New unit or reskin?

[Tollbooth Willie]

So, I was playing through Episodes 1 and 2 and I noticed that there were Combine soldiers with brownish coloring and orange glowing googles. I had never seen them when Episode 1 first came out. Are these guys a "new unit" or a simple reskin Valve decided to add in?

Also, lol Half-Life forums ftw.

 

[Asymptote]

I noticed that too. To me, they looked like "battle-scarred" Combine, perhaps ones that had been on Earth for a long time, or something of that nature.

 

[Pesmerga]

The googles, they do nathing.

 

[Crash Happy]

Orange goggles seemed to be the shotty guys. I never put that to the test though, it was just a casual observation.

 

[Orisit]

I'm pretty sure they are indeed just Combine soldiers with shotguns. I guess Valve thought they should stand out more.

 

[leib10]

The orange-goggled Overwatch soldiers carry Shotguns exclusively, and they seem to do more damage with them than ordinary soldiers. They also seem to be a tad bit tougher. They have the same skull armpatch that Elites have, but with different color schemes.

It can be assumed that they are from a different unit stationed in the Outlands, and have been assimilated into the main Overwatch forces (if you listen to the Overwatch broadcasts, which states something like "all units join up with main forces", this makes sense).

 

[Iron_cube]

Spawning a normal combine soldier with a shotgun automaticly makes it use the new skin, so theyre probably a new exclusive unit to the outlands, just like the prison guards in NProspekt.

 

[Crash Happy]

I actually like that idea. As Lieb has commented we hear the Overwatch reorganising it's forces and the Hunters do seem to have an outland weapon too. I think it's hangs together quite well myself.

 

[Tollbooth Willie]

Pretty interesting, but why would they be in the Citadel exactly if they work their magic in the Wastes?

 

[GTGear]

So, I was playing through Episodes 1 and 2 and I noticed that there were Combine soldiers with brownish coloring and orange glowing googles. I had never seen them when Episode 1 first came out. Are these guys a "new unit" or a simple reskin Valve decided to add in?

Also, lol Half-Life forums ftw.

The new soldier skin is also in HL2. I recently started over, on the X360, and noticed them. Nice addition.

 

[Crash Happy]

I don't believe I saw them until Ep2, have they been phased into the whole shebang?

 

[Cheomesh]

I figure it sort of like this.

The regular Overwatch guys we see are your standard infantry, using shotguns, AR2's, and MP7's (be cooler if it was just the AR2, as that IS standard issue...).

The prison guards have their own uniform because they're "non-military".

The Elites form the higher-end guard of the Citadel, and can lead Overwatch squads. They use the AR2 only, and use the under-slung pulse ball thing.

The new guys struck me as some sort of scout. Maybe a bit like USMC Force Recon (elite recon) if they do infact do more damage and take more punishment than the Overwatch standard infantry.

By the way, did anyone see if the guys attacking the Inn where only the new "recon" units, or a mix? I didn't stick around too long.

The new soldier skin is also in HL2. I recently started over, on the X360, and noticed them. Nice addition.

Someone check the PC version...I hope they didn't retroactively add them :|

 

[Iron_cube]

Damn the 360 users, they already have HL2 and Ep1 updated with the newest episodic technology D:

 

[PortalStormzzzz]

First time I saw them I thought they were field troops, rather then civil protection or SWATs.

 

[PortalStormzzzz]

oh yea, there in the pc one.

 

[Tuskin]

oh yea, there in the pc one.

Huh? No they are not.

I don't know if this happened in the PC version, but the prison guards in HL2 on the 360 get red eyes if they have a shotgun.

 

[Iron_cube]

I don't know if this happened in the PC version, but the prison guards in HL2 on the 360 get red eyes if they have a shotgun.

Pic plaise

 

[kupocake]

Is it just me, or have the regular skinned (rifle using) combine got a skin tweak as well? Specifically, they have very muddy boots and combat trousers because... well, they're in a forest.

 

[Tollbooth Willie]

Is it just me, or have the regular skinned (rifle using) combine got a skin tweak as well? Specifically, they have very muddy boots and combat trousers because... well, they're in a forest.

That they do. Neat little touches.

 

[leib10]

I figure it sort of like this.

The regular Overwatch guys we see are your standard infantry, using shotguns, AR2's, and MP7's (be cooler if it was just the AR2, as that IS standard issue...).

The prison guards have their own uniform because they're "non-military".

The Elites form the higher-end guard of the Citadel, and can lead Overwatch squads. They use the AR2 only, and use the under-slung pulse ball thing.

The new guys struck me as some sort of scout. Maybe a bit like USMC Force Recon (elite recon) if they do infact do more damage and take more punishment than the Overwatch standard infantry.

By the way, did anyone see if the guys attacking the Inn where only the new "recon" units, or a mix? I didn't stick around too long.



Someone check the PC version...I hope they didn't retroactively add them :|

There were some orange-goggled guys there.

 

[Xendance]

Orange goggled guys seemed tougher for me.