Difference between revisions of "Combine Soldier (Evolution)"

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The Combine Soldier is a semi-human enemy fought in Half-Life 2, and its episodes. It went through a long and diverse revision history, a lot of which pictures have been released for.
+
__NOEDITSECTION__
 +
 
 +
The Combine Soldier is a transhuman enemy fought in Half-Life 2 and its episodes. Being the successor to Half-Life's Human Grunt, it is one of the earliest enemies conceived for the game and subsequently has one of the longest revision histories.
 +
 
 
== Concepts ==
 
== Concepts ==
There is a large amount of art of the Combine Soldier, radically different from any versions we see in-game.
+
There is a large amount of art of the Combine Soldier, much of it is radically different from any versions we see in-game.
 
=== Early Suit Designs ===
 
=== Early Suit Designs ===
A few early concepts show different ideas for the Combine Soldier's design. In particular, the "flames" soldiers have some noticeable similarities to the early Metrocop.
+
A few early concepts show different ideas for the Combine Soldier's design. For example, the "flames" soldiers reuse the head from some metrocop concept art.
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="200" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small">
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="200" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small">
 
fire.jpg
 
fire.jpg
Line 14: Line 17:
 
=== Early Color Schemes ===
 
=== Early Color Schemes ===
 
These are from a later point, when the general design of the Combine Soldier was decided on. Some of the concepts here experiment with a different head, along with coloration and smaller body details.
 
These are from a later point, when the general design of the Combine Soldier was decided on. Some of the concepts here experiment with a different head, along with coloration and smaller body details.
 +
 +
It's worth noting that in Half-Life 2 Survivor, the Combine medic models make some use of the alternate head designs.
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="150" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="150" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 
soldier2.jpg
 
soldier2.jpg
Line 24: Line 29:
 
soldier10.jpg
 
soldier10.jpg
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
Alternate heads
+
Alternate head
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="150" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="150" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 
soldier8.jpg
 
soldier8.jpg
Line 31: Line 36:
 
soldier12.jpg
 
soldier12.jpg
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
<i>Versions 1-3's order is speculation. If proof comes around, change 'em!</i>
+
<i>Versions 1 and 2's order is speculation. If proof comes around, change 'em!</i>
== Version 1: Pre-2002 ==
+
== Version 1: 2000 ==
 +
[[File:CombineCloseup.png|thumb|left|350px]]
 +
 
 +
This single screenshot of two Combine Soldiers located in the map c1a3a_port is the earliest known in-game screenshot of Combine Soldiers. This image was found in one of Lars Linden's presentations by c.marti on 18th November 2020. This version of the Soldier bares somewhat of a similar appearance to the Pre-2002 version, but having an overall browner coloration to it, as well as a unique armband that seems to have the number 5 on it. There seems to be magazine pouches on the waist of the model similar to those of the [[Combine_"Sniper"_Elite | Combine Elite]], hinting that this model may have derived from the Elite or vice versa.
 +
===Screenshots===
 +
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="300" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 +
2000combine_original.png|Original image used in the presentation.
 +
2000combineb&w.png|Alternate clearer Black & White version.
 +
FPSCombineRecovered.png|Colored restoration of the Black & White image.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
{{clear}}
 +
== Version 2: Pre-2002 ==
 
[[File:Version_1_borealis_zoomin.png|thumb|left|350px]]
 
[[File:Version_1_borealis_zoomin.png|thumb|left|350px]]
This is the earliest version of the Combine Soldier that there are screenshots of. What makes this one distinct from the others is the white helmet, and visibly red eyes.
+
 
It has the red arm-patch in common with Versions 2-3.
+
This is no longer the earliest version of the Combine Soldier that there are screenshots of. It still features the visibly red eyes from Version 1, and has a red arm-patch also seen later on Version 3. It has a visible finger on its hand which appears to come from an early version of Counter-Strike: Source.<ref>[https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1521400&p=50895922&viewfull=1#post50895922 "those are hands from an early CS:S model slammed into the combine soldier for E3"]</ref> The helmet appears white in its e3_hydra screenshot.
 
===Screenshots===
 
===Screenshots===
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="300" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="300" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 
soldiers.jpg
 
soldiers.jpg
 +
hydra.jpg
 
</gallery><!-- get the frame from the 2002 trailer showing it off-->
 
</gallery><!-- get the frame from the 2002 trailer showing it off-->
== Version 2: E3_Hydra==
+
{{clear}}
[[File:Version_2_e3_hydra_zoomin.png|thumb|left|350px]]
+
 
This version is unique in a unusual way - it's a mishmash of Combine Soldier and early Counter-Strike assets.<ref>[https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1521400&p=50895922&viewfull=1#post50895922 "those are hands from an early CS:S model slammed into the combine soldier for E3"]</ref> Due to this, the gloves and boots of this version of the Combine Soldier are very visibly different from any other version.
 
===Screenshots===
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="300" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 
hydra.jpg
 
</gallery>
 
 
== Version 3: 2002 ==
 
== Version 3: 2002 ==
[[File:Version_3_zoomin_new_1.png|left]]
+
[[File:Version_3_zoomin_new_1.png|thumb|left|350px]] [[File:Version_3_zoomin_new_2.png|thumb|right|350px]]
[[File:Version_3_zoomin_new_2.png|left]]
+
 
 
The earliest version of the Combine Soldier we have the texture for. Unlike the earlier versions, this one has a navy blue helmet, and yellow eyes.  
 
The earliest version of the Combine Soldier we have the texture for. Unlike the earlier versions, this one has a navy blue helmet, and yellow eyes.  
  
The <code>Soldier_Stripped</code> from the Leak has some higher-resolution pants textures from this version, and an entirely different boot texture. The hand textures are recycled directly from the [[Gasmask Citizen]].
+
The <code>Soldier_Stripped</code> from the Leak appears to be from this version. The pants textures from this version are identical, and the boot textures while moderately different, are still fairly similar. Oddly, the hand textures here are recycled directly from the [[Gasmask Citizen]].
  
 +
{{Clear}}
 
===Screenshots===
 
===Screenshots===
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="300" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="300" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 
Prison_battle2.jpg
 
Prison_battle2.jpg
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 
===Textures===
 
===Textures===
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="125" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="125" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 
Combinesoldiersheet_2002.png
 
Combinesoldiersheet_2002.png
leg.png|Left leg texture (Soldier_Stripped)
+
Soldier 02 leg2.png|Left leg texture (Soldier_Stripped)
leg.png|Right leg texture (Soldier_Stripped)
+
Soldier 02 leg.png|Right leg texture (Soldier_Stripped)
boots.png|Boot texture (Soldier_Stripped)
+
Soldier 02 boots.png|Boot texture (Soldier_Stripped)
  
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
{{clear}}
 
== Version 4: Leak ==
 
== Version 4: Leak ==
[[File:Version_4_zoomin3.png|thumb|left|350px]]
+
[[File:V4 zoomin.png|thumb|left|350px]]
 +
 
 
The first (and last) early combine soldier we have the full model of. The helmet color has been changed to black, the emblem has changed to a blue-and-brown 314, and the eyes are now a darker, reddish brown.
 
The first (and last) early combine soldier we have the full model of. The helmet color has been changed to black, the emblem has changed to a blue-and-brown 314, and the eyes are now a darker, reddish brown.
 
===Screenshots===
 
===Screenshots===
Line 80: Line 98:
 
prison_orange2.jpg
 
prison_orange2.jpg
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
{{Clear}}
 
===Textures===
 
===Textures===
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="150" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="150" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
Combinesoldiersheet_2003_leak_noalpha.png|(No alpha)
+
Combinesoldiersheet_2003_leak_noalpha.png|(Alpha channel removed)
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
{{clear}}
 
== Version 5: Early 2004 ==
 
== Version 5: Early 2004 ==
[[File:Version_5_zoomin.png|thumb|350px|left]]
+
[[File:Version_5_zoomin.png|thumb|left|350px]]
Far further along, this version of the Combine Soldier is much closer to the final one than any others. The only visible difference between the two is in the armor plates being the same color as the rest of the suit. When comparing the two textures, there is noticeably less shading than in the final version.
+
 
 +
Far further along, this version of the Combine Soldier is nearly the final, but with some differences. The armor plates are the same color as the rest of the suit, and when comparing this to the final version, it has noticeably less shading.  
  
For unknown reasons, it is used instead of the final texture for the GMod player version of the Combine Soldier and the Zombine.
+
===Trivia===
 +
*Stangely, it is used instead of the final texture for the Zombine and GMod player version of the Combine Soldier.
 
===Screenshots===
 
===Screenshots===
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="150" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="150" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
Line 96: Line 119:
 
antlions1_3.jpg
 
antlions1_3.jpg
 
antlions1_1.jpg
 
antlions1_1.jpg
 +
Antlions1_4.png
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
{{Clear}}
 
===Textures===
 
===Textures===
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="200" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small">
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="200" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small">
Line 103: Line 129:
 
combinesoldiersheet_2004_early_gmod.png|GMod Combine Soldier player sheet
 
combinesoldiersheet_2004_early_gmod.png|GMod Combine Soldier player sheet
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
<!--==Version 6: Final==-->
+
 
 +
{{clear}}
 +
==Version 6: Retail==
 +
<!-- the main reason I didn't already include it is that it's really hard to find stuff to write about -->
 +
[[File:Combinesolder_render1.png|thumb|left|175px]]
 +
 
 +
This is the finalized version of the Combine Soldier in Half-Life 2, varying primarily in shading and plate color from Version 5. No official screenshots are known to exist of this, as the Combine Soldier changed to Version 6 fairly late in development.
 +
===Textures===
 +
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="300" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 +
combinesoldiersheet_final.png
 +
</gallery>{{Clear}}
 +
==Version 7: Episode 2 Retail==
 +
This is final known version of the Combine Soldier in the Half-Life series. The the only difference between version 6 and version 7 is that version 8 has a dirt overlay in the texture sheet, to fit the outland theme of Episode 2. Apart from that, much is the same, even the shading is the same.
 +
===Textures===
 +
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="300" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small" >
 +
combinesoldiersheet_ep2.jpg
 +
</gallery>{{Clear}}
 +
==Miscellaneous==
 +
[[File:Ep1 c17 020023.png|thumb|left|350px]]
 +
This early Combine Shotgunner texture was used while Episode 1 was still undergoing development under the name of "Half-Life 2: Aftermath."
 +
{{clear}}
 +
==Texture Sheet Comparison==
 +
We have 5 revisions in total.
 +
<gallery mode="slideshow" widths="650" position="center">
 +
Combinesoldiersheet_2002.png
 +
Combinesoldiersheet_2003_leak_noalpha.png
 +
Late_beta_sheet.png
 +
combinesoldiersheet_final.png
 +
combinesoldiersheet_ep2.jpg
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
== Sounds ==
 +
The voice of the Combine Soldier also went through several iterations during the game's development.
 +
===/test/ folder===
 +
Long theorized to be the earliest set of voice lines for the Combine Soldier, these use original voice acting with a simpler, more muffled vocoder. Their pain and death sounds appear to be processed Human Grunt sounds. Interestingly, they are split into the subfolders "far" and "near", with the only difference between them being their volume. This may be an early example of Valve experimenting with direction based sound.
 +
===2003 Leak===
 +
These are the set of sounds used for the Combine Soldier in the 2003 leak. They appear to be Human Grunt sounds ran through a vocoder similar to the one used on the old Metropolice lines.
 +
 
 +
[[File:Affirmative.WAV]]
 +
 
 +
[[File:Maintain.WAV]]
 +
 
 +
[[File:Gr idle1.wav]]
 +
 
 +
The Human Grunt for comparison:
 +
 
 +
[[File:Affirmative (Human Grunt).wav]]
 +
 
 +
[[File:Maintain (Human Grunt).wav]]
 +
 
 +
[[File:Gr idle1 (Human Grunt).wav]]
 +
 
 +
===Hydra demo===
 +
Within the Combine Soldier sound folder in the leak are a set of lines that appear to be voiced by John Patrick Lowrie, the voice of the Citizen in the final game. They can be identified by the prefix "cs_". These lines are the earliest example of the Combine Soldier using coded terminology, referring to "Morts" and "Scratchers" (Presumably Zombies and Antlions) among others. Although they lack any sort of processing and are unused, the line "cs_holditthere" was to be used in the E3 2002 Hydra demo, with a simple high-pass filter applied over it.
 +
 
 +
===Retail===
 +
Aside from their pain and death sounds, which are from the 2003 leak's set, the retail Combine Soldier's voice acting is entirely re-recorded. Presumably voiced by Kelly Bailey, their vocoder and terminology is also different from any previous iteration (Most notably, they now name and answer directly to the Overwatch).
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
[[Category:Enemies]]
 
 
[[Category:Combine]]
 
[[Category:Combine]]
 
[[Category:Evolution]]
 
[[Category:Evolution]]
 +
[[Category:Half-Life 2]]
 +
[[Category:Recommended Reads]]
 +
[[Category:2003 Leaks]]

Revision as of 22:07, 20 January 2021


The Combine Soldier is a transhuman enemy fought in Half-Life 2 and its episodes. Being the successor to Half-Life's Human Grunt, it is one of the earliest enemies conceived for the game and subsequently has one of the longest revision histories.

Concepts

There is a large amount of art of the Combine Soldier, much of it is radically different from any versions we see in-game.

Early Suit Designs

A few early concepts show different ideas for the Combine Soldier's design. For example, the "flames" soldiers reuse the head from some metrocop concept art.

Early Color Schemes

These are from a later point, when the general design of the Combine Soldier was decided on. Some of the concepts here experiment with a different head, along with coloration and smaller body details.

It's worth noting that in Half-Life 2 Survivor, the Combine medic models make some use of the alternate head designs.

Alternate head

Versions 1 and 2's order is speculation. If proof comes around, change 'em!

Version 1: 2000

CombineCloseup.png

This single screenshot of two Combine Soldiers located in the map c1a3a_port is the earliest known in-game screenshot of Combine Soldiers. This image was found in one of Lars Linden's presentations by c.marti on 18th November 2020. This version of the Soldier bares somewhat of a similar appearance to the Pre-2002 version, but having an overall browner coloration to it, as well as a unique armband that seems to have the number 5 on it. There seems to be magazine pouches on the waist of the model similar to those of the Combine Elite, hinting that this model may have derived from the Elite or vice versa.

Screenshots


Version 2: Pre-2002

Version 1 borealis zoomin.png

This is no longer the earliest version of the Combine Soldier that there are screenshots of. It still features the visibly red eyes from Version 1, and has a red arm-patch also seen later on Version 3. It has a visible finger on its hand which appears to come from an early version of Counter-Strike: Source.[1] The helmet appears white in its e3_hydra screenshot.

Screenshots

Version 3: 2002

Version 3 zoomin new 1.png
Version 3 zoomin new 2.png

The earliest version of the Combine Soldier we have the texture for. Unlike the earlier versions, this one has a navy blue helmet, and yellow eyes.

The Soldier_Stripped from the Leak appears to be from this version. The pants textures from this version are identical, and the boot textures while moderately different, are still fairly similar. Oddly, the hand textures here are recycled directly from the Gasmask Citizen.

Screenshots

Textures

Version 4: Leak

V4 zoomin.png

The first (and last) early combine soldier we have the full model of. The helmet color has been changed to black, the emblem has changed to a blue-and-brown 314, and the eyes are now a darker, reddish brown.

Screenshots

Textures

Version 5: Early 2004

Version 5 zoomin.png

Far further along, this version of the Combine Soldier is nearly the final, but with some differences. The armor plates are the same color as the rest of the suit, and when comparing this to the final version, it has noticeably less shading.

Trivia

  • Stangely, it is used instead of the final texture for the Zombine and GMod player version of the Combine Soldier.

Screenshots

Textures

Version 6: Retail

Combinesolder render1.png

This is the finalized version of the Combine Soldier in Half-Life 2, varying primarily in shading and plate color from Version 5. No official screenshots are known to exist of this, as the Combine Soldier changed to Version 6 fairly late in development.

Textures

Version 7: Episode 2 Retail

This is final known version of the Combine Soldier in the Half-Life series. The the only difference between version 6 and version 7 is that version 8 has a dirt overlay in the texture sheet, to fit the outland theme of Episode 2. Apart from that, much is the same, even the shading is the same.

Textures

Miscellaneous

Ep1 c17 020023.png

This early Combine Shotgunner texture was used while Episode 1 was still undergoing development under the name of "Half-Life 2: Aftermath."

Texture Sheet Comparison

We have 5 revisions in total.

Sounds

The voice of the Combine Soldier also went through several iterations during the game's development.

/test/ folder

Long theorized to be the earliest set of voice lines for the Combine Soldier, these use original voice acting with a simpler, more muffled vocoder. Their pain and death sounds appear to be processed Human Grunt sounds. Interestingly, they are split into the subfolders "far" and "near", with the only difference between them being their volume. This may be an early example of Valve experimenting with direction based sound.

2003 Leak

These are the set of sounds used for the Combine Soldier in the 2003 leak. They appear to be Human Grunt sounds ran through a vocoder similar to the one used on the old Metropolice lines.

The Human Grunt for comparison:

Hydra demo

Within the Combine Soldier sound folder in the leak are a set of lines that appear to be voiced by John Patrick Lowrie, the voice of the Citizen in the final game. They can be identified by the prefix "cs_". These lines are the earliest example of the Combine Soldier using coded terminology, referring to "Morts" and "Scratchers" (Presumably Zombies and Antlions) among others. Although they lack any sort of processing and are unused, the line "cs_holditthere" was to be used in the E3 2002 Hydra demo, with a simple high-pass filter applied over it.

Retail

Aside from their pain and death sounds, which are from the 2003 leak's set, the retail Combine Soldier's voice acting is entirely re-recorded. Presumably voiced by Kelly Bailey, their vocoder and terminology is also different from any previous iteration (Most notably, they now name and answer directly to the Overwatch).

References