personally, I'd like to see a full rundown of the beta story, even if its fractured and scattered. would make for interesting visual mock-ups and interpretations
A full rundown is on the list of videos to make. The small issue I have is that there were so many different variations of the story. I'll see what I can do though ☺
I feel like the fractured and scattered nature of the early storyline would perfectly add to the "creepy factor" of the HL franchise and a potential story breakdown video. It'd leave the viewer uncertain of what events would truly transpire, leaving us to create our own positive or - most likely - negative scenarios. Considering that the beta was so much darker... It's easy to believe that there truly is no true victory for humanity over the combine, especially in a more grim scenario. The idea that humanity is doomed is actually my favourite theme in HL2. It's the idea of a "hopeful hell" where lost souls fight a losing battle only to ultimately fall. But they tried and that's all that matters in the end.
I really like the consul he feels more evil and cunning than Breen, I don't know why but Breen always looked kinda goofy to me and he had a sort of "kind grandpa" face that even made me feel sad for taking him down while with the consul I probably would've loved every second of it.
The consul just look so menacing. He really got that "idgaf what happens, the means justifies the ends" kind of vibe to him. Dr. Breen is just comical, but realistic. Breen's "kind" looks and low voice helped him earn the title of administrator. Sure, he was at the right place at the right time to get that kind of luxury, but his charisma definitely helped to at least some extent. But the consul... Definitely seems like something that would be implemented if the Combine decided to be incredibly serious and liked the consul due to similarities in coldheartedness. Right now, it just feels like the Combine treats Earth as a little "side project" of theirs. If both the Xen wildlife and Combine were just instantly teleported out of the solar system, I doubt they would care to even go back for Earth. I think that's how irrelevant it is to them. They just stick around because of status quo.
@@umamifan Yeah the Consul feels like he would go more in line with what the Combine wants for their group, the real motive of Breen/Consul was after all to become part of the Combine officially and join them and he was even willing to go through genetic modification to do it, Breen doesn't really fit into the Combine imo but the evil Consul certainly does, he's ruthless, only cares about himself and his experiments and he's the kind of guy that you wouldn't even doubt concocting the plan of attracting the Combine to Earth on purpose as part of a scheme to become part of them and the de-facto ruler of Earth and to obtain their knowledge, Breen instead looks like a normal scientist old guy that was caught in all of this by accident.
@@AJ-po6up I like Breen better because of this, he doesn't look stereotypically evil and yeah; he looks like some scientist that got caught up in this, well because that's what literally happened. I like that his design has more nuance to it like actual humanity rather than being "evil dictator-looking guy doing evil things".
Breen's motivations are endlessly fascinating to me. My interpretation is that Breen made some sort of deal with the G-Man to create the resonance cascade, and bring the Combine to earth. He was rewarded with power and knowledge, but ultimately G-Man collected his debt using Gordon in HL2. I think Breen was ignorant and deluded about the Combine, and what they were truly doing to Humanity. I think he genuinely believed they were the next step for Humanity, if even just as a coping mechanism. Breen stuck me as a megalomaniacal narcissist, who ultimately couldn't cope with the reality that he sold out his species, so he denied reality entirely.
The Consul is like a more menacing, darker and mysterious character than Breen. Though, we have a lot hints of what the intentions of Breen were but c'mon I'd have loved to see the Consul in his mutated form. It would have been epic. Anyhow, fascinating lore. 👍
Honestly, outside of from some cut enemies, some different characters, and darker look to it, it's not that much different from what we got except for the fact that humanity isn't being slowly genocided by the Combine. At least, not to the extent we see in the released game.
well you can just download the leaked beta, compile the WC mappack, put the maps in and play. it is very buggy though and you will have to make use of the console A LOT to get around
What I would like to see as not many on the Half-Life fan pages talk about are the voice actors who plays each of the characters like Dr. Wallace Breen voice by the late Robert Culp who I grew up watching him on films and TV shows from the 70s and 80s.
I like to believe that HL2 beta happens in a more advanced time, when the combine had a lot of time to settle and Gordon Freeman appeared a couple more decades later, hence the darker tone, and heavier surveillance. As to the working children and the suppression field, I think that in beta, there wouldn't be a suppression field at all, they would use the children to do forced work, now that humanity is more controlled in this reality
I like to think that Breen spoke with an advisor and they showed the true force of the combine empire. I think what conquered earth was their scouts basically. Think about what they send - mostly simple alien animals that have been grafted with technology. I think what they sent through the portal was basically cannon fodder to see what was on the other side and earth was so weak it only needed the threat of the main force to subside
From what we know in the beta, Gordon would've been MUCH more expressive, even mentioning him being "In shock" when he saw The Consul on the slideshow Eli Maxwell was showing him.
From what we know in the beta, Gordon would've been MUCH more expressive, even mentioning him being "In shock" when he saw The Consul on the slideshow Eli Maxwell was showing him.
As per usual amazing work. I'm watching it for the 4th time since it posted since I keep realizing I missed something in a previous watch! I can not imagine the work you must put into this!
He really does comes across more as a an piwefull figure and not just the combines lap dog/mouth piece like Breen does. I half life 2, but I really am curious the what if that the beta would have been. Not to mention the f-ing Cremator is so F-ING COOL. I still really hope it gets officially added as an enemy to a game.
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PSA: If you wanna play a banger mod that takes place in a HL2: Beta-like setting, "Raising the Bar: Redux mod" is a fantastic mod in development thats currently playable up to Ravenholm
The delve into the HL2 Beta is as addicting as it is depressing. Depressing, not in terms of the story itself, but the fact that I end up liking what we never got more and more. I know Valve changed a ton of stuff because of leaks, but it feels like they did it at the detriment of their own creation. Not everything in the Beta was superior, but it really feels like a majority of it was, the Consul included.
A consul is actually a title for a Roman leader, consuls would always work in pairs, and both shared equal power and ruled over Rome together. They were democratically elected by a senate. In times of war the consuls would transfer their power to a dictator, to lead for (if I am correct) a maximum of 6 months. If the dictator was able to solve the problem the consuls could not the dictator would step down and a new set of consuls would be elected to rule over Rome again. However if they do not solve the problem a new dictator is elected for another 6 months. So the title of "Consul" not only implies that there is another second Consul, but there could possibly even be a dictator that could be placed into power by the combine. And not just that, since the existence of both 2 consuls and a dictator that could be placed into power implies that there is an entire senate that the combine has at it's disposal.
Meaby the idea of Consul and his character would return and be expanded in future? Maybe like Boris in HDTF who was Breen's right hand and administrator of City 9?
Half Life 2 Beta: generic rip off of 1984 Released Half Life 2: unique story with only a few elements of 1984, created a story that beats most good stories during its time and is better than most modern day ones. Has rememberable characters you grow to like. Makes you feel as if humanity has a chance against the combine, despite how impossible it seems.
it's not a ripoff. Does 1984 have a space alien military force that all wear gas masks? Does 1984 have a scary ass flamethrower monster that's literally just a janitor but can burn you alive? Does 1984 have teleportation technology? Does 1984 have a completely unbeatable space alien force that has conquered universe? Half life 2 beta has elements of 1984, but its still its own entity. Half life 2 retail was less serious and felt less like a rebellion of an unbeatable system and more of a sci Fi shooter. Not that there's anything wrong with it, I'm glad we got a half life 2 with a more timeless and comedic identity, but the darkness of the half life 2 beta begs to be recaptured.
Y'all mfs really do shout "1984!!!" at anything and everything that has any form of authoritarianism. Woooaaah Adolf H*tler (thx RUclips) was inspired by 1984!!!! Stalin is such a 1984 ripoff!!! Far Cry is Skyrim with guns!!!
I found this character way more interesting and more fitting to the Half-Life universe than Breen,even when he speaks,he speak like an actual dictator.
i like beta version due the feeling of actually dealing with a force from a different dimension, it feels more realistic in that, to the combine we are so beneath them in in terms of technology and possibly culture in their eyes, that they view us as sentient livestock waiting to be used for a purpose, much like how humans view cattle or chickens, could kill them all or domesticate them and keep a steady supply manpower while you drain other resources then once drained move on to next dimension
Are you going to do a video on the leaked (2015) last version of HL3 story idea/speculation? I like the first half of the story with apiture (still needed a little work) but after that , it feels like a repeat of HL2 story but not as good I’m glad HL:A came out instead
@@SkyrionnNo not Epstile 3 , Go watch Tyler McVicker video on it. This is the last attempted version of HL3(2015 version) before they just scrapped it and moved to Hl:A
Thanks for this Video. I have been fascinated by the Half-Life 2 Beta for a while. I find in interesting of what was cut and what was left in. I personally loved the idea of the Consul. He just feels more terrifying than what we got in the final product in the form of Dr. Wallace Breen. I wish a few more ideas were left in from the Beta. Like the Manhack Arcade, Air Exchange, Wastelands, and more of a Industrial version of City 17. These are the reasons why I would have preferred the 1999 - 2002 versions of Half-Life 2. I love this video man. 10 Beta points out of 10 Beta Points would be a True Citizen again. Beta approved.
Beta versions of this game seem to have greater parallels to 1984 than the later variants, the imagery and the symbolism especially. Edit: Admittedly I hadn’t got to that part of the video yet, but yes, Skyrrion makes exactly that point. Next time I’ll watch the whole video lmao
I kind of like the beta one because of its beta combine units or skins and the whole game and story itself i also enjoy watching your videos they're quite entertaining and intresting for my perspective and the lore of the game aswell
I would love to see Breen and The Consul interact, both are similar but very different in key factors, a debate between the two would have been very intellectually engaging.
So wait, when you encountered the Consul in the citadel, in one version of the story (concept art where Helena holds Alyx at gunpoint) he was still human at that point, and in another version of the story he was already a robot without arms in that machine (concept art at 12:10)?
@@Skyrionn Heck yeah high way 17 showed the idea but not to the fullest would love to explore areas of the dry out ocean. especially approaching the nova prospect and Depot facilities would had been cool if we had to go into the depot air firstwhile exploring the wasteland and beached ships and submarines and dead fish, then nova prospect.
i like breen better, his speeches about lungfish, the burgess shale and the importance of collaboration really spoke to me, really high iq stuff you dont get very often
I think it's always more interesting to have a villain who has a more layered character than just being pure evil. Dr. Breen was at least somewhat sympathetic because you got the sense he just took the opportunities that were presented to him rather than it being what he truly wanted. He was just the right man in the wrong place.
I havent watched much of your videos but considering there are about three unique half life betas (2001, 2002, 2003) which one do you follow? 2001 and 2003 are miles apart and 2002 is sort of a combination of the two that misses the mark on some of the most appealing story pieces and themes found in 2001. An example would be things like city 17 in 2001 and 2002, both share the combine arcade, both share the consul, both share the air exchange plot etc etc, but the city has been sort of lowered and missing its skyscrapers by 2002, more similar to 2003 and release half life 2, the construction site is gone and the canals have been moved to still be inside the city, in fact I think the huge wall present in 2001 c17 that the canals took place outside of is completely gone. Do you just kind of mix all three together or whats the deal
while i think a bunch of the half life conceptual pieces were definitely a bit too disturbing to really even be considered for a non-horror focused game, Half Life 2's beta is the epitome of "aww why could this not have worked out!?" (yes i know about the leak before anybody asks)
What bothers me is that such an advanced collective as the Combine should have known by now that rule by fear and violence is untenable in the long run. It is far more beneficial to have the populace believe that they are living well, to make it so that not only do they not need to rebel, they do not WANT to. It's a shockingly juvenile mistake from a supposedly endless empire.
I might be wrong here but wasn't there a 1848 like trailer for Half Life 2 where the normal citizens watch Dr. Breen on a huge screen and Alyx comes in the room and smashes the screen with a crowbar. This trailer might have been a fanmade trailer but I can't remember if it was fanmade or if it was official.
I think a sense of mystery could've made him go from a unlikable villan you forget about 2 weeks later to someone you want to know more about find his real name who is he
Which version do you prefer?.
The Consul or Dr. Wallace Breen?
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The Consul. As much as I liked and enjoyed the retail I think the beta was superior and would have been too.
I like Wallace Breen's voice actor more then the consul but I prefer the Consul for the darker tone
Breen
the consul is far more menacing
personally, I'd like to see a full rundown of the beta story, even if its fractured and scattered. would make for interesting visual mock-ups and interpretations
A full rundown is on the list of videos to make. The small issue I have is that there were so many different variations of the story. I'll see what I can do though ☺
@@Skyrionn thanks btw you are such a great channel and endlessly entertaining
I feel like the fractured and scattered nature of the early storyline would perfectly add to the "creepy factor" of the HL franchise and a potential story breakdown video.
It'd leave the viewer uncertain of what events would truly transpire, leaving us to create our own positive or - most likely - negative scenarios.
Considering that the beta was so much darker... It's easy to believe that there truly is no true victory for humanity over the combine, especially in a more grim scenario. The idea that humanity is doomed is actually my favourite theme in HL2. It's the idea of a "hopeful hell" where lost souls fight a losing battle only to ultimately fall. But they tried and that's all that matters in the end.
@@Skyrionn man idc if it’s 3 or however long it would be the coolest video ever
If only they don't get stuck in development hell
Despite BETA being fractured, you really made it sound like complete and it didn't feel like anything vital from the lore was missing
It took a while to put the script together for this one because I wanted everything connected and grounded in the HL2 reality. Thanks for noticing.
Ah, yes, my favourite Breaking Bad spin-off show, Beta Consul
Oh for crying out loud. lol
that's a groaner right there
I really like the consul he feels more evil and cunning than Breen, I don't know why but Breen always looked kinda goofy to me and he had a sort of "kind grandpa" face that even made me feel sad for taking him down while with the consul I probably would've loved every second of it.
The consul just look so menacing. He really got that "idgaf what happens, the means justifies the ends" kind of vibe to him. Dr. Breen is just comical, but realistic. Breen's "kind" looks and low voice helped him earn the title of administrator. Sure, he was at the right place at the right time to get that kind of luxury, but his charisma definitely helped to at least some extent. But the consul... Definitely seems like something that would be implemented if the Combine decided to be incredibly serious and liked the consul due to similarities in coldheartedness. Right now, it just feels like the Combine treats Earth as a little "side project" of theirs. If both the Xen wildlife and Combine were just instantly teleported out of the solar system, I doubt they would care to even go back for Earth. I think that's how irrelevant it is to them. They just stick around because of status quo.
Consul just seems like a really generic evil character tbh
@@umamifan Yeah the Consul feels like he would go more in line with what the Combine wants for their group, the real motive of Breen/Consul was after all to become part of the Combine officially and join them and he was even willing to go through genetic modification to do it, Breen doesn't really fit into the Combine imo but the evil Consul certainly does, he's ruthless, only cares about himself and his experiments and he's the kind of guy that you wouldn't even doubt concocting the plan of attracting the Combine to Earth on purpose as part of a scheme to become part of them and the de-facto ruler of Earth and to obtain their knowledge, Breen instead looks like a normal scientist old guy that was caught in all of this by accident.
The Consul is literally a nazi, the Breen has the kind grandpa look, and he literally looks like my 71-year old uncle.
@@AJ-po6up I like Breen better because of this, he doesn't look stereotypically evil and yeah; he looks like some scientist that got caught up in this, well because that's what literally happened.
I like that his design has more nuance to it like actual humanity rather than being "evil dictator-looking guy doing evil things".
'Beta Consul' has the same ring to it as 'Better Call Saul'
"Hi, citizen! Did you know that you don't have rights? Combine says you don't, and so do I!"
I adore these Beta lore videos, please keep up the amazing work Skyrionn
There's more to come!
@@Skyrionn Looking forward to them!
Breen's motivations are endlessly fascinating to me. My interpretation is that Breen made some sort of deal with the G-Man to create the resonance cascade, and bring the Combine to earth. He was rewarded with power and knowledge, but ultimately G-Man collected his debt using Gordon in HL2. I think Breen was ignorant and deluded about the Combine, and what they were truly doing to Humanity. I think he genuinely believed they were the next step for Humanity, if even just as a coping mechanism. Breen stuck me as a megalomaniacal narcissist, who ultimately couldn't cope with the reality that he sold out his species, so he denied reality entirely.
Your use of "The True Citizen..." had "all hail hypnotoad" vibes :D
I guess it kinda did!
Did it work?
love your stuff man@@Skyrionn
The Consul is like a more menacing, darker and mysterious character than Breen. Though, we have a lot hints of what the intentions of Breen were but c'mon I'd have loved to see the Consul in his mutated form. It would have been epic.
Anyhow, fascinating lore. 👍
This really reminds me of the film equilibrium. Great video as always!
I'll have to look the film up!
@@nikolametal2001 2002
Can't wait for a full release of a fanmade beta HL2. Definitely would be worth playing
Honestly, outside of from some cut enemies, some different characters, and darker look to it, it's not that much different from what we got except for the fact that humanity isn't being slowly genocided by the Combine. At least, not to the extent we see in the released game.
@@samiamtheman7379 so darker look but lighter tone in a way?
well you can just download the leaked beta, compile the WC mappack, put the maps in and play. it is very buggy though and you will have to make use of the console A LOT to get around
theres several mods that aim to do this, raising the bar: redux seems to be our best bet so far
9:12 that caught me off guard tho, jesus, the way you transit it into your own words legit make me thought the video is sentient
What I would like to see as not many on the Half-Life fan pages talk about are the voice actors who plays each of the characters like Dr. Wallace Breen voice by the late Robert Culp who I grew up watching him on films and TV shows from the 70s and 80s.
That reminds me. A while back I actually emailed Mark Laidlaw about who the voice for the consul was either himself or Kelly Bailey
Love the beta content!!! Another great video sir
Appreciate it!
I like to believe that HL2 beta happens in a more advanced time, when the combine had a lot of time to settle and Gordon Freeman appeared a couple more decades later, hence the darker tone, and heavier surveillance.
As to the working children and the suppression field, I think that in beta, there wouldn't be a suppression field at all, they would use the children to do forced work, now that humanity is more controlled in this reality
Beta is more atmospheric than what we got during release.
The game gets +5 atmospheres for every child slave it has
@@plaguedoctorjamespainshe6009 exactly
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The best words.
@@Skyrionn I love your content man
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Thanks for the continued great videos my friend! Also an update my Son Charlie was born two days ago!
Congratulations Cody! Honestly so happy for you!
Thanks for watching as always
@@Skyrionn Thanks my friend and thanks for the great content as always!
Me explaining all the half life 2 lore to my Friends from memory even though they are going to forget it the next day:
I like to think that Breen spoke with an advisor and they showed the true force of the combine empire. I think what conquered earth was their scouts basically. Think about what they send - mostly simple alien animals that have been grafted with technology. I think what they sent through the portal was basically cannon fodder to see what was on the other side and earth was so weak it only needed the threat of the main force to subside
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Gordon having to actually talk to the Consul sounds really cursed.
From what we know in the beta, Gordon would've been MUCH more expressive, even mentioning him being "In shock" when he saw The Consul on the slideshow Eli Maxwell was showing him.
From what we know in the beta, Gordon would've been MUCH more expressive, even mentioning him being "In shock" when he saw The Consul on the slideshow Eli Maxwell was showing him.
As per usual amazing work. I'm watching it for the 4th time since it posted since I keep realizing I missed something in a previous watch! I can not imagine the work you must put into this!
Wow, four watches! That's commitment. Thanks for watching the videos. I do appreciate it.
I always love your content! I wish I was part of the team working on anything Half Life related.
Keep it up! 🤘🏻
Thanks for watching! Hopefully we get something half life related soon
Great work. I wait alot for your half life lores. Thanks
Thanks for watching them!
Despite being a year late, this video is my favorite on the platform.
He really does comes across more as a an piwefull figure and not just the combines lap dog/mouth piece like Breen does. I half life 2, but I really am curious the what if that the beta would have been. Not to mention the f-ing Cremator is so F-ING COOL. I still really hope it gets officially added as an enemy to a game.
The Cremator was cut from Half-Life Alyx too, guess we won't see them until they're cut content again in Half-Life Barney in 4025
Although Beta had some cool things, I'm still grateful that HL2 end up as released version.
I 100% agree, I think people get too caught up in the concept art and forget the amount of good in Half Life 2
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Anyone else out there always felt that the Consul was modelled after Ralph Fiennes?
PSA: If you wanna play a banger mod that takes place in a HL2: Beta-like setting, "Raising the Bar: Redux mod" is a fantastic mod in development thats currently playable up to Ravenholm
1000th Dark and Gritty I've heard from a Half-Life 2 Beta video
meme
No way better call Saul
The delve into the HL2 Beta is as addicting as it is depressing. Depressing, not in terms of the story itself, but the fact that I end up liking what we never got more and more. I know Valve changed a ton of stuff because of leaks, but it feels like they did it at the detriment of their own creation. Not everything in the Beta was superior, but it really feels like a majority of it was, the Consul included.
Concepts will always look better than the finished product, it happens with just about every game.
It wasn't changed because of leaks.
A consul is actually a title for a Roman leader, consuls would always work in pairs, and both shared equal power and ruled over Rome together. They were democratically elected by a senate. In times of war the consuls would transfer their power to a dictator, to lead for (if I am correct) a maximum of 6 months. If the dictator was able to solve the problem the consuls could not the dictator would step down and a new set of consuls would be elected to rule over Rome again. However if they do not solve the problem a new dictator is elected for another 6 months. So the title of "Consul" not only implies that there is another second Consul, but there could possibly even be a dictator that could be placed into power by the combine. And not just that, since the existence of both 2 consuls and a dictator that could be placed into power implies that there is an entire senate that the combine has at it's disposal.
Meaby the idea of Consul and his character would return and be expanded in future? Maybe like Boris in HDTF who was Breen's right hand and administrator of City 9?
Half Life 2 Beta: generic rip off of 1984
Released Half Life 2: unique story with only a few elements of 1984, created a story that beats most good stories during its time and is better than most modern day ones. Has rememberable characters you grow to like. Makes you feel as if humanity has a chance against the combine, despite how impossible it seems.
it's not a ripoff. Does 1984 have a space alien military force that all wear gas masks? Does 1984 have a scary ass flamethrower monster that's literally just a janitor but can burn you alive? Does 1984 have teleportation technology? Does 1984 have a completely unbeatable space alien force that has conquered universe?
Half life 2 beta has elements of 1984, but its still its own entity.
Half life 2 retail was less serious and felt less like a rebellion of an unbeatable system and more of a sci Fi shooter. Not that there's anything wrong with it, I'm glad we got a half life 2 with a more timeless and comedic identity, but the darkness of the half life 2 beta begs to be recaptured.
Y'all mfs really do shout "1984!!!" at anything and everything that has any form of authoritarianism.
Woooaaah Adolf H*tler (thx RUclips) was inspired by 1984!!!! Stalin is such a 1984 ripoff!!! Far Cry is Skyrim with guns!!!
@@BichaelStevens facts
The True Citizen knows you touch up on the lore of our benefactors with your standard issued Skyrionn broadcast as you eat your rations.
The Consul was perfect for the oppressive atmosphere of the beta, he fit into his world in every possible way.
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*Additional rations granted*
love your videos
Thank you!
I found this character way more interesting and more fitting to the Half-Life universe than Breen,even when he speaks,he speak like an actual dictator.
Wow, what a unique take, definitely haven't heard this a million times before.
What?
i like beta version due the feeling of actually dealing with a force from a different dimension, it feels more realistic in that, to the combine we are so beneath them in in terms of technology and possibly culture in their eyes, that they view us as sentient livestock waiting to be used for a purpose, much like how humans view cattle or chickens, could kill them all or domesticate them and keep a steady supply manpower while you drain other resources then once drained move on to next dimension
Are you going to do a video on the leaked (2015) last version of HL3 story idea/speculation?
I like the first half of the story with apiture (still needed a little work) but after that , it feels like a repeat of HL2 story but not as good
I’m glad HL:A came out instead
You mean Epistle 3? I covered it around a year ago :)
@@SkyrionnNo not Epstile 3 ,
Go watch Tyler McVicker video on it.
This is the last attempted version of HL3(2015 version) before they just scrapped it and moved to Hl:A
Very Cool video my dude!
Thanks!
Thanks for this Video. I have been fascinated by the Half-Life 2 Beta for a while. I find in interesting of what was cut and what was left in. I personally loved the idea of the Consul. He just feels more terrifying than what we got in the final product in the form of Dr. Wallace Breen. I wish a few more ideas were left in from the Beta. Like the Manhack Arcade, Air Exchange, Wastelands, and more of a Industrial version of City 17. These are the reasons why I would have preferred the 1999 - 2002 versions of Half-Life 2. I love this video man. 10 Beta points out of 10 Beta Points would be a True Citizen again. Beta approved.
bitter coleslaw
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I don't know why but "Beta Consul" actually sounds like a badass name for a dystopian villain
Its only consul. Beta is not his title
The consul looks like Patrick Stewart
lmao 🤣
Incredible video, I just love listening to your voice and your contents.
Thank you so much 😀
"beta consul" sounds like a better call saul reference
It's all I hear now
i cant wach this video yet but it looks sooooooooooooooooooo cool wow i cant wait keep up the good work
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Yes my lord.
good work man! i like your beta videos
Glad you like them! There's more to come!
Beta versions of this game seem to have greater parallels to 1984 than the later variants, the imagery and the symbolism especially.
Edit: Admittedly I hadn’t got to that part of the video yet, but yes, Skyrrion makes exactly that point. Next time I’ll watch the whole video lmao
I'm glad you came back and added that to your comment haha!
The true citizen picks up that damn can
100%
Better call Saul
another great video!!
Thanks Chuck!
High quality content. Good job, you are amazing.
Wow, thanks! Super kind of you to say!
I have that beta map of the old citadel on gmod, fkn love it
It's a great map. I love the skyboxes.
0:23 sans battle place location 😱
literally the "partnership" between Poland and the commune
please never stop making half-life 2 and portal lore videos 🙏
It would be cool if we get a version of half life 2 based on the beta. Good video skyrionn.
Thanks for making a video about me citizen.
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*Additional Rations Granted.*
8:16 Are you implying that his *lower half* would appear somewhere else? 0_o
In HL3 we have a Dune crossover when Sandworm Consul speaks to the Combine to make the Freeman un-free
I kind of like the beta one because of its beta combine units or skins and the whole game and story itself i also enjoy watching your videos they're quite entertaining and intresting for my perspective and the lore of the game aswell
I would love to see Breen and The Consul interact, both are similar but very different in key factors, a debate between the two would have been very intellectually engaging.
I'd have loved to see something like that.
I so wish we got a darker HL2
So wait, when you encountered the Consul in the citadel, in one version of the story (concept art where Helena holds Alyx at gunpoint) he was still human at that point, and in another version of the story he was already a robot without arms in that machine (concept art at 12:10)?
nice job repeating what he said in video in question form
@@breadtoast1036 I didn't repeat, i asked a question because i did not understand
Wish we got the wasteland in half life 2 was kept love t explore the ruins of the wasteland.
The wasteland, although bleak, looked great. I think I agree with you.
@@Skyrionn Heck yeah high way 17 showed the idea but not to the fullest would love to explore areas of the dry out ocean. especially approaching the nova prospect and Depot facilities would had been cool if we had to go into the depot air firstwhile exploring the wasteland and beached ships and submarines and dead fish, then nova prospect.
The wasteland evolved into the coast in the retail game iirc
Just finished the cremator vid.🔥🔥 Had to come watch this after you mentioned it.
Welcome welcome. Explore the whole channel and stay. There's more to come too!
Banger video as always
Appreciate it
i like breen better, his speeches about lungfish, the burgess shale and the importance of collaboration really spoke to me, really high iq stuff you dont get very often
That's a very good point. It's a shame we didn't get to the stage where we saw if The Consul made similar speeches.
Ohh so THAT'S who Samuel is. I'd heard of him and seen his facemap, but was like "who's Samuel..."
Yeah - I learned that while putting the episode together too!
The Consul looks like a cross between Ralph Fiennes and Kevin Spacey.
Do what you want with this information.
I can't unsee it
@@Skyrionn 😂
14:35 The consul looks really... dont have words to explain what im thinking
11:40 I guess this evolved into Breen becoming an advisor after the main game
what's that first map that appears on the start of the video? really looks dark and griddy with the consulcast screen
I think it's always more interesting to have a villain who has a more layered character than just being pure evil. Dr. Breen was at least somewhat sympathetic because you got the sense he just took the opportunities that were presented to him rather than it being what he truly wanted. He was just the right man in the wrong place.
wow patrick stewart really took the 7 hour war into his own hands
I havent watched much of your videos but considering there are about three unique half life betas (2001, 2002, 2003) which one do you follow? 2001 and 2003 are miles apart and 2002 is sort of a combination of the two that misses the mark on some of the most appealing story pieces and themes found in 2001. An example would be things like city 17 in 2001 and 2002, both share the combine arcade, both share the consul, both share the air exchange plot etc etc, but the city has been sort of lowered and missing its skyscrapers by 2002, more similar to 2003 and release half life 2, the construction site is gone and the canals have been moved to still be inside the city, in fact I think the huge wall present in 2001 c17 that the canals took place outside of is completely gone. Do you just kind of mix all three together or whats the deal
bro i was watching a video about hl2 beta glad that i have more content about the beta
There's more to come!
while i think a bunch of the half life conceptual pieces were definitely a bit too disturbing to really even be considered for a non-horror focused game, Half Life 2's beta is the epitome of "aww why could this not have worked out!?" (yes i know about the leak before anybody asks)
7:17 HE SAID IT! HE SAID THE THING
What bothers me is that such an advanced collective as the Combine should have known by now that rule by fear and violence is untenable in the long run. It is far more beneficial to have the populace believe that they are living well, to make it so that not only do they not need to rebel, they do not WANT to.
It's a shockingly juvenile mistake from a supposedly endless empire.
I might be wrong here but wasn't there a 1848 like trailer for Half Life 2 where the normal citizens watch Dr. Breen on a huge screen and Alyx comes in the room and smashes the screen with a crowbar. This trailer might have been a fanmade trailer but I can't remember if it was fanmade or if it was official.
It was for the Half Life 2 on Mac ad.
It was a play on the same ad that Apple had used for Mac.
1984*
1848?
I guess the combine like to "combine" their forces with other planets
Yes that is what the name means. Also known as the Universal Union.
It has many meanings. Another is the "Combine Harvester". They harvest the species to come across for new soldiers in their army.
I think a sense of mystery could've made him go from a unlikable villan you forget about 2 weeks later to someone you want to know more about find his real name who is he
What in the 2,40 secs is that a portuguese chaimite armored car, damm never expected it in half life or something
I wouldnt even dare to imagine in there
Imagine the last remaining combines in our world in current HL2 met with a alternate reality of this Iteration of HL2 heh.
I almost laughed at you acknowledging the fact that the Half-Life 2 beta became a meme for being dark and gritty.
dark and griddy
If the strider on the frame saw itself there it’ll be like “hey thats me!” 1:20
i finnaly found the name of one of the songs in the background its called triage at dawn!
I put all of the songs I use in the description near the bottom haha! I hope that helps.
I look forward to the people who made Black Mesa, make a HL2 Beta Full Version.
I'd love that
You really brought the Beta to life
Thanks man!