Half-Life: Alyx/Unused Sounds and Dialogue
This is a sub-page of Half-Life: Alyx.
Contents
Developer Commentary
Developer Matt Wilde, a Visual Effects Artist at Valve, has a commentary node that goes unused in the final game, in which he talks about how polishing the environment would cause players to spend more time admiring their surroundings. It’s unclear why this commentary wasn’t included, perhaps just a mere oversight. It's worth noting that developers Chris Emond and Thiago Vidotto also made similar comments, so it’s possible it was removed to avoid repeating the same point.
It’s also worth pointing out that this is the only commentary node that directly instructs the player to take some sort of action. This suggests there may have been a planned sequence tied to it, but it was likely scrapped along with the track.
| Speaker | Sound | Filename(s) |  Transcript:
|
|---|---|---|---|
| MattWilde | a2_02_art_pacing | "Early graybox levels like this we use to start laying out spaces for players to explore and fight enemies early on in development. This allowed us to begin playtesting as quickly as possible. Players would move through these graybox spaces very quickly, pausing only to glance around for something interesting to interact with, grab some ammunitation, or fight enemies, before immediately moving on to the next space. It was fascinating to see this behavior change as soon as players encountered levels with more art and lighting. Suddenly, players were spending five minutes in a room exploring every corner, and it was not uncommon for a level to have its playtime doubled or tripled after art was added. The pacing change was so dramatic that we had to modify our levels to better account for this new behavior by adding more things to interact with in each space. After you've explored this area, you can return to the game by removing your headset or proceeding forward to the exit. " |
Test Sounds
These can be found in 'sounds/test'.
| Sound | Filename(s) | Transcript |
|---|---|---|
| sa_test_hello | Hello! :D | |
| tv_music |
Hahn
Dialogue intended for the Combine scientist lady seen in the chapter "Revelations". According to The Final Hours of Half-Life: Alyx and several scrapped animations involving Eli, she was originally meant to play a more significant role in the story. It seems to have been recorded by a Valve developer as a placeholder.
| Sound | Filename(s) | Transcript |
|---|---|---|
| test_dialog_hahn.vsnd | We don't shoot our friends! Not unless they do something unfriendly. Save your enthusiasm for the inspection in [Location]. |
Doctor Breen
Test dialogue intended for the Breencast. While many more files were recorded, this is the only one that made it to retail.
| Sound | Filename(s) | Transcript |
|---|---|---|
| test_dialog_breen.vsnd | Why would you want to fight against equality? In all my communications with the combine, from negotiating our surrender, to listening to their plans for the future, they have been nothing but rational. Let's not forget, they have mastered interdimensional travel, they have all but whipped out the Vortigaunt menace, that we brought upon ourselves, and they are in the process of cleaning up the quarantine zone for us! |
Eli Vance
There are many leftover lines from Half-Life 2 recorded by Eli's late voice actor Robert Guillaume, since they're part of a folder tree called 'sounds/test', it was liked only meant for testing porpuses.
All the dialogue for the final scene of Episode Two is also present, under 'sounds/vo/test/ep2_ending'.
HEV Suit
Despite the HEV Suit having only one line in the final game, every single voice line and sound effect associated with it was ported from the original Half-Life and can be found in the files.
Unused Dialogue
G-Man
These can be found in 'sounds/vo/gman'
| Sound | Filename(s) | Transcript | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04_00201 | That is a question with a multitude — | ||
| 04_00503 | Your glove, Ms Vance. | This audio was intended to play if the player remains idle after G-Man tells Alyx to save her father, but it goes unused. |
Early Ending
These can be found in 'sounds/ambient/abstract/endgame/temp_noship'.
It reuses lines heard throughout the final game and, given the ethereal effects, was likely intended for the final chapter, possibly during one of the vault sequences. Since the folder is labeled "temp_noship" (likely meaning "temporary, do not ship"), these were probably used as placeholders.
| Speaker | Sound | Filename(s) | Transcript |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alyx Vance | 01_01154.vsnd | So, dad's ok right? | |
| 01_01205.vsnd | Russel what did you guys find back there? | ||
| Eli Vance | 02_01101.vsnd | Open your eyes honey, Open your eyes | |
| 01_01515.vsnd | Go, go. Stay safe baby, I love you | ||
| Russel | 05_00006.vsnd | Alyx, put on the headset! | |
| 05_00052.vsnd | I'm with you every step of the way | ||
| 05_00156.vsnd | So I was thinking I could talk to you about sandwiches, if you'd like | ||
| Vortigaunt | 04_00206.vsnd | I, love you too |
The file '02_01101.vsnd' is the only voice line without an in-game counterpart.
Combine Soldiers
These can be found in 'sounds/vo/combine soldier'. Interestingly, all voice lines refer to the player as "Freeman".
| Sound | Filename(s) | Transcript |
|---|---|---|
| combine_throw_grenade_01 | Leader zero, extractor away | |
| combine_throw_grenade_02 | Leader zero, extractor is live | |
| combine_throw_grenade_03 | Leader zero, flash sharp zone | |
| combine_throw_grenade_04 | Leader zero, extractor away sharp zone | |
| combine_throw_grenade_05 | [6 second countdown] .. Flash Flash Flash! | |
| combine_taunt_01 | Target ineffective | |
| combine_taunt_02 | Bodypack holding | |
| combine_taunt_03 | Leader Zero, full active | |
| combine_refind_enemy_01 | Target Freeman three, go active, intercept | |
| combine_quest_01 | Ready weapons, hostile inbound | |
| combine_quest_02 | Prepare for contact | |
| combine_quest_03 | Sky shield reports lost contact, ready weapons | |
| combine_quest_04 | Stay alert | |
| combine_quest_05 | Weapons off safe, prepare for contact | |
| combine_quest_06 | Overwatch is a code APEX 0 | |
| combine_playerhit_01 | Target compromised, move in | |
| combine_playerhit_02 | Affirmative, we got him now | |
| combine_playerhit_03 | That's it, wrap it up | |
| combine_player_dead_01 | Overwatch confirm, HDT contained | |
| combine_player_dead_02 | Overwatch, target one sterilized | |
| combine_player_dead_03 | Overwatch, stabilization team has sector | |
| combine_player_dead_04 | Overwatch, Freeman three is secure | |
| combine_player_dead_05 | Overwatch, Freeman three delivered | |
| combine_player_dead_06 | Overwatch, antiseptic administered | |
| combine_monst_zombies_01 | Necrotics! | |
| combine_monst_zombies_02 | Necrotics Inbound | |
| combine_monst_parasites_01 | Call contact, parasitics | |
| combine_monst_bugs_01 | Confirm, sector not sterile | |
| combine_monst_character_01 | Target, priority two escapee | |
| combine_monst_character_02 | Outbreak status is code hurricane | |
| combine_monst_citizens_01 | Outbreak! | |
| combine_monst_01 | Confirm, sector not sterile (reused) | |
| combine_monst_02 | Visual one exogens | |
| combine_man_down_01 | Heavy resistance | |
| combine_man_down_02 | Overwatch request reinforcement | |
| combine_lost_ short_01 | Target is at shadow four | |
| combine_lost_ short_02 | Ready, extractors | |
| combine_lost_ short_03 | Ready chargers | |
| combine_lost_ short_04 | Six sightlines, move in | |
| combine_lost_ short_05 | Containment proceeding | |
| combine_lost_ long_01 | Target blockout | |
| combine_lost_ long_02 | Leader zero, lost contact | |
| combine_lost_ long_03 | Motion check all radios | |
| combine_lost_ long_04 | Stay alert, report sightlines | |
| combine_lost_ long_05 | Overwatch, team deployed and scanning | |
| combine_lost_ long_06 | Overwatch, leader zero engaged in cleanup | |
| combine_lost_ long_07 | Ready weapons, stay alert | |
| combine_last_of_squad_01 | Overwatch, request preserve activation | |
| combine_last_of_squad_02 | Overwatch, sector's not secure | |
| combine_last_of_squad_03 | Leader zero is final team, you need backup | |
| combine_last_of_squad_04 | Overwatch, (team/king) is down. | |
| combine_last_of_squad_05 | Overwatch, sector overrun | |
| combine_last_of_squad_06 | Overwatch, request sky-shield | |
| combine_last_of_squad_07 | Overwatch, request winder | |
| combine_kill_monst_01 | Zero, clean | |
| combine_kill_monst_02 | Zero, sterilized | |
| combine_idle_01 | Designate target as "Freeman three" | |
| combine_idle_02 | Overwatch, report possible hostiles | |
| combine_idle_03 | Overwatch orders tree CCC stim boost | |
| combine_idle_04 | Stabilization team holding | |
| combine_idle_05 | Leader zero, standing by | |
| combine_gren_01 | Bouncer, bouncer! | |
| combine_gren_02 | Flare down! | |
| combine_go_alert_01 | Alert one | |
| combine_go_alert_02 | Leader zero, executing full response | |
| combine_flank_01 | Leader zero, closing | |
| combine_flank_02 | Leader zero, inbound | |
| combine_flank_03 | Move in | |
| combine_flank_04 | Leader zero slipping in | |
| combine_flank_05 | Cover me | |
| combine_flank_06 | Leader unit is closing | |
| combine_flank_07 | Leader unit is inbound | |
| combine_flank_08 | Leader unit is moving in | |
| combine_danger_01 | Displace | |
| combine_danger_02 | Displace two | |
| combine_danger_03 | Ripcord, ripcord | |
| combine_cover_01 | Cover,hurt | |
| combine_cover_02 | Displace, two | |
| combine_cover_03 | Leader zero, request medical | |
| combine_cover_04 | Leader zero, request stim dose | |
| combine_clear_01 | Leader zero is holding at code apex | |
| combine_clear_02 | Leader zero has negative movement | |
| combine_clear_03 | Affirmative, no vision | |
| combine_clear_04 | Sightline is clear | |
| combine_clear_05 | Leader, reporting clear | |
| combine_clear_06 | Sector secure, no vision | |
| combine_check_01 | Stay alert, report sightlines | |
| combine_check_02 | Report, all positions clear | |
| combine_check_03 | Report, all radio free | |
| combine_assault_01 | Contact, Freeman three | |
| combine_assault_02 | Contact confirm, prosecuting | |
| combine_assault_03 | Contact confirmed | |
| combine_answer_01 | Affirmative | |
| combine_answer_02 | Copy | |
| combine_answer_03 | Copy that | |
| combine_answer_04 | Affirmative two | |
| combine_answer_05 | Copy that, ghost apex zero dash zero | |
| combine_alert_01 | Designate target as "Freeman three" (reused) | |
| combine_alert_02 | Contact confirm, prosecuting (reused) | |
| combine_alert_03 | Contact confirm, designate target as "Freeman three" |
