Chapter 4: Water Hazard

Like the title suggests, expect to spend quite a bit of time on the water in this chapter. Unfortunately, it seems as though most of the aqua here has been quite poisonous due to the excessive amounts of pollution seeping through the hydroelectric dams of City 17. Fortunate, you’ve kindly been provided with a spiffy little hovercraft that will not only allow you to traverse the waters safely, but also enable you to travel swiftly across the shore as well. Without further ado, lets get cracking.

Start by heading straight through the tunnels at full speed. Once you drop down a few floors, take a left at the lambda icon 1 and bash through the barrier to the outside. Head towards the cement docks located beneath the large red barn 2. Once you’re close by, hop out of your buggy and climb the up the ladders and stairs into the barn itself. Once you’re inside, be aware of the headcrab zombies 3. Though these guys may shamble towards you at a slow pace, they have the ability to do a hefty amount of damage by knocking those metal waste drums into you. Once they’ve been disposed of, proceed up the destroyed stairs by way of the remaining support plank on the left of the stairwell. Once you’re on the upper floors, carefully crawl across the planks to the ladder on the opposite side. Beware the once you reach the ladder a headcrab will drop down to startle you. Kill it and climb up the ladder. In the hayloft above, free the supply crate by knocking the steel drum with your crowbar and pulling it out of the wench 4. Once it has been removed, attempt a running jump while aiming to land in the water below. Should you make it, you’ll receive no damage and save quite a bit of time by not retracing your steps. Once you’ve collected the supplies from the once suspended crate, remount your hovercraft and continue to follow the water towards a wooden ramp. The moment the ramp is in sight, align yourself with it while applying full throttle. You’ll deftly execute a jump and land safely on the opposite side of the barrier. From here, head right until you’re under the bridge. Listen to the rebels above you and pick up the supplies they drop. Now it’s time once again for everybody’s favorite use of the Source engine, a physics puzzle.

While you’re under the bridge, dismount from your craft and proceed through the storm drain on your left 5. Follow the tunnels inside until you come across some blue plastic drums. Knock the containers into the water 6 and jump into the pool yourself. Once you’re in the water, grab and move each drum into the netting. It’ll take about 3 drums to give the ramp above you sufficient support for your hovercraft 7. Once you’ve placed the drums into the netting, hop out of the pool and head back towards the hovercraft. Mount and, once again, apply full throttle to make the jump. From here, follow the waterways in the canals. As you race through, the combine will start sending in assault squads to try and slow you down. For the most of this area, stick to the right and simply ram into any combine that try and slow you down. If you follow the canals, you’ll eventually come to a barrier with a large dirt mound on its left side 8. Merely drive up this mound and hit the ramp to get past this obstruction. Remember that cops attacking you from rafters can be disposed of by driving through the supports. Just keep pressing forward and you’ll soon hit another jump 9 that will lead you into the next section of the map and stiller waters.

Continue following the water to the right through the massive ditch. Soon enough you’ll come upon a building to your right with a lone combine attempting to shoot you from above 10. Take him out and continue to follow the waterway till you reach a small dock on the side of the building. Get off you boat and onto the dock. Follow the path till you reach a ladder. Climb up and head through the door a head of you. Once you’re inside, listen to that gray haired man you probably don’t like by now- just don’t forget to pick up the ammo on the shelves on the opposite side of the room. Open the blue door ahead of you and proceed through the garage. Nab some grenades out of the green storage chest and use them to wipe out the Combine guards and manhacks in the upcoming rooms 11. Once they're disposed of and you’ve restocked, proceed through the garage and its adjacent sub rooms. Soon enough you’ll emerge outside 12, but unfortunately under a hail of gunfire. Quickly sprint and duck behind red push cart in front of you. Keep pressing the cart forward as you advance, it’ll provide cover for you until you’re able to take out the cop operating the machine gun. Afterwards, proceed through the door he was guarding. Inside this generator room 13, blast the two guards and proceed up the stairwell and through the door to your left. Once you’re outside, look to your right and shoot the explosive containers 14, this’ll cause a chain reaction that will unbar the path for your boat. Now retrace your steps to get back to your ship. Be aware that Combine reinforcements will be assaulting you so make use of the mounted machine gun and your grenades to take out the combine 15.

Once you’re happily reunited with your ship, merely proceed ahead while following the water. Again, you’ll come to another series of scripted events as you attempt to navigate the canals. The path that’s open to you should be pretty straightforward, so simply follow whatever you see as a logical opening. Just take care not to slow down as armored cars will be launching rockets at you during you ride 16. At one point the cops will even set fire to a barrier to stop you! However, like your experience before, you can clear the obstruction by taking the ramp jump to your right 17.

Once you’re through the chaos, you’ll find yourself another moment of respite inside of a tunnel. Stick to the water and you’ll emerge inside of a drainage ditch containing a supply point. To fetch your goodies, remove the cement bricks from the grounded case to cause the case of supplies to drop 18. Once you’re filled, hop back into your craft and proceed forward. You’ll soon emerge from the tunnels and once again find the path straight ahead of you barricaded. Take an immediate right and head towards the small doorway with attached dock underneath the landmass ahead of you 19. Proceed through the door and follow the hallway till you come upon the welcome sight of the Magnum. Before opening the door ahead of you though, wait a split second for the guards to come tumbling in. Dispose of them quickly with a few Magnum rounds and smile to yourself in satisfaction.

Head through the hallway the guards came out of and climb the stairs to the trailer yard 20. To navigate through this maze of crates- all while dodging the invincible chopper- you’ll need to run in between the red and blue trailers a head of you, take a right and then a hard left followed another right. Pass through the open chain link fence and pick up the supplies inside the trailer. Head through this trailer and then take another left to head into the warehouse. Once you’re inside, you’ll need to head to the opposite end of the room, proceed up the stairs to your right and hop across the tops of the trailers till you reach the second floor on the opposite side of the room. Keep in mind that a number of Combine and manhacks are bound to try a stop you. Pass through the hallways while removing any debris that may block your passage. Take care however, as the chopper will attempt to take you out through the glass bay windows to your left side. Once you’re through that connecting hall, drop down the stairs and proceed outside. Keep heading forward till you pass the red trailer to your right side. From here, turn right and head down the walkways until you reach the watchtower. Again, Combine and the chopper will continue to blast away at you, so make sure you’re swift about it.

Once inside the tower, climb up slowing and toss a grenade into the room above to clear it of guards. Once you’re up top, use the mounted machine guns to dispose of the chopper 21. To inflict any damage to it, you’ll need to shoot out the missile attached to its wings. After it’s done for, press the button on the console to your right and exit the tower. From here, follow the walkway to the right and soon enough you’ll be back with your hovercraft. Climb aboard and proceed through the once barricaded drainage ditch.

No sooner than you believe you’re home free, however, than a chopper will drop in to ruin your day 22. Press forward through the ditch and take the immediate right. From here on, you’ll have another deadly ride ahead of you except you’ll now have to deal with the explosives the chopper is dropping! Again, by applying full throttle and smooth movements, you should be able to dodge most of the damage. As you follow the water, you’ll soon come across some drainage pipes that seem to be stuck in the marsh. Drive under them like a tunnel to provide some protection from the chopper’s assault 23. Once you get though them, however, you’ll need to skip across the tops of another set in order to reach yet another tunnel. Once you’re there, however, take a moment to catch your breath and proceed, all while following the path of the water.

Once you emerge from these tunnels, you’ll come to a fork in the ditch. Take the right and pass over the barricade in front of you be using the logs to your left as a ramp 24. After you hop on up, try and stay along the walkway on the left side. Not only will you dodge the explosives that the chopper drops, but you’ll also slam into a supply box. Once you’ve dropped down from this ledge take a right and head into the tunnel straight ahead of you 25. Keep in mind that you’ll need to stick to the earth on the left side of the tunnel’s entrance in order to make it up the lip. Upon clearing the tunnel, make sure you stick to the sides of the massive drainage pipe you’re in to dodge the chopper bombs. Follow the bend of the river and blast on through the barriers beneath the underpass 26. Remain alert of the barnacles and the Combine drop forces however. Once you’ve cleared the obstacles, take the path to your right. Although it may seem like the debris ahead of you will be blocking your path, simply hug the right wall and you’ll traverse on up a dirt walkway. Don’t take your lead foot off the gas though, as you’ll need to clear the gap ahead of you in order to make it into the barn 27. Once you’re inside, park your craft on the small metal lift to your right 28. Once you’ve done that, take a moment to restock on the wall chargers and supply crates littered about the room. Don’t dillydally or let your guard down, however, as the massive gunship will continue to drop its payload on you through the sun roofs. To get out of the barn, simply run over to the wheel located behind the lift and hold your use key in front of it until the lift hits the acid below. Drop on down, making sure to try and avoid the acid, and proceed forward though the massive dam walls. From here, follow the path of the river in order to reach the next storm drain. Unfortunately for you, the Combine will now be blasting rockets at you and attempting to crush you with the massive chimneys 29. Wait until the chimneys fall and then surmount them by driving over the curved middle section. From here, it’s a simple process of dodging rocket fire to reach the goal.

After you emerge from the tunnel, you’ll find yourself at a small, abandoned, rebel outpost. Unfortunately, the path ahead of you is barred off and the ramp to you right isn’t propped up. No worries good sir. Simply collect any items you can find on the ground and toss them onto the lift at the right of the ramp 30. To really secure the ramp, however, you’ll need to climb up the white ladder located between the broken pipe, drop onto the first section, and then cross the ramshackle bridge in order to reach your prize… a new washer just for you 31! Unfortunately, HEV suits are dry clean only. Instead, push the washer into the elevator below, drop back down, and throw the switch near the lift. The ramp should prop right up. From here, you know the drill, take your craft and put the petal to the metal as you hit the ramp.

Follow the river to your left and you’ll encounter another rebel checkpoint. Merely follow the directions of your buddies until they tell you to depart. A vortigaunt will attach a big pulse gun to your vehicle 32. When you hop back in the buggy, the rebels will raise the gate blocking your path, allowing you to drive out. Test out the heavy pulse rifle on the two barnacles and continue forth. At the end of the tunnel, a hunter-chopper appears. Shoot it with your new toy; it should fly away with heavy damage before you run out of ammo (but the ammo does recharge!). Once out of the tunnel, you’ll see some docks on the right that have supply crates. Go back in the middle of the waterway and speed up to fly over the ramp 33.

Head off to the right and there will be a gate with both doors up. If you go all the way to the end, there will be a supply cart, but then the gates fall behind you; CPs will come out of a door on the upper right, but don’t fret—they die easily by the heavy pulse rifle. Shoot them all and go back towards the way you came from. On the left will be a piece of fence acting as a ramp 34. Go up it and turn around again, then continue on in the same direction as before. Around the next bend is a wooden platform with two CPs that will shoot you from it 35. On the left side is a ramp. Drive up that while shooting at the barrel on the right side. If you’re skilled enough, you’ll hit the barrel, killing that CP, while at the same time knocking down the platform above you with the airboat, killing the other. Up ahead will be a big rock in the middle of the waterway; travel around the right side of it to pick up a supply crate. Next, is a tunnel filled with some CPs. Above the entrance, two are dropping explosive barrels into the water. Shoot one of the barrels to take both of them out, and then sweep back and forth across both sides of the tunnel to exterminate the ones inside. At one point there will be some explosive barrels to help you on the left side.

For a while, there’s not much explaining that needs to be done because when you’re traveling in the airboat there is only one way to go. However, shortly after the aforementioned part, you’ll encounter another tunnel with an APC above it and a CP to the left 36. Shoot the barrels around the CP and the rockets from the APC as you whiz by, if you so choose, or just ignore both, but watch out for incoming rockets. Next, a transport ship will fly overhead carrying another APC 37; this you can destroy while it’s still connected to the transport. After that will be several overhangs with barnacles; watch you don’t get grabbed by one so try to shoot them. If you look up to the left, you’ll see the G-man watching your progress. Further ahead on the right is a CP. Shoot the barrel next to him then drive down there. There are some supplies as well as a boatload of headcrabs and a zombie or two. Retrace your steps to the entrance and go left; follow the sand bar to get to the next tunnel 38.

Now, back to some heavy-duty explanations. When you drop out of the tunnel, go slowly to the right. Ahead you’ll see an open container with crates around it; don’t get the supplies just yet. Creep around to the left and there will be an APC in the open39. Shoot it and the rockets it lobs at you: you’re going to have to kill it. Above you on the docks will be another, but if you’ve not driven out into the open you’ll be able to avoid getting heavily shot at by it. Slowly inch out until all you see of that APC is one wheel; keep shooting it until it explodes 40. Go collect the supplies now and return to the open area. On the other side of the beached ship is another container. Hop out of the airboat and walk near it. There will be a gaping hole in the side. Toss a grenade in and run; this will explode the two barrels inside, knocking down the door and allowing you to drive through. Follow the path under the docks to the left. When it straightens out after the second bend, go to full speed to fly over the ramp. If you miss, don’t fret; you’ll be able to try again. The fun part comes next.

In the next section (the path there is obvious as there’s only one way to go), you get to fight yet another hunter-chopper, but this one is different. Once out in the open, travel to the left until it comes into view. A siren will sound, and it will take off41. The key to survival is not staying in one place: drive towards it as it goes towards you, almost like you were jousting. As you do this, shoot at it. It’s going to shoot back, but you can’t avoid this, unless you manage to get behind cover of some of the large rocks and beached boats. Eventually, it will start dropping mines. Lots and lots of mines. In fact, it’s like a waterfall of mines. They spray out from the left, right, and underneath, one from each side in a big curtain. You can shoot them as they fall, but shoot the chopper instead; it will be better in the long run, and you’ll also end up hitting some mines in the process since the pulse rifle isn’t very accurate. It kind of just spews bullets out like a kid spitting his applesauce at you. You’ll have to be patient and determined here; it does take quite a bit to finally destroy Mr. Hunter-Chopper, but once you’re done the hard part is out of the way.

With the hunter-chopper in a big fiery pile on the ground, you can now explore the area for crates of supplies. There are some by the grounded boat, others by the container on the upper left before the gate, and still others just strewn about. But don’t worry if you can’t find them all; you’re about to get to an arsenal. Drive over to the gate42, climb the ladder, and spin the wheel that will raise the gate. Hop back down (or climb, but if you fall in the water you won’t get hurt) and enter your craft again. In the next section there will be a big section of dock that has collapsed to form a ramp. Go to the left, turn around, and speed up it as fast as you can. You’ll sail over the gap and onto the chunk of rock that the chopper took off from. When you near the landing pad, two CPs exit the building there. Tear them a new one with your heavy pulse rifle and hop out (there is an explosive barrel there that will help) 43. Enter the building and shoot the two CPs. There is a lot of ammunition in here as well as chargers 44. Resupply then exit the building. Follow the rock around to the left (either in the craft or on foot), cross the wooden path, and then keep going to the right by the dam. Hit the switch that will lower the right ladder (this is in case you fall off the dock) then go down the left one. Sally forth to the damn controls…err, dam controls…and flip the one that isn’t broken 45. Return to where you left the airboat and drop down to the water below in the area where you fought the chopper.

This last bit is a little tricky. Go to the rightmost section of water by the container and turn around. You’ll see the dam with its open gate, along with some logs in the water that form a ramp 46. You need to fly over the ramp and through the gate 47. It’s easier said than done, but if you fly straight and have enough speed you should be able to make it in one go. Also, there are explosive barrels lying around in the water so be sure not to hit one because it will hurt. When you land, the game loads the next section.

Please click here to download the optional screenshots .zip that goes along with this walkthrough chapter.

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