Unused Sounds and Dialogue

This is a sub-page of Half-Life: Alyx.

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;

"[...] After you've explored this area, you can return to the game by removing your headset or proceeding forward to the exit".

This suggests there may have been a planned sequence tied to it, but it was likely scrapped along with the track.
It's interesting to note that, aside from the Half-Life 2: 20th Anniversary Update, this is the only Valve title where the famous quote "[...] a commentary node may take control of the game, in order to show something to you" isn't used, which could perhaps support this idea.

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 Brassbound.

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#

Watch on YouTube Watch on YouTubeThere 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 purposes.

All the dialogue for the final scene of Episode Two, which includes the full raw voiceover and an alternate take for Alyx's pietà (which includes extra unused dialog) as well as two additional callouts for when Eli is grabbed by Advisors, is also present under the directory

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	Filename(s)	Transcript	Notes
Alyx Vance	01_01154.vsnd	So, Dad's okay, right?
Alyx Vance	01_01205.vsnd	Russell, what did you guys find back there?
Eli Vance	02_01101.vsnd	Open your eyes, honey. Open your eyes.	This is the only voice line without an in-game counterpart.
Eli Vance	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!

Combine Soldiers#

These can be found in 'sounds/vo/combine soldier'. Interestingly, all voice lines refer to the player as "Freeman".

Filename(s)	Purpose	Transcript
combine_throw_grenade_01	For when a Combine soldier throws a granade.	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	(Unclear)	Target ineffective
combine_taunt_02		Bodypack holding
combine_taunt_03		Leader Zero, full active
combine_refind_enemy_01	Lost sight of the player	Target Freeman three, go active, intercept
combine_quest_01	(Unclear)	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	Player took damage	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	Player perished	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	Zombie spotted	Necrotics!
combine_monst_zombies_02	Zombie spotted	Necrotics Inbound
combine_monst_parasites_01	Headcrab spotted	Call contact, parasitics
combine_monst_bugs_01	Antlion spotted	Confirm, sector not sterile
combine_monst_character_01	Generic Enemy spotted? (Unclear)	Target, priority two escapee
combine_monst_character_02	Generic Enemy spotted? (Unclear)	Outbreak status is code hurricane
combine_monst_citizens_01	Citizen spotted	Outbreak!
combine_monst_01	(Unclear)	Confirm, sector not sterile (reused)
combine_monst_02	(Unclear)	Visual one exogens
combine_man_down_01	Combine ally took damage	Heavy resistance
combine_man_down_02	Combine ally took damage	Overwatch request reinforcement
combine_lost_ short_01	Lost an Combine ally (Difference between "short" and "Long" is unclear)	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	Last man standing	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	Generic response to killing an enemy NPC	Zero, clean
combine_kill_monst_02	Generic response to killing an enemy NPC	Zero, sterilized
combine_idle_01	Idle combat chatter	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	(Unclear)	Bouncer, bouncer!
combine_gren_02	(Unclear)	Flare down!
combine_go_alert_01	(Unclear)	Alert one
combine_go_alert_02	(Unclear)	Leader zero, executing full response
combine_flank_01	Flanking callout	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	(Unclear)	Displace
combine_danger_02		Displace two
combine_danger_03		Ripcord, ripcord
combine_cover_01	Requesting for medical aid	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	(Unclear)	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	Looking for the player	Stay alert, report sightlines
combine_check_02		Report, all positions clear
combine_check_03		Report, all radio free
combine_assault_01	Player spotted	Contact, Freeman three
combine_assault_02		Contact confirm, prosecuting
combine_assault_03		Contact confirmed
combine_answer_01	Answer chatter	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	Player spotted? (Unclear)	Designate target as "Freeman three" (reused)
combine_alert_02		Contact confirm, prosecuting (reused)
combine_alert_03		Contact confirm, designate target as "Freeman three"