Laser Trip-Mine (Half-Life 2)
For other uses, see Mine (disambiguation). |
This article is about the Combine device. For the Half-Life 2: Deathmatch weapon, see S.L.A.M. |
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| Laser Trip-Mine | |
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| Production information | |
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| Type |
Tripmine |
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Varies |
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The Laser Trip-Mine,[1] also known as the SLAM,[2] is an area denial weapon used by the Combine to block off vital areas. It appears various times in Combine facilities and City 17 throughout Half-Life 2 and Episode One.
Overview[edit]
The Laser Trip-Mine is comprised of an explosive charge and a laser emitter. The latter will project a straight laser beam which, when tripped, will detonate the charge. Trip-mines are often found inside buildings, where they are strategically placed in rooms or corridors to block access or act as booby traps for unaware trespassers. Sometimes, trip-mines are not actually explosives, but rather act as the activation mechanism of certain other defensive devices, such as Combine Ground Turrets.
Trip-mines are first seen by Gordon Freeman at Nova Prospekt. They also appear in City 17, either guarding key Combine locations such as the Overwatch Nexus or set up as ambushes by Overwatch troops to slow Gordon's escape from the city.
Tactics[edit]
Laser Trip-Mines can be very dangerous if not dealt with properly. The easiest way to dispose of normal explosive mines is simply to shoot them at a distance; however, there may not be enough space to stay out of the blast radius. In such cases, throwing Explosives or other objects to trigger them is a better solution. If the player has Pheropods, they could also direct Antlions to run over the trip-mines' laser beams to set them off. However, laser trip-mines linked to Turrets cannot be destroyed; therefore, the player must find a path around the lasers and deactivate them.
Trivia[edit]
The brush used for the Laser Trip-Mine is also used in Nova Prospekt where it acts as a button to open Force Field-equipped lockers where Sentry Guns are stored.
Human NPCs never set off trip-mines, even if the player pushes them.
At the Overwatch Nexus, the player needs to maneuver past a room full of trip-mines in order to deactivate them and reach a Combine generator. This scene is reminiscent of a similar challenge in the Half-Life chapter Surface Tension.
While they're named "Laser Trip-Mines" in Prima's official game guide for Half-Life 2,[1] the devices are internally given the title "slam" in their entity names within the maps. This name would become more prominently known through the S.L.A.M weapon formally introduced in Half-Life 2: Deathmatch. The shape of the Laser Trip-Mine also resembles that of the S.L.A.M, its left side being round and its right being flat. In the later-released game guide for The Orange Box, the trip-mines were officially given the alternate title "SLAMs".[2]
Gallery[edit]
A Laser Trip-Mine planted on a wall.
Ditto, protecting the prison.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Planted near the laundry room.
Combine Soldiers behind a Laser Trip-Mine.
Mounted on a wall in the kitchen.
Laser Trip-Mine in Nova Prospekt.
The laser wires that activate a Combine Ground Turret.
Ditto, in Overwatch Nexus.
Ditto.
Laser Trip-Mines deployed in an abandoned City 17 building.
List of appearances[edit]
- Half-Life 2 (First appearance)
- Half-Life 2: Episode One
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Half-Life 2 Prima Guide, page 10
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Orange Box Prima Guide, page 12
