To The White Forest

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To The White Forest is the first chapter of Half-Life 2: Episode Two. The player's journey as Gordon Freeman continues, starting at the collapsed bridge inside the train carriage.

Introduction

A black screen with the title Half-Life 2: Episode Two appears and fades, then the black screen fades away.

The player finds himself in a train crash from a collapsed bridge, the player tries to find its way out of the train crash.

Maps

• ep2_outland_01 - The start, Alyx finding the player in the wreckage.
• ep2_outland_01a - Going deeper into the mine shaft, that looks to be abandoned, and then going into a cave.

Architecture

The first map of the chapter begins with a collapsed bridge. Gordon and Alyx find the Citadel itself, seen in the distance, the Citadel is destructed and shooting a gateway to the Combine overworld, with the city around it, after looking at the Citadel, then a portal storm occurs, appearing to emanate from the Citadel ruins, destroying the damaged the bridge and opening a path into a mine shaft for Alyx and Gordon to follow. Alyx informs Gordon that they must contact the White Forest base and deliver their data packet.

After entering the short mine, the player find a hole and jumps down, followed by Alyx, then finding themselves near an exit with zombies, after killing the zombies, they find a small communication building, Alyx is able to contact White Forest base. Dr. Kleiner and Eli Vance are relieved to learn that Gordon and Alyx survived the detonation of the Citadel, and Dr. Magnusson is introduced as the head of the White Forest base.

More concerned with the data packet than the safety of Gordon and Alyx. The sound of a hunter-chopper and an overheard Overwatch message: "ONGOING SECTOR SWEEP. BIOTICS CONFIRMED. CONTINUE SURFACE SECTOR SWEEP. REMOTE COMPLIANCE. EXTERMINATE. SEEK PASSIVE SIGNATURE IMPRINT. MANDATE SUBLEVEL RESTRICTIONS." confirms that the Combine are still searching for the duo and the data packet Alyx possesses.

After the hunter-chopper and the connection lost to the White Forest base, Gordon finds a way to destroy barricaded exit to the abandoned factory, then they see a Hunter, a three-legged synth that is large enough to be imposing, but small enough to enter buildings, Gordon and Alyx know the are not alone, shortly the player find a way to open the small gate.

Afterward, Alyx is critically wounded by a Hunter. A Vortigaunt arrives in time to drive off Antlions and stabilize Alyx's condition. Gordon becomes separated from Alyx and the Vortigaunt and must travel through Antlion caves to meet them at a nearby Resistance outpost. It is during this cave journey that Antlion Grubs and Workers are first encountered.

Environment

The color scheme of the environment has changed since Exit 17; yellow sky, brown and reddish are replaced with predominantly cold blue-gray hues.

This chapter serves as a partial revisit of Exit 17, and shares numerous elements with it. For example, collapsed Citadel can be seen in the distance, as well as a shooting gateway to the Combine overworld, and a collapsed bridge.

The soundscapes reflect on the collapsed bridge as well, with the Citadel portal to the Combine overworld, and more nature tone. On the inside, the soundscape includes deep humming coming from the cave, hits of rocks, falling debris, and grub sounds.

NPC's

The chapter includes several Combine units, such as a Hunter, Combine zombie, and Hunter-Chopper, and includes Zombies, like Posion Headcrab, Antlions, also includes a friendly NPC vortigaunt.

Reference

• 

  Collapsed bridge with a train crash.

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  Destroyed Citadel with the portal above the Citadel.

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  Gordon and Alyx finding a small communication building.

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  Alyx getting hurt by the Hunter.

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  A mine shaft after you fall with the elevator.

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  After going through a short cave the player finds himself in a mine shaft again.

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  After the mine shaft player finds himself in a cave.

• 

  Ditto.

See also

• Soundscapes

Toggle chapters Half-Life 2: Episode Two ChaptersToggle chapters
To The White Forest ep2_outland_01	This Vortal Coil ep2_outland_02	Freeman Pontifex ep2_outland_05	Riding Shotgun ep2_outland_06a
Under the Radar ep2_outland_09	Our Mutual Fiend ep2_outland_11	T-Minus One ep2_outland_12a