Surface Tension Half Life
| Surface Tension | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Location | |
| Era(s) | |
| Game information | |
| Designer(s) | Brett Johnson[1] |
| Map(s) | c2a5 |
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Barnz/Surface Tension is the twelfth chapter in the storyline of Half-Life.
- 2Development
- 4Behind the scenes
- 5Gallery
Overview[edit]
Surface Tension: 'Ladder Problem'. The details are below: After destroying the third tank - where the aliens are dropped out of an aircraft and bombed by another plane shortly after - there's a window ledge where Gordon moves around the outside of the building and jumps cross two unit blocks to climb the ladders to proceed. Half-Life Walkthrough Lambda Core. When you enter the first portal you have to time it so you land on the moving platfort. The platform will be spinning around teleport entrances. Only one leads to a higher floor. Enter port number 2 to go up one floor. Next enter port 4. If you miss the platform spinning above you.
It is a third-party remake of Half-Life (1998), and was originally released as a free modification (then titled Black Mesa: Source) for Half-Life 2 September 14, 2012. It received a standalone commercial release through Steam Early Access on May 5, 2015, with a full release slated for Q2 2019.
The chapter begins near a dam. The player has to fight through many locations under the military's command to reach the Lambda Complex, where the rest of the science team has taken shelter.
Development[edit]
Pre-release[edit]
The early version of the chapter was largely different. The emergency exit in the chapter Alien Research Lab was to lead to a military base on the surface. This area was repurposed as the multiplayer map, Boot Camp, in the final game.
There was to be a large military camp known as the army barracks on the top of the cliff.[3] The player was to come across a Kingpin tormented by Marines in a hangar here. It was to break free and destroy them with the player's help.[4] In the final game, the large perimeter wall and the electric fence seen in the level plan can be found in the map c2a5w. The base was to be located behind this wall. Unused tent textures can be found in the files.
There was a version of the helipad with fuel barrels with red stripes. It is possible that the player was to use these barrels to destroy the Osprey.
Is this related? During the development, Valve had one stage, where it was possible to patch into the government's communication net. The player was to discover an airstrike was imminent, so the player must take shelter underground. Somehow the player must break into the nearby bunker complex. PCG.
Ports[edit]
There is couple of minor changes in the console ports of the game. The fuel barrels with red stripes at the beginning of the chapter are supposed to fly up and explode, but this no longer works because of the code changes. This was fixed in the Dreamcast version. The level code for the chapter is 'Combat And Death' in the Dreamcast version.
The rock textures were changed, and the brush based cars were replaced with models in the parking garage in the PlayStation 2 version. Models for other vehicles, including the truck and the Bradley were created, but left unused. There are three multiplayer maps based on various locations from the chapter in the PlayStation 2 version. These maps are Skirmish (based on c2a5), Water Canal (based on c2a5b), and Debris (based on c2a5e).
The cliffside level was updated in the Source version of the game, and features a 3D skybox. This version of the game also contains a couple of test maps (map hl1devteste) that include portions of the chapter (maps c2a5e and c2a5f).
Other versions[edit]
The multiplayer map Crossfire is loosely based on the map c2a5e.[5]Team Fortress Classic map Hunted by Brett Johnson is also based on the same map.
Appearances[edit]
Opposing Force features many set pieces from Surface Tension. The cliffside area can be seen during the Osprey ride at the beginning of the game. The dam is revisited and destroyed in the chapter Foxtrot Uniform. The Santego Military Base is based on the multiplayer map Boot Camp, which is based on the cut military camp section of Surface Tension.
Gordon Freeman comes across a dead Marine named Cooper with a Tactical Map, a device used for calling airstrikes, and a radio at his side. Cooper's commander can be heard over the radio, giving him orders. The commander is seen in person in the chapter 'We Are Pulling Out'.
Behind the scenes[edit]
The chapter was internally named 'Topside'.[4] The cliffside section was dubbed 'Cliffhanger',[6] a possible reference to the movie, Cliffhanger (1993). The name 'Surface Tension' is a scientific pun, referring to the properties of water which makes certain objects float above it.
In the map c2a5, there is an unused scripted_sequence for a scientist called 'meat'. It was to run to the area behind the fuel storage and get shot by the Marines.
The dangling scientist sequence entities from the chapter Office Complex uses the prefix 'cliff', so it is possible that this sequence was intended to be used at cliffside at some point.
c2a5b - bunker_gruntsc2a5b - water grunt (this is used in the final game)c2a5f - loader mm- dario's tape[7]
- unused lines/anims
hls background mapbarney fence/otis animtent textures (out_tnt1)- booby-trap scene was mirrored in ep1
- The original appearance order of the areas were appearance order Tactical Operations Center, Motorpool, Armory, Hydro Plant, Checkpoint Alpha/Bravo/Delta, Barracks, Hangars.[8]
The water canal area was internally named 'Whack-A-Man'. The squad name for the Marines here is 'bunker_grunts. This may be related to the bunker mentioned in one of the level plans. A Marine was to climb out of a trench and jump over the canal, and another was to shut the exit door when the player entered the area.
In the map c2a5f, a Bradley enters a large hangar to deploy Marines by crashing through the doors. This was to trigger a large destruction sequence in which the catwalk would break down. The unused entities for the scene can be found in the map. In the final game, a part of the catwalk is already destroyed before the Bradley enters.
A security guard was to touch the electrified fence and die in the map c2a5w. The animation was recycled for Opposing Force. It is used by an overweight guard in the chapter Welcome To Black Mesa, in the map of1a2.
- barney: truckdieidle - truckdie (?)
- hgrunt: wm_moatjump (whackman_moat_jump)
hgrunt: wm_button (whackman_button) (done)- hgrunt: cliffdie (c2a5cliffdie)
hgrunt: stone_toss (c2a5_stone_toss) (done)- scientist: hanging scientist (entity name)
- scientist: helicack (?)
Inaccessible gate[edit]
There are hints that suggest the inaccessible 'secure access' door at the dam in the map c2a5 could be entered. The same wall and the door can be found in the map c3a1a located in the chapter 'Forget About Freeman!'. It is possible that these areas were directly connected at some point.
A button can be seen next to the c2a5 door in one of the early screenshots. This button can be found in the map as a 'trigger_multiple' hidden inside brushes with the target 'jump_2'. Furthermore, the c3a1a door is named 'jump_1', strongly indicating the connection between both areas.
It should be also noted that the c3a1a area is called 'comm start' in the source file, which means it was used as an entrance to the Communications Center in a past iteration.[9]
Gallery[edit]
Pre-release[edit]
The dam.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
The desert.
Ditto.
Ditto, night version.
Ditto, night version.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
The minefield.
The wall.
Ditto.
The cliffside.
Ditto.
Ditto.
The water canal.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
The area after the canal.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
The booby-trapped building.
Ditto.
Ditto.
The helipad.
Ditto.
The garage.
The landing field.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Pre-release (military camp)[edit]
The army barracks cabal.
Ditto, larger version.
The cliffside cabal.
The camp.[i]
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto, interior area.
Ditto, interior area.
Another version.
Another version.
Pre-release (other)[edit]
Unknown location.
Ditto.
Ditto. cliffside sky
Ditto, night version.
A camp.[i]
A test map for helicopters.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Retail[edit]
The fuel storage.
The dam.
A large wall in the desert.
A Tentacle in the desert.
Valve area. (important)
The minefield.
The cliffside.
Apache!
The water canal.
Why is this a PNG?!
The booby-trapped building.
Sniper yard?
Armory?
Cool airduct scene.
Huge hangar.
A Bradley deploying Marines.
Pic of this area?
Satchel scene
HD models!
Dreamcast[edit]
The dam.
Ditto.
Source[edit]
Background map.
The cliffside.
Opposing Force[edit]
Youtube Surface Tension Half Life
The cliffside.
The dam.
Ditto, destroyed.
Other[edit]
The Tactical Map texture.
Early version.
Advertisement.
Ditto.
Marketing shot.
Mirrored version.
Map geo2. It is described as a 'cool desert base'. alpha doc link.
Fence.
Stone toss.
Button.
References[edit]
- ↑Brett Johnson's personal website
- ↑Interview with Dario Casali on Voltron's Map Workshop (May 1, 2000) (archived)
- ↑Half-Life preview on Online Gaming Review (February 25, 1998) (archived)
- ↑ 4.04.1Half-Life 2: Raising The Bar (uncorrected proof), page 43
- ↑Interview with Dario Casali on Radium (March 23, 1999) (archived)
- ↑Half-Life preview on Online Gaming Review(February 25, 1998) (archived)
- ↑Use of Realism in Level Design, GDC 2001 on GDC Vault
- ↑sentences.txt
- ↑hl1-wc-maps (c3a1a.vmf)
| Chapters | |
|---|---|
| Half-Life | Anomalous Materials · Unforeseen Consequences · Office Complex · 'We've Got Hostiles' · Blast Pit · Power Up · On A Rail · Apprehension · Questionable Ethics · 'Forget About Freeman!' · Lambda Core |
| Half-Life Alpha | The Portal Device · The Office Warrens · The Security Complex · Alien Research Lab · Communications Center · Reactor Lab |
| Half-Life: Opposing Force | Welcome To Black Mesa |
| Half-Life: Blue Shift | Insecurity |
| Half-Life 2 | Point Insertion |
| Half-Life: Decay (cut) | Cut missions from Half-Life: Decay |
I really can't get past this. I'm starting this off with around 30hp. I'm quicksaved at the Dam. I'm out of revolver ammo, crossbow ammo and lazor ammo.
I had to throw it on easy mode (running normal usually) to get past some of this. I can pick off the guards from a distance using my pistol (since the machine gun is next to useless in all situations and the shotgun has limited range). Then I get to pick up some ammo and grab some health. I jump off the dam full hp, but then I have to deal with this water monster and the helicopter with no crossbow ammo and none of my guns shoot underwater. On top of that I have absolutely no idea where to go from there.
Anybody have suggestions on where to find crossbow ammo in this area or how else to deal with the water monster or the helicopter? Anything helpful?
senpai2 Answers
By this point you should already have received the Gluon (right click charges up, then release to 'insta' kill).
What I did was, when you first see the soldiers going towards the dam, I waited until they actually passed the gates. Next, I ran close to the entrance, where you can find two health kits. Then I fired a quick shot or two to trigger the aggros.
Then I ran back up the road to a fenced up power generator area, and camped a corner, equipping the shotgun. As the soldiers came by, I would use the shotgun's secondary fire to finish each one quickly.
When you are at the entrance of the dam, you should see to the right a warehouse. Enter inside, and you should find some Gluon Ammo and some other ammo packs. At this point, after you exit, a helicopter should come trying to murder you. While normally you can't destroy it, using the Gluon can incapacitate it. Otherwise, you'll need to jump into the water (beware the monsters)
As for entering the water, if you got the Gluon, it should be a piece of cake. Just charge and fire, or spam and fire.
After this, in the middle of the water, is a guard tower. There should be a ladder, just go up, press the button, and you'll know what to do!
As Howdy_McGee mentions below in the comments:
Update on this - You can't fire it underwater. It just keeps clicking like all the other guns. You can charge it above water and fire it under water there but that's it. Either way got past it when I figured out where to go and playing it on Easy.
Half-life Valve
If you get lucky enough you can jump on the other side of the dam while trying to stick closely to the wall and land on the rocks without getting damaged. At least that's how I did it