Force Field
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| Force Field | |
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| General information | |
| Faction | |
| Type |
Energy field |
| Game information | |
| Entity |
N/A |
A Force Field, also called a Combine Shield[1], an Energy Wall[2] or a Containment Field in Combine terminology, is a Combine barrier technology that emits a blue field of energy that prevents any unregistered persons and creatures from passing through, while not blocking inanimate objects in most cases. It is used prolifically by the Combine to limit Citizen movements, provide protection, and prevent unauthorized access to areas that are considered off-limits.
Contents
Overview[edit]
The Force Field typically consists of two pylon-shaped generators, one on each side of the passage it is intended to protect. The energy field is generated between the two pylons in the form of a wall. When an unregistered individual attempts to go through a Force Field, it will emit a humming sound when physical contact is made. It is also worth noting that while the player is merely blocked when colliding with a Force Field, other people will actually get shocked by a discharge when close, as seen in the Half-Life 2 chapter Entanglement where Alyx Vance attempts futilely to stop Judith Mossman making off with Eli Vance. In fact, being caught inside a Force Field when it is activating will result in instant death.
Force Fields are placed at regular intervals along railway tracks in City 17. Certain Combine security checkpoints in City 17 have Force Fields that allow Citizens with the correct permissions through. Before passing through a Force Field, Citizens are seen showing their left arm to the mounted cameras watching them, hinting they might have some kind of ID on the wrist, although nothing is seen on the models. They can also be found in virtually all other Combine-controlled area, such as along the Coast, in the Citadel, and in the Outlands. The Depot teleport is closed by a Force Field barrier which is activated when a teleportation sequence begins.
Some of the Force Fields seen in-game are being powered by Combine power generators, standard human power supply sockets, or APC batteries, thus allowing the player to deactivate such Force Fields by disabling their power source. Alyx is able to deactivate a Force Field by short-circuiting a connected Combine lock with her Multi-tool or by hacking into a Combine interface.
Other variants of the Force Field technology are integrated into pieces of Combine machinery. A smaller and completely solid type of Force Field is utilized in the viewports of Combine Bunkers to protect the soldiers inside while they man the Emplacement Guns; The Combine Barricade features a different type of Force Field with a liquid-like appearance that is also completely solid; Combine Chargers can project a solid Force Field shield with their forearm-mounted devices that can block non-organic material such as bullets and shrapnel; and some Combine technology such as Combine Prisoner Pod sterilizers is surrounded by non-solid cylindric Force Fields. Specially, the Force Field generator pylons used by Infestation Control Crews feature distinct yellow markings.
Behind the scenes[edit]
As seen in the E3 2003 demo "Barricade" and the Half-Life 2 leak, early Combine Force Fields were orange tinted and refractive in appearance.[3] The Aperture Science Material Emancipation Grill from the Portal series reuses the idea of the Force Field with several differences. It is unknown whether they are canonically related or not. In an unused line, Alyx Vance refers to the Force Field as "Combine filter-field".[4]
Gallery[edit]
Half-Life 2 and Episodes[edit]
A Force Field near the tracks.
A Force Field installed on a railway.
A train near a Force Field.
A Force Field blocking the way out at the prison.
A Force Field blocking passage.
The entrance of the Overwatch Nexus blocked by a Force Field.
A Force Field protecting the Petroleum Station.
Force Field blocking the Bridge Point bridge.
Razor Train passing through a Force Field at Bridge Point.
Protecting a Combine interface under the Bridge Point bridge. Note the power cable connected to a socket.
Rebels imprisoned behind a Force Field in the Overwatch Nexus.
Breen talking to an Advisor in the Citadel, with the supercharged Gravity Gun and Alyx about to disable the Force Field with her Multi-tool.
Alyx disabling the Force Field.
Force Field variant seen from inside a Combine Bunker.
Standard Force Field installed in a Combine Barricade equipped with a Camera. The liquid-like variant can be seen above.
Cylindrical Force Field used in a Combine Prisoner Pod sterilizer.
Ditto, surrounding a Combine Energy Ball duct.
Ditto, in a Combine Generator.
Half-Life: Alyx[edit]
A Combine Shield in Fairview Junction.
Ditto.
In the Holden Company Processing Plant.
In the Northern Star.
Ditto.
A Force Field installed near a Combine checkpoint.
A Force Field near the Scientist's room.
Near Xen flora.
A Combine checkpoint entrance blocked with a Force Field.
A dead Combine Hazmat Worker and Force Field. Note the special Infestation Control markings.
A Combine Charger with his Force Field shield activated.
List of appearances[edit]
Main games[edit]
- Half-Life 2 (First appearance)
- Half-Life 2: Episode One
- Half-Life 2: Episode Two
- Half-Life: Alyx
Other[edit]
- Half-Life 2: Deathmatch (Non-canonical appearance)
References[edit]
- ↑ Half-Life: Alyx
- ↑ Half-Life 2 Prima Guide
- ↑ Half-Life 2 leak
- ↑ Alyx Vance quotes
