This allows the place to feel scarier, as well as empty. The prison is effectively silent, save for faint background white noise or electrical humming, and the tone is set mostly by occasional sounds of distant gunfire and fighting provided by soundscapes. Also, use worn textures and props the facility's upkeep is obviously not a concern. Again, depending on your design this can be a benefit or problem. Red and yellow textures will jump out significantly. Fortunately, when something is different, it has a larger effect on the player.īecause of the abundant teals and greys in the lighting, textures should be equally subdued. Very little of the outdoors is seen, because of the indoor nature of the prison.īecause of the layout of Nova Prospekt (and prisons in general), a level set in the environment can feel very monotonous, making these levels difficult to design. For the most part, lighting is either natural (a subdued grey), Combine (a bright teal), or yellow-orange. Players learn to accept this pattern and it only enforces the prison theme.Īs always, bright teal spotlights betray a strong Combine presence.

At the end of each cell block, there are usually sliding gates, controlled from a nearby security station. However, this motif extends far beyond appearance the level layout actually resembles cell blocks. Patterns are particularly important in this setting: Long arrays of cell doors, exposed pipes, railing, or architectural elements (such as columns) complement the sparse decoration.

There is also a motif of 'restriction': prison bars, heavy metal doors, and fences reinforce an ominous feeling within the player. Many materials are often used repeatedly in different settings throughout Nova Prospekt. Exteriors use bog-white plasters and concretes, while interiors are covered in peeling plaster and tile. The player leads a swarm of antlions into the complex and deals a crippling blow to the Combine, which triggers a revolution that sweeps City 17.īeing a prison, architecture is appropriately spartan. Nova Prospekt is the prison area which has been 'renovated' by the Combine to store human prisoners and convert them into stalkers.

Half life nova prospekt