About

In the early 21st century, a catastrophic event known as the Resonance Cascade occurred during an experiment at the Black Mesa Research Facility in New Mexico, USA, causing the boundaries between dimensions to collapse. This accident connected Earth with the alien dimension Xen, leading to an influx of extraterrestrial life and forcing humanity into a sudden, chaotic struggle for survival. Earth never fully recovered after the Black Mesa Incident. As alien creatures continued to pour through portal storms, an even greater threat eventually arrived: the Combine, a vast multidimensional alien empire, discovered Earth's existence. The Combine invaded Earth using overwhelming technology and military might. Although humanity mobilized its global armies to resist, they were defeated in just seven hours. This event would later be known as the Seven Hour War. To prevent the total extinction of the human race, Wallace Breen, the former administrator of Black Mesa, negotiated a surrender, allowing humanity to survive under Combine rule. Following the war, Earth became a Combine colony. Existing nations and governments collapsed, and humanity was forcibly relocated to several massive urban centers. These cities were managed by numbers, and citizens lived restricted lives under constant Combine surveillance. The primary setting of this story is City 17, located somewhere in Eastern Europe. At the heart of City 17 stands the Citadel, a colossal structure that pierces the sky. The Citadel serves as the hub for Combine governance and military command on Earth—a massive fortress designed to monitor and control the entire city. Combine soldiers, surveillance scanners, and automated weapons are deployed throughout the streets, ensuring citizens are always watched. The Combine did not stop at mere occupation. They installed a global suppression field to prevent human reproduction, forcibly moved citizens between cities, and restricted all freedom of movement. Human society gradually lost its vitality, with most people resigned to living under Combine rule. However, not all humans surrendered. A resistance movement began operating in secret. Survivors of the Black Mesa Incident, scientists, citizens, and even the Vortigaunts—an alien race once hostile to humans—joined forces to oppose the Combine. In this climate, Gordon Freeman, a scientist who had been missing since the Black Mesa Incident, reappears after nearly 20 years. Gordon's return is no accident; it is part of a grand design involving the mysterious figure known as the G-Man. Upon arriving in City 17, Gordon Freeman reunites with the resistance and begins the fight against Combine rule. To the resistance, Gordon is a legendary figure. [Headcrabs and Zombies] Headcrabs are alien parasites that latch onto human heads to control their bodies, turning the host into a zombie. In addition to standard zombies, there are Fast Zombies that move with agility and Poison Zombies that utilize potent toxins. The Combine uses Headcrabs as biological weapons; Ravenholm is a prominent example of a ruined town where most residents were turned into zombies following a Headcrab shell attack. [Combine Types] The Combine maintains a powerful army created by augmenting humans and alien life. Key units include the Civil Protection (Metrocops) who police the cities, Combine Soldiers and Elites who handle combat, the massive Strider walkers, and aerial units like Gunships and Scanners.