This subject is related to the Black Mesa Incident era.
This is a good article. Click for more information.

Sentry Gun

From Combine OverWiki, the original Half-Life wiki and Portal wiki
Jump to: navigation, search

This subject is related to the Black Mesa Incident era.
This is a good article. Click for more information.

For other uses, see Sentry (disambiguation).

Clipboard sheet2.png

This article is a stub. Maybe you can help by expanding it.

Space.png
Born.png This article would greatly benefit from the addition of one or more new images.
Space.png

Please upload one or several relevant images (from canonical / official sources) and place it here. Once finished, this notice may be removed.

Sentry on.jpg
Sentry PS2 on.jpg
Sentry Gun
Production information
Faction
Type

Autonomous sentry gun platform

Max ammo

Infinite

Rate of fire

High

Game information
Entity

monster_sentry

The Sentry Gun (also known as Tripod-Mounted Chaingun[1]) is a fully autonomous tripodal weapon featured in Half-Life and its expansions, commonly used by the HECU and the Black Ops to guard chokepoints and vital areas. In terms of game development, it is the predecessor of the Combine Sentry Gun featured in Half-Life 2 and its episodes.

Overview[edit]

The gun consists of a powerful machine gun built onto a tripod. The gun itself rests on a turntable mechanism of sorts on the top of the tripod, which allows it to rotate 360° and fire in any direction, unlike its Combine successor, which has a narrow field of fire. Behind the gun is the ammo reserve.

To detect its targets, the gun relies on motion detection, either through independent laser sensors that have been placed nearby (the gun is triggered when the target trips the sensor beams), or when the targets gets closer to the gun.

Once the target has tripped the beam, the turret deploys its weapon with a high-pitched whine, and fires upon any target in sight. Once activated, the sentry will remain alert for a time (it makes a steady beeping sound whilst scanning for targets) before sinking into a dormant but alert state.

Tactics[edit]

Sentry Guns are powerful enemies, but are severely limited in mobility. When encountering one, stepping back and considering tactics is advised, as unlike other enemies, this one does not move. Looking for a way around or using explosives is a good move.

Despite appearing gawky and unstable, these guns are in fact stronger than they appear: they can take a considerable amount of damage, and are difficult to knock over. Enough of any type of damage will knock them over (a well-placed .357 Magnum shot or a Shotgun double blast), but explosives are the most effective counter (Grenades, Satchel Charges, or the RPG).

The Crossbow is also effective against turrets since they destroy them in one hit.

It is also advised to avoid tripping the laser sensors as much as possible, as that bypasses fighting the guns entirely.

Appearances[edit]

Half-Life[edit]

The Sentry Gun is introduced in the game's fifth chapter, "We've Got Hostiles", in the High Security Storage Facility in Sector D. It is featured in the eighth chapter, On A Rail, along the Materials Transport in Sector E. At the end of the eleventh chapter, Questionable Ethics, above the entrance to the Advanced Biological Research Lab. During the twelfth chapter, Surface Tension, along the cliffs in the Black Mesa desert.

Half-Life: Opposing Force[edit]

It is featured in the game's fifth chapter, Friendly Fire, set up by the Black Ops to protect the Mark IV Thermonuclear Device in the Ordinance Storage Facility located above the Materials Transport.

Half-Life: Blue Shift[edit]

It is first seen in the fourth chapter, Captive Freight, near a M44 cargo truck, and another in the map where Rosenberg is, at the Freight Yard. It makes one final appearance in the sixth chapter, Power Struggle.

Half-Life: Decay[edit]

The Sentry Gun is featured in the game's fifth chapter, Domestic Violence, near the bedrooms in the Level 3 Dormitories. In the bonus chapter, Xen Attacks, in the Ordinance Storage Facility in Sector E.

Behind the scenes[edit]

Due to the physics system limitations of the GoldSrc engine, Sentry Guns simply fall over once they have taken a set amount of damage. This was improved for Half-Life: Source.

The Sentry Gun's model and behavior were changed for the PlayStation 2 version. They appear to have a red flare effect on their top, just like the Automatic Turrets. They explode and leave metal pieces behind, seconds after they fall down in Half-Life: Decay.

Gallery[edit]

Models[edit]

Screenshots[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Main games[edit]

Other[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Half-Life Prima Guide