A Gruesome Fate | Headcrabs & Zombies | FULL Half-Life Lore

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  • Опубліковано 18 чер 2024
  • The Headcrabs and Zombies are an iconic part of the Half-Life series. Over the years, new variants appeared over the wasteland - but where did they come from? The Armoured, Lightning, Fast and Poison had to come from somewhere.
    Who is Jeff? How did the Headcrab's hosts feel when they connected? and how did the Combine use Xen's creatures to control humanity? In this video, I explore the lore and story behind the Zombies and Headcrabs in Half-Life.
    Timestamps
    00:00 Introduction
    00:40 Origin & Xen
    05:09 Parasite & Host
    09:31 Move to Planet Earth
    11:30 Evolution & New Subspecies
    13:13 Armoured Headcrab
    14:12 Lightning Dog
    16:49 Jeff
    18:11 Fast Headcrab
    19:56 Poison Headcrab
    22:03 Biological Weapons
    23:52 Legacy
    25:38 Closing Thoughts
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    Half-Life & Portal Lore Playlist: • The Borealis | Half-Li...
    Standard Sources
    Game Manuals
    Half-Life Series Playthrough Research
    Portal Series Playthrough Research
    Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar
    Half-Life: Alyx Playthrough
    Portal/ Half-Life Fandom
    Old Valve Forums
    Marc Laidlaw's Twitter
    Breengrub Twitter
    Reddit AMA (w/ HL: Alyx Developers)
    Portal 2
    Aperture Desk Job
    AUDIO USED
    Half-Life 2 OST: Escape Array
    Black Mesa OST: Xen
    Half-Life 2 OST: Lab Practicum
    Black Mesa OST: Catalyst
    Half-Life 2 OST: Triage At Dawn
    #HalfLife #Headcrabs #Zombies
  • Ігри

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1 тис.

  • @Skyrionn
    @Skyrionn  Рік тому +417

    Which is your favourite Headcrab?

    • @ThadMDnotfake_..
      @ThadMDnotfake_.. Рік тому +56

      The poison headcrab, if you think about it hard enough it can hide in dark corner's and just jump on your head without knowing truly a unexpected fate

    • @ThatTallGuy0
      @ThatTallGuy0 Рік тому +61

      Boris Johnson

    • @memeenthusiast910
      @memeenthusiast910 Рік тому +8

      The basic one is basic 🧠

    • @solidp5292
      @solidp5292 Рік тому +4

      Leather

    • @The_Str4nger
      @The_Str4nger Рік тому +9

      the good old standard one

  • @CrabGamingTF2
    @CrabGamingTF2 Рік тому +2329

    Remember, one of the scariest creatures in Half-Life was born from a giant, walking Ball-Sack

  • @TheNinjaSandwichOG
    @TheNinjaSandwichOG Рік тому +711

    Honestly. Scariest thing about them was hearing their groans enough to realise they're actually calling for help

    • @Sindri_Myr
      @Sindri_Myr Рік тому +12

      FOR THE CYBRAN NATION

    • @TheNinjaSandwichOG
      @TheNinjaSandwichOG Рік тому +6

      @@Sindri_Myr YES!!!!

    • @SordidusFellatio
      @SordidusFellatio Рік тому +18

      I remember playing Half Life in a cybercafe with a bunch of my friends when I was a kid, we didn’t even think about the horror of these things and just obliterate the s𝚑Ꭵt out of them in a heartbeat that they probably don’t even have the chance to trigger any of those groans 😂😂

    • @ZeroOmega-vg8nq
      @ZeroOmega-vg8nq Рік тому +8

      YEBBA MY ICING!

    • @Gutymut
      @Gutymut 9 місяців тому

      Fr

  • @Crash765
    @Crash765 Рік тому +1718

    I think a gonarch is sort of a headcrab equivalent of a queen bee. So the typical headcrab isn't going to grow up to be a gonarch.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +305

      Good idea

    • @pikachufrankie
      @pikachufrankie Рік тому +39

      I second this

    • @zodunderkelvin
      @zodunderkelvin Рік тому +107

      I think once a gonarch dies, a headcrab will mutate into the new queen.

    • @thelaughingmanofficial
      @thelaughingmanofficial Рік тому +116

      Likely this is because there is a special Zen-ian plant that the Heacrab eats to turn into a Gonarch. Kinda like how a Bee larva fed "Royal Jelly" turns into a new Queen. That would explain why you don't see any Gonarch on Earth because the plant species for that process does not exist there.
      This is all just fan speculation of course.

    • @theironycomedy6
      @theironycomedy6 Рік тому +63

      @@zodunderkelvin This reminds me of the cancelled return to ravenholm and how Grigori injects himself with some kind of headcrab venom, and slowly mutates.

  • @Ivan_Ooze
    @Ivan_Ooze Рік тому +629

    it was dark in xen, headcrabs developed sensitive eyes. the uv in daylight is too harsh, made worse by the combine ruining the atmosphere even more. so a thick nictitating membrane evolved or was engineered to cover the eyes.

  • @alexanderchippel
    @alexanderchippel Рік тому +356

    I think the reason we never see a zombie Vortigaunt is because of the Vortessence. I'd imagine it's hard to mind control a creature that has such a strong psychic connection to the other members of its race. Not to mention their very powerful healing abilities. All that paired with their abilities of foresight basically make a headcrab possession impossible.

    • @Eira_
      @Eira_ Рік тому +30

      In HL:A we learn that it's possible for Vortigaunts to become severed from the vortessence, though whether a headcrab could cause that remains to be seen

    • @Mrshadowmind14
      @Mrshadowmind14 Рік тому +21

      I would also assume their electrial capablilities would probably fry any lucky headcrab that got onto a vort head.

    • @commandersalwa7101
      @commandersalwa7101 11 місяців тому +15

      If you play entropy zero 2 there are actually zombie vorts. Tho non cannon it is still interesting

    • @records-of-chimera
      @records-of-chimera 11 місяців тому +8

      If Entropy Zero 2 is canon, then there are zombie vortigaunts. In one of the levels, we were introduced to zombie vortigaunts.

    • @Dfeneck
      @Dfeneck 12 днів тому

      Or they can just electrify their heads and instantly kill them.

  • @Zeppelee
    @Zeppelee Рік тому +283

    Speaking of headcrabs, a friend of mine from Australia had made a standard headcrab plushie for me during Christmas 2008. I was 18 then, and now that I'm 33, I still have that plushie sitting on top of my desk. I wish that I owned that super-rare Christmas Vortigaunt plushie that Valve once sold on their online store.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +30

      That is a great friend you have there.

    • @RyuHaya
      @RyuHaya Рік тому +8

      Cool! I have the headcrab plushie you can wear as a hat.

    • @komododragon410
      @komododragon410 Рік тому +7

      ​@@RyuHayaimagine pranking someone as zombie and they pull out the shotgun 🗿

    • @WeAintJokinHere
      @WeAintJokinHere 10 місяців тому +3

      @@komododragon410 even worse, imagine them pulling out the gloun gun or rpg

    • @saschahofmann2421
      @saschahofmann2421 8 місяців тому +2

      @@WeAintJokinHere the idea of someone waisting rpg's or energy on a headcrap is killing.

  • @VinVonVoom
    @VinVonVoom Рік тому +114

    12:50 Marc Laidlaw (story writer of the Half-Life series) on the headcrab variants:
    "Those things came through during the portal storms, which continue erratically to this very day. Some of the critters came early (immediately after the black mesa incident) and adapted to earth. I think the poison headcrabs must have eaten something poisonous at one point, and liked it so much they added it to their repertoire."

  • @Nicocgboy_lindo
    @Nicocgboy_lindo Рік тому +686

    We all know that the sounds that a zombie makes are actually the host trying to call out for help, but the audio is backwards, and the fast zombie just makes weird noises and screams, but the poison zombie when killed sound like he's crying, idk what it means cuz he moans most of the time, but since the host is alive, maybe the host itself is crying

    • @ilikepigeons6101
      @ilikepigeons6101 Рік тому +82

      it disturbed me when playing through Ravelnohm

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +165

      Probably a worse fate than becoming a stalker

    • @craigfdavis
      @craigfdavis Рік тому +93

      The crying and begging for help could also be a ploy to attract other humans to help, only to be taken control of themselves by other nearby headcrabs. Scary - manipulating the host like that!

    • @Nicocgboy_lindo
      @Nicocgboy_lindo Рік тому +28

      Man half life really is dark.

    • @CaesarAugustus18
      @CaesarAugustus18 Рік тому +2

      @@Skyrionn you forgot how stalkers are made huh

  • @idropNukes999
    @idropNukes999 Рік тому +393

    Its weird in original half life and the black mesa remake it seems like in some cases its implied the headcrab transformation kills the host, but in half life 2 and alyx we can clearly tell they're somewhat conscious

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +108

      Black Mesa was a fantastic remake - but there were just a few of these little things I didn't like. I guess I'm just nitpicky with lore 😂

    • @ElliFong
      @ElliFong Рік тому +152

      Nah in Black Mesa, it is clearly stated the host are still alive. If you seen the HEV zombie where the suit are still saying "User death imminent" "Vital sign critical" "Morphine depleted". And only flatline once you kills it.

    • @idropNukes999
      @idropNukes999 Рік тому +45

      @@ElliFong ohh yea forgot about that but idk if we can consider black mesa canon as much as it expands on the original half life

    • @homeygfunkoffacherryfruitl4971
      @homeygfunkoffacherryfruitl4971 Рік тому +36

      The host definitely has to still be alive on some level, they still have blood circulating through their body and their brain stem is still functional to keep them ambulatory so at least on a clinical level they're still "alive".

    • @headsethub6716
      @headsethub6716 Рік тому +27

      @@homeygfunkoffacherryfruitl4971 you can't say the same for the fast zombies

  • @oi6915
    @oi6915 Рік тому +140

    In the HL2 beta there was going to be a Combine Big Mama pod, which is the Gonarch's sack trapped in combine tech, you were originally going to drive a digger through it in Ravenholm. I headcannon that they still exist in the HL lore, but are used in factories that produce headcrab cannisters

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +23

      I did have another section in this video where I looked into it but thought that there was enough beta and behind the scenes info to make a separate video ☺

    • @skynetonline
      @skynetonline Рік тому +6

      That makes sense since they no longer speak full words.

  • @ericvandenavond8748
    @ericvandenavond8748 Рік тому +71

    In my opinion, I think that the headcrab is probably the only species to have a direct advantage from being invaded by the combine.

    • @lordswagimusii8222
      @lordswagimusii8222 9 місяців тому +5

      On the contrary the combine use them as weapons to soften human populations and cleanup the zombies after leading me to think they consider insurgents to be more of a threat than headcrabs. However against the transhuman combine soldiers we mostly fight in the games I'd agree.

  • @knightoftheholyland4123
    @knightoftheholyland4123 Рік тому +109

    Hearing the screams of help when not backwards never fails to send chills down my whole body

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +21

      I had to listen to it multiple times to figure out how to reverse the audio. It wasn't a fun time.

    • @knightoftheholyland4123
      @knightoftheholyland4123 Рік тому +8

      @@Skyrionn yikes, it was definitely worth it though, I came across your channel a week ago and I love the content!

    • @skynetonline
      @skynetonline Рік тому +4

      Poor people, they don't know their words are being distorted by encoding so no one can understand what they are saying so they must suffer even more not knowing why nobody replies to them nor help them to be released. Genius idea I must say.

    • @WeAintJokinHere
      @WeAintJokinHere 10 місяців тому +1

      @@skynetonline that's horrible :(

  • @SerpentNight
    @SerpentNight Рік тому +86

    One of the questions I've had about them is: does the consciousness of the host really continue in some way after it's taken control of? The idea I've leaned more towards is the screams from the host are basically a loop. Whatever the host was saying in the final moments before the headcrab took over repeating unconsiously. I've never really thought the consciousness of the host survives once the takeover is complete.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +39

      That's actually another interesting way to view it

    • @ilikepigeons6101
      @ilikepigeons6101 Рік тому +9

      I hope so that does sound pretty cool

    • @skynetonline
      @skynetonline Рік тому +9

      I don't think so, remember they are being held hostage in their own body. They want to be freed.

    • @Chewberto
      @Chewberto Рік тому +5

      Really cool idea, and still creepy to boot. I don't this is the case, though, as headcrab zombies only scream when they're on fire, implying that they're expressing pain of some kind, which would make sense given how painful it is to be burned alive.

  • @alienpl107
    @alienpl107 Рік тому +57

    It’s interesting how normal Headcrabs have two crab legs and two “normal” legs but poison and fast variant are more spider-like

    • @skynetonline
      @skynetonline Рік тому +2

      My theory is that the combine created them

    • @alienpl107
      @alienpl107 Рік тому

      @@skynetonline They did

    • @TOPRATEDSALESMAN
      @TOPRATEDSALESMAN 11 місяців тому

      ​@@alienpl107 [we don't know that]

    • @Uberpod3
      @Uberpod3 11 місяців тому

      Hello Gordon!

  • @baronjutter
    @baronjutter Рік тому +64

    I always wondered what headcrabs attacked as a parasite in their native environment.

    • @connarjohnson2693
      @connarjohnson2693 Рік тому +5

      My guess is something similar to a small rodent

    • @connarjohnson2693
      @connarjohnson2693 Рік тому +4

      About the size of a Guinea pig or beaver

    • @Rizal96able
      @Rizal96able Рік тому +10

      Native environment, meaning wherever or whatever dimension it is they came from, and not Xen? Likely another humanoid creature similar to humans.
      It is obvious they don't latch onto a creature for food, they are omnivores. Latching is probably a defensive mechanism. For their own, and for other members of their species. Like how a drone bee protects the nest and other bees when it has to.

    • @sulphurous2656
      @sulphurous2656 Рік тому +14

      The answer to this question doesn't exist because headcrabs follow the typical trope of a creature that has a very convenient and specific interaction towards humans but nothing special to anything else in-universe.

    • @lordswagimusii8222
      @lordswagimusii8222 9 місяців тому +4

      @@sulphurous2656 This is both the most realistic and boring option sadly.

  • @SanwichKing
    @SanwichKing Рік тому +68

    Whoever did the voices for the headcrab zombies did a damn good job, I can't sleep anymore

    • @RyuHaya
      @RyuHaya Рік тому +9

      Marc Laidlaw, the writer of Half Life.

  • @notaclass-d1822
    @notaclass-d1822 Рік тому +25

    I always assumed the zombine were trying to warn their allys as best they could while being piloted by the headcrab, which is why they mention parasite and infestation in their ramblings

    • @WeAintJokinHere
      @WeAintJokinHere 10 місяців тому +3

      Bruh, who gave WiFi access to class D's, aren't you supposed to be in the femure breakur?

  • @maxcook356
    @maxcook356 Рік тому +57

    I always thought the fast and poison headcrabs were combine bioweapons. If they weren't, you'd think you would see them in xen, no?

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +14

      Exactly! I've seen the theory that they were created by The Combine and believed it but when researching for this video - I could not find an actual source anywhere.
      It does seem like the most logical reason they exist.

    • @fuzzyhair321
      @fuzzyhair321 Рік тому +1

      That or because the series is so old it's just another version added

    • @I_Dont_Believe_In_Salad
      @I_Dont_Believe_In_Salad Рік тому +2

      There's a Theory that they evolved to fit their prey on Earth, fast headcrabs counter runner humans and stuff

    • @panicattack8284
      @panicattack8284 Рік тому

      ​@@fuzzyhair321 no fun

    • @skynetonline
      @skynetonline Рік тому

      I think this theory makes more sense than evolution in a few years, adaptation takes time even for alien species. The combine crested them for sure and sent them to Ravenholm to finish up the resistance survivors.

  • @dimondcreeper0
    @dimondcreeper0 Рік тому +170

    A lot of people actually theorise that the fast a poison zombies aren't actually alive but are just being controlled.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +42

      I guess that's better for the hosts

    • @wastelandgames9409
      @wastelandgames9409 Рік тому +20

      I guess it makes sense considering neither sound like there in pain and truly do just sound like zombies

    • @WeaverOfStars
      @WeaverOfStars Рік тому +50

      @@wastelandgames9409 The fast zombies might be dead but the poison zombies definitely aren't. They sound like they sigh in relief as they die which suggests the host felt everything and was conscious enough to breath a sigh at relief at dying.

    • @wastelandgames9409
      @wastelandgames9409 Рік тому +11

      @@WeaverOfStars good point

    • @DanteGabriel-lx9bq
      @DanteGabriel-lx9bq Рік тому +5

      @wasteland games Or perhaps it's just something we theories to cope with the fact that we are killing councius humans. Let's end their suffering.

  • @AkumuVids
    @AkumuVids Рік тому +120

    Entropy 0: 2 actually provided some more interesting variations of the head crabs and Zombies. We got to see the return of the Gonome and we had some pretty cool fan ideas, like a Temporal Headcrab and Vort Zombies.

    • @AhuizotlXiuh
      @AhuizotlXiuh Рік тому +16

      Was gonna bring that up too. Skyrionn mentioned potentially covering fan games so I think Entropy Zero and its sequel are a good place to start.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +36

      They were pretty interesting. As said in the other comment, I may look into non-canonical additions to the universe at some point ☺

    • @paw5409
      @paw5409 Рік тому +5

      @@Skyrionn Please look at entropy its such an awesome game man also if you see this I love your content

    • @jackdaniels5071
      @jackdaniels5071 Рік тому +5

      Oh my god, vort zombies would he horrible. Since all of the vorts are connected, do you think the whole vortessance can feel the zombie's pain?

    • @AkumuVids
      @AkumuVids Рік тому +1

      @@jackdaniels5071 Yikes. Gameplay wise, they appear to act like a weaker, dumber vort, but implications lore wise...?

  • @spronkjohnson804
    @spronkjohnson804 Рік тому +69

    Great video. I always thought the lightning dog was the next step after the fast headcrab. The normal hl2 headcrab is like a bug with baby fat and it slims out as it processes whatever nutrients it takes from the person. Explains the intelligence increase as well

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +9

      It does. Good insight there!

  • @s_crylly7751
    @s_crylly7751 Рік тому +21

    Excellent Half Life content as always. I, like many, grew up on the Half Life series and it is therapy to sit and listen to you discuss the lore of an incredible universe.
    Thank you for the effort you put into this stuff.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +1

      I'm happy to help. Thank you for watching them, I do truly appreciate it.
      There are many more to come.

  • @n0m4r22
    @n0m4r22 Рік тому +16

    holy crap, I didn't notice the headcrabs actualy have eyes. I thought they're like Antlions that depend on smell/sound

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +1

      I'm sure as they evolved they had other ways to navigate their environment but yeah - early on they did ☺

    • @ic0nic707
      @ic0nic707 Рік тому +3

      Wait, Antlions don’t have eyes? That’s news to me.

    • @carlosbustos8096
      @carlosbustos8096 4 місяці тому

      ​@@ic0nic707Too much terraria

  • @memeenthusiast910
    @memeenthusiast910 Рік тому +73

    Left 4 Dead Suggestion: I always wondered how the green flu (I think it was called green flu) came to be.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +21

      Green Flu is a good suggestion!

    • @Idontfeelikeitughhh
      @Idontfeelikeitughhh Рік тому +2

      Pretty sure it has something to do with the US military, cause in The Passing/Sacrifice in L4D2. You find a US soldier Tank zombie inside a crashed shipping container

  • @AluVixapede
    @AluVixapede Рік тому +77

    The zombies are some of the most tragic creatures tbh~

    • @ThatTallGuy0
      @ThatTallGuy0 Рік тому +41

      You’re forgetting the people who have to live in London

    • @flufferusgoobus
      @flufferusgoobus Рік тому +4

      To be honest i never minded to leave any enemy live through just running past them, but i've always made sure to kill zombies and stalkers, my mind forces me to.

    • @reeceemms1643
      @reeceemms1643 Рік тому +1

      but we can't deny it is fun to just spawn in a tone of Zombies on Gmod and then just start gunning them down

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +12

      Probably worse than the Stalkers. At least the Stalkers are unaware

    • @plantplayer303
      @plantplayer303 Рік тому +1

      @@Skyrionn i think that there are way less stalkers than headcrab zombies, whole ravenholm is a lot of them, and its not all of places where headcrabs attacked.

  • @BluePikmin255
    @BluePikmin255 10 місяців тому +11

    Knowing that the victims of the headcrabs can still feel pain makes me imagine how painful the gonome transformation is.

    • @NovaProspekt19
      @NovaProspekt19 Місяць тому +1

      Especially when.they reach into their own torso and throw guts..

  • @krush454
    @krush454 Рік тому +13

    So glad you're redoing topics you covered. Ive watched literally every half life lore video youve done and think its great youre covering them more in depth. Keep up the great work, looking forward to the TF2 and left 4 dead lore :D

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому

      Thank you! I looked back and thought about how unstructured and researched it was. Always happy to improve!
      There so many more videos to come - thanks for joining me on this journey!

  • @w1ndt
    @w1ndt Рік тому +18

    Now headcrabs are not only gross but absolutely terrifying. And as always you made another video that is so interesting that the time flies by. I always get this good feeling when you upload a video because I know full well even if I dont play the game you always make lore so interesting. Honestly I feel like I am rambling but take this as a longer form of thank you.

  • @angelneonlite
    @angelneonlite Рік тому +4

    "GOD HELP! HELP ME!"

  • @ramensar
    @ramensar Рік тому +19

    headcrabs were always one of my favorite parts about the HL universe, great video as always!!

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +5

      It's not HL without them. I'd have been interested to see what would have happened if they got into the Aperture Facility.

    • @Seacat17
      @Seacat17 Рік тому +1

      @@Skyrionn "In case of headcrab infestation use THIS CROWBAR"

  • @Scottc82
    @Scottc82 Рік тому +75

    I love that in Alyx you can see a headcrab practicing latching onto a head by using a mannequin head, it gives them this silly feeling that gives them more story as they possibly aren't always interested in finding a host immediately

    • @skullkid692
      @skullkid692 Рік тому +24

      Or its just a stupid animal and thought the mannequin was a human? That obvious explanation too convenient?

    • @Scottc82
      @Scottc82 Рік тому +6

      @@skullkid692 No, if you don't alert it you can see it's trying to practice also the head is completely intact too

    • @RadekCrazy1
      @RadekCrazy1 Рік тому +7

      @@Scottc82 Nah it is just driven by its instincts and is probably confused why the hell it can't take control of its victim making it humb the mannequin head multiple times.

    • @tnorki
      @tnorki Рік тому +1

      @@Scottc82 While cute, it's an absolutely stupid assumption.

    • @Scottc82
      @Scottc82 Рік тому

      this was made 2 months ago shut up

  • @TheYellowMan4
    @TheYellowMan4 Рік тому +5

    I think the zombine can talk normally because their vocal cords have been replaced with a radio, but the radio is broken because their head is gone, and maybe the zombine is talking to warn other soldiers

  • @FiatUno2003
    @FiatUno2003 Рік тому +5

    Great video as always. I really love your content. Seeing someone 'deeply' talking about the Half Life universe makes me happy. I love the Half Life universe and more people should talk about it. I hope that you analyze some 'non canon' games too

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому

      I've actually had a lot more requests for the non-canon content lately. It's worth looking into I guess!

  • @grahambbeck
    @grahambbeck Рік тому +1

    You are the kind of channel where I start the video and click the thumbs up right away before even watching. Keep up the great work!

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +2

      You're the best kind of viewer! I really appreciate your support ☺

  • @TheAdmanta
    @TheAdmanta Рік тому

    This is your best video yet. Well done, the best break down on the topic I've ever seen.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +1

      I was pretty anxious about posting this one because I thought that because this topic doesn't have a traditional storyline, people would find it boring. This has added a few more ideas to my list ☺

  • @ShaktiChaturvedi
    @ShaktiChaturvedi Рік тому +8

    Ravenholm and Quarantine Zone are some of the most memorable locations in all gaming for me. Man i love this universe so much !

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +3

      It's an amazing series and there is still so much to explore!

  • @aperamaentertainment
    @aperamaentertainment Рік тому +4

    This really is an excellent video! I'm very picky with Half-Life lore as I usually see a lot of people making assumptions and stating them as fact, I'm very glad you didn't do that.
    For me, the most terrifying Headcrab is the Poison, mainly because I am terrified of spiders and I played Half-Life Alyx which makes everything feel so damn real and freaked the hell out when I encountered them! Though even standard ones are terrifying in VR! XD Plus the idea of being completely broken, fed upon, possibly having them breed internally by spider-like parasites while begging for the sweet release of death is horrifying.
    Also does anyone know if there's an official pronunciation of "Gonarch" and "Gonome" as I've never heard them pronounced like this before so I'm curious?

  • @quaiacka
    @quaiacka Рік тому +1

    Yet another fantastic and incredibly detailed video that i thoroughly enjoyed watching! the amount of information you are able to dig up on every character, creature and general lore of the half life universe is unbelievable, once again great job and a happy new year to one of my favorite UA-camrs!👍

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому

      Happy new year! I was a little worried this would come across as boring because of how much information I threw into this. It appears this kind of content works too! There will be more ☺

    • @quaiacka
      @quaiacka Рік тому

      @Skyrionn Thats awesome!😁 I don't remember if I commented on the complete half life/portal lore video but that's probably my favorite of them all, I learned a lot from it even though I've played all the games several times, thank you for all you're doing for us fans!

  • @XanderNiles
    @XanderNiles Рік тому +1

    Glad to discover your channel. Instantly subscribed, love the Half-Life lore videos and the headcrabs are pretty much the core of the Half-Life series.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +1

      Welcome aboard! There's so much more to come!

    • @XanderNiles
      @XanderNiles Рік тому

      @@Skyrionn glad to hear that

  • @Nanamowa
    @Nanamowa Рік тому +10

    My head cannon(no pun intended) is that head crabs have a complex life cycle that involves them potentially going through various metaphoric changes as they make their way to a gonarch. I personally don't think gonarchs are responsible for reproducing all the head crabs we see given how common the head crabs are and how few gonarchs we see, especially since places like Ravenholm are full of them and there's no gonarch there. I think they're much like eels in that they have dozens of different forms they can take depending on the conditions and when they are in the perfect conditions for long enough, they become a gonarch as to maximize reproduction. I think the lightning dog is maybe a reproductive stage in headcrab development, perhaps they enter bodies that were prepared previously by other headcrabs in order to lay eggs inside it or combine its gametes with eggs left behind by the original headcrab. This would also explain why the head crabs need hosts and why they modify the hosts to have exposed chest cavities.
    It may be that they have a bee-like society wherein head crabs assume different roles and niches depending on the greater need of the colony and those changes may be a result of their genetics or inform their genetics. Maybe the gonarch gives birth to specific kinds of headcrabs depending on the needs of the colony in much the same way a queen bee does. Who knows with xenobiology.

    • @Dracosian4802
      @Dracosian4802 Рік тому +1

      I always thought that perhaps the Poison Headcrabs might be some mid-stage between a normal headcrab and a Gonarch. They have the same colouration, gained poison attacks (which the gonarch has), are much larger and seem to have a unique interaction with their host.
      In terms of a bit of an Out-there theory... Maybe the primary poison headcrab (the one that controls the hosts and seems to be pulsating in game) will continue to grow and morph. Maybe the host eventually degenerates into the large sack seen on the gonarch (since that sack is differently coloured from the rest of the body)

    • @Nanamowa
      @Nanamowa Рік тому +1

      @@Dracosian4802 There's a common idea in the community that head crabs only have one host in their lifetime which I think is just unrealistic, especially given how ghouls have absolutely nothing in terms of nutrition to offer the headcrabs, meaning they'll starve if they stay attached too long. This leads me to believe that they are just attached to the highly necrotic bodies at that point as a necessary stage in their reproduction and are going to leave that body soon.

    • @Dracosian4802
      @Dracosian4802 Рік тому

      ​@@Nanamowa I may be wrong about this but: don't headcrab zombies consume the bodies of those who are not infected (which would be where the headcrabs get nutrition after they deplete the host)

    • @Nanamowa
      @Nanamowa Рік тому

      @@Dracosian4802 Yes, my point was that once you've deprived a body of all its nutrition, like in the case of a ghoul, there's nothing left to get out of the food source so the head crab would have to either find a new host or die.

    • @cgoober2000
      @cgoober2000 Рік тому

      I personally think that the reason there are so many headcrabs in Ravenholm is because the combine literally flooded the place with headcrab cannisters... plus there is that cut gonarch sack in combine tech that used to be in Ravenholm, which would be another explanation for why there are so many headcrabs

  • @samuelantoniocastillomeza5034
    @samuelantoniocastillomeza5034 Рік тому +16

    Glad you had a good vacations time. Headcrabs are cute as they are scary, specially the likely gene-modified poison one. I'm eager to see you talk of Quake (hoping 3 Arena too).

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +1

      Thank you! I hope you had a great holiday too!
      I can kinda see the cuteness.
      Quake will be interesting!

  • @8ight8ight12
    @8ight8ight12 Рік тому +2

    Been waiting for this one! Keep it up sir, your content is top-notch!

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +1

      That's very kind of you to say! Thanks for watching ☺

  • @skynetonline
    @skynetonline Рік тому

    One of the best Half Life documentaries I ever watched, I subscribed to your channel and I feel like I started a new journey just when I felt my passion for HL was dead. Thank you author.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +1

      Hey! Welcome aboard! Thanks so much, I appreciate it. I have so many videos on the channel and many, many more planned too!

  • @KaaxItzam
    @KaaxItzam Рік тому +5

    9:04 I am unsure whether you can call the relationship symbiotic. I am not entirely sure, but I believe 'symbiotic' refers to a relationship that is mutually beneficial to both organisms - and I think the headcrab-host relationship is as far from mutually beneficial that I can think of!

    • @pooplejar
      @pooplejar 6 місяців тому

      i agree with you on this. it’s definitely more parasitic than it would be symbiotic

  • @daisy20087
    @daisy20087 Рік тому +4

    According to Google,
    After removing a headcrab the host will immediatly die right after. Because their body is just way too broken down and ripped apart and such to survive. The headcrab is what is currently keeping them alive.
    So no, they would defiently not survive after removal of the headcrab. So I guess you can call a Headcrab Zombies life a actual living hell that they can't escape.

  • @thumperpaul
    @thumperpaul Рік тому +1

    Kudos to you for the melee walk though. It’s been years since I’ve played that game, I enjoyed the memories!

  • @enderkatze6129
    @enderkatze6129 Рік тому +8

    You Know, i find it bizarre that For the regular HL2 Zombies you can See their head pressed to their Neck when you shoot the headcrab Off, but the Zombines, If you shoot their head Off, appear to have No head at all above the lower jaw

    • @headsethub6716
      @headsethub6716 Рік тому +6

      Because the helmet is stuck with the head so when the headcrab falls off the head follows it

  • @hansgunter1459
    @hansgunter1459 Рік тому +35

    Just imagine how must the person suffer being controlled by headcrab

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +7

      Worse than a stalker I think

    • @wastelandgames9409
      @wastelandgames9409 Рік тому +1

      @@Skyrionn likely

    • @skynetonline
      @skynetonline Рік тому

      Rumor has it that casualties due to headcrab attacks right before the 7 hour war were 2 billion people. Imagine the size of that zombie army against humanity. Imagine the suffering!

    • @sussyb1471
      @sussyb1471 Рік тому

      That thing's legs litterally pinned into your chest and the top of your skull are ripped off, the headcrab might use it inner mouth parts to touch or do something with your brain and that is NOT a comfortable experience

  • @Movingon18474
    @Movingon18474 Рік тому +1

    Dude you honestly make amazing videos, I love seeing the story of these valve games still be talked about in a better way! Head crabs are awesome and I hope we can know more about them in future games, like how originally in the half life 2 beta The combine would’ve had a gonarch sack which was what caused them to mass produce the head crabs, Honestly I hope its still canon lol
    Keep up the good work dude!

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +1

      Thanks for watching and its great to have someone know about the beta too. There's so many more videos to come!

  • @chrismSoundCloud
    @chrismSoundCloud Рік тому

    I look forward to these videos! Thank you!

  • @isaaccook1890
    @isaaccook1890 Рік тому +3

    I love how much Valve did with them. Considering there among the few aliens you directly face in HL2 there's an insane variety in them.

  • @KyubiHitashi
    @KyubiHitashi Рік тому +3

    from the huge development of the fandom at 2000's to still today, i still hope the bright joy of half life is still in the world after a couple of years

  • @madfighterpilot
    @madfighterpilot Рік тому

    Great work on these videos!

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому

      That's kind of you to say! Thank you.

  • @DJ_CARCINOGEN
    @DJ_CARCINOGEN Рік тому +4

    Cremator video would rock. I forgot that Black Mesa was already studying headcrabs before the resonance cascade. Makes me think about how Kleiner could have had Lamarr all the way back in Black Mesa.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому

      He could have I guess.
      I'm hoping there is enough information about The Cremator to dedicate a video to it.

  • @lambdaspecialist_source
    @lambdaspecialist_source Рік тому +8

    As always a great video. Without headcrabs it would not really be the same.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому

      It really wouldn't. Thanks for watching!

  • @shayan235
    @shayan235 Рік тому

    Great work , really appreciate it.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому

      So nice of you to say. Thank you!

  • @allengreen1943
    @allengreen1943 Рік тому +7

    WOOOHOOOO FINALLY HEADCRABS

  • @shamiko_live
    @shamiko_live Рік тому +3

    I love your videos so much.
    I've learned so much about half life and portal lore.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +1

      I'm happy to help. There's so much more to come too!

  • @Chadakovic
    @Chadakovic Рік тому +1

    This video is absolutely amazing.

  • @johannr2658
    @johannr2658 9 місяців тому +1

    I haven’t fully watched this vid yet and don’t know if Skyrionn explains this but: A feature of the Headcrab zombie often seem to forget is their open ribcage. Headcrab zombies use the exposed ribs as teeth to feast on flesh. They rip meat chunks out of anything that’s dead and put them inbetween the ribs. They then proceed to chew it with the host‘s ribs and then let it fall into the hosts stomach.

  • @Draekal
    @Draekal Рік тому +7

    Some theories for the fast and poison headcrab zombies:
    - The fast headcrab was fast in almost all forms of its biology; movement, attacks and its metabolism. Because it made the host burn through energy so quickly the host would begin to convert muscle, skin and organs into energy hence why it looks so skeletal.
    - The poison headcrab zombie is so bloated because of the venom itself; it causes human flesh to swell as it breaks down. This makes them prime for multiple headcrabs to feed on.

  • @shinymk6562
    @shinymk6562 Рік тому +19

    Anything inspired or conceptually related to the whole "mushrooms taking over ants/big/arachnid bodies" thing and making them be able to take over humans is terrifying. Headcrabs interestingly thought, seem to think they are as cute as terrifying. Guess it's their circular form as opposed to something like the face huggers in Alien which look like creepy and unsettling bony hands.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому

      I 100% agree! Mushrooms are pretty scary when you think about it!

    • @shinymk6562
      @shinymk6562 Рік тому

      @@Skyrionn anything that has a vast interconnected society that can send signals via an instant like mushrooms do with mycelium is pretty scary...
      Wait... 😳

    • @Chris_W
      @Chris_W Рік тому +1

      @@Skyrionn Nothing a heat source and some garlic can't solve 😜

  • @newcastleman86
    @newcastleman86 Рік тому +1

    The poison headcrabs were always scared to fight to me. Hope you had a good holiday break. Welcome back John.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +2

      Oh Jeez they were awful! I struggled through Ravenholm on my first playthrough merely through fear. Thanks man - I hope you had a great one too!

  • @ERACLAB
    @ERACLAB 11 місяців тому +2

    There was some theory that Nihilanth adapted Headcrabs to be able to work on humans since he wanted to invade Earth and it was quite a time stretch between first contact of Earth+Zen and Resonance Cascade. They should theoretically work on Vortigaunts as they are from the same homeworld.

  • @vividclarities7860
    @vividclarities7860 Рік тому +4

    My first Ravenholm experience screwed me up so bad I felt fear during the Poison Headcrab section :')

  • @buboniccraig896
    @buboniccraig896 Рік тому +3

    I don't know if it was just a coincidence, but I'm pretty sure I saw the Poison Headcrabs try to play dead after I shot one 😮

  • @codymcgrath2.3bviews3secon7
    @codymcgrath2.3bviews3secon7 Рік тому +1

    I was looking forward to this!

  • @genderconfusedwolffromshre8914

    i always had a fear of headcrabs...i mean not that much i just found their looks a bit uncanny but nothing else, however with the fact that their human hosts are actually STILL ALIVE and feel every ounce of pain...it was amplified by 10. Great video!

  • @carlosfranklinsouthsidemurder
    @carlosfranklinsouthsidemurder Рік тому +4

    I always assumed that the Lighting dog was a specific evolution of the Houndeye, not being related to headcrabs at all.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +1

      I would have thought that too. The npc name sold it to me

    • @Zeppelee
      @Zeppelee Рік тому +1

      Lightning Dogs are parasitic (as they can inhabit and reanimate deceased organisms through utilizing their body's electric current), therefore they are more similar to headcrabs than they are in comparison to houndeyes.

    • @carlosfranklinsouthsidemurder
      @carlosfranklinsouthsidemurder Рік тому

      @@Zeppelee Yeah I guess that is true, I only figured that they were related to Houndeyes due to the patterns on their skin and the entire manipulation of electricity and everything. But it does make more sense for them to just be a very unique breed of Headcrab.

  • @amaricaiandrei1775
    @amaricaiandrei1775 Рік тому +2

    Those things game me a huge fright while I was a kid. Thanks for covering them. I still see myself being scared of one jumping even after all these years.

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +1

      Have you played Half-Life: Alyx? They terrifying in that!

    • @amaricaiandrei1775
      @amaricaiandrei1775 Рік тому +1

      @@Skyrionn I did. The hotel with the poison headcrabs was the worst and the best at the same time. It got my heart pumping xD

  • @BT-zu2wi
    @BT-zu2wi Рік тому

    These videos are absolutely awesome

  • @zoltanperei4789
    @zoltanperei4789 Рік тому +8

    Intresting how the headcrabs can break trough a combine soldier's helmet.

  • @rokcris7313
    @rokcris7313 11 місяців тому +3

    11:26 the lack of eyes in the hl2 headcrab model is because it is not the model that valve wanted to use for the standard headcrab, as they had intended for the original headcrab's model to be what we now know as the fast headcrab, and then it did still retain stuff like its eyes and the gross innards visible from its underbelly.
    the reason why they originally wanted for the hl2 headcrab to look so different from its hl1 iteration was because of a design choice regarding lore reasons, basically because xen life, now on earth, had a really hard time adapting to its conditions, thus becoming starved; this is visible in the leaked beta houndeye model and the fast headcrab itself, who both appear very skinny in appearance

  • @heathenly_aesthetic7233
    @heathenly_aesthetic7233 Рік тому +1

    Ravenholm was my favorite stage 🤘🏻✨️ Exploring the town and using the traps never got old for me.

  • @asmkalrizion7078
    @asmkalrizion7078 Рік тому +1

    there were other combine creatures we hadn't seen outside of the tower, so it is possible some of these creatures were just very rare

  • @reeceemms1643
    @reeceemms1643 Рік тому +3

    I wonder has anyone ever made fan made variants of the headcrab? because I did see that people have made some fan made Combine variants

    • @flufferusgoobus
      @flufferusgoobus Рік тому

      There's apparently a lot, the combine headcrab which is a headcrab equipped in combine armor and with prothestics, but there's some more interesting ones, check Starlight Soirée headcrabs for some nice looking crabs and the "gender is a prison and ive chewed through the bars" crabs for some more creativity. People really do like drawing diff varieties for some creative reason

    • @reeceemms1643
      @reeceemms1643 Рік тому

      @@flufferusgoobus I think the Combine headcrab actually appears in a mod for Gmod, I think a lot of the fan made Half life 2 are from Gmod mods

    • @flufferusgoobus
      @flufferusgoobus Рік тому

      @@reeceemms1643 I think it does appear too somewhere but i don't remember exactly which mod
      Its likely to be present on Gmod addons but im not sure

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому

      That'd be amazing to see

  • @gamiezion
    @gamiezion Рік тому +4

    glados would like to know poison headcrabs current location

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +1

      New obstacles in her test chambers maybe..

  • @thegoofygoblin2081
    @thegoofygoblin2081 Рік тому

    lets goo another half life lore video from skyrionn!

  • @Slane583
    @Slane583 Рік тому +2

    As much as I loved cruising down the Coast Road in HL2 while in the buggy and just taking in the scenery Ravenholm was my absolute favorite chapter in the game. When I first played through HL2 I was a bit uneasy in Ravenholm, taking things slow and examining everything. I just kind of dealt with things as they presented themselves. After I played through the game more I knew when everything would happen and where all of the enemies were hiding. So there was no more fear of surprises.
    Once I killed off everything that was a threat I would explore and look at all of the buildings in Ravenholm, soaking it all in. I love the old industrial brick buildings and the design in general. Once there aren't anymore monsters around to attack you and you can stand there staring for a while you can feel that Ravenholm as a town is stuck in time. Even though the original inhabitants and the resistance were wiped out the town itself is stuck in days of old when it was operational. The people may be gone but it's like the town is sleeping, waiting for someone to cure it of its' illness so it can work again.
    Kind of similar to the videos I like watching of people getting old machinery running that have been sitting in the weeds for 30+ years. The machine is dormant and napping waiting for the right person to make it functional again. Ravenholm is no different. :)

  • @sleezsquad904n8
    @sleezsquad904n8 Рік тому +3

    Imagine a life action movie based on this game 😳

    • @carinhatube3727
      @carinhatube3727 Рік тому +3

      Gordon Freeman in the whole trilogy of movies of 2 hours and 50 minutes be like:

    • @skynetonline
      @skynetonline Рік тому

      There is one CGI movie I can't find the link though.

  • @ordinalgaming102
    @ordinalgaming102 Рік тому +2

    bro when those half life alyx combine explained bro where my pressous grunt

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +2

      It's on the list ☺

    • @ordinalgaming102
      @ordinalgaming102 Рік тому

      @@Skyrionn ok :)

    • @ordinalgaming102
      @ordinalgaming102 Рік тому

      @@Skyrionn i am rewatching this video and i forgot ti say i love your videos they ar good and hige quality and you are a relieble source

  • @Di-Sapien
    @Di-Sapien 3 місяці тому +1

    I always wondered what advantage standard headcrabs have over the other species. I noticed that they are the only zombies who seem to have sentience and are the only ones shown to be able to read signs. I wonder if the reason their host is still alive and aware and why their body is in the best condition is to preserve the brain. Maybe they use their host's brain to be more intelligent, which may be why when they take over a combine, they know how a grenade works.

  • @DummesKind2
    @DummesKind2 Рік тому

    great video thank you!
    are fast and poison headcrab hosts rly stay alive?

  • @overshock019
    @overshock019 Рік тому +3

    I want a pet headcrab thats debeaked not gonna lie

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому

      As long as it's debeaked

    • @overshock019
      @overshock019 Рік тому

      @@Skyrionn indeed. I'd have one of each!

  • @thomaspark7080
    @thomaspark7080 Рік тому +4

    If you take a look at the pre release alpha of half life the headcrabs looked quite similar to the current version of headcrabs. The only major difference was their color and texture as the sound and silhouette remained mostly the same, but it's important that I bring this is up as HOLY HELL these head crabs were THICC! Like Jesus! These xenian crustaceans had critical cheeks! Them removing it is what I call a war crime.

  • @Kurisu343
    @Kurisu343 Рік тому +1

    excellent video

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому +1

      I haven't covered the HEV suit yet. It's actually not something I had thought about. I will add it to the list though. I wonder how interesting it could be!

  • @foxman105
    @foxman105 Рік тому +2

    I'm a bit surprised, that we didn't see any Vortigaunt, "zombies" in the series. Seems to me like a natural reason why they'd have ability to interface with a human nervous system, as Vortigaunts also have a head and what looks like a spine.

  • @SalihAhmad597
    @SalihAhmad597 Рік тому +3

    Another reason why ravenholm scared me a lot when I first played hl2 because the screams were so scary

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому

      Those noises were scary

    • @munkhazaya29
      @munkhazaya29 Рік тому +2

      Straight up made me
      Developer console enabled
      Sv_cheat 1
      Impulse 101
      Impulse 101
      Impulse 101
      Impulse 101
      Impulse 101
      God
      Noclip
      Notarget

  • @meprololggisgodgod8197
    @meprololggisgodgod8197 Рік тому +5

    When lamarr lore

  • @emekaasiegbu3697
    @emekaasiegbu3697 Рік тому

    Don't you love when you come home with a big bag of food about to eat then check UA-cam and Skyrionn drops a lore video???😂 Love your work bro

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому

      It's a high compliment that I'm the person you watch as you eat food :D

  • @captaincookie72
    @captaincookie72 Рік тому

    Just played through all of half life 2 so these videos now make much more sense now that I have some context

  • @santiagoarroyave3219
    @santiagoarroyave3219 Рік тому +3

    I liek crabs

  • @18pegi
    @18pegi Рік тому

    Great work👍

  • @proto_shane5059
    @proto_shane5059 Рік тому +2

    Another great video as usual bro, keep it up

  • @JeanLucCaptain
    @JeanLucCaptain Рік тому +2

    Makes me wonder of the Original headcrab on their home world like the Armoured version may have a symbiotic rather then parasitic relationship and being taken to Xen forced them to be more aggressive?

  • @paragonrobbie9270
    @paragonrobbie9270 Рік тому +2

    I'm honestly surprised Barney lets Kleiner keep Lamarr after what he's witnessed in Black Mesa. If I were in his shoes, I'd probably unload a pistol on anything resembling a cooked turkey for the rest of my life.

  • @caiobacelarsoares3663
    @caiobacelarsoares3663 Рік тому

    Hey, can i know what are the laboratory maps you used or something? But also interesting theory of the origins of the headcrabs and i wondered how the headcrabs could infect the combines but then you said that they had the " skull breaker" in their mouth so thanks for the video by the way!

  • @ambrusraul2297
    @ambrusraul2297 Рік тому

    Only 1:15 of the video You done something it s more cleaner , your voice is better , new mike i suppose , god im loving the clarity of your voice , the image radiates clarity and beauty . Well done !

    • @Skyrionn
      @Skyrionn  Рік тому

      I've done everything the same as I normally do 😂 I'm gonna have to look for the differences myself to see if I can keep this up

  • @AmicusVA
    @AmicusVA Рік тому

    This is a great video, there is just a big problem I have with most people's opinions on headcrabs and that is that it breaks through the skull and attacks the brain.
    I have looked at every single zombie model from the Half Life games and not one of them has any damage to the skull/top of the head. One thing I saw in all of them though, was a craned back head and warped open mouth. My theory is that headcrabs actually insert their beak as a sort of proboscis into the mouth of the host and control the body by hijacking the neck through the throat.
    This theory is supported by:
    - The lack of damage to the skulls of the zombies (Besides zombines and Black Mesa zombies)
    - Their head being craned back in a position where access to the brain would be quite difficult
    - Visual damage and wounds to the face, further proof of the headcrab sitting on the face and not the skull
    - Broken and distorted jaw, showing signs of forced entry.
    - In Half Life Alyx, visible struggle from the headcrab to control the hosts head, providing evidence that the headcrab actually only has control from the neck down.
    I am incredibly invested in the biology of xen life as I am a dev of Operation Black Mesa and one of the main environment artists for xen. I am currently writing up a long study on headcrabs and I enjoyed this video a lot. I love when people have interest in alien ecology and biology!