Opposing Force: We Are Pulling Out

7th October 2012

The Replay Experience Experiment: Half-Life: Opposing Force: We Are Pulling Out

As the battle begins to favor the Xen aliens, Shephard realizes the military forces have been ordered to pull out.

This chapter details Adrian Shephard’s attempt to reach the HECU’s extraction point to escape Black Mesa.

He has first eye contact with the mysterious Race X that seems to be collecting humans for study on their world.

Shephard reaches the extraction point, but is deliberately left behind due to the G-Man’s actions.

Trivia
  • This chapter takes place at the same time as the Half-Life chapter Surface Tension.
  • The radio operator heard at the end of Surface Tension appears just before the end of the level, meaning that Gordon reaches the Tactical Map by the time Shephard arrives at the operator’s room making the announcement.
The Poll


Challenges
  • Get the chocolate bar for Otis.
  • Have Otis open the security door.
Saves

HARD [17KB]

Screenshots

Click on the thumbnails below to open a 1024 pixel wide image.
WARNING: The screenshots contain spoilers.

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
The Replay Experience Experiment

This post is part of the The Replay Experience Experiment 2012 event. This is a chance to replay all the Half-Life games and discuss them based on our experiences since we first played them.

Hat Tip

The trivia text taken from the CombineOverWiki, a fan-supported, editable wiki covering the Half-Life series of games.

Walkthrough
A Complete Half-Life: Opposing Force Walkthrough

On the left is a complete text walkthrough for Half-Life: Opposing Force.

It has been written by Stanley E. Dunigan and updated with all the tricks and tips from PlanetPhillip.Com readers.

It is in PDF format, meaning you can open it directly in modern browsers or download it and print it.

(Left-click to open and right-click to save)

Do Not Own This Game?

You can purchase Half-Life: Opposing Force directly through Steam and could be playing in within moments, depending on your internet connection.

14 Comments

  1. Summary

    First piece of real action we have experienced. Up until now, I have felt it was leading to something and this is the start of that something. It could be one of the shortest chapters in all the games and in comparison with Half-Life we actually got to the surface and close to an escape pretty quickly.

    Overall, I enjoyed this chapter but there’s not really much too it.

    Gameplay

    This was more about shooting than puzzles. There was the “puzzle” of getting to the HEV charges in the scientists “jail” but that’s doesn’t really count. Nor does getting Otis to open the security door. I must say, I was a little disappointed with the cache in there, but I suppose they can’t arm you too much this early on.

    As nearly always, there were some story elements which whilst not explaining much, did add to the general feel of being in the same place as the first game.

    Points of Interest

    I loved the radio operator and the connection with Half-Life. Did anybody else notice how “weak” the Otis was? I think one hit from a headcrab and he died. He also had no worries about shooting me if I got near any enemy.

    G-man Sightings

    Just as the large door was closing. Smug bastard.

    Bugs or Errors

    I had a REAL problem near the beginning of this level. Just when a Shocktrooper appeared and kidnapped the scientist. Everything it killed the security officer it just froze. I tried everything. Eventually, I just deleted the OF installation and installed it afresh.

    The Poll

    Yes, just for a second I thought I might have a chance – silly me!

    Challenges

    Have to admit I forgot about he first one.
    -Get the chocolate bar for Otis.
    -Have Otis open the security door.

    5 Words or Less Review

    I’m getting excited now.

    PlayTime

    17 minutes

    Deaths

    0
    That’s gotta be almost a first!

  2. Under the scary sounds we ride in the train. The direction selected by developers is great – didn’t you want to find out where other rails lead when you played Half-Life?

    Finally, we arrive in the beautifully made station.

    http://steamcommunity.com/id/emoleveldesigner/screenshot/559824352478595157

    The guard is taking a candy. Where are other candies. Did he eat them? We go with the guard, and he saves us a lot of ammo, and even saves time with his fast and deadly shots from strong pistol.

    Cretures X are introduced here for the first time.

    Then, the guard becomes crazy and we have to leave him. Instead of getting to elevator, he runs on one place.

    http://steamcommunity.com/id/emoleveldesigner/screenshot/559824352478615151/?

    Eventually, we encounter another event which is to convince us that we’re in Black Mesa – the commander who instructed Cooper to commence airstrikes is met by us. We proceed to evac, but G-Man closed the door. UURRGH!

    http://steamcommunity.com/id/emoleveldesigner/screenshot/559824352478636113/?

    Playtime: 12 minutes.

  3. General

    This chapter is smaller but fun anyway. Starting by a short tramride with a combat that could be oppressive because you can’t see enemies very well.
    Then you find Otis and his effective pistol (beware of his bullets), a new alien soldier and a scary scientist.
    You finally reach the surface just on time to evacuate, while Gordon enter the Lambda Complex. At this point we think we can escape but the Gman is not agree.

    This chapter is important in storyline, introducing a new part of the game. You are now on your own with no goal and few chances to escapes, next chapter title perfectly resume the situation.

    Challenges

    Get the chocolate bar for Otis. OK
    Have Otis open the security door. OK

    Gman Sightings

    Hard to miss him, what does he plan by keeping Shephard in Black Mesa ?

    Deaths

    None, but Otis had tried!

    Playtime

    9 minutes

    French Let’s Play

  4. 2muchvideogames

    This chapter is one of the surprisingly rare times where you get to see Otis’s powerful potential. Especially so since this mustachio Otis is the only one in the entire game (no other Otis has a mustache). Protecting him nets you a highly rewarding contact grenades pickup.

    I suppose that this is a good demonstration of what GOOD NPC assistance could be like in a HL1 mod, and seeing as OP4 is supposed to have ample squad combat due to the player being a military soldier, this is a good indicator of what (could) be in store for Shephard.

    Unfortunately, in the later sections where full blown squad combat occurs, your fellow soldiers are a bit TOO FRAGILE, especially when up against the very tough opponents such as black ops and Race X aliens, who have way too much durability. (Voltigore against 3 squad mates: tell me what kind of an unfair battle is that.)

    Anyway in this video I thought the funniest part was Shephard raging at the G-man’s dastardly move. Surely you can sense the HUGE frustration Shephard feels… “Man, I’m finally gettin” outta here Wait WHY DID U CLOSE THE DOOR YOU ASSHAT!?”

    I got both challenges. Anyway don’t fret, Phillip. The next section has a healthy dose of puzzles.

    1. I’m not really a big fan of the puzzles. I just mentioned it to note it, that’s all.

    2. Unq

      I noticed you’re playing with the standard Half-Life music. You do know that’s not the original audio, right?

      1. 2muchvideogames

        lol, I dunno if that has to do with steam or not

        1. Unq

          Yeah it’s not included with Steam. To get the original soundtrack: http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/opposing-force-music/

  5. TWIN SUNS

    This chapter serves as our first introduction to a Race X alien, while only one occurrence it is the first new enemy that you witness, well unless you count the Gonome.

    I really like all the crossovers that the expansions do and this chapter features the iconic ” Forget about Freeman” speech from the broadcaster’s point of view.

    Playtime: 12 minutes

  6. MisterAddy

    This is a really short chapter, but we get our first glimpse of the Race X aliens (why have we never seen them before? Were they too afraid of Gordon’s badassery?) and the G man sequence is cool, especially with the proper Opposing Force OST. For some reason, I never noticed before how late this game takes place compared to Half-Life. Also I noticed the vent in the room where the scientist is threatend, where does it lead?

    I got the chocolate bar! Yay for me!

  7. ZikShadow

    Wait, is it just me or is the OP4 MP5 has a missing shooting anim…

    The one that has no muzzleflash when fired…

  8. Unq

    I see this chapter as mostly filler material. It seems most of the chapter is spent strengthening the tie between Op4 and Half-Life, by having us ride the BMRF Transit System, and by seeing the officer radioing Cooper about the airstrikes. There’s very little here otherwise. The end does start to create a familiar sense of isolation when the Osprey departs without you, but you’ll soon have support.

    I actually quite liked the tram ride here. It’s short and reminiscent, but at the same time it keeps you on your toes with some enemies thrown in. On Hard, slaves take 30 health from you when they zap so I couldn’t afford to just ignore them.

    This chapter nicely continues the pattern from Half-Life of showing you things first. It’s typically done with enemies (as it is here with the shocktrooper), but is also extended to characters – as you get to see a few of your fellow soldiers here well before you actually get to command a squad.

    Playtime: 8 minutes

  9. If you remember my Black Mesa inbounds video, I had made some joke with the tram. I thought about doing the same here, but I realized while doing it that one of the slaves actually shot me. I am sorry but I then made a second try at the chapter, playing it normally. I hope you people forgive me :O

    Anyway, This chapter is pretty short and boring, except for our first witness of Race X capturing a scientist. It is not mentioned later if that stormtrooper took that scientist to study him or just to eat him, but it is shown that it is pretty strong. Then we go up a lift, and no matter what you do you can’t save your ally upstairs, but anyway he wouldn’t have been able to climb in the vent so it doesn’t matter. Then we overhear the speech from surface tension, and we try to go to the osprey but Gman prevents us from doing so. I won’t go far in the theories here, but it is probably so that the gene worm doesn’t prevent the black ops to blow the place up. then we get assaulted by a few slaves and the chapter is over. pretty short uh?

    Five words or less review:
    Looking forward to race X

    Challenges:
    -Get the chocolate bar for Otis.
    I should have looked at the challenges before playing, I wouldn’t have lost time by doing so.
    -Have Otis open the security door.
    THAT would have lost time, sorry.

    Deaths:
    None, hope to keep it this way

    Playtime:
    3 minutes 50 seconds 458 milliseconds

  10. Ade

    Aww how could I have gotten the choco 😀
    I also liked the crossover part, but didn’t it end with a censored part? Or that was another transmission.
    I honestly thought I was going on another chopper ride! Man I’ma get that G-Man!

    Playtime: 12 minutes

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