GamesFPSHalf-Life 2Valve has released lost footage of Half-Life 2’s earliest public demo from 2000, a missing link between HL1 and HL2 that already teased Episode 3’s infamous BorealisWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesFPSHalf-Life 2Valve has released lost footage of Half-Life 2’s earliest public demo from 2000, a missing link between HL1 and HL2 that already teased Episode 3’s infamous BorealisWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Valve)
As part of Valve’s celebration of Half-Life 2’s 20th anniversary, the studio has released17 minutes of early development footagefor the game that was long thought lost. The demo shows a version of Half-Life 2 partway between HL1 and the final release—it’s familiar, yet also surreally, intriguingly different.
The “Get Your Free TVs” demo, so named for a City 17 citizen snagging a boob tube gratis early in the footage, was first shown at the SIGGRAPH graphics conference in 2000. That places this build two years out from Half-Life 1’s release, and two to three before the infamousHalf-Life 2 betathat leaked in 2003. It’s a distinct point in the game’s evolution, with graphical elements reminiscent of both Half-Life 1’s GoldSrc and the final Source engine, as well as a more grim, dark, and industrial art direction.
Half-Life 2 Anniversary Archive: SIGGRAPH 2000 Demo - YouTubeWatch On
Half-Life 2 Anniversary Archive: SIGGRAPH 2000 Demo - YouTube
Half-Life 2 Anniversary Archive: SIGGRAPH 2000 Demo - YouTube
As outlined in the Half-Life: Raising the Bar art book, the Combine’s destruction of Earth’s biosphere was initially meant to be much more overt and oppressive in the game, with a greenish sky and City 17 citizens wearing HAZMAT gear instead of their snazzy denim jumpsuits. Breen and the Combine’s architecture were more sinister and overbearing as well.
The demo shows off early versions of major NPCs like Barney and Alyx, as well as an almost-unrecognizable Dr. Kleiner. One of the biggest surprises is a snowfield area with an early version of the Borealis, the mysterious ice breaker unstuck in time that was to be the centerpiece of Episode 3. The ship also appears in the Half-Life 2 beta, so it’s clear that Valve has been trying to make the concept work for a long time.
Valve has put out a veritable smorgasbord of behind-the-scenes, rare, or never-before-seen content for Half-Life 2’s 20th birthday. A new,two-hour documentaryincludesGabe Newell’s thoughts on Episode 3andHalf-Life’s future, as well asgameplay footageof the legendary canceled expansion.
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