More Xen creatures or more Combine?

[zombieturtle01]

Which would you prefer, a new alien wildlife/xen based enemy, or another asset to the Combine army?

TBH, I would much rather see new alien/ Xen wildlife.

[Operational]

While I really liked the new Combine enemy in Ep2, the Hunter, I would like to see/fight some more alien wildlife, which we don't really have that much of. Plus I love the atmosphere of Earth being overrun by alien lifeforms.

[Atomic_Piggy]

More combine IMO.

[Ennui]

new synths plz

[Samon]

Combine Synths. Far more interesting. Xen wildlife is boring, trivial and probably has zero place in Episode 3 now that the storyline is tightening down and moving toward a conclusion for this part of the story. The atmosphere of an overrun Earth is cool, but just not for Episode 3.

[Nibwoddle]

New combine soldier varioations and new synths. The only Xen wildlife I want to appear is the Vorts and headcrabs. They could, however, come up with a new category of headcrabs, like a spiny one or something.

[Absinthe]

I wish we saw more Xen creatures, new or old, throughout HL2 and the episodes. However, I think introducing them at this point in the story arc would be out of place. New Combine/Synth enemies make more sense.

A shame, but I'm not too disheartened since Half-Life will continue.

[Operational]

Well we are going to the artic, I think antlions climaxed in Ep2 and that they'll be replaced with at least one new type of alien life in Ep3. Of course that's not to say that there won't be new Combine as well, just that I'm looking forward to the new alien life more.

[highlander]

I want mooooooooooar xenians!

[el Chi]

As much as I liked the Xenians, I think we're past all that. If we were going to see them anywhere, it would've been in the forests.
But then that wouldn't necessarily have been logical either: run around in the woods firing an SMG left right and centre whilst chucking grenades about and see how much wildlife you run into... Probably not so many.
This is the climax of this part of the story arc and it's only right to focus on more Combine troops. They're making a last stand and so is humanity. Both sides are going to pull out all the stops.

[DEATH eVADER]

We've seen Dog confront a Strider, now its time that the mighty Garg should come up against one. The problem is whether or not to make it a domesticated creature, or a wild one

[Van Kayne]

I vote for new alien creatures to replace the antlions. Not that I dislike them, but I crave something different, and Hunters are still new enough synths for me.
Then bring the antlions back for HL3 (joke).

[Nicky 0123]

Definatley some kind of new enemy.

HL2 it was the combine and the different zombies, antlions etc.

Ep1 it was the zombine and Stalkers

Ep2 it was the antlion workers, hunters and the advisors (kind of)

Ep3 I think we may see a return of a Hl2 beta creature, possibly the crab synth or some kind of ice kraken as well as the advisors etc.

[lord_raken]

I am feeling Stupid for voting for Xen. I would like to see some new Xen creatures but I think that it would be better and more rewarding for Valve to concentrate on new Combine and Synths. Has anyone here read Snow Crash? I think it would be awesome if they came up with a synth similar to the "Rat-things" from the book.

[99.vikram]

Xen creatures. Alien fauna has always interested me more than cyborgs.

[taviow]

I want EP3 primary enemies to be combine synths.

[zombieturtle01]

Ep3 I think we may see a return of a Hl2 beta creature, possibly the crab synth or some kind of ice kraken as well as the advisors etc.

I would love a tentacled beast or Ice kraken of sorts, I want to fight something huge, big ass boss, we haven't done that in a while.

After watching The Mist (which reminded me of HL1 a lot) when they were driving at the end and saw that elephant-esque creature that they were staring at in awe, it made me think they could have something really bizarre, perhaps unfathomably large or unnatural in the arctic, something that really shows that no matter what, even if we win over the combine, the earth will never, ever be the same again.

Oh, and I really want arctic zombies, I want them in different uniforms, perhaps rebel/weather resistant uniforms, it would have a very errie The Thing type feel to it. But I expect less zombies.
We've seen Dog confront a Strider, now its time that the mighty Garg should come up against one. The problem is whether or not to make it a domesticated creature, or a wild one


Garg?

[Emporius]

Garg?

Gargantua

[Cpt Tenacious]

I want to see crazy unknown Xenian beasts.

[zombieturtle01]

I don't understand why the Gargantua would be a "domesticated creature" as Death eVader put it.

[Captain Obvious]

I'de like to see more into the combine side. :)

[PimpinPenguin]

Depends, if we are going to get some crap like Antlions then make loads of variations of them then give me Combine.
If we get interesting a new Zen wildlife then definitely give me that.

[TollBooth Willie]

Ickys, Gargs, Houndeyes, Snarks, Bullsquids, Tentacles. God dammit. I want to see some of those creatures like the Panthereye, the Sactick (early incarnation of headcrab shelling) etc. that were in Raising The Bar. Hell yeah?

[toaster-man]

I think I'd only like to see new Xen wildlife if it was clearly something that could survive only in an arctic climate. Other than that, I think Combine Synths are more interesting. :>

[Corp. Sheepo]

craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaab


synths

[Emporius]

I don't understand why the Gargantua would be a "domesticated creature" as Death eVader put it.

It would be like the Rancor from Star Wars :)

[Trooper]

I would definitely like to see more combine enemies and technology. Xen stuff is quite boring (unless new things are introduced). That said, my vote is for more combine.

[L3N!N]

Synths very much so. They were an integral fighting force for the combine in the seven hour war, and I want to see why.

[TheOverwatch]

I would wish for something combine, perhaps linking back to Black Mesa? Something created from technology invented there?

[DEATH eVADER]

Combine Synths. Far more interesting. Xen wildlife is boring, trivial and probably has zero place in Episode 3 now that the storyline is tightening down and moving toward a conclusion for this part of the story. The atmosphere of an overrun Earth is cool, but just not for Episode 3.

Xen wildlife weren't boring, they were just too easy, and don't forget the more memorable fights against them were in an outdated game engine.

I would like the idea of A.Grunt allies, though I doubt they will be in

[Samon]

I find them boring.

[Que-Ever]

I expected Samon to be the one guy who voted for no new enemies.

[Samon]

Why? New enemies is the one thing I've always looked forward to, within reason.

[Narvi]

I want more giant enemies. It doesn't really matter if they are synth or Xenian, as long as we get a sense of scale like the Tentacles or the Gargantua.

Though it would be preferable if the method used to kill them isn't something that a military vehicle should be immune to. So in that manner, Xenians are preferrable to synths, since animals don't have to have military combat rigour.

[Berto]

I'm not really looking forward for new enemies, i think we have enough. But i think we might see new Combine enemies.

[lord_raken]

I am looking forward to new combine, new synths (both large and small), and some new xen wild life (both large and small)

[Trevelyan]

More Synths would be cool & new Xen stuff too. A change in the environment may yield new changes in alien life and/or see the current alien life adapt to said environment, which could be cool.

[Absinthe]

I retract a little bit of what I said earlier.

I fully and wholeheartedly endorse Gargantua awesomeness.

In fact, we should mass spam their emails with the request just so they get the hint.

[Ubik]

Maybe some wild life that would prefer to live in a colder environment.

I wonder if the Hydra prefers a cold climate....

[zombieturtle01]

I would like the idea of A.Grunt allies, though I doubt they will be in

^ I want that as well. Although not as grateful and peaceful as the Vortigaunts, have them be an ally, but at the same time not really like Gordon a whole lot.

[lord_raken]

I keep on seeing the antlion fight in the silo after the vorts show up. I was awesome! having them as combat allies again in Ep3 would be great!

[Ubik]

I really want to see some houndeyes. I love those cute little buggers and it'd be fun to see how they can improve on it. Maybe they could add other ways for it to hurt you (like ram you) and the effects of the sonicboom should, of course, hurt you, but also give you that ringing sound (or something similar to the sound of an emp granade from Dystopia) and shake your screen up a bit. The more houndeyes there are that do the sonnicboom at the sametime, the shakier the screen gets and the longer the sound lasts.

Also would be nice to add some special AI for them to work especially well in packs.

[Rashak]

I would like to see more of both. the creatures of xen could be introduced as an "unforeseen consequence" of firing the rocket into the portal, and the combine could add synth from the wild life of Earth, cause they can't port anything in anymore.

[lord_raken]

better Pack/squad AI in just about every enemy new and old would be amazing. The people at valve should study S.W.A.T tactics and hunting/fighting strategies of animals wolves, lions, dolphins, chimps, and even certain types of hawks.

[Rashak]

better Pack/squad AI in just about every enemy new and old would be amazing. The people at valve should study S.W.A.T tactics and hunting/fighting strategies of animals wolves, lions, dolphins, chimps, and even certain types of hawks.

hell yeah, or even use a similar AI as what was used by the brutes in halo.

[Polaris]

More Combine, new units and old Synths from Half-Life 2. Also crazy Aperture staff on Borealis and of course, Biozeminades.

[Darkside55]

I doubt we'll see any Xenian fauna, but I sure would like to see them again. It'd be nice to see them, if only for nostalgia, but it would make sense that, in a world where the Combine occupy most habitable places (cities, the outlying areas), Xen wildlife would get pushed further and further away until they only lived in the fringes of the world. Places like the arctic.

And there's just so many interesting things you can do with them there: antlions are out, bullsquids would be out, headcrabs can live anywhere that's a given. But you can put in things that we've never got to really experience in ANY Half-Life game, like the boids, the stukabats, the archers. The archers are perfectly tailored for an arctic climate and would provide a new challenge for the player that we've never gone up against.

And a place like the arctic could set up amazing setpieces with larger beasts like gargantua and ichthyosaurs.

But it probably won't happen. A damn shame if you ask me.
I think I'd only like to see new Xen wildlife if it was clearly something that could survive only in an arctic climate.
Most Xen fauna can exist in extreme temperatures. In fact, they seem adapted to hostile environments and inhospitable climes, like extreme heat and far below subzero cold. Examples would be gonomes setting up a habitat in the furnaces of Black Mesa, and headcrabs and vortigaunts being completely unaffected by the biting cold of the cryogenic storage area. They could hang out there in their bare skin, while even with your HEV suit the cold was killing you.

[Ubik]

Some of both would actually be great. Maybe the houndeyes are hybernating and that's why you never saw them in HL2 or any of the episodes. Perhaps Alyx and Gordon accidently stumble upon a very large group of hybernating houndeyes and they wake up. The bullsquid would be nice too, but I think the new antlion is too similar to the bullsquid.

As for synths. The mortar synth would be cool in an air battle in the helicopter. Maybe the crab synth as well, but I'm unsure as to how large it is and how they could incorporate it well.

Definately houndeye and mortar synths are best choices imo.

[toaster-man]

Most Xen fauna can exist in extreme temperatures. In fact, they seem adapted to hostile environments and inhospitable climes, like extreme heat and far below subzero cold. Examples would be gonomes setting up a habitat in the furnaces of Black Mesa, and headcrabs and vortigaunts being completely unaffected by the biting cold of the cryogenic storage area. They could hang out there in their bare skin, while even with your HEV suit the cold was killing you.

THIS IS TRUE. I hadn't thought of that. I think you bring up a really good point, though, about Xen wildlife being pushed to the edges of the Earth. Despite what other people have been saying, I think that seeing new Xen creatures would make a lot of sense.

[f_combineftw]

i would definetly like to see some more xen creatures. Not only is it realistic (considering that xen creatures can survive in hostile enviorments and im sure more than jest headcrabs and vorts made it through to earth) but it would also be cool to see some combine get ambushed by those big shock troopers from Hlaf Life: opposing force.

[KineticAesthetic]

i would definetly like to see some more xen creatures. Not only is it realistic (considering that xen creatures can survive in hostile enviorments and im sure more than jest headcrabs and vorts made it through to earth) but it would also be cool to see some combine get ambushed by those big shock troopers from Hlaf Life: opposing force.

Wlecome to the stie!

[Robert-]

Moar Combine.

[f_combineftw]

Wlecome to the stie!

hey thanks man, thats probably the only freindliest greating iv had yet.

[TollBooth Willie]

i would definetly like to see some more xen creatures. Not only is it realistic (considering that xen creatures can survive in hostile enviorments and im sure more than jest headcrabs and vorts made it through to earth) but it would also be cool to see some combine get ambushed by those big shock troopers from Hlaf Life: opposing force.Don't bet on ever seeing the Race X aliens again.

[Ubik]

I still say houndeyes!!!!

[DustWisher]

I don''t know much and or someone mentioned this already in the thread, I was thinking and I figured Is there a possibility they are going to put combine assassin in hl2 ep 3 ??

[zombieturtle01]

I wish the combine alien assasin was introduced, but it won't be, it's movements are too similar to that of a fast zombie.

As a stealthy enemy it wouldn't be that interesting/challenging now since the Hunters were introduced for that factor.

I'd imagine it would be a lot like those invisible ninja things from FEAR.

[f_combineftw]

a combine alien assasin?? i thought the combine assasin was jest a modified human?

[TollBooth Willie]

There was an alien assassin creature planned for the game besides the Combine Assassin. It was to behave like the Fast Zombie.

[Kouler]

I'm almost positive that we will be fighting Advisors.

I'd really like to see the return of some classic Xen creatures like the Garg. And I really want some new MASSIVE enemies to fight.

But at the same time I think theres a lot of potential for new baddies, given the different environment setting.

[The Monkey]

I really wanna see the Houndeye and the Bullsquid again.

[lord_raken]

I want to see a BIG and bulky synth like a tank or the scarab from Halo 3, and the crab synth.

[Apocalypse89]

More Combine. They were in relatively low numbers in Ep. 2 when compared to the amounts of zombies and Antlions, and it would make more sense story-wise now that they are getting desperate. I also don't see too many creatures surviving in the Arctic weather.

In addition to a new synth like everyone's been saying, I'd like to see the regular Combine soldiers' AI improve, and for them to be able to do new things such as effectively use cover, jump over obstacles, etc. Anyone who's played F.E.A.R. should know what kind of action I'm looking for.

[Saruke]

Think about it, Xen (the planet) is chunks of land orbiting a gas giant, they don't really have polar ice caps, so how could any Xen survive there?

And I know some of you are gonna say" But Saaaaruuuke Xen looks like it is out in space and space is coooold"

To that I say horse puckey, horse puckey! Xen was not out in space it had a atmospere or else the animals would have died! And being resistant to cold and surviving in the artic are two different things.

[Herr Mike]

Xen creatures suck. Please god no more ant lions.

The best enemies are CP. Hands down. What's more fun than shooting CP? Give us some arctic camo CP.

[TollBooth Willie]

Shooting (read: futily) at/running away from a Gargantua is infinitely more fun than fighting Combine Soldiers.

[Rashak]

Think about it, Xen (the planet) is chunks of land orbiting a gas giant, they don't really have polar ice caps, so how could any Xen survive there?

And I know some of you are gonna say" But Saaaaruuuke Xen looks like it is out in space and space is coooold"

To that I say horse puckey, horse puckey! Xen was not out in space it had a atmospere or else the animals would have died! And being resistant to cold and surviving in the artic are two different things.

They would have to be fast adapter, besides, for all we know, most of them could have originated from an extreme planet(s) and have the genetic sequences, and the codes were just dormant while they were on Xen.

[Saruke]

....dormant gene codes.....

you've been spending too much time in fantasy land.

[Rashak]

....dormant gene codes.....

you've been spending too much time in fantasy land.

or you haven't taken sophomore biology lately.

BTW: a vestigial limb, or organ is just useless because it doesn't have a current purpose, men have nipples because they served a purpose at some time, and we have an appendix because it served a purpose at some time, and evolution hasn't taken it away from us, so it might be useful for our species some time in the future.
further more, there are thousands of sequences in our DNA that seem to be useless but are most likely traits that are left over from our ancestors. The likes of which could contain the reason that we have a source of life, and no, our "source of life" isn't our heart, or our brain. we can replace our heart, and the brain can be hooked up to a computer.

[Saruke]

yeah but we can't "reactivate" our nipples and turn them into boobs...

that's why what you said made no sense.

[Que-Ever]

Some men have lactating breasts, wtf.

[Saruke]

that's because they have a genetic abnormality they were born with, they didn't "reactivate" the gene by choice.

[Que-Ever]

Can you reactivate any gene by "choice"?

[Rashak]

Can you reactivate any gene by "choice"?

no, they have been "deactivated" by our environment over time, if we could reactivate them by choice there would be fewer resistant to the idea of evolution, plus, I could see us becoming like genetic superheros. Using what ever connection to our plant, or amphibian ancestors. which would pretty cool, having the ability to photosynthesize, or chemosynthesize.

maybe with a gene sequencer... that is where fantasy world begins.

[Saruke]

I don't think valve shares your genetic superhero dream.

[f_combineftw]

i think some people here dont realize that aliens aren't bound to human or earths physics because all aliens aren't from earth or are humans.....jest in case some of you didnt know that :P. These aliens are from a different planet, purhapse even a different universe, i think some people need to stop thinking like a human "Everything needs food water and shelter for survival" im not saying anyone here is a humanity fanboy, but the point im trying to get across is that aliens can be in any shape and/or form, expect the unexpected is what i always say or else one might face destruction (in the case of hostile alien races).

[Operational]

i think some people here dont realize that aliens aren't bound to human or earths physics
These aliens are from a different planet, purhapse even a different universe
HEY, so long as they exist in OUR Universe they'll follow OUR rules.

[elkaebee]

HEY, so long as they exist in OUR Universe they'll follow OUR rules.

As long as you exist in MY universe, you follow MY rules.

[Rashak]

I don't think valve shares your genetic superhero dream.

what's your reading comprehension level, because at no time did I ever mention anything that even hinted toward, as you put it "genetic Superheros"
Further more, the concept of the "gravity gun" is a lot more far fetched than dormant genes. so why don't you question the mechanics of that before you go antagonizing me.

[f_combineftw]

HEY, so long as they exist in OUR Universe they'll follow OUR rules.

kinda sound like a soldier from tf2 there "You are not welcome in my WORLD!"

[Homeless 2.0]

Xen with a Combine twist would be interesting. :E

[Asuka]

Combine, but then again xen as well.

[Iron Kat]

I think Gordon faces enough shit as it is, so I really don't think any more enemies are needed.

[leib10]

I'd like to see a little of both.

[Van_Halen]

Here's what I think... Houndeyes are a must. They were just not used as well in hl1 as the could have been, and Half-Life could use some more difficult gameplay. The houndeyes would be interesting to fight, and to watch combine fight. I would love to see the creative ways Valve could make death animations for those who are unfortunate enough to be attacked by a group of houndeyes. In the arctic, the possibilities are endless, because as several have said, Xen was a harsh place, because even the plants were out to kill you, and Xenian life is made to handle that kind of environment. I'm not sure, but I'd like to guess that Xen was a very cold place, being that it was a chain of rocks, basically, and there would be low atmosphere, so the heat would easily escape from the planet.

Also, we must see a big f*ckin thing. I don't care what it is, as long as it's big, and it's a f*ckin thing. (Thank you lewis black.) It has to be nuts hard to kill, and it has to be vicious as the Gonarch. I'd like to see something off in the distance throwing Combine around like the little ragdolls they are, and killing hunters with a single hit. There's no way to fight it, only go around it, and have Alyx tell the player something like "We don't have time to kill this thing, we have to get around it somehow." Make it simple to execute, but hard to figure out. We need another puzzle, and this would do nicely as we feel the tension.

And, lastly, I want bullsquids. **** you nay sayers, (And always with your saying of nay) because when I think of this, I always remember the Bullsquid in Blast Pit, standing at the bottom of a chamber full of toxins. Now if that bastard is tough enough to stand the toxic waste, then it will surely be tough enough to weather the cold arctic. I could see this happen, too, as the remains of the population of bullsquids were left into the arctic. The combine would dispose of them in and near the cities because they could attack the civillians, and the combine wanted to be the ones to kill everybody, so they kill the bullsquids, and dispose of them. The only ones that are left are far away from any civilization. That is what I think.

[DEATH eVADER]

A beefed up confronatation with alien grunts would be in order

[Sparked]

I would like to see a little of both.
I definitley want to see what the actual Combine alien race looks like, I would also like to see some more Xen wildlife.
How about some Xen wildlife that are used by the Combine?
That would be something cool.

[Koola Mena]

More Xen.

[hl_grunt]

I'd like more combine. Especially, the combine forces that initially overrun the earth. After all, didn't xen get overrun completely anyways?

And what about combine of xen?

[thirty9th]

A new combine troop set to go with the arctic motif and possibly an arctic-adapted hunter or strider spin off would be smashing. Though, it would be interesting to see Xen creatures become a third major force and become level with the Combine and Rebels. Hmm... I smell a fanfic.

[TugruL]

They MUST bring back houndeyes and bullsquids.Maybe not houndeyes because they were some crappy enemy but bullsquids were great enemies.

[ninojman]

Advisors and a white super combine zombie please!!!!!

[Mirage]

More Xen creatures, but "new" ones. Wouldn't mind some additions to the Combine roster, though. Bascically, as long as the new creatues are imaginative, I'll be happy.

[wrongworld]

I DONT wanna see houndeyes! they are just too ugly to have around in HL ever again!
i think and also hope to see some more Xen life, new ones, some that cant survive the cold weather there, a cold adapted headcrap would be nice.
and i really think and hope we gonna fight thoose advisors, they just soo freaking cool. but really doubt we see any new combine enemies, they are cut of form the outside worlds, and REALLY doubt that they have something on earth we havent seen yet :laugh:
maybe a few new Xen creatures but dont think we gonna meet any new enemies then that

[KineticAesthetic]

Xen if they can make it work.

I don't think they can.

Thus, Combine.

[KEITH1437]

A new combine eh? Combine Assassin anyone?

[[Lambda]]

i think a good idea for the artic would be the 'thing'

[deathcheckedin]

bullsquid for the win

[Nitre]

Some new Synths that can really kick some ass.

Maybe also some new types of soldiers, but that's stretching it a little.

[Mazpower]

I remember seeing some giant lizard-looking things stomping around in HL2 as I was being carried to Breen's office. There's probably some forces the Combine has deep within its facilities as slaves that could be considered former Xen wildlife turned Combine forces.

[chiamo]

L'ke I some people talked about,i think new xen cretatures because they are going to go a new cold place and new climate means new creatures

[Koola Mena]

I'd like to see the Gargantua again...


...any other fans of this walking tank?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/68/HalfLife_Gargantua.jpg

[Shamrock]

Snow lions!

[alehm]

All I can say is this.

NO MORE ANT LIONS PLEASE.

We have done ant lions, we have done ant lion gaurdians, we have done ant lion workers, we have done ant lion grubs. We have done ant lion pherome pods, we have done ant lion pherome extract.

I am done with them. Please no more. Let them stay in Hl2 through Episode 2. No more storyarching on these guys.


Also, combine need some spicing up.

I will lol if I see a zombie-polar bear with a headcrab lol

[TugruL]

I'd like to see the Gargantua again...


...any other fans of this walking tank?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/68/HalfLife_Gargantua.jpg

DAMN!....

I want lots of them in Ep3.:rolling:

Okay lets make it few :)

[LackingSaint]

All I can say is this.

NO MORE ANT LIONS PLEASE.

We have done ant lions, we have done ant lion gaurdians, we have done ant lion workers, we have done ant lion grubs. We have done ant lion pherome pods, we have done ant lion pherome extract.

I am done with them. Please no more. Let them stay in Hl2 through Episode 2. No more storyarching on these guys.



GOD guys, STOP GETTING DOGS. we're so done with them, they were all popular in the 90s, but now it's getting stale. Maybe some kind of new fish.

My point is, the Antlions are part of the HL universe, and they're not gonna just go away because you asked. You might as well get rid of Headcrabs and Alyx.

[FlotsamX]

Look on the bright side: the Borealis is located in the Arctic: land of no sand!

I can imagine someone activating the technology located in the Borealis, causing another Resonance Cascade. It would be a great "excuse" to introduce more exotic alien creatures.

[Operational]

Look on the bright side: the Borealis is located in the Arctic: land of no sand!
This just in: Episode Three to feature Snow Antlions!

[Hellrider]

Combine Synths. Far more interesting. Xen wildlife is boring, trivial and probably has zero place in Episode 3 now that the storyline is tightening down and moving toward a conclusion for this part of the story. The atmosphere of an overrun Earth is cool, but just not for Episode 3.

Exactly my opinion (quoting from 1st page).

[Hobopro]

Xenbine. Or pimped Xen beasts with tubes and shit hanging from their necks. Now thats worth the wait.

[DEATH eVADER]

Off course as we get closer to the Borealis, more and more of new species come into view that are not related to either Xen or the Combine, which will possibly be centre threat that we encounter in the HL games after Ep3

Gman won't make an appearance in Ep3 but his employer does, would be ace if there was some sort of bizzarre conference room in Borealis, whereby Gordon is Debrief on the events that have occured from the very beginning

[Earthdeath]

I want to see more creatures.It would be cool if they introduced a new kind of heacrab.

[The Mild Gatsby]

Combine soldiers are pushovers. Blat blat shuffle shuffle wave arms blat arrrgh DEAD times infinity. Bleh! Whatever happened to challenging enemies that put the fear of GOD into you? I hope VALVe makes the advisors a fun enemy to fight, if you get to fight them at all. If they go the Crysis route and have you gimmick them to death with radio transmissions I'll be mildly saddened.

[Hobopro]

Something more different than either of the two. I dont really think there could be much Xen creatures on a lump of ice.

[eyefork]

More combine and synths hopefully. Maybe a zombie polar bear!

[DEATH eVADER]

Itchyosaur, we haven't seen one since HL2 (briefly), and they were so badass in the original game they should put back in

[Fiberawptic]

Why does it have to be one or the other? Im hoping we'll see new on both sides. Ive been thinking about it lately, and if episode 3 takes place in the arctic, since the scenery would be so different, they would have to make new enemies based on that environment to make it more plausible. Ant-Lions in the snow wouldnt be anything fun and new and i hope they dont make the ant-lion texture whiter and say "done lol". They should make a lot of new enemies to fit the environment.

As for combine, since you will probably explore into heavily combine areas, more so than the citadel, we should uncover new, faster/stronger combine synths... So like valve always does, the enemies could fit well with the story...

[jet_porkins]

I hate to bump old threads, but I feel like throwing in my contribution.

Seeing as how the episode concludes the current story arc, which will possibly resolve in the end of the Combine on Earth, I'd expect to see an assload of Combine.

Far as Xen is concerned, I'd rather see more KINDS of Xen than more Xen altogether. Everything up til now has been something involving headcrabs, ant lions, and guardians.

[jerkasaur]

More Combine really, on a side note, it'll be cool to see a resonance cascade again.

[Sneaki]

Since this is probably the combine's last stand you'd expect them to throw everything at us. Personally I'd be disappointed if it was just a whole bunch of striders, combine troops and a few advisors. I hope they throw in something new, that we need to do something more complex to, than filling it with bullets that is.

[octavio]

more Combine because there's a better chance of a new weapon that way.
both would be nice though.

[FISHY CRACKERS]

There are only three xen creatures i can think of that either arent in or have turned good in Half-Life 2, besides i found most of the challenge to be with fighting the grunts in the original Half-Life, so i'd have to say more Combine.

[zombieturtle01]

more Combine because there's a better chance of a new weapon that way.

Pherapods?
HiveHand?
Snarks?
Barnacle Gun?
Baby ShockTrooper?
Shocktrooper Rifle?

I disagree.

[Norn]

snarks are from alice in wonderland....

[riomhaire]

The word Snark is used in many stories. The name originated from a mock-poem called The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll. It's also an enemy/weapon in Half-Life 1.

Edit: I just realised that Carroll also wrote Alice in Wonderland itself.

[lefty]

Norns are giants from norse mythology, not forum members.

[jet_porkins]

Norns are giants from norse mythology, not forum members.

He's got'cha there.

[octavio]

Pherapods?
HiveHand?
Snarks?
Barnacle Gun?
Baby ShockTrooper?
Shocktrooper Rifle?

I disagree.

two of those are Race-X aren't they?

I meant weapons in the traditional sense anyway.

[G(ordon)-man]

I would like bullsquids and houndeyes back.

[Zippy]

I'd want to see more Combine. Half Life 1, Blue Shift, and Opposing Force gave quite enough Xen creature types. We seen Xen, we seen the big bad boss, Nihilanth. We never really seen the homeworld of the Combine.

[Bacons]

Any new enemy, I wouldn't care about bringing back old enemies.

[Ennui]

New Combine synths! The thing about new Combine units is that they can be derived from anything Valve (or Laidlaw) can think up.

[zombieturtle01]

two of those are Race-X aren't they?


Only half.

[jerkasaur]

I'd really like to see the combine assassin but I feel there's no place for it in ep3. :(

[octavio]

why not on the Borealis?

[Jayne]

why not on the Borealis?

Exactly. The assasin would be perfect for episode 3. Then they just need to give them a silenced SMG...

[Sneaki]

Wouldn't an assassin generally use a silenced pistol?

I would rather see somewhat more creative new synths though. We saw assassins in HL1, we might as well get something we haven't seen the likes of before.

[Jayne]

Well, the pistol isn't exactly powerful, and the rate of fire in HL1 for their silenced pistol was silly.

Also, this far into the series, they need to make the enemies a bit harder (like the Hunters were).

[Koola Mena]

Hope there's a harder enemy than the Hunter, either synth or Xen.

[Basse]

maybe the zombies have been played out, but i would still like to see some more zombie variations. what about a fast zombine? when a human becomes a zombie it's slow and not really scary, but when a combine soldier becomes one it's faster and more "intelligent", so it stands to reason that a fast zombine would be new and possibly more dangerous than a normal fast zombie. and i would also like to see an elite zombine.

[lord_raken]

what about a wolf synth? they would be like the hunters but mele attacks only. they would run in larger packs and move faster. they would surround you and draw your fire for a while and then attack you from behind... then the rest of them would all run in. maybe they would have some kind of imperfect active camo.
or they could just make the hunters smarter.
or a gorilla synth. big, heavily armed, lots of health and a very powerful mele.
and they should go ahead and make the combine soldiers smarter.

[zombieturtle01]

maybe the zombies have been played out, but i would still like to see some more zombie variations. what about a fast zombine? when a human becomes a zombie it's slow and not really scary, but when a combine soldier becomes one it's faster and more "intelligent", so it stands to reason that a fast zombine would be new and possibly more dangerous than a normal fast zombie. and i would also like to see an elite zombine.

what about a wolf synth? they would be like the hunters but mele attacks only. they would run in larger packs and move faster. they would surround you and draw your fire for a while and then attack you from behind... then the rest of them would all run in. maybe they would have some kind of imperfect active camo.
or they could just make the hunters smarter.


Lol, these ideas are... pretty uncreative, and I'd be a bit disapointed in valve if they did something like that.

A fast zombine? Come on, that would be such a waste of an enemy, especially in the third installment, and can you imagine how stupid it would look? Big bulky body with this little fast crab on it? The bulbous regular headcrab worked fine.
Giving more variations to the combine zombies would be extremely goofy and stupid.

Wolf synth? Isn't that exactly what the Hunter was made for? Gorilla synth?

A hunter has both the qualities of a wolf and a gorilla, this would be a very boring idea to repeat this with another creature.

[FISHY CRACKERS]

Adding any creatures at this point is like {quoted from Yahtzee} coming home from school one day to see a walrus at the family dinner table and you're the only one who seems to notice {end of quote}. I'm certain that with the warzone that was City 17 any and all Combine troops would be sent there so why would we suddenly start seeing new different kinds of Combine. The same goes for the Xen creatures, they were cool in Half-Life, and even more so in Half-Life 2, but seeing that there's none of those bloodhounds or whatever you call em and those other whatever you call em; and i'm almost certain there isn't because we'd likely to have seen one by now if there was; there's no possible new kind of Xen creature. You could argue that they might be arctic-based creatures and that's why we haven't seen them but then you must remember that they appeared randomly in Black Mesa and all over the world, so we'd at least see some dead bodies of them. All in all i would like new enemies, i really would but the idea of it actually being possible without a danm good explanation is slim.

[lefty]

For such a long post there seems to be very little thought put into it.

[jet_porkins]

Maybe we'll see Ichy in ep3. Why not? We've already seen one in-game.

[SinBin]

Adding any creatures at this point is like {quoted from Yahtzee} coming home from school one day to see a walrus at the family dinner table and you're the only one who seems to notice {end of quote}. I'm certain that with the warzone that was City 17 any and all Combine troops would be sent there so why would we suddenly start seeing new different kinds of Combine. The same goes for the Xen creatures, they were cool in Half-Life, and even more so in Half-Life 2, but seeing that there's none of those bloodhounds or whatever you call em and those other whatever you call em; and i'm almost certain there isn't because we'd likely to have seen one by now if there was; there's no possible new kind of Xen creature. You could argue that they might be arctic-based creatures and that's why we haven't seen them but then you must remember that they appeared randomly in Black Mesa and all over the world, so we'd at least see some dead bodies of them. All in all i would like new enemies, i really would but the idea of it actually being possible without a danm good explanation is slim.

Well just because we haven't seen any other Xen creatures doesn't mean they don't exist. Xen is an entire world, there must be tons of different enviromets with creatures we haven't seen. It's over 20 years since the Resonance Cascade occured so any stranded Xen creature are bound to have found a suitable habitat for them to live in. Be it Arctic climate, warmer climate, caves or underground, in the ocean whatever. I think there's a large chance we might get to fight some Ichys for example.

As for the Combine i bet they thought the Resistance uprising was nothing more than a annoyance and did not send in any more troops. Breen says it's "rabble in the streets" so he doesn't think it's a problem, more like some ants annoying him. If it wasn't for Gordon the resistance would have been crushed. So there's probably a few more Combine enemies waiting for us. Seeing as they have traveled from world to world for probably a long time and "combifying" the population they probably got loads of different creatures. Now that they know they are loosing earth they might send in some extra firepower (if possible, i know there are no portals left)

It is possible we won't see anything new but there's a pretty big chance we will se something new. Ep1 brought Zombines, Ep2 Hunters. Ep3 will have something else, that's what i think :)

[Sneaki]

As for the Combine i bet they thought the Resistance uprising was nothing more than a annoyance and did not send in any more troops. Breen says it's "rabble in the streets" so he doesn't think it's a problem, more like some ants annoying him. If it wasn't for Gordon the resistance would have been crushed. So there's probably a few more Combine enemies waiting for us. Seeing as they have traveled from world to world for probably a long time and "combifying" the population they probably got loads of different creatures. Now that they know they are loosing earth they might send in some extra firepower (if possible, i know there are no portals left)

I think it got annoying when their citadel got owned by Gordon though..;)

[FISHY CRACKERS]

I think it got annoying when their citadel got owned by Gordon though..;)

I'd have to agree with that.

[SinBin]

I think it got annoying when their citadel got owned by Gordon though..;)

Well yes, that's what i said. If it wasn't for Gordon. He did however hand their asses to them so if they are gonna send in some heavy duty shizzle against humanity it's gonna be now.

[G(ordon)-man]

Ep1 brought Zombines, Ep2 Hunters. Ep3 will have something else, that's what i think :)

dude,where are antlion workers

[SinBin]

dude,where are antlion workers

Ah, how could i forget them! Sorry ^^ They are the coolest thing ever, damn annoying though.

[amaranth]

More powerful synths. Stuff to remind us the Combine has conquered a ton of planets. You just don't get the feeling they defeated the whole military force of Earth with Striders and Hunters.

[zombieturtle01]

Adding any creatures at this point is like {quoted from Yahtzee} coming home from school one day to see a walrus at the family dinner table and you're the only one who seems to notice {end of quote}. I'm certain that with the warzone that was City 17 any and all Combine troops would be sent there so why would we suddenly start seeing new different kinds of Combine.
No, different weapons for different environments.


The same goes for the Xen creatures, they were cool in Half-Life, and even more so in Half-Life 2, but seeing that there's none of those bloodhounds or whatever you call em and those other whatever you call em;
Have you played Half-Life? You don't seem to really know what you are talking about.

and i'm almost certain there isn't because we'd likely to have seen one by now if there was; there's no possible new kind of Xen creature. You could argue that they might be arctic-based creatures and that's why we haven't seen them but then you must remember that they appeared randomly in Black Mesa and all over the world, so we'd at least see some dead bodies of them. All in all i would like new enemies, i really would but the idea of it actually being possible without a danm good explanation is slim.
That's entirely stupid, it's like saying "I'm taking a trip to Africa, and I don't expect to see any different animals there, I mean, if they existed, we would have seen them in our zoos, right?"
:rolleyes:

Also, your dead bodies argument is pretty weak as well, 17 years has passed, certainly decomposition has taken place to any dead bullsquids or houndeyes around City 17 (evidently, there was not enough of those species to survive in that area because you don't see any) and even so, what would be the point of valve showing a couple bullsquid or houndeye skeletons to not even let you actually fight them in the game?

[FISHY CRACKERS]

No, different weapons for different environments.

Have you played Half-Life? You don't seem to really know what you are talking about.

That's entirely stupid, it's like saying "I'm taking a trip to Africa, and I don't expect to see any different animals there, I mean, if they existed, we would have seen them in our zoos, right?"
:rolleyes:

Also, your dead bodies argument is pretty weak as well, 17 years has passed, certainly decomposition has taken place to any dead bullsquids or houndeyes around City 17 (evidently, there was not enough of those species to survive in that area because you don't see any) and even so, what would be the point of valve showing a couple bullsquid or houndeye skeletons to not even let you actually fight them in the game?

1. I can agree with that first one, but i still think they'd need everything they could get.
2. Yes i'm actually one of the few people who have played Half-Life 2 and then bothered to play the original. It's not like the creature names were actually said in the game.
3. It sounds stupid if you say it like that, but you must remember that the Xen creatures were randomly teleported onto the earth, and the idea that Black Mesa alone got THAT MANY headcrabs, bloodhounds, and etc, is kinda stupid. If we could get like 100 of each creature, why couldn't we get 1 of a few new ones?
4. I'm just saying, weird stuff happens in the Half-Life universe, but i can agree with that. I just would have imagined that since the Combine came and took over earth within 8 hours (i said within) they'd have at least taken some of the Xen creatures to turn them into synths, and the most we saw in the Citadel was those crab synths.

[Operational]

2. I think you'll find most of people on this board have played both Half-Life and Half-Life 2

3. Well it's a game obviously they aren't going to come up with every idea they want to use for the next decade. Case in point: Antlions. Canon wise it's not hard to explain if you make up a good explanation for how portal storms work.

4. We don't know for sure that the Combine now control Xen. And even if they do now they didn't, or only just, got control of Xen before the Earth Invasion - not enough time to get a new line of untested Synths out. And if they then went on to make some, why bother sending them to Earth, a planet already easily beaten by the forces they already had?

[FISHY CRACKERS]

Well they didn't have humanoid troops originally, but when they conquered earth they turnd humans into Combine Troops :rolleyes:

[Operational]

Difference being they are made on Earth. There is no proof that the Combine control Xen or that Xen life make useful Synths.

[G(ordon)-man]

although a bullsquid synth would make a excellent idea how to bring them back to hl2

[Mapster]

I want to see the Gargantua (http://www.blackmesasource.com/media/mr2_gargantua.jpg) come back into episode 3. That was my favorite enemy in the original half-life.

[FISHY CRACKERS]

I want to see the Gargantua (http://www.blackmesasource.com/media/mr2_gargantua.jpg) come back into episode 3. That was my favorite enemy in the original half-life.

Both times i saw it, i killed it on accident. The first time i just ran like hell and turned on the switch, turneed around, and saw that it had followed me and died. The second time i was actually too stupid to realise that i was supposed to use that nuke-machine thingy, and i actually set a load of trip mines on one of the walls and made it chase me down said hallway. It actually exploded, i was suprised.

[Mapster]

Both times i saw it, i killed it on accident. The first time i just ran like hell and turned on the switch, turneed around, and saw that it had followed me and died. The second time i was actually too stupid to realise that i was supposed to use that nuke-machine thingy, and i actually set a load of trip mines on one of the walls and made it chase me down said hallway. It actually exploded, i was suprised.

haha awesome!
I wanna try it :D

EDIT:
I wanna see the Gargantua pick up a car, set it on fire, then throw it at the player or something like that.
That would be awesome!

[G(ordon)-man]

RtB mention a old Gargantua corpse....

[Koola Mena]

I want to see the Gargantua (http://www.blackmesasource.com/media/mr2_gargantua.jpg) come back into episode 3. That was my favorite enemy in the original half-life.

OMG this.



Though by the look of that piccy, all ya really need to do is put a couple of magnum rounds through the gaps in the armour around the kneecaps :p ****in' great rendering

[The_E]

Both!

[G(ordon)-man]

Maybe a Gargantua synth with combine carrying pod?

[Mapster]

Lots of people think that but i highly doubt valve will use that story. What a surprise that after years and years of wondering who the Gman is, the G in Gman stand for Gordon.

Wake up Gordon man!
Wake up and smell the ashes

[G(ordon)-man]

As you can see /\ i have figured it out already

[F. grigori]

combine xen were a pain i the ass

also did any one realize there are still xen creatures from HL1 in hl2 universe not featured like the bull squid it cause eli to loose a leg

[alehm]

My point is, the Antlions are part of the HL universe, and they're not gonna just go away because you asked. You might as well get rid of Headcrabs and Alyx.

Houndeyes, bullsquids, alien grunts, gargs, and alien controllers which are part of the HL universe and haven't been seen since HL1 eat your comment then poop it back out and serve it steaming hot back to you with a breath mint on the side. :cheese:

[Eejit]

Snarks.


Or possibly Panserbjorn.

[SamuraiKenji]

Two things
1:Why can't people stop it with the insane idea that Godon is the Gman
THEY'RE TOTALLY DIFFERENT!
Second: F.Grigori the game has been out for like what....5 years?
I'm sure we noticed that there are no Bullsquids in Hl2 -_-

[FISHY CRACKERS]

I'm sure we noticed that there are no Bullsquids in Hl2 -_-

Well there was one in a lake far from your location, you know when you accidentally teleport there because Llamar screwed up the teleport?

[Eejit]

Well there was one in a lake far from your location, you know when you accidentally teleport there because Llamar screwed up the teleport?

Icthyosaur?

[Filip]

I will vote for the Combine, because the Borealis is a ship and there wouldn't be any aliens... just the combine, anyway Combine is my favorite. :)