Combine power generator
For other uses, see Generator (disambiguation). |
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- "Well, we're in luck. There's a generator in the square outside. We're trying to disable as many as we can to loosen the Combine's grip on this sector."
- ― Alyx Vance[src]
Combine power generators come in several types and supply energy to various pieces of Combine technology. They are mainly found within the Citadel, but can also be found in certain locations in City 17, such as the Overwatch Nexus and the plaza visited in the Half-Life 2 chapter Anticitizen One, or near the White Forest Inn, in the Outlands.
Contents
Overview[edit]
Run by Energy Balls and often protected by Force Fields, generators are used to power devices such as Force Field gates, powered bridges, locks, or weaponry such as the Suppression Device. There are many more generators in the Citadel than anywhere else, supplying power to systems in the immediate area.
Anyone unlucky enough to step into or to be thrown inside a generator field will be disintegrated, just as they would be if they were hit by an Energy Ball shot by a Pulse Rifle. The Energy Balls launched from the Pulse Rifle are similar to that of the generators, but the latter are much more powerful, capable of damaging or destroying vehicles and Synths, such as the Strider confronted in the Citadel in Half-Life 2.
With the modified Gravity Gun in Half-Life 2 and Episode One, the player can throw enemies in generator fields and use Energy Balls against them, leading to often spectacular deaths.
Types[edit]
Standard Energy Ball-powered generator[edit]
This type has a core with Energy Balls floating within, which create a beam of electricity that runs from the top to the bottom of the generator. The Energy Balls are the actual objects that generate the power, as when they are removed (with the Gravity Gun, for instance), the generator will cease to function. To restart it, a new Energy Ball must be replaced (it can be achieved with the Gravity Gun or the Pulse Rifle). Generators powering critical systems typically have about three orbs inside them, but ones that power smaller devices will have just a single one.
This kind of generator is the one featured in the Overwatch Nexus, the plaza visited in the Half-Life 2 chapter Anticitizen One, near the White Forest Inn and the Barn Advisor. Most of the time the player must shut it down through Combine interfaces to proceed, while having to protect Alyx or Barney at the same time, sustaining heavy fire from Combine troops.
Gallery[edit]
Alyx operating a Combine interface to give Gordon access to the generator in Anticitizen One.
The Anticitizen One generator protected.
Anticitizen One generator ready to be deactivated.
One of the three generators in the Overwatch Nexus.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Generator in the Citadel, with a simple generator behind it.
Ditto, near Combine forces.
Ditto.
Generators in the Citadel's dark fusion reactor.
Ditto, detail.
Generator near the Citadel Core.
Generator near the White Forest Inn.
Limitless Energy Ball-powered generator[edit]
This other type is found only in the Citadel and has a constant flow of Energy Balls passing along a glowing white beam. These generators are often found in large elevator shafts and open areas found in the Citadel. It is however unknown if these are actual generators or if they just transport Energy Balls (vents located around the Citadel Core seem to fill the latter purpose).
Horizontal limitless Energy Ball-powered generators also exist. They feature sockets similar to that of the Confiscation Field and pod cleaners.
Gallery[edit]
Vertical generator[edit]
Generators in the Citadel.
Ditto.
Generators in the Citadel's dark fusion reactor.
Combine Soldier being killed by a generator in the Citadel.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Combine Soldiers being killed by a generator in the Citadel.
Combine Soldier being killed by an Energy Ball taken from generators and thrown at them with the Gravity Gun.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Combine Soldier after having been thrown in a generator in one of the Citadel's big elevator shafts.
Generators powering an elevator in the Citadel.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Horizontal generator[edit]
A horizontal generator in the Citadel.
Ditto.
Alyx before a broken horizontal generator in the Citadel.
Malfunctioning generator.
Generator malfunctioning above a powered bridge.
The same generator killing Combine Soldiers.
After Gordon safely crosses the bridge, Alyx follows.
Energy Ball-powered socket generator[edit]
In Episode One, another type of generator can be found, resembling a wall socket. It is seen mostly in the lower levels of the Citadel and acts as a "system activation node", allowing the player to start equipment such as powered bridges or the Citadel Core's containment devices. This type of power generator can be activated by launching an Energy Ball into its center, causing its four arms to retract inwards to hold it in place and begin to siphon energy from it. Two of these need to be operational if powered bridges are to be in function, as a powered bridge consists of a pair of lasers, one per generator.
Stalkers always try to shut down player-activated generators of this type by popping the energy pellet with their face-mounted lasers.
This type of Combine generator is similar in function and appearance to the Aperture Science High Energy Pellet socket seen in the Aperture Science Enrichment Center, although the possible connection between the two is unknown, and the arms are only three, folding outwards into a flat accordion instead, placing 3 shields along the edges.
Gallery[edit]
Socket generator in the Citadel Core.
Ditto.
Socket generator operating an elevator.
Detail of a generator operating a powered bridge.
Two generators operating a powered bridge.
Miscellaneous Combine technology: two types of generators, a powered bridge, and flying Energy Balls.
One of two generators has to be powered up to make the powered bridge functional.
Two idle generators. The player must make an Energy Ball ricochet behind the broken transparent platform to power up the left one.
Liquid-powered generator[edit]
Only seen in the Citadel and not using Energy Balls, this type consists of a large cylinder made of liquid matter, with a solid base and top. This liquid matter is likely the same liquid seen in Combine Barricades. It does not seem to be contained in any particular vessel and yields no visible side effects other than massively reduced velocity while surrounding any thrown object or being with blue particles. The central beam however causes instant disintegration upon contact.
Gallery[edit]
Liquid-powered generator.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Combine Soldier after having been thrown in the liquid.
Ditto.
Combine Soldier about to disappear after having been thrown in the liquid.
Mini reactor[edit]
Another type of generator, sometimes used on itself, is sometimes located near an Energy Ball-powered generator or a Combine Heavy Door. It is prominently featured in the Overwatch Nexus. Its model is also used in the pod conveyors in the Citadel, where two are seen linked together by a laser, acting as detectors for Combine Prisoner Pod contents, and as an alarm light in the Citadel's core control room or the booth near the Depot's teleport platform where Alyx traps Mossman.
The mini reactor is featured with the Citadel schematics on Alyx's whiteboard at her hideout, where it is first referred to as such. At the beginning of Half-Life: Alyx, in a video conversation between Alyx Vance and her father Eli Vance and Russell, the latter two are shown heisting one such reactor from the Combine.
Gallery[edit]
Model.
Combine Watchtower attached to a mini reactor powering a Force Field at Bridge Point.
Mini reactors in the Overwatch Nexus.
Ditto.
Mini reactors in the Citadel.
Ditto, at the Nova Prospekt.
Alyx near three mini reactors in the Citadel.
Mini reactor on Alyx's whiteboard at her hideout (right).
Vortigaunt generator[edit]
Introduced in Half-Life: Alyx, this type of generator consists of farms of Combine Prisoner Pods that contain enslaved Vortigaunts inside. The generator tortures the Vortigaunts and forces them to sing in order to extract the power of their Vortessence chants. The power output is then re-harmonized by a single "conductor" Vortigaunt via tuner apparatuses connected to cables.[1] When nearby, the slow, groaning chants of the Vortigaunts trapped inside can be heard.
While utilized extensively at many places, the most prominent use of such generators is at the various substations scattered throughout the Quarantine Zone and connected to the hovering Vault located above the area, and are used to keep the G-Man imprisoned inside. During Alyx, Alyx powers off the substation at the Northern Star by freeing the conductor Vortigaunt from its cell, who promises to liberate his other kinsmen and sabotage the remaining substations.
A substation stationed on the left wing of Northern Star hotel.
Vortigaunt generator at a Vault substation.
A substation's cables transmitting the harvested power of Vortessence chants.
The control panel for the substation's cable shields.
Freeing a Vortigaunt from its prisoner pod.
Vortigaunt generators at the Holden Company Processing Plant.
Vortigaunt generators and dedicated Combine interface at the Processing Plant.
Ditto, from above.
Substation visible in the City 17 ruins.
Vortigaunts successfully taking down another substation.
Related Achievements[edit]
| Any Half-Life 2 game | |
|---|---|
|
Atomizer (10G) |
| Disintegrate 15 soldiers by throwing them into a Combine ball field. | |
Behind the scenes[edit]
The idea of a Vortigaunt-based generator was first conceived during the development of Half-Life 2, as the "Vorti-Cell", designed by Dhabih Eng. This cell featuring a transparent panel showing the Vortigaunt inside in orange light was to be used throughout City 17 as a station siphoning power from trapped Vortigaunts as Gordon Freeman attempted to free them.[2]
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: Raising the Bar
- Half-Life 2: Deathmatch (Non-canonical appearance)
