concept I also a nice and interesting thing to experience.

[@mungomidge1090]

Very interesting, cheers for taking the time to stick it all together.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@EquilibriumTelevision]

Really well put together, earned a sub.

[@dasarath5779]

i like the eastern european architecture more but betas atmosphere is just superb and better in every way

[@bruhman2089]

no

[@dasarath5779]

@@bruhman2089 check your mailbox

[@Horny_Fruit_Flies]

Beta is just edgy over the top garbage. The released version is more subtle.

[@ShadowSumac]

@@Horny_Fruit_Flies By this logic Blade Runner or Alien are edgy and over the tope garbage.

[@CJ-xx5ms]

@@dasarath5779 check your freezer

[@wilsoh8816]

I like all this,. but tbh it might be a bit too dark, especially with the dried oceans and the noxious gas. I think players would have asked "Whas even the point of saving a world thats already been destroyed." Still some amazing concepts that where sadly scrapped.

[@Predatorace]

I stumbled upon this video by accident but I'm glad I did. Thank you for a very thorough look at what Half-Life 2 initially was going to be like. I really enjoyed this, also thanks for showing off the different mods that are in the works. I'm holding out hope that one day we get to play through the whole original vision. In my eyes, what we got in the end was cool, although I always prefer the original Half-Life with it's great pacing, original set pieces and variety of puzzels, action and suspense. It seems like the beta was much more of this, a darker tone and setting, great set pieces and again much more variety. It really feels more like a difficult and intense journey. Maybe it crossed your mind or not, but the whole dark setting really reminds me of the 1998 movie Dark City. Very dystopian, industrial and dark noir. Anyway, you got yourself another sub. You truly deserve it!

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Thank you for the nice comment and the support! You’re not the first to mention Dark City on here, so I definitely need to check it out. Hope you’ll have a good time on the channel, more content coming very soon!

[@Predatorace]

@@NeonNovaFilms Of course, quality content deserves support! Let me know what you think when you've seen Dark City. Also, if you like the bleak, dark settings I can whole heartedly recommend the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. Just start with the original games and once you're done there are tons of mods to check out (also a few that feature beta / restored content and stuff). Oh and before I forget, but that's more if you're into the cyberpunk / dystopian future genre you should definitely check out Deus Ex. IMO one of the best games out there, together with Half-Life 1, System Shock 2 and Anachronox (brilliantly written RPG).

[@NeonNovaFilms]

@@Predatorace I haven’t played any of those games, except HL1, so I’m gonna see if I can find the time. The schedule is pretty hectic atm 😅 Thanks for the recommendations!

[@Bleplar]

6:48 I would like to see uh, more of the tentacle and Alyx. Just looks cool, love the uh- idea of a tentacle enemy.

[@dylanv.4970]

100% agree about Dark Interval! I fell in love with it after playing and it's become the definitive beta mod in my eyes! Can't wait to see the finished product

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Hopefully Part 2 comes out soon!

[@cuttrogue]

@@NeonNovaFilms Any info if they play to release soon?

[@toolstonygj]

I played these games recently , while i absolutely love them it's such a shame that so many cool concepts went unused

[@cyberdemon9306]

I LOVE the beta's darker and oppressive tone and the dark interval mod is just fantastic!!! btw just discovered this channel and love your content man

[@Noamie-Nomie]

Fantastic video! no matter how many times I've watch people discussing about the HL universe it always brings a smile to my face to this old franchise. The beta version is interesting and intriguing but my heart belongs to the retail version because I've played it since I was a kid!! If it was up to me to choose between the beta and retail I would always pick the retail version. Things could've been entirely different if they went with the beta version, we look at things with rose tinted glasses, imagining what it could have been rather than thinking about the execution of the idea. I for one am very happy what we got.