Comments on: TaserStick Included

By: ape

ape — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:46:19 +0000

The combine officer really sounds like Tom Cruise does when he’s interviewed.

By: CrashT

CrashT — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:32:19 +0000

I like how it’s Freeman himself who delivers the final blow.

By: Steelfist

Steelfist — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:49:16 +0000

It would be fucking awesome to just wander around at halloween with that on ordering people to pick up cans.

By: Valentin Galea

Valentin Galea — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:21:34 +0000

They ruined it:( Looks like a mouse face:)

By: sbs

sbs — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:07:04 +0000

Smee: If another… perspective on the Combine is what you crave, I can recommend the Minerva Mod. Set shortly before the events of HL2, it ties in neatly with the Half-Life Universe.
It definitely altered the way I see in the Combine.

By: Smee

Smee — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:16:32 +0000

Well, it’s a nice costume, but over $200 for it? Simply ridiculous, and a massive rip-off. The mask they used goes for about $20 on eBay (I think it’s a Russian Officer’s mask?); voicemitters about $5 from Army Surplus. Add in a skullcap and you’re done. It’s an evening’s work, tops, and can be easily done for less than $40. What a rip.

That interview was the best parody yet of the Tom Cruise video, but it makes me more frustrated over the only problem I have with Half Life 2/Episodes. That is, the Civil Protection are never, ever humanised. If you’re not paying attention to the dialogue, you’d be forgiven for thinking that they’re just other robotic Combine hybrids. Just because some citizens call them traitors does not a strong villain make.

A single scene where Gordon crawls past a Metro Cop guard room and overhears a conversation between two about the rewards/sacrifices about joining the Metro Cops, or a view of someone changing into the uniform, would be all that’s needed. I remember there was loads of that sort of thing from the Army in the original Half Life. Why not for the Civil Protection?

Edit: Just re-read and saw it’s for the whole costume, not just the mask. It’s still default Army Surplus stuff, though. I’M STILL RIGHT, GOD DAMNIT

By: joesyze

joesyze — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:12:40 +0000

Great vid. That Nuyan posted pic is mental too. Life and Art.

By: Quater

Quater — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:43:28 +0000

Hmm interesting, I definitely picked up the parallel with the Tom Cruise Scientology interview things, even though I didn’t know that was an intentional reference beforehand. It’s a great film, the only problem with it being the actor’s overly self-consciously evil laugh, which is just distracting and detracts from the quality and professionalism of the rest of the film.

I don’t get the impression it’s supposed to be an advertisement for the religion as such, just a sort of private study interview, maybe circulated among Combine troops rather than broadcast publicly. Good stuff.

By: Chaz

Chaz — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:26:56 +0000

If you get hit over the head with a crowbar whilst wearing it, do you make that dying radio noise “Crrrrrkkkkk EEEEEEEEEEE………!”?

By: Leelad

Leelad — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:26:19 +0000

Not bidding as there is no promise of being able to police the streets of litter dropping fools.

Very impressive though.

By: Nuyan

Nuyan — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:36:01 +0000

That movie is quite cool, yes. But as for Combine soldiers in the real world.. A year ago I saw a photo in the newspaper that kind of gave me a big deja-vu. Look at this. Seems to me that Georgian riot-police got just as scary outfits.

By: Crispy

Crispy — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:28:03 +0000

That video’s a nice piece of work. The bit where the Combine’s just staring at the rebel getting the crap beaten out of him is maybe the most psychologically disturbing.