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Quick Stop

2nd place winner in the the inaugural HL:A Modding Hub Discord[discord.com] mapping competition. You can find all the other maps on the workshop right here!

Trying to cut across City 17 in a stolen car, Alyx finds herself trapped before a monolithic Combine security checkpoint. Forced to proceed on foot and find a way to get past the barricade, Russell works behind the scenes to organize new transportation on the other side.


Quick Stop is a 25-35 minute campaign level.

This map was originally made using the pre-release tools and without access to the full assets, Valve's prefabs, examples, and handy time saving features like the Tile Meshes. I've done a quick update to get it working with the full SDK.

Created for map contest #1 in the Alyx Modding Hub community, I took this opportunity to learn Source 2 Hammer's workflow. Thanks to Mean Mr. Mustard for some additional prefabs, feedback and playtesting, and thank you for playing / downloading!


After playing and loving the campaign of Half-Life: Alyx, I did wish there were more extended combat encounters with the Combine, so the contest theme of the Combine Presence fit well with what I wanted to create. At the same time, I didn't just want to make a bunch of combat rooms. My goal for the map was to get as close as I could to the feeling of a 'lost chapter' of Alyx and use similar pacing, narrative, and design style to match Valve's approach.

To this end I included a real effort on lighting, fog settings, a custom 3D skybox, steam audio implementation, music and sound effects, scripted scenes, Russel/Alyx/Combine VO storytelling, secreted away ammo and resin for crafting, and health stations/grubs. There are also quicksaves placed throughout so you shouldn't lose progress or get stuck.

Through iterating on the map I have also found ways to make the Combine encounters more reactive to the player's approach to the area and remain challenging even on multiple play-throughs.

If you enjoy this style of map, please consider leaving a rating. I'd love to make more!

Good luck!