Disappointing Bullsquid AI

[Vipus]

These things were ridiculously aggressive and one of the most memorable enemies in Half Life. They would use their ranged attacks a lot, sure, but the real scary thing about them was how they would also constantly charge you, forcing the player to keep moving in order to avoid it's devastating melee attacks. If you decided to stay in cover to avoid it's ranged attack you would soon find that thing right on top of you.

It's lethargic Black Mesa cousin is pretty much the opposite. It's always in the defensive, staying as far as possible from the player. In some cases, even after spotting the player and having a direct path to charge, they prefer to resume their patrol and even turn their backs to the player if you break line of sight. I know the AI used is based off the Antlion Worker, but those things were still incredibly more aggressive than this in Episode 2.



So, now that we are out of Beta, is there still any chance of we ever getting a proper Bullsquid AI overhaul? 

[Maltebyte]

I know what youre saying but i for one hated those things and always will and im glad if they remain stupid as ♥♥♥♥! lol

[Cylixx]

They Lion workers weren't actually that aggro in HL2, but what you noticed was how the AI was perfect for the cavernous environment you fought them in.

The map design allowed them to run and then immediately attack from their new position (all those ledges, the tunnels); it worked fantastically.

Putting it on the Bullsquid almost raw is not so good. I understand them saving time here but you are absolutely right when you say that the aggression, and thereby the fear is gone.

In HL1 the Bullsquids went nuts, there were genuine raging bulls. They would knock you sideways as well, and follow it up with another charge. Absolutely it was better, more fun and more memorable.

[Vipus]

Originally posted by Maltebyte:

I know what youre saying but i for one hated those things and always will and im glad if they remain stupid as ♥♥♥♥! lol

I also had my fair share of jumpscares with them as a kid ( and I still do sometimes), but the thing about them is that they are hostile to pretty much anything (I think even their own species) so most times you would find them alone or already killing something else. It was priceless seeing them gibbing headcrabs and HECU Marines with that tail swipe. They could actually help a lot if you managed not to aggro them.

Originally posted by Cylixx:

They Lion workers weren't actually that aggro in HL2, but what you noticed was how the AI was perfect for the cavernous environment you fought them in.

The map design allowed them to run and then immediately attack from their new position (all those ledges, the tunnels); it worked fantastically.

Putting it on the Bullsquid almost raw is not so good. I understand them saving time here but you are absolutely right when you say that the aggression, and thereby the fear is gone.

In HL1 the Bullsquids went nuts, there were genuine raging bulls. They would knock you sideways as well, and follow it up with another charge. Absolutely it was better, more fun and more memorable.

In Black Mesa I think I only saw them use the classic tail swipe 2 times. Once when *I* ran towards one and when near it was a breakable prop blocking it's acid attack. In Questionable Ethics I also even saw 3 headcrabs taking down one Bullsquid. It was ridiculous.

With the Xen update they even introduced a new more agressive Houndeye enemy that could have easily been swaped by a proper Bullsquid.

[Vassago Rain]

They push hard on you when you invade their space. If you hang back a bit, they'll spit and start moving in your direction, but not outright go berserk unless you're dealing serious damage. Once you get too close, or hurt them too much, they'll murder you very quickly, especially on hard.

When I did my quickrun through office complex earlier, I got way too close to the one in the freezer, and got rewarded first by spit, then a charge because I'd hurt it too much, then it killed me with a tail swipe.

[Vipus]

Originally posted by Vassago Rain:

They push hard on you when you invade their space. If you hang back a bit, they'll spit and start moving in your direction, but not outright go berserk unless you're dealing serious damage. Once you get too close, or hurt them too much, they'll murder you very quickly, especially on hard.

When I did my quickrun through office complex earlier, I got way too close to the one in the freezer, and got rewarded first by spit, then a charge because I'd hurt it too much, then it killed me with a tail swipe.

Interesting, but I never experienced that change of behavior in my 3 Hard playthroughs of BM. They always stay back and, considering how few hit points they have, die rather fast compared to their original counterpart.

They also seem to react way too slowly when noticing the player, taking ages to turn your way start attacking. Most encounters on Hard end up before they even have a chance of attacking, especially if you use the shotgun secondary attack.

As it stands, even on the Highest Difficulty, Bullsquids can only be dangerous if you stand still in front of them and manage to get hit by all acid projectiles. Otherwise, they pretty much are one of the weakest enemeis of the game.

[Vassago Rain]

Originally posted by Vipus:

Originally posted by Vassago Rain:

They push hard on you when you invade their space. If you hang back a bit, they'll spit and start moving in your direction, but not outright go berserk unless you're dealing serious damage. Once you get too close, or hurt them too much, they'll murder you very quickly, especially on hard.

When I did my quickrun through office complex earlier, I got way too close to the one in the freezer, and got rewarded first by spit, then a charge because I'd hurt it too much, then it killed me with a tail swipe.

Interesting, but I never experienced that change of behavior in my 3 Hard playthroughs of BM. They always stay back and, considering how few hit points they have, die rather fast compared to their original counterpart.

They also seem to react way too slowly when noticing the player, taking ages to turn your way start attacking. Most encounters on Hard end up before they even have a chance of attacking, especially if you use the shotgun secondary attack.

As it stands, even on the Highest Difficulty, Bullsquids can only be dangerous if you stand still in front of them and manage to get hit by all acid projectiles. Otherwise, they pretty much are one of the weakest enemeis of the game.

It might have been my really dumb approach towards it that triggered every single attack they have available, and I was doing the run specifically to count shotgun ammo, so I didn't use it at all. It reminded me of how the fight they have staged between them and HECU in questionable ethics usually goes, where they hold that one room, and any soldier that sticks his head out or tries to get near them gets destroyed by acid, and the shotgunners get smashed by tail swipes.

Their AI us kind of uneven, to say the least, but they're not completely docile. I'd like it if they had a more clear territory AI, and just like you say, if they reacted faster. Sometimes, they turn around instantly, like if you shot them with a magnum bullet, but if you pelt them with the glock, it takes forever.