GAME LOCATIONS - Episode 2 - City 17 (Half-Life 2)

City 17 is located in Eastern Europe and is the major setting for Half-Life 2. The city is imposing, at once threatening and claustrophobic. The iconic image is definitely of the Combine Civil Protection squads, who police the streets and suppress the population with brutality.

Size isn't everything...
The city is a big place, consisting of a railway station, a ruined canal system, underground road tunnels, and multiple slum-like living quarters and buildings. It also happens to be the main base of operations for the Combine on Earth, with their Citadel forming the headquarters of Wallace Breen, the human puppet-administrator for the Combine.

In the game, the player initially arrives in City 17 by train but, after being discovered, flees the city via its canal system. When the player returns later in the game, the city has been turned into a war zone as the citizens mount a full-scale rebellion against the Combine rule.

Impact...
Stepping off that train for the first time is a fantastic feeling. A little scanner buzzes over to you, blinding you with it's flash...a massive monitor on the wall with Breen spouting propaganda and a welcome to City 17.

The oppression is everywhere...stepping out of the train stations and walking through the square reveals the sheer scale of the occupation, beatings, brutality...and alien war machines stamping through the streets.

Lasting memory
City 17 deserves it's place among the best realised game environments. It's brilliantly done, it's BRILLIANTLY done. And even now, you can play the game and still be amazed by the effort that has gone into creating a realistic and oppressive city.

[EDIT] Ahem...Valve? If you're up there? Could you please hurry up and release Episode 3? We've been waiting for quite a while...thanks. Oh, and PS - You rule! Thanks.