History VideoGame / HalfLife2

* DirtyCop: Civil Protection is composed of un-augmented humans that joined for more privileges or out of sympathy for the Combine and take full joy out of beating up defenseless citizens. One tosses a can on the ground just to make Gordon pick it up (and laughs at him when he does). If Gordon tosses at him, he beats him with a stun baton. Barney also claims that he's "way behind on [his] beating quota", although this is most likely a joke in reference to the brutality of the police.
* DiscardAndDraw: In the Citadel, Gordon loses all of his equipment with the exception of the gravity gun and his HEV suit, both of which become supercharged by dark energy. The gravity gun can interact with energy spheres and all organic matter, killing the latter instantly when held or hit by a projected object; meanwhile, Gordon's suit gains increased reactive armour energy reserves and can recharge both armour and health reserves from Combine power stations with greater efficiency.

* RobotBuddy: [=D0G=].

* SnapToTheSide: On the cover of ''Half-Life 2'', Gordon and Alyx perform one.

* SuperDrowningSkills: Played straight with Headcrabs and Antlions.

%%* SuspiciousVideogameGenerosity: ''WebComic/{{Concerned}}'' pointed this out a [[http://hlcomic.com/index.php?date=2005-11-04 couple]] [[http://hlcomic.com/cast.html times]].

*** After obtaining the Crowbar, there is just one Civil Protection officer in "Route Kanal" who still uses the Stun Baton.
*** Ceiling Turrets make their only antagonistic appearance inside the laser tripwire room of the Overwatch Nexus in "Follow Freeman". However, they cannot be destroyed and are only used to kill the player if they break the beams[[note]]actually, they can be destroyed, but each one takes ludicrous amounts of firepower to do so.[[/note]]. Ground turrets likewise make their only appearance in this building and are similarly triggered, but are destroyable.
*** Also during "Follow Freeman", there is a single Overwatch Elite equipped with an SMG; every other uses the Pulse Rifle. Most likely, [[GlitchEntity this was caused by a simple oversight in the level editor]].

*** The Antlion Guard, Gunship and Strider, all of whom were fought multiple times throughout ''Half-Life 2'', are only fought once each here.
*** A pair of well protected Sentry Guns guard the exit of the hospital in "Urban Flight".

*** A pair of Fast Zombie Torsos appear for a comedic scripted event early on during "Under the Radar". Fast Zombies, unlike the regular Zombies, cannot usually survive without their legs.

* WallsOfTyranny: The Combine use mechanical, mobile walls to section off their holdings on the Earth. None of them are for the betterment of humanity; either keeping humans contained like cattle in pens, slowly constricting as the population inside them is killed/converted into transhumans and shipped offworld, or slowly and inexorably expanding outward into unclaimed territory. They do not need guards, as they are completely indestructible through anything earth-made, and both types crush whatever used to be where they move to, buildings included, while emitting a horrible metallic grinding - leaving no one wanting to even approach them.

* WhamEpisode: In ''Episode Two'', we find out that [[spoiler: others know about the G-Man]], Aperture Science may have a big part, and [[spoiler: Eli Vance, essentially the rebel leader, is murdered by Advisors]].

* ItsProbablyNothing: The people worry about the mind-controlling water in ''Half-Life 2'', but have no choice (unless they live outside the city, in which case they can just throw together a purifier). One of the scientists uses this exact phrase just before the experiment at the beginning of the first game. Yeah, that one that tears a hole in reality and causes all hell to break loose.

** The end of ''Episode Two''. The resistance have successfully defended White Forest and closed the interdimensional portal [[spoiler:then an advisor shows up and kills Eli.]]
* MookHorrorShow: Imagine you're a regular Combine mook guarding your resident max-sec prison. You have bunkers, fortified gun emplacements and tons of your buddies with you, plus those neat thumpers to keep the antlions at bay. There've been reports flying around about some crazy guy shooting his way towards you, but hey, that's far away, right? Everything's fine and dandy. [[OhCrap Until the first of your thumpers suddenly falls silent.]] And then the next. And the next. Then this guy appears in your sights, unarmed, but with some strange thing in his hand which he hurls at you. Grenade? No, just some squishy pod containing some smelly stuff. Harmless... until the antlions show up. In droves. And they never stop coming until you and everyone with you is a torn-up corpse cooling out near some godforsaken beach. Behind that wall of clawed and armored doom, this guy keeps advancing, calmly sending his minions to clear bunkers and gun emplacements. Eventually, he breaches the outer perimeter and arrives at the prison grounds proper. You call in gunship support. What does the guy do? Whip out his missile launcher and blast them out of the sky. By that point, the battle is lost and you're probably long dead. Yeah, it's no fun being a mook pitted against a OneManArmy and his creepy-crawly pets. Perhaps your buddy shouldn't have bullied this guy into picking up that can when he left the train back then...

* MultiplayerOnlyItem: The S.L.A.M mines, the equivalent of the laser tripmines from the original ''Half-Life'' albeit with an alternate remote detonation mode, were cut from the singleplayer campaign and relegated to ''Deathmatch''. Same goes for the Stun Baton, which was meant to be useable by Gordon in singleplayer but was instead reserved for use by ''Deathmatch'' Combine players.

* NoEnding: One of the essential complaints about the game, as time has gone on. ''Episode Two'' ends on a CliffHanger that, yes, deals with the ''immediate'' crisis but still leaves the larger conflicts of the game completely unresolved and a huge number of plot angles and character arcs unfinished. As [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et_khzhcw7I it's been pointed out]], the worst thing about it, is that the main ''Half-Life 2'' ending before the episodes wasn't such an abrupt cliffhanger.

** Letting Alyx, Barney, or Grigori die in any game where they are in combat (which probably will never happen to you anyway). You can also trigger this if any [=NPCs=] required to progress are killed (again, you have to go out of your way to do this since Gordon automatically lowers his gun when facing a friendly NPC).
*** In the original game, you get a typical "status report"-style message chastising you for your "failure to preserve mission-critical personnel"). In ''Episode One'', as you are not being controlled by the G-Man anymore, the game simply states that "Alyx died" if she falls in combat.

** To a greater extent, when Gordon assaults Nova Prospekt with Antlion backup, the soldier who calls it in does so with clearly audible [[FlatWhat hesistant disbelief]] that ''"primary target is engaged in, uh... command and control tactics with biotics"''.

* NoTranshumanismAllowed: Despite the fact the technology is available, and the situation desperate enough that cybernetic modification is rather plausible, only the Combine's human loyalists (who are even called the Transhuman Forces) have cybernetic upgrades of any kind... well, them and the Stalkers -- dissident (or just unlucky) humans mutilated into mindless cyborg drones. Even the Combine's "leader of humanity" hasn't upgraded himself, despite talking ''of his own free will'' about how the Combine are here to elevate humanity to the next stage: in fact, when the Advisor suggests uploading him into a host body, his initial response is "You must be joking!" (originally, Breen's place was taken by 'the Consul', who rendered himself immortal using the Combine's life support technology). It might have something to do with the fact that most Transhuman technology is currently under the use of the Combine and they take out the "Human" part of TransHuman.

* OneHitKill: With the introduction of the Gravity Gun, your trusted crowbar becomes rather useless except for one thing: killing headcrabs. Even on highest difficulty you can swish any types of headcrabs to death, even the [[GoddamnBats poison]] [[InterfaceScrew ones]], which can withstand enormous amounts of bullets for quite small creatures.

* OminousMultipleScreens: All over places where the Combine has set up shop, especially in the [[EvilTowerOfOminousness Citadel]] where you can't take ten steps without coming across at least one multi-screen console bolted to a wall. Have fun tearing them down with the Gravity Gun while Breen is spewing his drivel from them, then shoot them at his mooks for some extra satisfaction.

* OutGrownSuchSillySuperstitions: ZigZagged. The Combine is a bunch of ScaryDogmaticAliens who passed TheSingularity a ''long'' time ago, if they have any form of religion it is unknown. On the other hand [[ScienceHero Eli Vance]] and his daughter [[ActionGirl Alyx]] mention God and prayer from time to time. Then there's [[BadassPreacher Father]] [[CreepyGood Grigori]] who may or may not be an ordained Orthodox minister, but certainly acts the part. Oh, and there's the [[PuppeteerParasite Headcrab]] Zombies who [[AndIMustScream scream]] to God for help.

* PetMonstrosity: Lamarr. She's de-beaked - but that doesn't mean she'll be willing to listen to Dr. Kleiner when the room erupts into activity.

* PrecisionFStrike: Barney Calhoun. The actual vocal itself isn't censored if one rips it but in-game, the F word is [[SoundEffectBleep hidden by the sound of slamming wreckage.]]

* PrisonLevel: The chapters "Nova Prospekt" and "Entanglement" involves Gordon and his Antlion army breaking into Nova Prospekt, a high-security prison that also functions as a Combine base, in order to rescue Eli Vance, who has been captured by them.

* TemporaryPartyMemberToVillain: Subverted in the main game: Halfway through the game you meet Dr. Judith Mossman at Black Mesa East, who's seemingly part of LaResistance. During the assault to Nova Prospekt, it's revealed that [[LesCollaborateurs she's been in league with the Combine all along]], and takes Eli Vance straight to Wallace Breen. However, when Gordon finally meets Breen in person in the climax, Mossman is horrified that Eli was going to be executed, so she picks up Gordon's Gravity Gun and frees him, allowing him to destroy the Citadel.

*** The typical Combine squad consists of two submachine-gunners, a shotgunner, and a rifleman. Their tactic is simple but effective: the two sub gunners will try to flank the player and lay down suppressive fire while the rifleman directly targets the player and the shotgunner charges the player until he's within range, at which point he opens fire as well. This practice is easy to pick up on and counter, and is not helped by the fact that Combine soldiers usually have to stand still to shoot, but it shows that in-universe the Overwatch are trained (or perhaps programmed is for coordinated, squad-based attacks.

* TheBeastmaster: Gordon Freeman is a type 2 once he gets [[spoiler:Pheropods. Unfortunately, not every type of Antlion will listen to your orders.]]

** The TropeCodifier, thanks to the implementation of the Havok physics engine into [[UsefulNotes/GameEngine Source]].

* GameplayRoulette: While the game is consistently a first-person shooter, it features so many different flavours of the genre that at times it comes across as this trope. It starts off as a straightforward FPS with physics puzzles, then there's the hoverboat sequence, then a SurvivalHorror level in Ravenholm (that gives the player an opportunity to play with the Gravity Gun), then a driving sequence, then an FPS sequence with "squad support" from Antlions, then taking on large enemies with squad support from the Resistance, then a lengthy Gravity Gun sequence till the end of the game.

* DataDriveMacGuffin: ''Episode 1'' and ''Episode 2'' are focused on Gordon and Alyx retrieving information from the failing Combine citadel in an USB-like drive and escorting it to the rebel base in White Forest. They begin ''Episode 1'' just meters away from the falling citadel, whose nuclear core is about to cause a chain reaction, threatening to delete City 17 with it. Gordon and Alyx not only manage to delay the reaction, but also store information gathered by Judith Mossman in Alyx's USB-like drive. Such information was so important, they began to be chased by the Combine all across the city; this chase also including encounters with zombies and [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs zombines]]. By the end of ''Episode 1'', [[spoiler:they manage to escape from City 17 just as the citadel's reactor caused the chain reaction that led to the disappearance of City 17]]. The beginning of ''Episode 2'' had them transferring the data to the rebels' base in White Forest when they started to be chased by the Combine. [[spoiler:Both of them eventually manage to reach White Forest, only for the combine to send an entire assault wave. After said wave is fend off, Magnusson and Kleiner began deciphering the contents of Alyx's drive]].

* ForWantOfANail: If Lamarr hadn't jumped into Kleiner's teleporter and messed it up, Gordon wouldn't have been put on the Combine's radar, he wouldn't have had to take the long way to Black Mesa East, Eli wouldn't have been captured during the raid which resulted in said base's destruction(due to Mossman), and Gordon wouldn't have had to travel to Nova Prospekt to rescue him. Ironically, this all leads to humanity launching a full-scale rebellion against the Combine, triggered by the destruction of Nova Prospekt.

* IncrediblyLamePun: "Zombine, get it?". Admit it, you laughed.

** The eyepieces of gask masks worn by the Civil Protection and Combine Overwatch troops in ''Half-Life 2'': Civil Protection an opaque silver, and Combine Overwatch blue (standard), reddish orange (shotgunner), and red (elite).

''Half-Life 2'' and its sequels are remembered for setting new standards for A.I. NPC companion characters (Alyx in this case), later reflected in games such as ''VideoGame/BioShockInfinite''. It was also one of the first games to make [[WreakingHavok heavy use of on-the-fly physics]] in an intuitive and ''[[TropeCodifier successful]]'' manner - other first-person games had experimented with physics objects prior to ''[=HL2=]'', but it was ''[=HL2=]'' that incorporated these elements in a way that was easy for the player to utilize and which influenced how every game that followed did physics. Finally, {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} was originally built as an update client for ''[=HL2=]'' and other Valve products... meaning ''[=HL2=]'' is the genesis of one of the largest digital distribution networks in media history. ''Half-Life 2'' is a very important game in a number of regards, and even with its inconclusive ending, those interested in the history of video games should definitely make sure they're familiar with it.

*** Ceiling Turrets make their only antagonistic appearance inside the laser tripwire room of the Overwatch Nexus in “Follow Freeman”. However, they cannot be destroyed and are only used to kill the player if they break the beams[[note]]actually, they can be destroyed, but each one take ludicrous amounts of firepower to do so.[[/note]]. Ground turrets likewise make their only appearance in this building and are similarly triggered, but are destroyable.

*** Ceiling Turrets make their only antagonistic appearance inside the laser tripwire room of the Overwatch Nexus in “Follow Freeman”. However, they cannot be destroyed and are only used to kill the player if they break the beams. [[note]]Actually, they can be destroyed, but each one take ludicrous amounts of firepower to do so.[[/note]] Ground turrets likewise make their only appearance in this building and are similarly triggered, but are destroyable.

*** Ceiling Turrets make their only antagonistic appearance inside the laser tripwire room of the Overwatch Nexus in “Follow Freeman”. However, they cannot be destroyed[[note]]Actually, they can be destroyed, but each one take ludicrous amounts of firepower to do so.[[/note]] and are only used to kill the player if they break the beams. Ground turrets likewise make their only appearance in this building and are similarly triggered, but are destroyable.

*** Ceiling Turrets make their only antagonistic appearance inside the laser tripwire room of the Overwatch Nexus in “Follow Freeman”. However, they cannot be destroyed (actually, they can be destroyed, but each one take ludicrous amounts of firepower to do so) and are only used to kill the player if they break the beams. Ground turrets likewise make their only appearance in this building and are similarly triggered, but are destroyable.