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{{Enemy Infobox
 
{{Enemy Infobox
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|image = <gallery>
| image=[[File:Overwatch Soldier triangle arm.svg|75px]]
 
  +
Combine Soldier.png | Soldier
| image2=[[File:Overwatch Soldier mp7.jpg|200px]]
 
| name=Overwatch Soldier
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Overwatch Soldier triangle arm.svg | Insignia
  +
</gallery>
| affiliation=[[Combine]] [[Overwatch]]
 
  +
|image3 =
| type= Cybernetic Transhuman Soldier
 
  +
|name = Overwatch Soldier
| health=50
 
 
|affiliation= [[Combine]] [[Overwatch]]
| weapons=*[[MP7]] (3 attack damage points)
 
 
|type = Transhuman infantry
*[[Combine SPAS-12|Shotgun]] (3 attack damage points per pellet)
 
 
|health = 50
 
|weapons =*[[MP7]] (3 attack damage points)
 
*[[SPAS-12 Shotgun]] (up to 21 damage points per shot)
 
*[[Overwatch Standard Issue Pulse Rifle]] (3 attack damage points)
 
*[[Overwatch Standard Issue Pulse Rifle]] (3 attack damage points)
*[[Emplacement Gun]]
 
 
*[[MK3A2 Grenade]] (up to 75 attack damage points)
 
*[[MK3A2 Grenade]] (up to 75 attack damage points)
 
*Melee Attack (10 attack damage points)
*[[Flare Gun]]
 
 
|equipment =*Vocoder
*Weapon stock (10 attack damage points)
 
  +
*Helmet (with radio)
|equipment=*[[Vocoder]]
 
*Gas mask (With Radio)
 
 
*Hardplate-reinforced personal armor
 
*Hardplate-reinforced personal armor
| entity=npc_combine_s
+
|entity =npc_combine_s
  +
|spawn =
| designer=*[[Dhabih Eng]] (helmet)
+
|designer =*[[Dhabih Eng]] (Helmet)
*[[Ted Backman]] (outfits)<ref name="Raising the Bar">''[[Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar]]''</ref>
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*[[Ted Backman]] (Outfits)<ref name="Raising the Bar">''[[Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar]]''</ref>
  +
*Tom Leonard (Artificial Intelligence)
  +
*Derek Jenson (Animations)
  +
*Max Aristov (Appearance)
  +
|voice =[[Kelly Bailey]] (''[[Half-Life 2]]'')
 
}}
 
}}
  +
 
{{Quote|If the transhuman forces are to prove themselves an indispensable augmentation to the Combine Overwatch, they will have to earn the privilege.|[[Wallace Breen]]|Half-Life 2}}
 
{{Quote|If the transhuman forces are to prove themselves an indispensable augmentation to the Combine Overwatch, they will have to earn the privilege.|[[Wallace Breen]]|Half-Life 2}}
   
'''Overwatch Soldiers ''' (or known as the '''Combine Soldier''' by [[Citizen]]s), are the basic transhuman infantry units of the [[Overwatch|Combine Overwatch]], composing the backbone of the [[Combine]]'s military presence on [[Earth]]. In contrast to [[Civil Protection]], whose duties are to enforce order within suppressed population centres, soldiers of the [[Overwatch]] are tasked with more hazardous actions requiring skill and tact: from patrolling the treacherous borders of [[Combine]]-controlled territory to raiding [[Resistance]]-held strongholds.
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'''Overwatch Soldiers''', also known as '''Combine Soldiers''' by [[Citizen]]s, and '''Stabilization Delegates''' by the [[Overwatch Voice]], are the transhuman infantry of the [[Overwatch|Combine Overwatch]], and the primary military units of the [[Combine]] on Earth. In contrast to [[Civil Protection]], whose duties are to enforce order within suppressed population centers, Overwatch soldiers are tasked with more hazardous missions like patrolling the treacherous borders of [[Combine]]-controlled territory, raiding [[Resistance]]-held strongholds, and suppressing remaining [[Xen]] creatures.
 
As military personnel as opposed to law enforcement, Overwatch Soldiers are given access to military-grade equipment and tactical combat training, making them more formidable opponents than [[Civil Protection|Civil Protection Officers]].
 
 
==Overview==
 
 
Standard Overwatch Soldiers, like other soldier variants, wear standard-issue blue and grey camo body armor over their midsections with padding on their arms, thighs, and groin. Several insignias can be found on their arm pads, signifying their position in the Combine regime. Perhaps the most advanced piece of equipment found on Overwatch Soldiers are their helmets, which cover the head entirely and are equipped with air filters and radios. These helmets have glowing blue goggles, and appear to be a cross between an old Soviet [http://www.gasmasksandfilters.com/images/uploads/soviet_pmg_gas_mask.jpg PMG] and [http://gasmaskandrespirator.wikia.com/wiki/Russian_PBF_Gas_Mask PBF] gas mask.
 
 
Overwatch Soldiers are equipped with [[MP7]]s, [[Combine SPAS-12|shotgun]]s or [[AR2 Pulse Rifle]]s, as well as [[MK3A2 Grenade|grenades]]. Using these standard-issue weapons, Overwatch Soldiers typically work in squads of four to six, each squad having at least one soldier armed with a shotgun and another armed with a pulse rifle. During combat, soldiers make use of squad tactics and will attempt to flank enemies and provide cover for one other.
 
   
 
Being the Combine military operatives, Overwatch Soldiers acquire high military-grade equipment, and advanced combat training program, thus making them more formidable opponents.
[[File:Stripped combine soldier.jpg|left|thumb|150px|A stripped Overwatch Soldier. Its [[:File:Eric tex cylmap evil2.png|face texture]] is based on a picture of Valve's [[Eric Kirchmer]], who was also one of the bases for Gordon Freeman's face. The very picture used in the texture is featured in ''[[Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar|Raising the Bar]]''; the texture file is named "eric_tex_cylmap_evil2" in the [[Half-Life 2 Beta|''Half-Life 2'' Beta]] files.]]
 
   
 
== Overview ==
Overwatch Soldiers are initially encountered in the [[The Coast|coastal wasteland]] outside [[Ravenholm]], patrolling the highways for Resistance activity and staffing Combine outposts. They can, however, be found anywhere the Combine requires direct military action, as soldiers can be quickly transported to a desired area via Dropships. Overwatch Soldiers are also tasked with guarding high-security areas, monitoring [[Stalker]]s in the [[Citadel]], and serving as guards in [[Nova Prospekt]]. In addition, they also serve as pilots and gunners of the Combine [[Hunter-Chopper]]s.
 
  +
[[File:Decalgraffiti.png|left|thumb|246x246px|Graffiti demonstrating an Overwatch Soldier fully modified.]]
   
Overwatch Soldiers are humans that have undergone extensive modifications including, but not limited to, brain and chest surgery, removal of genitalia, and implantation of various mechanical devices in the throat and around the abdomen.{{Fact}} This procedure is carried out at Nova Prospekt and the Citadel. It is notable that in the B2 cell block of Nova Prospekt, after a few switches of a [[Combine Monitor|security monitor]], a shirtless soldier can be seen lying on a table between two control panels. His eyes are open, indicating the soldier is not asleep, and is being prepared for clothing. It is theorized that Overwatch Soldiers were Civil Protection Units who have shown excellent performance and have been chosen for Transmutation. It is also theorized that past military units who surrendered were recycled into Overwatch Soldiers.
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Overwatch Soldiers are humans that have undergone extensive cybernetic modifications including brain and chest surgery, and implantation of various mechanical devices in their bodies, granting them increased durability and endurance, to the point where wounds and trauma simply don't factor into their tactics. This procedure is carried out at Nova Prospekt and the Citadel, where soldiers can be seen without their armor. There are surgical scars running along the chest and on the head, suggesting extensive surgery in those areas, as well as mechanical implementations on the throat and the side of the abdomen. In addition to physical augmentations, soldiers also seem to undergo mental reprogramming to condition them into obedient and efficient soldiers as seen by their extensive familiarity with combat tactics, combine military codes, and their tactical way of communication.
   
 
Standard Overwatch Soldiers, like other soldier variants, wear standard-issue blue and grey camo body armor over their mid-sections with padding on their arms, thighs, and groin. Several insignias can be found on their arm pads, signifying their position in the Combine regime. Their helmets cover the head entirely, and are equipped with air filters and radios. These helmets have glowing blue goggles and appear to be a cross between an old Soviet [[:w:c:gasmaskandrespirator:PMG|PMG]] and [[:w:c:gasmaskandrespirator:PBF|PBF]] gas mask.
Despite the extensive surgery and modifications they receive, Overwatch Soldiers still appear to have certain human characteristics - for instance, they still feel pain, and during the Nova Prospekt chapter, [[Wallace Breen|Doctor Breen]] is giving them what appears to be a morale-boosting speech, and they sometimes can be heard shouting expletives in the heat of battle, indicating that they still have human emotions to a certain extent. For example, after throwing a grenade at certain Overwatch units, they can be heard saying "Shit!" before the grenade explodes. They do not let pain and fear hinder their performance however. It is also noted that due to an extensive brain wipe, they have no previous memories of their human life and that they are incapable of resisting, disobeying orders, and going rogue.
 
<!--- Do NOT censor 'shit'!--->
 
   
  +
[[File:859164756 preview houlder.jpg|alt=|right|thumb|246x246px|Overwatch Soldier armed with OSIPR]]
When not in combat, Overwatch Soldiers are cold and un-emotional. They do not speak much unless using their radio and when they do, they speak with mandatory vocabulary. Unlike Civil Protection, they do not stutter or falter when speaking such as saying "Uhh" and other words similar (there is, however, once radio transmission in Nova Prospekt where they do).
 
  +
Overwatch Soldiers are armed with [[MP7]]s, [[Combine SPAS-12|SPAS-12 Shotgun]]s or [[AR2 Pulse Rifle]]s, as well as [[MK3A2 Grenade|MK3A2 grenades]]. Using these standard-issue weapons, Overwatch Soldiers typically operate in squads of four to six. During combat, soldiers never backdown. They're fearless. Infinitely enduring, and will always fight to the last man. They use blitzkrieg-style tactics such as spreading around multiple angles to flank their target, throwing grenades to expose their enemies out of their defensive positions, providing cover fire for their squadmates, and pursuing injured targets. In addition, soldiers are also trained in unarmed combat, and should not be engaged in melee combat except as a last resort.
 
Overwatch Soldiers are initially encountered in the [[The Coast|coastal wasteland]] outside [[Ravenholm]], sweeping the highways for Resistance activity and staffing Combine outposts. They can, however, be found anywhere the Combine requires direct military action, as the soldiers can be quickly transported to a desired area via Dropships. Overwatch Soldiers are also tasked with guarding high-value areas such as [[Nova Prospekt]] and the [[Citadel]]. In addition, they also serve as pilots and gunners of the Combine [[Hunter-Chopper]]s.
   
  +
When not in combat, Overwatch Soldiers are cold and emotionless. They will patrol the area, searching for possible hostiles. If threats have not been located, they'll default to fortifying their current position, and prepare an ambush for unsuspecting targets in the vicinity. They extensively use combine military vocabulary effectively when communicating, and are able to string multiple jargons in advanced codes together without pause. In combat, they communicate efficiently using these codes in short and direct sentences to coordinate their attacks, or to report situational and status developments to [[Overwatch Voice|Overwatch]].
Overwatch Soldiers communicate over radios, but unlike [[Civil Protection]] officers, they are not addressed or controlled by [[Overwatch Voice|dispatcher]]s, but instead use them to update military situations, such as saying, "Overwatch, sector is not secure.". According to announcements made over the public address system of Nova Prospekt, punishments for failing to achieve objectives include "permanent off-world assignment". It was originally planned that Gordon's suit picked up radio transmissions from the Combine, though this idea was dropped in favor of simply hearing dialogue leaked from their helmets, similar to the [[Hazardous Environment Combat Unit|HECU]]'s own radio signals.
 
   
  +
Nevertheless, they still display some degree of humanity. For example, snipers will sometimes shout expletives when their nest is intruded with a grenade. During the breach of Nova Prospekt, one of the soldiers in headquarters can be heard stuttering while warning perimeter units of possible command and control of [[Gordon Freeman]] over the [[Antlion|Antlions]]. [[Wallace Breen]] is also heard in a speech both commending them for the capture of [[Eli Vance]] and reprimanding them due to their failure in capturing [[Gordon Freeman]], indicating that they can still understand concepts like morale and reprimand, at least in regards to their human Administrator. The speech also states that Overwatch soldiers are under pressure to perform well to demonstrate their value and by extension the value of the human race as a whole to their [[Combine Advisor|"benefactors"]]. This, combined with the Overwatch Voice mentioning "off-world relocation" as a form of punishment for failing their mission, implies that Overwatch soldiers operate on a merit-based system similar to human military.
In combat, Overwatch Soldiers fire their weapons with decent accuracy. The amount of damage soldiers can take before dying is determined by the difficulty level the game is being played on. If a hostile soldier is at point blank range, they will perform a melee attack with the stock of their weapon.<br clear="all">
 
   
 
==Variants==
 
==Variants==
Being one of the most versatile units at the Combine's disposal, Overwatch Soldiers come in several varieties:
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Being one of the most numerous units at the Combine's disposal, Overwatch Soldiers are both the Combine's primary infantry and seemingly the bulk of the Combine's forces on Earth. In addition to the standard soldier, they also come in several varieties according to their tasks:
   
===Overwatch Sniper===
+
[[File:Sniper City 17.jpg|thumb|Overwatch Sniper.]]
{{main|Overwatch Sniper}}
 
   
'''Overwatch Snipers''' are soldiers armed with the mounted [[Overwatch Sniper Rifle]]. Their presence (and where they are aiming) is indicated by a blue laser sight. Aside from Gordon, they will generally shoot at anything that moves, even [[Earth creatures#Half-Life 2 and its episodes|bird]]s and moving props. They wear the standard blue Overwatch uniform, their audio is re-used clips from Civil Protection units.
+
'''[[Overwatch Sniper]]s''' are the sharpshooter units of the Overwatch, who are armed with the mounted [[Overwatch Sniper Rifle]]. Their presence (and where they are aiming) is indicated by a blue laser sight. They'll shoot any hostile immediately as soon as it's spotted and still on their sightlines. If they can't get enemy who's in cover they'll try to break his cover by shooting it and any nearby props in order to expose their target. If target's cover solid they'll pin him down as shown when they pinned down [[Barney Calhoun]] in the warehouse in chapter Follow Freeman.
   
  +
[[File:Soldier np emplacement idle 2.jpg|thumb|Nova Prospekt Soldier.]]
===Nova Prospekt Prison Guard===
 
[[File:Combine prison guard.jpg|right|thumb|150px|The Nova Prospekt Prison Guard.]]
 
[[File:Combine prison guard 2.jpg|left|thumb|150px|The Nova Prospekt Prison Guard, shotgun version.]]
 
   
'''Prison Guards''' are tasked with guarding and maintaining the Nova Prospekt facility. These guards are almost identical to standard Overwatch Soldiers, using the same weapons and having the same stats, the only differences being their armor and voices. Their armor is dark blue and they typically have yellow goggles, although the shotgun soldiers have red goggles. The words "Nova Prospekt" are emblazoned onto the back armor as well as their shoulder. They also speak with a lower tone from their vocoder compared to standard Overwatch Soldiers, showing the possibility of further mechanical enhancements. However, they still have the standard badge similar to their Overwatch counterparts. Interestingly, after a soldier of this kind has been killed, their allies will page them over their com-links in a deeper, more human voice, not knowing this soldier has already been killed. They also seem to use [[Combine SPAS-12|shotguns]] more often and they are more aggressive than normal Soldiers since the prison features more enclosed spaces than most other locations. Furthermore, [[MK3A2 Grenade|grenades]] are not used quite as often by the Prison Guards unless when engaging in front of Sentry Gun.
+
'''Nova Prospekt Soldiers''' are essentially reskinned standard soldiers who are tasked with guarding and operating [[Nova Prospekt]] facility. They share the same arsenal and status as standard soldiers, with the only difference being their armor. Their armor is dark blue and they typically have yellow goggles, although the shotgun soldiers have red goggles. They display the Combine claw symbol on their left shoulder instead of the Overwatch symbol, and the words "Nova Prospekt" are emblazoned onto the back armor as well as their shoulder. Their unique uniforms give an indication as to how important Nova Prospekt is to the Combine on Earth, which might suggests them being higher-ranking than their standard counterparts. Compared to the Overwatch soldiers, their uniforms are generally more formal-looking and no camouflaged patte. However, they still have the standard badge similar to their Overwatch counterparts.
   
 
'''Shotgun Soldiers''' are Overwatch soldiers that exclusively wield [[Combine SPAS-12|shotgun]]. They can be distinguished by their brown and red uniforms and battle armor. Their helmets are slightly darker than the average Overwatch Soldier and have blood red/orange goggles. They also bear the Elite insignia on a red shoulder pad, suggesting that they may be a higher-ranked soldier variant, or a squad leader. In Nova Prospekt they have the same dark blue armor color and Nova Prospekt insignia on their right shoulder that a regular Nova Prospekt soldier would; however, they keep the red/orange goggle lens color and Overwatch Elite insignia on their left shoulder; both of which they would normally have outside of Nova Prospekt.
===Shotgun Soldier===
 
[[File:Combine shotgun soldier.jpg|right|thumb|150px|The Shotgun Soldier.]]
 
'''Shotgun Soldiers''' exclusively wield the [[Combine SPAS-12|shotgun]]. Shotgun Soldiers can be distinguished by their brown and red uniforms and battle armor. Their helmets are slightly darker than the average Overwatch Soldier, and have blood red/orange goggles. They also bear the [[Overwatch Elite]] insignia on a red shoulder pad, suggesting that they may be a branch of the [[Overwatch Elite]], a higher ranked soldier variant, or a squad leader. In Nova Prospekt they have the same dark blue armor color and Nova Prospekt insignia on their right shoulder that a regular Nova Prospekt soldier would; however, they keep the red/orange goggle lens color and Overwatch Elite insignia on their left shoulder; both of which they would normally have outside of Nova Prospekt.
 
   
  +
Worthy of mention are the [[Overwatch Elite|'''Overwatch Elite''']], the pinnacle of the Combine Overwatch. They are special soldiers that have seemingly undergone more modifications than other Overwatch infantry, making them far less human in the process. Overwatch Elites exclusively use the Pulse Rifle and are the only Combine forces that can use the Rifle's [[Dark Energy|secondary fire]] to a full effect with pinpoint accuracy. They are mostly used to naturalize high-value targets such as Gordon Freeman, or defend areas of strategic importance such as Nova Prospekt (as seen in the monitor of the control room) and the Critical. They are either deployed in a squad of their own unit or in command of Overwatch soldiers.
Shotgun Soldiers are also the only [[Combine]] units seen manning Combine computers. This happens when the [[Citadel Core]] is unstable. When far away enough from the trooper, he will use the computer, seemingly in an attempt to prevent the Core's detonation. The soldier will ignore Gordon, even when shot at.
 
 
Shotgun Soldiers originally only appeared in Episode 2, but have been updated into every Half-Life 2 game since.
 
   
 
==Tactics==
 
==Tactics==
  +
*Overwatch Soldiers coordinate their actions and take turns attacking an opponent. Always exercise caution when engaging a well formatted squad in an area with structures that offer concealment (e.g., buildings and walls) and pay attention to what type of soldiers you're up against in order to prioritize their threat levels.
   
 
* When a soldier is injured or has to reload his weapon, he will typically try to find cover and get behind a solid object. When taking cover while in a fire-fight, be aware that the soldiers who are being engaged will most likely throw a grenade at Gordon, so be ready to throw it back at them with either the [[Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator|Gravity Gun]] or the "USE" key. If a grenade is not thrown, then it is likely that one or more of the soldiers are advancing to the player's position.
*Overwatch Soldiers use a variety of squad tactics when engaging hostile targets. These tactics include flanking, providing each other with covering fire, and effective use of [[MK3A2 Grenade|grenade]]s. Always exercise caution when entering an area with structures that offer concealment (e.g. buildings and walls).
 
   
 
*Maintain complete 360-degree awareness of the surroundings while engaging a squad of soldiers. Also, try not to concentrate on a single soldier while being engaged; be mindful of all enemy movement. Try to keep some distance from soldiers at all times. If Gordon is right in front of a soldier, or beside him, he will resort to a melee attack. Grenades will generally make soldiers disregard everything and attempt to flee the blast radius. This is an effective way to force soldiers out into the open if they are hiding behind cover, or simply to distract them for a few seconds in order to cause some damage.
*When a soldier is injured or has to reload his weapon, he will typically try to find cover and get behind a solid object. When taking cover while in a firefight, be aware that the soldiers who are being engaged will most likely throw a grenade at Gordon, so be ready to throw it back at them with either the [[Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator|Gravity Gun]] or the "USE" key. If a grenade is not thrown, then it is likely that one or more of the soldiers are making their way to the player's position.
 
   
  +
* Shotgun Soldiers, especially in close quarters combat, should be the first priority, as their shotguns are a much more threat than other weapons used by ordinary soldiers. They are particularly extremely aggressive and lethal, especially when they're firing while strafing (due to the ability to fire the shotgun in semi-automatic mode when moving). They can even kill essential NPCs like [[Alyx]] whose rapid health regeneration usually guarantees survival on lower difficulties and notably drain the player's health up to 21 damage per shot. They will normally try to close in on the player before making a shot since the shotgun is most effective at mid to close range, so take them out from a distance beforehand.
*Maintain complete 360 degree awareness of the surroundings while engaging a squad of soldiers. Also, try not to concentrate on a single soldier while being engaged; be mindful of all enemy movement. Try to keep some distance from soldiers at all times. If Gordon is right in front of a soldier or beside him, he will resort to a melee attack. Grenades will generally make soldiers disregard everything and attempt to flee the blast radius. This is an effective way to force soldiers out into the open if they are hiding behind cover, or simply to distract them for a few seconds in order to cause some damage.
 
   
 
*Soldiers have a tendency to crouch when dodging leaping [[Headcrab|Headcrabs]], or when being shot on their upper body. When shot on their lower body, they will tend to retreat a few feet, and retaliate.
*Shotgun Soldiers, especially in close quarters combat, should be the first priority, as their shotguns are a much more significant threat than the weapons used by ordinary soldiers. Take them out from a distance, as their shotguns are much less effective at long range.
 
   
  +
*Soldiers prefer to keep their distance and fire from in range when engaging horde of enemies that tend to close in the distance such as [[Zombie|Zombies]] and antlions.
*Shotgun Soldiers have a tendency to crouch when being shot on their upper body. This can cause slower players to miss them entirely, and waste ammunition. When shot on their lower body, they will tend to retreat a few feet, while still firing at the player.
 
   
 
== Behind the scenes==
*Soldiers equipped with [[Combine SPAS-12|SPAS-12]] will usually charge the target to get within point blank, if they are successful in charging at the target, they will attack the enemy with a melee attack and then retreat.
 
   
 
*The Combine Soldier has had many predecessors during the [[Development of Half-Life 2|game development]]. The [[Alien Combine Soldier]] is one of them. The early elite soldiers, the [[Combine Synth Elite Soldier]], the [[Combine Super Soldier]], and the [[Combine Guard]], can also be considered as indirect predecessors. Just like for the Overwatch Elite, a more conventional look was chosen over the aforementioned concepts to avoid, among other things, overshadowing the remarkable nature of the [[Citadel]] and to keep the [[Combine]] as a more elusive enemy. While several concepts depict helmets with fly-like eyes, the final helmet design, similar to that of the [[Civil Protection|Metrocop]], was based on the [[Combine guard (Civil Protection)|human Combine Guard]].<ref name="Raising the Bar" />
*Soldiers are not very accurate and it will usually give the player and [[Citizen]]s advantage. If possible, try to avoid engaging the soldier at close ranges unless the player is armed with shotgun as the soldier appears to be weaker at longer ranges and stronger at a closer ranges.
 
   
 
*Alternate, green-colored Combine Soldiers with glowing orange eyes were seen in preview screenshots of ''[[Half-Life 2: Episode One]]'', at the time when it was still called ''Aftermath''.<ref>[[:File:Ep1 soldier beta.jpg]]</ref> It is unclear how this variation differed from the rest of the Combine Overwatch, as they were replaced by regular Combine soldiers in the game's final release. These same green-colored soldiers can also be seen in the main menu of ''[[Half-Life 2: Deathmatch]]''.
*Overwatch soldiers are also coded to die in one hit from [[Antlion Soldier|Antlion]]s, the reason being because if normal damage values applied (Antlions do 5 damage per hit, and Overwatch soldiers have 50 health), the soldiers would easily defeat the Antlions nearly every time, rendering the [[Bug Bait]] useless. This is not true of Civil Protection officers, as Antlions and Civil Protection never encounter each other in-game.
 
**Throwing Bug Bait to a soldier can stun the soldier, leaving the soldier vulnerable to following attacks from the players or Antlions. However, Civil Protection officers do not react to the Bug Bait
 
   
 
*A texture from the 2003 leaked [[Half-Life 2 Beta|''Half-Life 2'' Beta]] indicates that the soldiers were to have some sort of shield at one time.<ref name="HL2Bpf">Playable [[Half-Life 2 Beta|''Half-Life 2'' Beta]] files</ref> They were also supposed to use weapons such as the [[GR9]], the [[MP5K]], and the [[XM29 OICW]].
==Behind the scenes==
 
   
 
*In the ''Half-Life 2'' Beta, the soldiers used the same melee kick as the HECU troopers. Originally, the Overwatch Soldiers would be able to kick doors down, as seen in the E3 demo "Traptown". However, this was changed most likely because, overall, the animation didn't fit the Overwatch Soldier, and using the gun as a melee weapon was more conventional. A left-over animation of the Beta Overwatch Soldier can be viewed in the [[Source SDK]] under the name of "shootAR2G". This animation shows what the leaked animations for the Overwatch Soldiers originally looked like: feet closer together, and although they look less experienced than the retail animations, they are more dynamic.<ref name="HL2Bpf" />
* The Combine Soldier has had many predecessors during the [[Development of Half-Life 2|game development]]. The [[Alien Combine Soldier]] is one of them. The early elite soldiers, the [[Combine Synth Elite Soldier]], the [[Combine Super Soldier]] and the [[Combine Guard]], can also be considered as indirect predecessors. Just like for the Overwatch Elite, a more conventional look was chosen over the aforementioned concepts to avoid, among other things, overshadowing the remarkable nature of the [[Citadel]] and to keep the [[Combine]] as a more elusive enemy. While several concepts depict helmets with fly-like eyes, the final helmet design, similar to that of the [[Civil Protection|Metrocop]], was based on the [[Combine guard (Civil Protection)|human Combine Guard]].<ref name="Raising the Bar" />
 
   
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*According to the ''[[Half-Life: Alyx]]'' AMA held on the ''Half-Life'' subreddit a month before the release of the game, the original Overwatch Soldiers seen in ''Half-Life 2'' were intended to be seen in the game, but appear to have been cut very late in development. However, their new model, as well as the shotgun variant and a green "commander" variant, can still be found in the game's files.
*Alternate, green-colored Combine Soldiers with glowing orange eyes were seen in preview screenshots of ''[[Half-Life 2: Episode One]]'', at the time when the episode was still called ''Aftermath''.<ref>[[:File:Ep1 soldier beta.jpg]]</ref> It is unclear how this variation differed from the rest of the Combine Overwatch, as they were replaced by regular Combine soldiers in the game's final release. They are, however, seen in ''Episode Two'', wielding shotguns, but this version is maroon. These same green-colored soldiers can also be seen in the main menu of ''Half-Life 2: Deathmatch''.
 
   
  +
==Related achievements ==
*A texture from the 2003 leaked [[Half-Life 2 Beta|''Half-Life 2'' Beta]] indicates that the soldiers were to have some sort of shield at one time.<ref name="HL2Bpf">Playable [[Half-Life 2 Beta|''Half-Life 2'' Beta]] files</ref>
 
  +
===''[[Half-Life 2]]''===
  +
{{Achievement
  +
| icon = Hl2_kill_enemies_withcrane.png
  +
| name = OSHA Violation
  +
| description= Kill 3 enemies using the crane.
  +
| value = 5
  +
}}
  +
{{Achievement
  +
| icon = Hl2_pin_soldier_tobillboard.png
  +
| name = Targeted Advertising
  +
| description= Pin a soldier to the billboard in the chapter [[Highway 17 (Chapter)|Highway 17]].
  +
| value = 5
  +
}}
  +
{{Achievement
  +
| icon = Hl2_kill_allc1709snipers.png
  +
| name = Counter-Sniper
  +
| description= Kill all of the [[Overwatch Sniper|snipers]] in [[City 17]].
  +
| value = 5
  +
}}
  +
{{Achievement
  +
| icon = Hl2_disintegrate_soldiersinfield.png
  +
| name = Atomizer
  +
| description= Disintegrate 15 soldiers by throwing them into a [[Combine Power Generator|Combine ball field]].
  +
| value = 10
  +
}}
   
 
==Trivia==
*The Combine Soldiers in the playable ''Half-Life 2'' Beta were also supposed to use weapons such as the HMG1, the MP5K, and the OICW.
 
   
 
*The patch worn on the left arm appears to be a yellow variant of the [[Wikipedia:7th Infantry Division (United States)|United States Army 7th Infantry Division]] insignia.
*The ''Half-Life 2'' Overwatch Soldier still has a firing animation for the HMG1, although it is unused.
 
   
 
* Shotgun Soldiers appear throughout ''[[Half-Life 2]]'' and its episodes in the console versions of ''[[The Orange Box]]'', but originally only appeared in ''[[Episode Two]]'' on PC. As of the May 26, 2010 updates, Shotgun Soldiers appear in ''Half-Life 2'' and ''Episode One'' on PCs as well as consoles. This also adds red goggle-wearing Nova Prospekt guards to the PC version of ''Half-Life 2''. In the [[wikipedia:Xbox|Xbox]] version of ''Half-Life 2'' there are no Shotgun Soldiers, as the latest update for the game was released before ''The Orange Box''.
*In the ''Half-Life 2'' Beta, the soldiers used the same melee kick as the HECU troopers. Originally, the Overwatch Soldiers would be able to kick doors down, as seen in the E3 demo "Traptown". However, this was changed most likely because, overall, the animation didn't fit the Overwatch Soldier, and using the gun as a melee weapon was more conventional. A left-over animation of the Beta Overwatch Soldier can be viewed in the [[Source SDK]] under the name of "shootAR2G". This animation shows what the leaked animations for the Overwatch Soldiers originally looked like: feet closer together, and although they look less experienced than the retail animations, they are more dynamic.<ref name="HL2Bpf" />
 
   
 
[[File:First Apperance Combine Soldier.jpg|thumb|right|Combine Soldier by nocliping in Canals.]]
==Trivia==
 
   
 
*An Overwatch Soldier can be seen above the sewers in the chapter ''[[Half-Life 2 storyline#Route Kanal|Route Kanal]]'', in the map "d1_canals_05," but this is likely a mistake made by developers who forgot to delete it or just left it as easter egg (this is then, technically, the first time the player sees an Overwatch Soldier). Although the soldier can only actually be seen by using the console command Noclip, he will ignore the player completely unless he is fired at, after which he will behave normally. If it is an oversight, then the first intended appearance of Overwatch Soldiers is in ''[[Half-Life 2 storyline#Water Hazard|Water Hazard]]'', when they eject from the [[Hunter-Chopper]]. However, this might also be a mistake. It could be a remnant of the fact that Overwatch Soldiers were originally intended to appear much sooner than the final map of Ravenholm.
*During ''Half-Life 2: Episode Two'', the Overwatch Soldiers' armor and boots are flecked with mud, indicating they have been traveling by foot for long periods of time.
 
   
 
*There are at least four Standard Overwatch Soldiers (not Prison Guards) in Nova Prospekt. One is shot and killed by [[Alyx Vance]] at the beginning of ''[[Entanglement]]'', and another is seen dead in electrified water later on. The final two are corpses seen right after the room with electrified water.
*The patch worn on the left arm of Overwatch Soldiers appears to be a yellow variant of the [[Wikipedia:7th Infantry Division (United States)|United States Army 7th Infantry Division]] insignia.
 
   
 
*If the console command "npc_create_equipment" is set to "weapon_shotgun" and player spawn a soldier, a Shotgun Soldier will spawn. This happens in all versions.
*Shotgun Soldiers appear throughout ''[[Half-Life 2]]'' and its episodes in the console versions of ''[[The Orange Box]]'', but originally only appeared in ''[[Episode Two]]'' on PC. As of the May 26, 2010 updates, Shotgun Soldiers appear in ''Half-Life 2'' and ''Episode One'' on PCs as well as consoles. This also adds red goggle-wearing Nova Prospekt guards to the PC version of ''Half-Life 2''. In the [[wikipedia:Xbox|Xbox]] version of ''Half-Life 2'' there are no Shotgun Soldiers, as the latest update for the game was released before ''The Orange Box''.
 
   
 
*Overwatch Soldiers will use cover if the player places boxes to form a wall. This can be done in-game by turning off the AI with a command, using the use key to build it, and then finally re-enabling the AI.
*An Overwatch Soldier can be seen above the sewers in the chapter ''[[Half-Life 2 storyline#Route Kanal|Route Kanal]]'', in the map "d1_canals_05," but this is likely a mistake made by developers who forgot to delete it or just left it as easter egg (this is then, technically, the first time the player sees an Overwatch Soldier). The soldier can only actually be seen though by using the console command Noclip, he will ignore the player completely unless he is fired at, after which he will behave normally. If it is an oversight, then the first intended appearance of Overwatch Soldiers is in ''[[Half-Life 2 storyline#Water Hazard|Water Hazard]]'', when they eject from the [[Hunter-Chopper]]. However, this might also be a mistake. It is possible that Overwatch Soldiers were intended to appear much sooner then the final map of Ravenholm.
 
   
  +
*The shotgun varation of the combine soldiers originally only appeared in Episode 2, with previous games not giving distinction between soldiers wielding shotguns and those with other weapons. They have been updated into every Half-Life 2 game since.
*The Combine have possibly installed technology that allows the Overwatch to upload data directly to the soldier - most likely directly into their brain. This is mentioned in the sound files for the Overwatch Dispatcher: "Attention. Prepare for visual download of Anticitizen One." This is a non-sequitur conclusion however, as the visual download could just as easily appear on the inside of their goggles like pilots and some soldiers already do.
 
   
 
*In the May 26, 2010 update, the Overwatch Soldiers have increased aggression when equipped with the [[Combine SPAS-12|shotgun]], they will most likely strafe constantly and keep firing their shotgun in semi-automatic mode and can deal much more damage to the player.
*There are at least four Standard Overwatch Soldiers (not Prison Guards) in Nova Prospekt. One is shot and killed by [[Alyx Vance]] at the beginning of ''[[Half-Life 2 storyline#Entanglement|Entanglement]]'', and another is seen dead in electrified water later on. The final two are corpses seen right after the room with electrified water.
 
   
  +
*Only two soldiers out of every "squad" can attack at any one moment in time, due to the slot-based squad AI system possessing only two attack slots. Soldiers either rapidly exchange slots to achieve massed fire or are broken up into small squads of just a handful of soldiers each, despite appearances implying larger teams. Similarly, only one soldier can toss a grenade at any one time, and this will temporarily prevent soldiers in the squad from throwing grenades again. This grenade rule only applies to each squad, so it is likely soldiers from different squads may throw more than one grenade towards the player.
*If the console command "npc_create_equipment" is set to "weapon_shotgun" and player spawn a soldier, shotgun soldier will spawn. (Only in [[Orange Box]] versions)
 
   
  +
*Similarly to the HECU Marines of ''Half-Life'', Combine Soldiers cannot use their weapon's secondary fire. This ability is only restricted to the HECU Sergeant, and the Combine Elite to augment their significant battlefield presence.
*Many players get confused that the spawn command for Combine Soldier is "npc_combine". However using this command crashes the game, the actual spawn command is "npc_combine'''_s'''".
 
   
  +
*Sometimes, if a squad of soldiers reaches Freeman without him attacking or looking at them, they will run up to a decent range and stare at the player, ready to fire. They will attack when the player takes a single step or fires a weapon. This is not commonly seen, however, and appears to only work when the player is a long distance away and the soldiers hardly identify them. This tactic is also shared by Overwatch Elites and Ceiling Turrets.
*Overwatch soldiers will use cover if the player places boxes to form a wall. This can be done in Garry's mod or ingame by turning off the A.I. with a command, using the use key to build it. And finally re-enabling the A.I.
 
  +
*In the old build of Half Life 2, The Shotgun Soldiers looked the same as Overwatch Soldiers.
* The Overwatch Soldiers have received some some criticism regard their AI, some critics have said it is not as smart as the HECUs of Half-Life. However, this is not true, their AI is actually fairly impressive. If a large group is spawned either via Console or in Garry's Mod, the player can watch them use good tactics against their enemies (on maps with well-placed AI nodes). The reason their AI may appear to be inferior is that they simply aren't as fast-moving as the HECUs were, since the overall movement speed of the player all NPC's is slower-paced in Half-Life 2. The map designs may also actually hinder their movement on occasion, such as railways and cramped hallways, leaving their AI having few choices in tactics. The other issue has to do with their health; they have less health then the Rebel NPCs and the player, combine this with the fact the player is a basically a walking tank (even on Hard mode they still go down somewhat easy alone), the Soldiers rarely have time to show off their moves in combat.
 
*In May 26 2010 update, the Overwatch Soldiers have increased aggression when equipped with the [[Combine SPAS-12|shotgun]], they will most likely strafe constantly and keep firing their shotgun in semi-automatic mode and can deal much more damage to player.
 
   
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
   
 
===Concept art===
 
===Concept art===
 
 
<gallery widths="140" position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true"><!--- DO NOT ALTER THESE CODES --->
 
<gallery widths="140" position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true"><!--- DO NOT ALTER THESE CODES --->
File:Combine helmet miyazaki.jpg|Early helmet, inspired by the work of [[Wikipedia:Hayao Miyazaki|Hayao Miyazaki]].<ref name="Raising the Bar"/>
+
File:Combine helmet miyazaki.jpg|Early helmet, inspired by the work of [[Wikipedia:Hayao Miyazaki|Hayao Miyazaki]].<ref name="Raising the Bar" />
 
File:Overwatch Soldier camo.jpg|Camouflaged Overwatch Soldier, which can be found as a model for the Overwatch Sniper in the playable Beta files.
 
File:Overwatch Soldier camo.jpg|Camouflaged Overwatch Soldier, which can be found as a model for the Overwatch Sniper in the playable Beta files.
 
File:Soldier memory replacement.jpg|Concept art of an Overwatch unit having his memory erased and replaced.
 
File:Soldier memory replacement.jpg|Concept art of an Overwatch unit having his memory erased and replaced.
Line 150: Line 167:
 
File:Soldier12.jpg|Ditto.
 
File:Soldier12.jpg|Ditto.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  +
  +
===Models===
  +
{{Gallery|
 
Overwatch soldier beta model.jpg {{!}} Pre-release Soldier.
  +
Overwatch Soldier mp7.jpg {{!}} Standard Soldier.
 
Soldier.jpg {{!}} As seen in ''[[Raising the Bar]]''.
  +
Stripped combine soldier.jpg {{!}} Stripped Soldier.
  +
Nova_Prospekt_Standard_Soldier.png {{!}} Nova Prospekt Soldier.
  +
NOVA Shotgunner.png {{!}} Nova Prospekt Shotgun Soldier.
  +
Combine Shotgunner.png {{!}} Standard Shotgun Soldier.
  +
}}
   
 
===Insignias===
 
===Insignias===
   
 
====Pre-release====
 
====Pre-release====
 
 
<gallery widths="140" position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true"><!--- DO NOT ALTER THESE CODES --->
 
<gallery widths="140" position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true"><!--- DO NOT ALTER THESE CODES --->
 
File:Concept overwatch soldier logo early combine.svg|Early sleeve insignia from the images above, featuring an early Combine logo.
 
File:Concept overwatch soldier logo early combine.svg|Early sleeve insignia from the images above, featuring an early Combine logo.
Line 173: Line 200:
   
 
====Retail====
 
====Retail====
 
 
<gallery widths="140" position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true"><!--- DO NOT ALTER THESE CODES --->
 
<gallery widths="140" position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true"><!--- DO NOT ALTER THESE CODES --->
 
File:Overwatch Soldier triangle arm.svg|Overwatch Soldier sleeve insignia (right arm).
 
File:Overwatch Soldier triangle arm.svg|Overwatch Soldier sleeve insignia (right arm).
Line 183: Line 209:
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
===Screenshots===
+
===Screenshots ===
   
 
====Pre-release====
 
====Pre-release====
 
 
<gallery widths="140" position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true"><!--- DO NOT ALTER THESE CODES --->
 
<gallery widths="140" position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true"><!--- DO NOT ALTER THESE CODES --->
File:Soldier early hydra trailer.jpg|Early (and lost) skin of an Overwatch Soldier about to be impaled by the Hydra.
+
File:Soldier early hydra trailer.jpg|Early skin of an Overwatch Soldier about to be impaled by the Hydra.
 
File:E3 Hydra tunnels.jpg|Early skin of an Overwatch Soldier being impaled by the Hydra.
 
File:E3 Hydra tunnels.jpg|Early skin of an Overwatch Soldier being impaled by the Hydra.
 
File:Soldier Hydra detail.jpg|Ditto, detail.
 
File:Soldier Hydra detail.jpg|Ditto, detail.
 
File:Borealis flames soldiers.jpg|Same Overwatch Soldiers inside the [[Borealis (cut location)|Borealis]].
 
File:Borealis flames soldiers.jpg|Same Overwatch Soldiers inside the [[Borealis (cut location)|Borealis]].
File:Overwatch soldier beta model.jpg|Later skin Overwatch Soldier with [[OICW]].
 
 
File:Citadel c17 soldiers beta.jpg|Beta Overwatch Soldiers stationed in [[City 17]], based on [[:File:Citadel walls.jpg|artwork]] by [[Viktor Antonov]].
 
File:Citadel c17 soldiers beta.jpg|Beta Overwatch Soldiers stationed in [[City 17]], based on [[:File:Citadel walls.jpg|artwork]] by [[Viktor Antonov]].
 
File:Beta d2 coast 080011.jpg|Overwatch Soldier and OICW in the playable Beta [[Bridge Point]].
 
File:Beta d2 coast 080011.jpg|Overwatch Soldier and OICW in the playable Beta [[Bridge Point]].
 
File:Ep1 soldier beta.jpg|Early ''Episode One'' screenshot with an alternate shotgun soldier. Same skin is showed in ''[[Half-Life 2: Deathmatch]]'' menu background.
 
File:Ep1 soldier beta.jpg|Early ''Episode One'' screenshot with an alternate shotgun soldier. Same skin is showed in ''[[Half-Life 2: Deathmatch]]'' menu background.
  +
File:Ep1 shotgunnerbeta.jpg|Ditto. The skin for this particular soldier can be found in ''Half-Life 2''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s "materials" folder.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
 
====Retail====
 
====Retail====
 
 
<gallery widths="140" position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true"><!--- DO NOT ALTER THESE CODES --->
 
<gallery widths="140" position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true"><!--- DO NOT ALTER THESE CODES --->
 
File:Nova Prospekt first.jpg|Prison Guards manning Emplacement Guns in Nova Prospekt.
 
File:Nova Prospekt first.jpg|Prison Guards manning Emplacement Guns in Nova Prospekt.
Line 211: Line 235:
 
File:Memory replacement Citadel2.jpg|Ditto.
 
File:Memory replacement Citadel2.jpg|Ditto.
 
File:Hl2dm bg soldiers.jpg|Different Overwatch Soldiers in the ''[[Half-Life 2: Deathmatch]]'' background image.
 
File:Hl2dm bg soldiers.jpg|Different Overwatch Soldiers in the ''[[Half-Life 2: Deathmatch]]'' background image.
File:First Apperance Combine Soldier.jpg|Combine Soldier by nocliping in Canals.
 
File:Soldier.jpg|In ''[[Half-Life 2: Raising The Bar]]''.
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
==List of appearances==
+
==List of appearances ==
   
 
*''[[Half-Life 2]]'' {{1st}}
 
*''[[Half-Life 2]]'' {{1st}}
Line 230: Line 252:
 
{{Combine}}
 
{{Combine}}
   
[[pl:Overwatch Soldier]]
+
[[de:Combine-Soldat]]
  +
[[es:Soldado_de_la_Vigilancia]]
  +
[[fr:Soldat_du_Cartel]]
  +
[[ru:Солдат_Патруля_Альянса]]
  +
 
[[Category:Combine Units]]
 
[[Category:Combine Units]]
 
[[Category:Half-Life 2]]
 
[[Category:Half-Life 2]]
Line 236: Line 262:
 
[[Category:Half-Life 2: Episode One]]
 
[[Category:Half-Life 2: Episode One]]
 
[[Category:Half-Life 2: Episode Two]]
 
[[Category:Half-Life 2: Episode Two]]
[[Category:Factions]]
 
 
[[Category:Transhumans]]
 
[[Category:Transhumans]]
 
[[Category:Enemies]]
 
[[Category:Enemies]]
 
[[Category:Ted Backman designs]]
 
[[Category:Ted Backman designs]]
 
[[Category:Dhabih Eng designs]]
 
[[Category:Dhabih Eng designs]]
 
[[Category:Combine]]

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"If the transhuman forces are to prove themselves an indispensable augmentation to the Combine Overwatch, they will have to earn the privilege."
Wallace Breen[src]
 

Overwatch Soldiers, also known as Combine Soldiers by Citizens, and Stabilization Delegates by the Overwatch Voice, are the transhuman infantry of the Combine Overwatch, and the primary military units of the Combine on Earth. In contrast to Civil Protection, whose duties are to enforce order within suppressed population centers, Overwatch soldiers are tasked with more hazardous missions like patrolling the treacherous borders of Combine-controlled territory, raiding Resistance-held strongholds, and suppressing remaining Xen creatures.

Being the Combine military operatives, Overwatch Soldiers acquire high military-grade equipment, and advanced combat training program, thus making them more formidable opponents.

Overview

Decalgraffiti

Graffiti demonstrating an Overwatch Soldier fully modified.

Overwatch Soldiers are humans that have undergone extensive cybernetic modifications including brain and chest surgery, and implantation of various mechanical devices in their bodies, granting them increased durability and endurance, to the point where wounds and trauma simply don't factor into their tactics. This procedure is carried out at Nova Prospekt and the Citadel, where soldiers can be seen without their armor. There are surgical scars running along the chest and on the head, suggesting extensive surgery in those areas, as well as mechanical implementations on the throat and the side of the abdomen. In addition to physical augmentations, soldiers also seem to undergo mental reprogramming to condition them into obedient and efficient soldiers as seen by their extensive familiarity with combat tactics, combine military codes, and their tactical way of communication.

Standard Overwatch Soldiers, like other soldier variants, wear standard-issue blue and grey camo body armor over their mid-sections with padding on their arms, thighs, and groin. Several insignias can be found on their arm pads, signifying their position in the Combine regime. Their helmets cover the head entirely, and are equipped with air filters and radios. These helmets have glowing blue goggles and appear to be a cross between an old Soviet PMG and PBF gas mask.

859164756 preview houlder

Overwatch Soldier armed with OSIPR

Overwatch Soldiers are armed with MP7s, SPAS-12 Shotguns or AR2 Pulse Rifles, as well as MK3A2 grenades. Using these standard-issue weapons, Overwatch Soldiers typically operate in squads of four to six. During combat, soldiers never backdown. They're fearless. Infinitely enduring, and will always fight to the last man. They use blitzkrieg-style tactics such as spreading around multiple angles to flank their target, throwing grenades to expose their enemies out of their defensive positions, providing cover fire for their squadmates, and pursuing injured targets. In addition, soldiers are also trained in unarmed combat, and should not be engaged in melee combat except as a last resort. Overwatch Soldiers are initially encountered in the coastal wasteland outside Ravenholm, sweeping the highways for Resistance activity and staffing Combine outposts. They can, however, be found anywhere the Combine requires direct military action, as the soldiers can be quickly transported to a desired area via Dropships. Overwatch Soldiers are also tasked with guarding high-value areas such as Nova Prospekt and the Citadel. In addition, they also serve as pilots and gunners of the Combine Hunter-Choppers.

When not in combat, Overwatch Soldiers are cold and emotionless. They will patrol the area, searching for possible hostiles. If threats have not been located, they'll default to fortifying their current position, and prepare an ambush for unsuspecting targets in the vicinity. They extensively use combine military vocabulary effectively when communicating, and are able to string multiple jargons in advanced codes together without pause. In combat, they communicate efficiently using these codes in short and direct sentences to coordinate their attacks, or to report situational and status developments to Overwatch.

Nevertheless, they still display some degree of humanity. For example, snipers will sometimes shout expletives when their nest is intruded with a grenade. During the breach of Nova Prospekt, one of the soldiers in headquarters can be heard stuttering while warning perimeter units of possible command and control of Gordon Freeman over the Antlions. Wallace Breen is also heard in a speech both commending them for the capture of Eli Vance and reprimanding them due to their failure in capturing Gordon Freeman, indicating that they can still understand concepts like morale and reprimand, at least in regards to their human Administrator. The speech also states that Overwatch soldiers are under pressure to perform well to demonstrate their value and by extension the value of the human race as a whole to their "benefactors". This, combined with the Overwatch Voice mentioning "off-world relocation" as a form of punishment for failing their mission, implies that Overwatch soldiers operate on a merit-based system similar to human military.

Variants

Being one of the most numerous units at the Combine's disposal, Overwatch Soldiers are both the Combine's primary infantry and seemingly the bulk of the Combine's forces on Earth. In addition to the standard soldier, they also come in several varieties according to their tasks:

Sniper City 17

Overwatch Sniper.

Overwatch Snipers are the sharpshooter units of the Overwatch, who are armed with the mounted Overwatch Sniper Rifle. Their presence (and where they are aiming) is indicated by a blue laser sight. They'll shoot any hostile immediately as soon as it's spotted and still on their sightlines. If they can't get enemy who's in cover they'll try to break his cover by shooting it and any nearby props in order to expose their target. If target's cover solid they'll pin him down as shown when they pinned down Barney Calhoun in the warehouse in chapter Follow Freeman.

Soldier np emplacement idle 2

Nova Prospekt Soldier.

Nova Prospekt Soldiers are essentially reskinned standard soldiers who are tasked with guarding and operating Nova Prospekt facility. They share the same arsenal and status as standard soldiers, with the only difference being their armor. Their armor is dark blue and they typically have yellow goggles, although the shotgun soldiers have red goggles. They display the Combine claw symbol on their left shoulder instead of the Overwatch symbol, and the words "Nova Prospekt" are emblazoned onto the back armor as well as their shoulder. Their unique uniforms give an indication as to how important Nova Prospekt is to the Combine on Earth, which might suggests them being higher-ranking than their standard counterparts. Compared to the Overwatch soldiers, their uniforms are generally more formal-looking and no camouflaged patte. However, they still have the standard badge similar to their Overwatch counterparts.

Shotgun Soldiers are Overwatch soldiers that exclusively wield shotgun. They can be distinguished by their brown and red uniforms and battle armor. Their helmets are slightly darker than the average Overwatch Soldier and have blood red/orange goggles. They also bear the Elite insignia on a red shoulder pad, suggesting that they may be a higher-ranked soldier variant, or a squad leader. In Nova Prospekt they have the same dark blue armor color and Nova Prospekt insignia on their right shoulder that a regular Nova Prospekt soldier would; however, they keep the red/orange goggle lens color and Overwatch Elite insignia on their left shoulder; both of which they would normally have outside of Nova Prospekt.

Worthy of mention are the Overwatch Elite, the pinnacle of the Combine Overwatch. They are special soldiers that have seemingly undergone more modifications than other Overwatch infantry, making them far less human in the process. Overwatch Elites exclusively use the Pulse Rifle and are the only Combine forces that can use the Rifle's secondary fire to a full effect with pinpoint accuracy. They are mostly used to naturalize high-value targets such as Gordon Freeman, or defend areas of strategic importance such as Nova Prospekt (as seen in the monitor of the control room) and the Critical. They are either deployed in a squad of their own unit or in command of Overwatch soldiers.

Tactics

  • Overwatch Soldiers coordinate their actions and take turns attacking an opponent. Always exercise caution when engaging a well formatted squad in an area with structures that offer concealment (e.g., buildings and walls) and pay attention to what type of soldiers you're up against in order to prioritize their threat levels.
  • When a soldier is injured or has to reload his weapon, he will typically try to find cover and get behind a solid object. When taking cover while in a fire-fight, be aware that the soldiers who are being engaged will most likely throw a grenade at Gordon, so be ready to throw it back at them with either the Gravity Gun or the "USE" key. If a grenade is not thrown, then it is likely that one or more of the soldiers are advancing to the player's position.
  • Maintain complete 360-degree awareness of the surroundings while engaging a squad of soldiers. Also, try not to concentrate on a single soldier while being engaged; be mindful of all enemy movement. Try to keep some distance from soldiers at all times. If Gordon is right in front of a soldier, or beside him, he will resort to a melee attack. Grenades will generally make soldiers disregard everything and attempt to flee the blast radius. This is an effective way to force soldiers out into the open if they are hiding behind cover, or simply to distract them for a few seconds in order to cause some damage.
  • Shotgun Soldiers, especially in close quarters combat, should be the first priority, as their shotguns are a much more threat than other weapons used by ordinary soldiers. They are particularly extremely aggressive and lethal, especially when they're firing while strafing (due to the ability to fire the shotgun in semi-automatic mode when moving). They can even kill essential NPCs like Alyx whose rapid health regeneration usually guarantees survival on lower difficulties and notably drain the player's health up to 21 damage per shot. They will normally try to close in on the player before making a shot since the shotgun is most effective at mid to close range, so take them out from a distance beforehand.
  • Soldiers have a tendency to crouch when dodging leaping Headcrabs, or when being shot on their upper body. When shot on their lower body, they will tend to retreat a few feet, and retaliate.
  • Soldiers prefer to keep their distance and fire from in range when engaging horde of enemies that tend to close in the distance such as Zombies and antlions.

Behind the scenes

  • Alternate, green-colored Combine Soldiers with glowing orange eyes were seen in preview screenshots of Half-Life 2: Episode One, at the time when it was still called Aftermath.[2] It is unclear how this variation differed from the rest of the Combine Overwatch, as they were replaced by regular Combine soldiers in the game's final release. These same green-colored soldiers can also be seen in the main menu of Half-Life 2: Deathmatch.
  • A texture from the 2003 leaked Half-Life 2 Beta indicates that the soldiers were to have some sort of shield at one time.[3] They were also supposed to use weapons such as the GR9, the MP5K, and the XM29 OICW.
  • In the Half-Life 2 Beta, the soldiers used the same melee kick as the HECU troopers. Originally, the Overwatch Soldiers would be able to kick doors down, as seen in the E3 demo "Traptown". However, this was changed most likely because, overall, the animation didn't fit the Overwatch Soldier, and using the gun as a melee weapon was more conventional. A left-over animation of the Beta Overwatch Soldier can be viewed in the Source SDK under the name of "shootAR2G". This animation shows what the leaked animations for the Overwatch Soldiers originally looked like: feet closer together, and although they look less experienced than the retail animations, they are more dynamic.[3]
  • According to the Half-Life: Alyx AMA held on the Half-Life subreddit a month before the release of the game, the original Overwatch Soldiers seen in Half-Life 2 were intended to be seen in the game, but appear to have been cut very late in development. However, their new model, as well as the shotgun variant and a green "commander" variant, can still be found in the game's files.

Related achievements

Half-Life 2

Hl2 kill enemies withcrane
OSHA Violation 5 Gscore
Kill 3 enemies using the crane.
Hl2 pin soldier tobillboard
Targeted Advertising 5 Gscore
Pin a soldier to the billboard in the chapter Highway 17.
Hl2 kill allc1709snipers
Counter-Sniper 5 Gscore
Kill all of the snipers in City 17.
Hl2 disintegrate soldiersinfield
Atomizer 10 Gscore
Disintegrate 15 soldiers by throwing them into a Combine ball field.

Trivia

  • Shotgun Soldiers appear throughout Half-Life 2 and its episodes in the console versions of The Orange Box, but originally only appeared in Episode Two on PC. As of the May 26, 2010 updates, Shotgun Soldiers appear in Half-Life 2 and Episode One on PCs as well as consoles. This also adds red goggle-wearing Nova Prospekt guards to the PC version of Half-Life 2. In the Xbox version of Half-Life 2 there are no Shotgun Soldiers, as the latest update for the game was released before The Orange Box.
First Apperance Combine Soldier

Combine Soldier by nocliping in Canals.

  • An Overwatch Soldier can be seen above the sewers in the chapter Route Kanal, in the map "d1_canals_05," but this is likely a mistake made by developers who forgot to delete it or just left it as easter egg (this is then, technically, the first time the player sees an Overwatch Soldier). Although the soldier can only actually be seen by using the console command Noclip, he will ignore the player completely unless he is fired at, after which he will behave normally. If it is an oversight, then the first intended appearance of Overwatch Soldiers is in Water Hazard, when they eject from the Hunter-Chopper. However, this might also be a mistake. It could be a remnant of the fact that Overwatch Soldiers were originally intended to appear much sooner than the final map of Ravenholm.
  • There are at least four Standard Overwatch Soldiers (not Prison Guards) in Nova Prospekt. One is shot and killed by Alyx Vance at the beginning of Entanglement, and another is seen dead in electrified water later on. The final two are corpses seen right after the room with electrified water.
  • If the console command "npc_create_equipment" is set to "weapon_shotgun" and player spawn a soldier, a Shotgun Soldier will spawn. This happens in all versions.
  • Overwatch Soldiers will use cover if the player places boxes to form a wall. This can be done in-game by turning off the AI with a command, using the use key to build it, and then finally re-enabling the AI.
  • The shotgun varation of the combine soldiers originally only appeared in Episode 2, with previous games not giving distinction between soldiers wielding shotguns and those with other weapons. They have been updated into every Half-Life 2 game since.
  • In the May 26, 2010 update, the Overwatch Soldiers have increased aggression when equipped with the shotgun, they will most likely strafe constantly and keep firing their shotgun in semi-automatic mode and can deal much more damage to the player.
  • Only two soldiers out of every "squad" can attack at any one moment in time, due to the slot-based squad AI system possessing only two attack slots. Soldiers either rapidly exchange slots to achieve massed fire or are broken up into small squads of just a handful of soldiers each, despite appearances implying larger teams. Similarly, only one soldier can toss a grenade at any one time, and this will temporarily prevent soldiers in the squad from throwing grenades again. This grenade rule only applies to each squad, so it is likely soldiers from different squads may throw more than one grenade towards the player.
  • Similarly to the HECU Marines of Half-Life, Combine Soldiers cannot use their weapon's secondary fire. This ability is only restricted to the HECU Sergeant, and the Combine Elite to augment their significant battlefield presence.
  • Sometimes, if a squad of soldiers reaches Freeman without him attacking or looking at them, they will run up to a decent range and stare at the player, ready to fire. They will attack when the player takes a single step or fires a weapon. This is not commonly seen, however, and appears to only work when the player is a long distance away and the soldiers hardly identify them. This tactic is also shared by Overwatch Elites and Ceiling Turrets.
  • In the old build of Half Life 2, The Shotgun Soldiers looked the same as Overwatch Soldiers.

Gallery

Concept art

Models

Insignias

Pre-release

Retail

Screenshots

Pre-release

Retail

List of appearances

References

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