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Combine Smart Barrier
General information
Affiliation	Combine
Type	Mechanic wall
Game information
Entity / spawn codes	N/A
Designer(s)	Viktor Antonov (early and final versions) Eric Kirchmer (final version)[1]

 

The Combine Smart Barrier,^[1] also known as the Combine Mobile Wall, is a large mechanized wall that uses powerful drive systems in tandem with heavy metal blocks to slowly expand outward and destroy existing structures in the way. Smart Barriers are seen surrounding the Citadel (where they make up the "City 17 Inner Wall"), certain areas of Nova Prospekt and City 17, notably on the Trainstation Plaza during the Uprising and around the Overwatch Nexus.

OverviewEdit

Standard operation is to lift and force a set of blocks outward, before allowing them to drop, and then alternating with another set. During this procedure a metallic groaning is heard, presumably from the drive mechanisms. It is unknown whether the Combine are using this method to simply destroy existing structures, or whether to gather raw materials as well. Either way, they are also used as blockades, blocking off alleyways and even entire streets as necessary. Gordon Freeman narrowly escapes being crushed by Smart Barriers shortly before getting into the Nova Prospekt Depot.

As its name suggests, the Smart Barrier seems to be self-operated and will sometimes get into movement when a being passes nearby, crushing them if they were to remain in the way.

Behind the scenesEdit

• As seen in the WC mappack and suggested by the playable Half-Life 2 Beta sound files, the City 17 Inner Wall was originally to be stationary, much higher and made out of concrete. The Manhack Arcade was at some point to be located nearby, before being replaced by Captain Vance's Headquarters, where Gordon was to go look for Vance while Alyx was to be left hurt in the Skyscraper.^[2][3]
• An early version, only existing as concept art, was made of cubes.^[1]
• An early prototype version, featured in the WC mappack as a brush, was named "Sensor Gate". It can be found in the WC mappack maps "sensor_gate_004.vmf", "combine_gallery_002.vmf" or "d1_garage_01.vmf". It is always accompanied by an early Combine Watchtower (Watchtowers are often seen near Smart Barriers, but also Barricades), often featuring a Metrocop inside. By default in open state, it shuts itself when the player approaches it, also reacting to a nearby presence with its "sensors", much like the final version.

GalleryEdit

Pre-releaseEdit

Concept art for an early version.

Concept art for the City 17 Inner Wall.

The playable Half-Life 2 Beta menu, featuring the previous image.

Concept art for the retail version near destroyed buildings.

Smart Barriers in the cut Gunship Bays, at the foot of the Depot.

Sensor Gate with fixed textures in the map "combine_gallery_002".

Ditto, seen from behind.

Beta Overwatch Soldiers near a prototype City 17 Inner Wall.

Possible early Smart Barrier, mostly made of concrete in the map "d4_streetwar_01".

Ditto.

The Citadel beyond a prototype City 17 Inner Wall.

Ruined City 17 street along the prototype City 17 Inner Wall.

Smart Barrier on the Bridge Point bridge in the playable Beta, instead of a Force Field gate in the retail game.

Ditto.

Ditto, behind an Overwatch Soldier.

RetailEdit

Smart Barriers replacing C3 block in Nova Prospekt, seen from the cafeteria.

Smart Barriers in the destroyed C3 block of Nova Prospekt, seen from the block itself.

Smart Barrier on the Trainstation Plaza.

Ditto, with Rebels taking down the Breencast screen.

Smart Barrier parts around the Overwatch Nexus building.

Smart Barrier at a checkpoint above the railway leading out of City 17, near the Technical Trainstation.

List of appearancesEdit

• Half-Life 2 (First appearance)
• Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar
• Half-Life 2: Deathmatch (Non-canonical appearance)
• Half-Life 2: Episode One

ReferencesEdit