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8/6/2025, 5:57:40 PM
>>717424837
The most likely true reason is that Valve artists wanted to take a bit of inspiration from the stalker. The faceplate etc. It looks more brutal.
The HLA design is honestly a more practical and simple design too. Like they actually thought about the logistics of how a system like a Combine soldier could work with minimal compatibility issues and minimal points of failure. No risk of a speck of dust inside the mask getting in your eye and distracting you when your eyes are a sensor array at the front of your mask. Less latency when it's wired to your brain.
The HLA Combine soldiers are helpless outside of Combine infrastructure though due to being so biologically integrated with their gear. The HL2 ones seem more integrated with Earth's ecosystem, like they could remove their damaged armor and cook up a headcrab for food. The HLA soldiers may not even have a jaw and mouth for all I know - although it is likely that they do have one unless their speech is entirely synthesized.
I'm not entirely sure that the HLA soldier is what all Combine soldiers will look like from now on though. HLA concept art of a helmetless Combine Ordinal shows him as a HL2-style soldier, so it may be that nothing is really set in stone with the design. (bottom left corner)
The most likely true reason is that Valve artists wanted to take a bit of inspiration from the stalker. The faceplate etc. It looks more brutal.
The HLA design is honestly a more practical and simple design too. Like they actually thought about the logistics of how a system like a Combine soldier could work with minimal compatibility issues and minimal points of failure. No risk of a speck of dust inside the mask getting in your eye and distracting you when your eyes are a sensor array at the front of your mask. Less latency when it's wired to your brain.
The HLA Combine soldiers are helpless outside of Combine infrastructure though due to being so biologically integrated with their gear. The HL2 ones seem more integrated with Earth's ecosystem, like they could remove their damaged armor and cook up a headcrab for food. The HLA soldiers may not even have a jaw and mouth for all I know - although it is likely that they do have one unless their speech is entirely synthesized.
I'm not entirely sure that the HLA soldier is what all Combine soldiers will look like from now on though. HLA concept art of a helmetless Combine Ordinal shows him as a HL2-style soldier, so it may be that nothing is really set in stone with the design. (bottom left corner)
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