Um what are those things?

[Deinonut]

As i rose up towards Breens office i saw a room with some kind of manta ray thing and a giant yellow four legged beetle like thing walking along. Any info?

 

[Asknoone]

Wikipedia

This biogenetically engineered synthesis of technology and mollusk-like biology is seen on a conveyor belt during Gordon Freeman's second pod ride through the bowels of the Citadel. Intel reports reveal that they serve a close air support role as the backbone of the Combine's air forces.[2] Possessing self-replicating, limb-regenerative qualities, their tentacle appendages and clawed limbs give them the appearance of a modified squid or cuttlefish. Employing biomechanical armaments, it uses a minigun concealed under its "chin" and can launch high yield shells from the large tube structure on its back. Additional information remains unknown, as they have never been observed in a combat scenario in either Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, or Half-Life 2: Episode Two.

These mollusk-like creatures are curiously similar to the ones that appear in the original Half-Life game, presenting a blue colored shell and often seen deploying Xen Grunts, shooting a green beam of energy (like the one that destroyed one helicopter at the start of Half Life: Opposing Force) or being pursued by some humans Air Force fighters. It is belived that the Combine mortar synth is the backbone of the Combine air force by serving as fighters.

This biogenetically engineered synthesis of technology and crustacean-like biology is seen lumbering along a Citadel catwalk as Gordon Freeman’s pod passes through. Prima's official stategy guide indicates that they serve a heavy infantry role as the backbone of the Combine's ground forces.[1] Possessing self-replicating, limb-regenerative qualities, they resemble a large crab in appearance. Employing a high caliber belly mounted chaingun for ranged attacks (which has a power-up animatic as per a check of its model in the Source SDK viewer), their sharp mandibles act as a devastatingly effective, natural melee weapon. Additional information remains unknown, as they have never been observed in a combat scenario in either Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, or Half-Life 2: Episode Two.

 

[AJ Rimmer]

Combine war machines, just like striders and gunships. They're called synths.

EDIT: Oh **** you, you sneaky welsh bastard!

 

[Deinonut]

Yeh i know that their synths but the're both pretty cool i wonder why they were never used. But knowing valve and how the reuse oold stuff that never got in the first time we will probaly fight them later.

 

[z0mbin3]

I doubt will fight the mortar synths...ever. Because that would mean Gordon would be piloting a jet fighter. And at that point I'll leave the series.

 

[yakuruto]

Well, you can fight them with your feet on the ground while manning an anti-aircraft turret.
(ok, your feet may not be touching the floor, you would most likely be seating over rotatory platform to have 360? coverage)

 

[z0mbin3]

Eh I'd do that. whats that game were your in a turret and you shoot at tanks soldiers planes and stuff on the beach? It's in alot of arcades but I've played it on PC.

 

[Druckles]

I doubt will fight the mortar synths...ever. Because that would mean Gordon would be piloting a jet fighter.

Why?

And at that point I'll leave the series.

I don't think we'll be any worse off.

 

[z0mbin3]

Because that article say's Mortar Synths are the back bone of the Combine's air defence ie fighters. and for a Combine fighter to be effective in the 7 hour war aganst F-22 Raptors it has to be fast as hell. And something going that fast would be damn near impossible to hit with a laser pointed rocket.

I don't think we'll be any worse off.

*sigh* I am so tired of your crap. Do I find every freaking post you make then ridicule you? No. Stop it! And even if you arn't actively stalking me it sure seems like it. Of cource none of this matter's because your just going to break up every freaking sentence and write a prick responce about every f****** one!

 

[Druckles]

*sigh* I am so tired of your crap. Do I find every freaking post you make then ridicule you? No. Stop it! And even if you arn't actively stalking me it sure seems like it.

Dude, you're posting in the same forums as me. "Stalking you" would involve following you over a distance, which in cyberspace would imply different fora or the like.

That's like me complaining at my colleague for following me around. "I'm sorry dude, I just work in the same office as you, ya know?!"

Of course none of this matters because your just going to break up every freaking sentence and write a prick response about every f****** one!

Sorry, you were saying?

 

[Planetary]

I've been thinking alot, and wondering quite a bit, and I have the feeling that we'll be seeing those things (and more) quite a lot in Episode Three...


Just a hunch.

 

[Jeron]

Yeah, in the combine homeworld.
We might be seeing a lot of new things.

 

[FrostXian]

I doubt will fight the mortar synths...ever. Because that would mean Gordon would be piloting a jet fighter. And at that point I'll leave the series.

They might attack the chopper to Borealis. Also, combine may not use them at all, since they are war machines, like striders, but striders do seem more usable in urban zones.

 

[Xevrex]

They might attack the chopper to Borealis. Also, combine may not use them at all, since they are war machines, like striders, but striders do seem more usable in urban zones.

Ahh, but the Borealis isn't an urban zone, is it?

 

[Tollbooth Willie]

Because that article say's

It's Wikipedia ffs. :|


We don't know whether or not it's part of an air defense force. Hell, looking at the little tentacle like things when it moves in the SDK it could be aquatic for all we know.

 

[FrostXian]

Ahh, but the Borealis isn't an urban zone, is it?

So they won't use them, and use the crab synths.
I mean, I wish.

 

[Trevelyan]

lol, I just replayed HL2 and asked myself the same question as the title post!

Its funny, when you think of the introduction of the Hunter class in Ep 2 with its high powered manoeuvrability...I wonder if any of these clunky looking crab synths accompanied the Combine forces which pursued you and Alyx to the White Forest base. I cannot recall seeing any traveling over that bridge. They quite possibly could of been a useful addition in a forest environment, however unforeseen consequences[sic!] such as small drops and jumps could possibly cause them problems. I can imagine why Valve (& the Combine!) probably decided to leave them on the back burner during ep 2 & the final offensive against the White Forest base.

Here's hoping some new synths do make an appearance in ep 3, and on that note i'm going to hop into the appropriately titled thread!