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Half-Life 2 Soundtrack

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Steam album artwork.

The Half-Life 2 Soundtrack was composed by Kelly Bailey. It is an amalgamation of newly-composed music and several cues from Bailey's previous work on Half-Life. Most, if not all, of the tracks were named by Marc Laidlaw.[1]

The limited edition Half-Life 2 "Gold" package included, among other exclusive extras, a CD soundtrack. Although the CD contains several exclusive tracks, it does not include all of the music heard in the game. Using an appropriate program, it is possible to extract all audio tracks heard in-game from the hl2_sound_misc_dir.vpk archive file. The soundtrack (save the CD versions of tracks 1 and 34) was also included in the game directory of both the full and demo Audiosurf releases on Steam as part of Audiosurf's The Orange Box Soundtrack. On September 24, 2014, the soundtrack was made available as free DLC to all owners of the game on Steam. On March 16, 2020, Valve partnered with independent record label Ipecac Recordings to release several of the Half-Life series soundtracks on streaming services.[2]

Track listing[edit]

Game # OST # Track title Filename Time Level location Comments
05 N/A Hazardous Environments (short version) HL1_song11.mp3 0:35 A Red Letter Day (d1_trainstation_05): When Gordon acquires the HEV suit in Dr. Kleiner's lab. An edited version of Hazardous Environments, skipping the first few seconds and concluding before further percussion can begin.
10 02 CP Violation HL2_song20_submix0.mp3 1:43 Route Kanal (d1_canals_01): Early in the level in a train tunnel that has the player moving through side passages. Specifically when a Civil Protection officer pushes an explosive barrel down some stairs The name "CP Violation" is a double entendre, referring to both Civil Protection and the eponymous physics term.
13 N/A CP Violation (remix) HL2_song20_submix4.mp3 2:20 Route Kanal (d1_canals_03): Upon leaving the pool with a mixer in it, where Civil Protection rolls explosive barrels from a top ledge at the player.
12, 44 03 The Innsbruck Experiment HL2_song4.mp3 1:06 Route Kanal (d1_canals_03): When first fighting Submachine Gun-wielding Metrocops that rappel down from the top of some drainage system. (first instance)

Anticitizen One (d3_c17_02): When Dog shows off his strength during a fight with the Combine at the beginning of the chapter. (second instance)

Contains samples from Zero-G's Cuckooland: Ambience sample library and EastWest's ProSamples Vol. 03: Drum & Bass 1.[3] This track was used in the 2004 Half-Life 2 trailer. On console versions of The Orange Box, it is played when highlighting Half-Life 2 on the menu. The title alludes to Gordon Freeman's time at the University of Innsbruck as a visiting fellow observing teleportation experiments. See "Beam Me Up" for more information on the real experiment.
50 04 Brane Scan HL2_song31.mp3 1:41 Anticitizen One (d3_c17_07): Leading up to the fight in the plaza containing the Combine generator. The title is a play on the procedure "brain scan" and the string theory term Brane.
27, 65 05 Dark Energy HL2_song3.mp3 1:33 Highway 17 (d2_coast_01): Played when leaving Shorepoint Base.

Credits: Played during the first section.

Contains samples from EastWest's Tekno/Industrial sample library.[3] The very ending of the track contains a snippet of Highway 17.
24 06 Requiem For Ravenholm Ravenholm_1.mp3 0:33 "We Don't Go To Ravenholm..." (d1_town_02a): After passing through the gate at the end of the courtyard and Father Grigori bids farewell, the song plays.
55, 64 N/A Pulse Phase HL2_song6.mp3 0:45 "Follow Freeman!" (d3_c17_12): As the player enters the Strider battle just outside the Overwatch Nexus. (first instance)

Dark Energy (d3_breen_01): When the player is descending in the elevator to face Breen. (second instance)

This version of the track appears in the retail game. It consists of the "loop" version played four times in a row.
23 08 Ravenholm Reprise HL2_song7.mp3 0:50 "We Don't Go To Ravenholm..." (d1_town_01): Starts playing as soon as the player exits the wooden hallway.
16 09 Probably Not a Problem HL2_song33.mp3 1:24 Route Kanal (d1_canals_05): During the Headcrab shelling around the toxic water, before getting the airboat. The track's title references a quote from Half-Life where a scientist mentions a 'small discrepancy' during the experiment at the beginning of the game, prefacing this by saying that it's "probably not a problem."
36, 52 10 Calabi-Yau Model HL2_song30.mp3 1:46 Sandtraps (d2_coast_11): Upon entering the Vortigaunt Camp after killing the Antlion Guardian. (first instance)

"Follow Freeman!" (d3_c17_09): Plays near the start of the level when entering the Zombie-infested building. (second instance)

Contains a sample from Zero-G's Ambient Vol. 1 sample library.[3]
28 11 Slow Light HL2_song32.mp3 0:45 Highway 17 (d2_coast_03): Plays after the Gunship in New Little Odessa has been defeated.
07, 37 12 Apprehension and Evasion HL2_song29.mp3 2:18 "A Red Letter Day" (d1_trainstation_06): While escaping from Civil Protection through the train tracks. (first instance)

Sandtraps (d2_coast_12): During the night time raid on Nova Prospekt (the bunker raiding section). (second instance)

Contains a sampled instrument from Spectrasonics' Distorted Reality sample library.[3]
57 13 Hunter Down HL2_song28.mp3 0:13 "Follow Freeman!" (d3_c17_13): Played immediately after the last Strider is killed.
06 14 Our Resurrected Teleport HL2_song26.mp3 1:12 "A Red Letter Day" (d1_trainstation_05): The teleport room in Dr. Kleiner's laboratory
26 17 Triage at Dawn HL2_song23_SuitSong3.mp3 0:45 "We Don't Go To Ravenholm..." (d1_town_05): At Shorepoint Base, when the battle in the garage is over. The name is a reference to the the very situation the player finds themselves at the point it is played - Triage of Winston at dawn break. It is also known as a popular remix titled That Long Train Ride by DJ Dain, and it was also arranged by Frederick "Ursine Vulpine" Lloyd for the trailer for The Final Hours of Half-Life: Alyx.[4][5][6]
30, 43 19 Lab Practicum HL2_song2.mp3 2:52 Highway 17 (d2_coast_08): Under the train bridge.

Entanglement (d3_c17_01): After exiting the teleport in Dr. Kleiner's lab, just before the beginning of Anticitizen One.

A longer version of "Shadows Fore and Aft" without the extra sound effects.
38 20 Nova Prospekt HL2_song19.mp3 1:55 Nova Prospekt (d2_prison_02): When the player initially enters the prison. A subtle refrain from "CP Violation" can be heard at 1:00 for around twenty seconds before dropping to a more dramatic outro.
15 21 Broken Symmetry HL2_song17.mp3 1:03 Route Kanal (d1_canals_05): Upon leaving the sewers and arriving at the first toxic water area.
56 22 LG Orbifold HL2_song16.mp3 2:52 "Follow Freeman!" (d3_c17_13): When the player and other citizens go underground and fight Combine soldiers during the Uprising on the last map of the chapter. Contains samples from Zero-G's Cuckooland: Asylum sample library.[3]
54 23 Kaon HL2_song15.mp3 1:11 "Follow Freeman!" (d3_c17_11): When fighting the Combine Gunship over the Overwatch Nexus. The title is a reference to the kaon, a subatomic particle.
19 24 You're Not Supposed to Be Here HL2_song14.mp3 2:41 Water Hazard (d1_canals_11): After receiving the mounted gun for the Airboat and facing the Hunter Chopper. The title is a reference to a line the G-Man said to the player in a cut training level of Half-Life 2 that can be found in the Half-Life 2 leak. The G-Man uses the line again, this time directed at Alyx, in a trailer for Half-Life 2: Episode Two. Contains samples from EastWest's ProSamples Vol. 03: Drum & Bass 1 sample library.[3]
46 25 Suppression Field HL2_song13.mp3 0:56 Anticitizen One (d3_c17_03): While meeting your first rebel squad member of the chapter in the playground.
47, 48 26 Hard Fought (long) HL2_song12_long.mp3 HL2_song12d.mp3 1:13 Anticitizen One (d3_c17_05 & d3_c17_06a): Played twice in a row: first when assaulting a Civil Protection barricade, and then during the underground shootout while waiting for a hole to be blown open by a rebel. This version of the track appears in the retail game. Contains samples from EastWest's ProSamples Vol. 03: Drum & Bass 1 and Zero-G's Cuckooland: Ambience sample libraries.[3] This track also appears in the Half-Life 2: Episode One trailer.
25 27 Particle Ghost HL2_song1.mp3 1:38 "We Don't Go To Ravenholm..." (d1_town_05): Kicks in upon leaving the Ravenholm Mines and heading into the snipers' nests outside, right before the Fast Zombie appears.
01 28 Shadows Fore and Aft HL2_intro.mp3 1:25 Point Insertion (d1_trainstation_01): During the G-Man's speech at the start of the game. This is shorter version of Lab Practicum with added sound effects. The whirring of Manhack blades and Kleiner's teleport can be heard in the background.
58 29 Neutrino Trap HL1_song9.mp3 1:35 Our Benefactors (d3_citadel_01): Upon exiting the sewer tunnel at the base of the Citadel. Contains a sample from Zero-G's Electric Dreamz sample library.[3] This track originally appeared in Half-Life as Hurricane Strings.
11 30 Zero Point Energy Field HL1_song6.mp3 1:42 Route Kanal (d1_canals_02): When first entering the sewers after the Hunter-Chopper first attacks. Contains samples from Zero-G's Electric Dreamz and Trance Formation sample libraries.[3] This track originally appeared in Half-Life as Cavern Ambience.
49, 59 31 Echoes of a Resonance Cascade HL1_song5.mp3 1:38 Anticitizen One (d3_c17_06a): Upon entering the underground hazardous liquid cavern with the cars. (first instance)

Our Benefactors (d3_citadel_02): While Gordon is in the prisoner pod, moving through the Citadel. (second instance)

Contains samples from Zero-G's Dream Zone sample library.[3] This track originally appeared in Half-Life as Space Ocean.
22 32 Black Mesa Inbound HL1_song3.mp3 2:14 Black Mesa East (d1_eli_02): The scrapyard where you first receive the Gravity Gun and meet Dog. The name is derived from the first chapter of Half-Life, where the player rides the Black Mesa Transit System, which is where the track originally appeared in Half-Life under the title Vague Voices. Contains samples from Zero-G's Electric Dreamz and Dream Zone sample libraries.[3]
63 33 Xen Relay HL1_song26.mp3 0:40 Dark Energy (d3_breen_01): Upon reaching the top of the Citadel, just before meeting Dr. Breen. This track originally appeared in Half-Life as Threatening Short.
66 N/A Tracking Device HL1_song25_REMIX3.mp3 1:01 Credits: Played during the second section. Contains a sample from Zero-G's Trance Formation sample library.[3] This track is a remix of "Credits/Closing Theme" from Half-Life. This version only appears in the Half-Life 2 game files and Audiosurf.
42 35 Singularity HL1_song24.mp3 1:19 Entanglement (d2_prison_08): When viewing the Nova Prospekt teleport. This track originally appeared in Half-Life as Traveling Through Limbo.
41 36 Dirac Shore HL1_song21.mp3 1:27 Entanglement (d2_prison_07): When entering the flooded basement. The name "Dirac Shore" is a play on the physics term Dirac Sea. This track originally appeared in Half-Life as Dimensionless Deepness.
21 37 Escape Array HL1_song20.mp3 1:27 Black Mesa East (d1_eli_01): At the start of the level, right after the loading screen. This track originally appeared in Half-Life as Electric Guitar Ambiance.
61 38 Negative Pressure HL1_song19.mp3 1:58 Our Benefactors (d3_citadel_04): At the beginning of Dr. Breen's speech: "You have destroyed so much. What is it exactly that you have created?" Contains samples from Zero-G's Trance Formation and Cuckooland: Unhinged sample libraries.[3] This track originally appeared in Half-Life as Steam in the Pipes, and also appears in Half-Life 2: Episode One under the same name used in Half-Life 2.
29 39 Tau-9 HL1_song17.mp3 2:06 Highway 17 (d2_coast_04): When using the magnetic crane. Strangely, it doesn't play if the player uses the use key to enter the crane. This track originally appeared in Half-Life as Drums and Riffs.
33 40 Something Secret Steers Us HL1_song15.mp3 2:03 Sandtraps (d2_coast_10): At Lighthouse Point during the Dropship attack. The title is a reference to a statement said by the Vortigaunts throughout the game such as the Singing Vortigaunt. Contains samples from EastWest's Symphonic Adventures production music library and Zero-G's Cuckooland: Unhinged sample library.[3] This track originally appeared in Half-Life as Nuclear Mission Jam.
51 41 Triple Entanglement HL1_song14.mp3 1:32 Anticitizen One (d3_c17_08): Upon entering the Zombie infested sewers near the end of the chapter. This track is a remix of Sirens in the Distance from Half-Life, the difference is that it's slower and cuts the intro "sirens".
18 43 Lambda Core HL1_song10.mp3 1:45 Water Hazard (d1_canals_09): When fleeing from the second Hunter-Chopper while driving through large cement pipes. Contains samples from Sounds Good's Methods of Mayhem: Industrial Toolkit sample library.[3] This track originally appeared in Half-Life as Diabolical Adrenaline Guitar.
39 N/A Entanglement HL2_song0.mp3 0:39 Nova Prospekt (d2_prison_05): Upon entering the Combine Wall crushing canyon at end of chapter, just before meeting Alyx. This track only appears in the Half-Life 2 game files.
09 N/A Entanglement (loop) HL2_ambient_1.wav 0:08 Route Kanal (d1_canals_01): When exiting the first underground section, before climbing on top of the moving train. This track only appears in the Half-Life 2 game files. Was originally only in the leak until the June 2013 SteamPipe update. It is the only track to play as an ambient sound.
32 N/A Highway 17 HL2_song8.mp3 0:59 Sandtraps (d2_coast_09): At the house by the coast where Combine soldiers are burning bodies. This version of the track appears in the retail game. It consists of the "loop" version played four times in a row.
04 N/A A Red Letter Day HL2_song10.mp3 0:29 "A Red Letter Day" (d1_trainstation_05): When entering Dr. Kleiner's lab. This track consists of a part of a sample from Zero-G's Cuckooland: Ambience sample library.[3]
31 N/A Sandtraps HL2_song11.mp3 0:34 Sandtraps (d2_coast_09): At the zombie-infested area of the tunnels. Was originally supposed to have an earlier appearance in Route Kanal, during the first Barnacle encounter, right before Civil Protection executes a group of rebels. Consists of a slowed-down sample from Zero-G's Cuckooland: Ambience sample library (the metadata for the track contains the name 31_56_01.AIF, which is the name of the audio file sampled).[3]
02 N/A Train Station 1 HL2_song26_trainstation1.mp3 1:30 Point Insertion (d1_trainstation_02): When entering the outdoor plaza with the Breencast. This track consists of a sample from Zero-G's Cuckooland: Ambience sample library.[3]
03, 53 N/A Train Station 2 HL2_song27_trainstation2.mp3 1:12 Point Insertion (d1_trainstation_04): When running on the rooftops from Civil Protection. (first instance)

"Follow Freeman!" (d3_c17_10b): When entering the lobby of the Overwatch Nexus with Barney. (second instance)

This track is a 3x slowed and down pitched version of the sample 31_06_01.AIF from Zero-G's Cuckooland Ambience CD2 sample library.
45 N/A Radio radio1.mp3 0:39 Anticitizen One (d3_c17_02): When entering the room adjacent to the closet with the TV showing the G-Man. This track consists of samples from Zero-G's Cuckooland: Ghost in the Machine sample library.[3]
17, 60 N/A Industrial Suspense 1 industrial_suspense1.wav 0:12 Water Hazard (d1_canals_06): In the beginning of the chapter, upon seeing a citizen dropping supply crates from a bridge. (first instance)

Our Benefactors (d3_citadel_03): Right after Dr. Breen's "I am nothing if not pragmatic" speech. (second instance)

This track also appears in Half-Life 2: Episode Two.
62 N/A Industrial Suspense 2 industrial_suspense2.wav 0:11 Our Benefactors (d3_citadel_04): After Dr. Breen's "laying the foundation for humanity" speech and jumping down, before the Strider battle.
40 N/A Apprehensive Short HL1_stinger_song7.mp3 0:23 Entanglement (d2_prison_06): When Eli's Combine pod opens up at the window with Alyx and the player. Contains a sample from EastWest's Symphonic Adventures production music library.[3] This track originally appeared in Half-Life.
08 N/A Bass String Short HL1_stinger_song8.mp3 0:09 Route Kanal (d1_canals_01): When Civil Protection is beating up the couple, right before the player gets the pistol. Contains a sample from EastWest's Symphonic Adventures production music library.[3] This track originally appeared in Half-Life.
34 N/A Scared Confusion Short HL1_stinger_song16.mp3 0:16 Sandtraps (d2_coast_11): Right before the Antlion Guard battle outside the Vortigaunt camp. Contains a sample from EastWest's Symphonic Adventures production music library.[3] This track originally appeared in Half-Life.
14 N/A Dark Piano Short HL1_stinger_song27.mp3 0:17 Route Kanal (d1_canals_03): When entering the room full of explosive barrels and Manhacks. Contains a sample from EastWest's Symphonic Adventures production music library.[3] This track originally appeared in Half-Life.
20, 35 N/A Sharp Fear Short HL1_stinger_song28.mp3 0:07 Water Hazard (d1_canals_13): When the Hunter-Chopper is destroyed. (first instance)

Sandtraps (d2_coast_11): When the Antlion guard emerges outside the Vortigaunt camp. (second instance)

Contains a sample from EastWest's Symphonic Adventures production music library.[3] This track originally appeared in Half-Life, and also appears in the Half-Life 2: Episode One trailer.

Early and cut tracks and alternate mixes[edit]

The cues listed below are derived from a variety of sources, including the official soundtrack.

Game # OST # Track title Filename Time Level location Comments
N/A 01 Hazardous Environments (long version) Half-Life13.mp3 1:23 N/A This track is the Valve Software theme music, a short version of which is played during the Valve logo movie in all Valve games. This track originally appeared in Half-Life as Valve Theme (long version).
N/A 07 Pulse Phase (OST mix) HL2_song5.mp3 1:07 N/A This version appears in the original soundtrack CD and in AudioSurf, as well as the 2003 Half-Life 2 leak. This track is simply a portion of Dark Energy, significantly slowed down and lowered in pitch.
N/A N/A Pulse Phase (loop) HL2_song6.wav 0:11 N/A This version only appears in the 2003 Half-Life 2 leak.
N/A N/A Hard Fought (short) HL2_song12_short.mp3 HL2_song12c.mp3 0:44 N/A This version only appears in AudioSurf and the 2003 Half-Life 2 leak.
N/A N/A Hard Fought (early version) HL2_song12.mp3 0:44 N/A This version only appears the 2003 Half-Life 2 leak. It mainly differs in the fact that the siren sound (a stock Zero-G sample named "Wooaauh") loops for the entire song.
N/A 15 Miscount Detected HL2_song25_Teleporter.mp3 0:48 N/A Appears in the game files, AudioSurf, and the original soundtrack CD, but plays nowhere in the retail game. It was supposed to play during the aborted teleport sequence in "A Red Letter Day". Contains a sample from Zero-G's Ambient Vol. 1 sample library.[3]
N/A 16 Headhumper HL2_song24_Lamar.mp3 0:08 N/A A bonus track on the original soundtrack CD and in AudioSurf. Was originally supposed to play when the player is ambushed by a Headcrab while exploring a zombie-infested shack during Water Hazard.[1]
N/A 42 Biozeminade Fragment HL1_song13.mp3 0:32 N/A A bonus track on the original soundtrack CD, though it does not appear in the retail game files or AudioSurf. The name is an homage to an early Amazon.com joke review for Half-Life 2 in which a fan claimed the game had Biozeminades in it.[1][7] Contains a sample from Zero-G's Cuckooland: Unhinged sample library.[3] This track is a sped-up version of Alien Shock from Half-Life.
N/A 34 Tracking Device (OST mix) N/A 1:03 N/A Contains a sample from Zero-G's Trance Formation sample library.[3] This track is a remix of "Credits/Closing Theme" from Half-Life. This version only appears on the soundtrack CD.
N/A N/A Highway 17 (loop) HL2_song8.wav 0:15 N/A This version only appears in the leak.
N/A 18 Combine Harvester HL2_song22_CombineTheme3.mp3 1:23 N/A A bonus track on the original soundtrack CD and AudioSurf. Was originally supposed to play somewhere in the Citadel.[8] The title is a reference to the combine harvester, a farming machine that harvests grain crops.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Marc Laidlaw on the titles of Half-Life 2 soundtrack
  2. ↑ X favicon.png Post: "We’ve partnered with Valve again, this time to release soundtracks to four of the games in the Half-Life series! Available only on streaming services, with more formats coming this year." @IpecacRec on X (March 16, 2020)
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 VGM Sound Sources
  4. ↑ Steampowered favicon.png The Final Hours of Half-Life: Alyx "Triage at Dawn" Theme on Steam
  5. ↑ YouTube favicon.png Triage At Dawn Cover - Ursine Vulpine - The Final Hours Of Half-Life: Alyx on YouTube
  6. ↑ X favicon.png Frederick Lloyd on X
  7. ↑ Half-Life 2, Customer Review on Amazon.com (August 2, 2003)
  8. ↑ An entry for hl2_song22_combineTheme3 appears in level_sounds_citadel.txt.

External links[edit]

Real-world subjects
Soundtracks Half-Life · Half-Life: Opposing Force · Half-Life: Blue Shift · Half-Life 2 · Half-Life 2: Episode One · Half-Life 2: Episode Two · Half-Life: Alyx ·The Orange Box · Portal · Portal 2
Songs "Exile Vilify" · "Cara Mia Adio (Turret Opera)" · "GLaDOS' Song" (cut) · "Still Alive" · "Want You Gone" · "You Wouldn't Know"
Companies Arkane Studios · Captivation Digital Laboratories · Cloudhead Games · Cryptozoic Entertainment · Electronic Arts · Gearbox Software · Junction Point Studios · Nvidia Corporation · Sierra Entertainment · Sixense Entertainment · Traveller's Tales · Taito Corporation · Valve Corporation · Vivendi Games · Zen Studios
People Character models · Production staff · Voice actors
Other media Comics: Portal 2: Lab Rat · Randolph the Red-Nosed Turret · Turret Lullaby
Development books and articles: The Art of Portal 2 · The Final Hours of Half-Life 2 · The Final Hours of Portal 2 · Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar · The Final Hours of Half-Life: Alyx
Films: Half-Life: Uplink · Portal
Documentaries: Half-Life: 25th Anniversary Documentary · Half-Life 2: 20th Anniversary Documentary
Half-Life 2 vignettes: Raising the Bar (Timelapse Opening · The Slideshow Briefing · Alyx · Now Arriving: City 17 · Weather Control · Train to City 17) · Uncorrected proof (In The Ant Lion's Den · Old Friends · Scrapland)
Mascots Bendy · Mr. Valve
Official art Concept art · Cover art · Promotional art · Images with transcriptions
Other ApertureScience.com · BreenGrub · Canon · Epistle 3 · Games · Half-Life and Portal universe · Half-Life Audio Script · Half-Life Mod Expo · Recurring themes · Retcons
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