Combine too weak?...NO!!!!!!!

[ríomhaire]

Why do so many people under the impression that overwatch have 2HP or have worse A1 than HL1 grunts?

I have heard some people saying that they are weaker than normal people. You take a blast from a shotgun at medium range or a shot from a pistol right between the eyes!

The AI is good, they take cover and act statigicly (unlike alot of players).

I have 1 comlaint about them. They don't use enough grenades.

The reason you think they are so weak is that Gordon's protection in the HEV suit is realy good.

On a side note, Gordon does wear a helmet.

[Dead-Inside]

You got a spelling error in your siggy ("Stoping" should be stopping).

The main reason is that you could unload a clip in to a HL1 grunt and they'd still need a few more shots to die. They die from a few bullets in HL2.

Most people either are too skilled or play at a too low difficultylevel for the AI to be able to take a few bullets and put their "plan" (Strategic AI) to work.

I love how people think the AI sucks even though it's been shown many and many times again that it's way way way much better than anything we've seen. Give them 200 HP more per Combine unit, and then we'll talk.

[Laivasse]

I fully agree, the Combine are not too weak at all. IMO Valve got the balance of their strength perfect - they can do plenty hella damage to you if you let them have their way, and a couple of Overwatch with shotguns nailing you simultaneously on Hard is automatic game over, unless you're at 100/100. At the same time, they drop easily enough so that your own weapons feel powerful and satisfying.

They are weaker than HL1 grunts in terms of health, but they make up for it in far improved AI, and anyway the HL1 grunts were ridiculous - on Hard you could unload in their head with the mp5 for a couple of seconds continuously before they would drop. The only gun that felt like a gun was the .357 python, since it was so much more powerful than anything else. HL2 has a much better balance.

The one problem with the Overwatch is that they appear to have less health than the resistance. Perhaps this could have been changed, but then, enough people complain about NPCs getting slaughtered all the time anyway. Verdict: you can't please everyone.

As for people saying "OFMG grodron neeer dyez his liek s0rbieve alL teh b00letz11111", well what can you do. He's wearing a super-protective suit. Maybe these people spit at the TV whenever Die Hard comes on, and would be happier playing Microsoft Train Sim for the ultra-realism and everydayness...

[Laivasse]

The main reason is that you could unload a clip in to a HL1 grunt and they'd still need a few more shots to die. They die from a few bullets in HL2.

Yes, well why would you want an enemy that makes your weapons feel like water pistols? It would be utterly ridiculous to shoot a guy in the head twice with a shotgun, then the third time he'd suddenly fly 5 feet backwards because his health has run out.

I like the feeling of satisfaction that comes from crushing enemies with my powerful weapons.

EDIT - I now have a sig :cheese:

[Spectre01]

On hard you need to unload the entire SMG clip to kill one soldier. I like medium because you don't feel like you are shooting rubber bullets at your enemies.

[Laivasse]

On hard you need to unload the entire SMG clip to kill one soldier. I like medium because you don't feel like you are shooting rubber bullets at your enemies.

Too true. However my personal preference is for hard because I think the metrocops, only, are just a bit too weak on anything less. See some people might not care, but since I seem to be the only person who thinks CP are transhuman, I like to have them slightly tougher :thumbs:

Agreed, though, Overwatch completely eat up MP7 rounds. I don't know how people can justify making them any stronger.

[$kelet0r]

I wonder is there / will there be a mod that raises the combine hp or makes them launch into their ai pathways faster to give more of a challenge
a common complaint is that the combine are quite lethargic at times and while they do use cover, suppress, communicate and use team work it is very rarely evident in hl2 which is a real shame

[Laivasse]

I wonder is there / will there be a mod that raises the combine hp or makes them launch into their ai pathways faster to give more of a challenge
a common complaint is that the combine are quite lethargic at times and while they do use cover, suppress, communicate and use team work it is very rarely evident in hl2 which is a real shame

I'd agree with the complaint about the lethargy...sometimes you burst onto the scene and it seems like you're able to kill half of the enemies in a room before their code kicks in and they start to deal with you. At the same time it makes them seem realistically "surprised" ;)

It's actually the reason I replay a lot of shootouts in HL2, even if I survive them unscathed. The best shootouts are the ones where the enemy have a chance to get a foothold because you screw up a bit, or whatever, and they start to flank you, lob grenades + so forth. Chaos is teh own.

I wouldn't ever bother with a mod that upped the hp, though. And I hope Valve don't go back down the route of HL1-golem-esque tank-grunts in HL3

[halflifeguy]

I think they're just right

[Warbie]

They're far to weak, even on hard.

I'd like another 3 or 4 difficulty settings above 'hard'. At the moment there's little tension, and combat is a little boring.

Advanced AI means bugger all if they're all dead within a few seconds.

[sonictk]

They're fine to me.

[FireCrack]

The shotgun guy can be a ttad stupid sometimes, other than that they're good.

[Burky]

A few times when they already got a foothold, "Highway 17" and the "Entaglement D8" they were very hard to beat, and "Entaglement D8" was one of the most intense fights (get those turrents up) unless u tried some cheating tatic.

[ríomhaire]

If you want a challenge type "buddha" into the console. that should even things up a little.

[G-Dub]

has anyone here seen that video that some website made on the hl2 AI? it basically showed how crap it is.

[Laivasse]

has anyone here seen that video that some website made on the hl2 AI? it basically showed how crap it is.

There are loopholes in every AI. Some people learn about them, go out of their way to exploit them and then wonder why the game isn't a challenge. I wonder how many people who post about blocking doorways with filing cabinets in the Nova Prospekt shootout also post about how "easy" the game is to beat.

I could cut my HL2 DVD in half with a pair of shears, but it doesn't mean I've beaten the game in the way it was intended to be beaten.

[ríomhaire]

has anyone here seen that video that some website made on the hl2 AI? it basically showed how crap it is.
No, can you find it. Is it in-game footage or just a stupid flash animation?

[N@Sc]

bleh, HL2 iverwhole was just 2 easy on hard, the mod made it a little bit harder but still, if i fight 2 squads of trained soldiers i expect them to be a bit more "to the point" instead of taking cover after every round they fired.
wich only gives me a chance to escape or throw a nade between their teeth, ofcourse it looks realistic and stuff but c'mon, im the 1 who should be taking cover, not them, or does gordon has some terror auro around him :/

[Angry Lawyer]

The AI is reliant on info_nodes. The more there are, and the better they're placed, and the more hints that are dropped for them, the better the AI gets.

Which is why, if you place NPCs in a map without info_nodes, they just stand there.

-Angry Lawyer

[Llama]

bleh, HL2 iverwhole was just 2 easy on hard, the mod made it a little bit harder but still, if i fight 2 squads of trained soldiers i expect them to be a bit more "to the point" instead of taking cover after every round they fired.
wich only gives me a chance to escape or throw a nade between their teeth, ofcourse it looks realistic and stuff but c'mon, im the 1 who should be taking cover, not them, or does gordon has some terror auro around him :/

well....he does have an incredible arsenal of weapons and a near god-like pain tolerance :E

[ríomhaire]

well....he does have an incredible arsenal of weapons and a near god-like pain tolerance :E
And a near god-like reputation

[Llama]

And a near god-like reputation

not 2 mention his HEV-Enhanced pubic areeas :|

[ríomhaire]

not 2 mention his HEV-Enhanced pubic areeas :|
no wonder you have such a high warning level and a ban.

[Jintor]

They're not too weak. HL1 grunts felt a lot more meaty, though - they were like walking bags of flesh (i think this is mainly because they didn't flinch, or really react to getting shot - except the blood would pour out). Combine, at least, reacted - making them more human (well, they used to be... it'd have been more realistic to get the Marines to react and the Combine to just grunt or something). I think people got a bit worked up over the reactions - technically, soldiers shouldn't have more health than police, should they? Except for the kevlar and all that. Hmmmm...

[Gordon's Brother]

there are some fights in h17 that are hard even on easy untilll you get the cross bow cuz they will take have a clip of pulse rifle ammo and not flinch(i think) and the throw a ton of grenades if you dont kill them in less than 5 seconds like at the crane.

[Ennui]

there are some fights in h17 that are hard even on easy untilll you get the cross bow cuz they will take have a clip of pulse rifle ammo and not flinch(i think) and the throw a ton of grenades if you dont kill them in less than 5 seconds like at the crane.
eh, not really. But the ending was way too easy.

what are all these people talking about, slippery things when you're climbing up at the end? everyone else seems to talk about how annoying those were... i didn't even notice them.

[Danimal]

Meh, the combine can be challenges at times... But more grenading would help them abit.

[Llama]

do spawned Combine Soldiers throw grenades? Or do you have to ues the "npc_create-epuiptment weapon_" command?

[Gordon's Brother]

they throw grenades if you let them,but you probably dont want to let them

[Langolier]

I don't know... I went back and played the Original Half-Life after playing Half-Life 2 and I find the Combine (and HL: Source Marines) a bit harder than the original Half-Life Marines. Mostly because they are more agressive; they can fire at you and move at the same time. They like to rush you. I know that my first time through HL2 I was on edge every time I fought them and it took a while for me to get comfortable.

Of-course, one should note that prior to Half-Life 2 I hadn't played any FPS games in a long while.

[ríomhaire]

people also say they don't retreat like marines but when there is 1 alone and others behind him and if you are shooting at him he will retreat to his friends.
This especially happens when you are using the mounted ar2s in sandtraps.

[Sid Burn]

Well, playing it on hard will make them tougher and they use grenades frquently... damn I hate it wen they do that... my squad get wipe out in an instant sec.

[Ennui]

yeah, squad members get pwned by nades.

Grunts were a lot harder to fight against, tougher it seemed like, and I liked them better.

[Sid Burn]

well, I think its bec. of their armor... they are twice as tough compared to the combine elites.

[Johnnny49]

Actually in many FPS lile Ghost Recon it is more true to life to lose accuracy in your shooting when you move..so if they move then shoot instead of doing both at the same time...its good tactics, unless in close quarters.

FWIW I do think HL2 is too easy on medium. I am going to bump it up to hard. Though in the part with the two snipers they were hard to get by and used nades. I would really prefer more shooting and tactics and less puzzle solving (how do I get down this mineshaft etc and where is the switch/wheel I need to use). I havent played much multiplayer but after the single player campaign I will. :farmer:

[Jintor]

Acually, playing on hard mode in Waterhazard, in that abandoned harbour...

I was FLIPPING.

I think i played to much deathmatch, i was emtying clip after clip into everyone there, missing like crazy and then getting butchered by manhacks. I was using my DM tactics, and then getting horribbly, horribly wasted by the AI.

I remember my first run through, i think i bottlenecked them in and generally didn't act like a monkey on helium.

[Sid Burn]

I would really prefer more shooting and tactics and less puzzle solving (how do I get down this mineshaft etc and where is the switch/wheel I need to use).
Hmm... For me HL2 has a very little puzzle solving and more on shooting and tactics... especially on the "follow Freeman" chapter. :cool:

[CookieCuttah]

Most of the puzzles were very obvious and just took a little effort.

[Przemek]

I don't think the Combine are too weak - I think they're perfect. They still are human - maybe genetically modified, but even a super-genetic-mod can't make a humanoidal organism survive a headshot or three bullets penetrating the lungs. Unless they put their brains in their arses and leave the head hollow :D

I don't think HL2 is too easy on medium - there are easy parts, but there are moments when it's really hard to survive.

HL1 grunts were pretty bad - their AI was good, but their health was crazy. I often found myself swearing while shooting a grunt who didn't react to bullets and didn't die instantly after a headshot (half a clip or even a full clip of MP5 in the head? What the...? :P).

Half-Life 2 is pretty realistic and I love it for that - human enemies die like humans, not like cyborgs/robots.

[Langolier]

I don't think the Combine are too weak - I think they're perfect. They still are human - maybe genetically modified, but even a super-genetic-mod can't make a humanoidal organism survive a headshot or three bullets penetrating the lungs. Unless they put their brains in their arses and leave the head hollow :D

They aren't "genetically" modified. To do that they would have to have their genes altered while still developing as a fetus and thus 'grown'. They are physically 'enhanced' with machinery(technology). The unarmored soldier you see in Nova Prospeckt looks like he has some sort of power system and breathing system built into his abdomen and neck. I immagine that the hole in their side hooks up to their vest, which is probably an advanced "PCV".

It's very likely, that had the Combine not been screwed by Freeman, than in time humans may have been genetically modified. The soldiers we see in Half-Life 2 are most certainly the first generation of Human "Synths". There simply hasn't been enough time for the Combine to genetically modify humans since they wouldn't have had time to grow.

HL1 grunts were pretty bad - their AI was good, but their health was crazy. I often found myself swearing while shooting a grunt who didn't react to bullets and didn't die instantly after a headshot (half a clip or even a full clip of MP5 in the head? What the...? :P).


Half-Life 1 grunts were fine on Easy and Medium... but on Hard they were just rediculous. Personally I can immagine the PCV absorbing a shit load of damage. Just look at it... it's like an Inch thick, however taking a Double Blast to the head at point-blank range is just crazy.

[Roman Legion]

“The AI is good, they take cover and act statigicly (unlike alot of players).”

I do agree if you play the game at hard, the combine will own your @$$…

My brother played half-life 1 and said it was easier…not to mention half-life two is more realistic…

If you asked me the combine body armor is pretty dang strong, and have bulletproof gas masks or in this case , their whole head…

I don’t know what you guys think, but I think the Combine armor is very ahead to modern armor…


“They die from a few bullets in HL2”

If you put it on hard, it takes about 7 to 8 shots on the chest, it all depends where you shot the combines at…



“The main reason is that you could unload a clip in to a HL1 grunt and they'd still need a few more shots to die.”

that’s true , which is very unrealistic…


“Most people either are too skilled or play at a too low difficultylevel for the AI to be able to take a few bullets and put their "plan" (Strategic AI) to work.”

“I love how people think the AI sucks even though it's been shown many and many times again that it's way way way much better than anything we've seen. Give them 200 HP more per Combine unit, and then we'll talk.”

I do agree the AI is so much better, because I have friends that did not play Half-Life 2 end when they did it owned them…

“I'd like another 3 or 4 difficulty settings above 'hard'. At the moment there's little tension, and combat is a little boring.”

“Advanced AI means bugger all if they're all dead within a few seconds.”
Dude, if the Combine had the same HP as we do in the game, they will definitely own us, either that, or you just too good…


But in realistic terms 8 shots on the chest is pretty dang strong (that’s the civil protection you fight in the beginning)…

[grannyjone]

Do the combine have less hitpoints than the resistance? That would be very unrealistic

The combine are extremely difficult to beat in "Entanglement" in the 2nd turret room, especially if you play on "Hard". There are so many of them, a few Shotgun blasts will kill you, and if they knock over the turrets you die very fast. However, throughout the rest of the game they are quite easy

[fokke]

I believe that the reason why the combine seem weak, next to the marines, is that you have many more methods to kill them (Gravity gun, explosive barrels, vehicles, antlions) The methods in half life 1 were few, and gave me less satisfaction. The physics added to that as well, as it is nice to know that your kill is really dead when he hits his head to an iron bar, or if a large container pancakes him. CP's do have a problem with not getting slain however, but that is mostly because gordon freeman is the bad-ass god of all slaying.

[deadman]

If you want the combine to be more challening then turn your cheats on and do sk_combine_s_health 100. Their default is 50, but remeber that their accuracy is poor aswell. The AI itself is good, but the levels you meet them on and their health dont show it off very well

[Qwert93]

I think the Combine in H-L 2 is a lot tougher than those grunts in H-L. It took 2 magnum blasts to kill 1 soldier in normal difficulty. That's a lot.

[Jintor]

Depends where you aim.

Magnum + head = corpse.

Grunts in HL1 were like moving tanks... you'd get the blood pixels, but they wouldn't react. Besides grunting a little. I wish, one day, in a game, you shoot someone and they go "AGGGHHHHHH!" and fall over and grit their teeth and scream "MY LEG! AHHH!!!" and then the entire squad guns you down.

[fokke]

Yeah the grunts were pretty tough.. You know the part in We've got hostiles, where the grunts come down from the Osprey?
Well, you should be able to kill them and they fall down, banging their head on all the crap thats beneath. And many more effects like that, has anyone seen the half life 1 source version (I don't know much, i heard about it) I wonder what the grunts are like in it, and if they die in a decent matter. ;)

[avraell]

Yep Jintor. What we need is spot-specific dmg, not only headshots, but busting someone's knee cap out, or damaging their weapon arm. Shots to the eyes should be more damaging than shots to the jaw, etc.

[MikeL15]

Ya, I agree with the hurting thing where they will fall wounded and such... Ive been waiting for a game like that since SoF1, which was where, if you blew thier arm off, they would magically die...

And HL1 grunts where alot more tougher than the combine. Why? Because HL1 was more of a deathmatch style game, not very realistic... but the soldiers did limp when they were wounded, which was kinda nice. But HL2 is much more realistic so actually, the combine are just about right.

And another little fact... people wearing helmets in HL1 such as soldiers, security, etc.. would not get hurt when you shot thier helmets, which is one reason when headshots werent all that effective...

[fokke]

And yet if you crowbarred their head, you would still see a lot of blood.