The Radio (A Half-Life 2 Beta 2D Game Prototype)

This right here is a game I recently decided to create in the end of June 2026. It happened after I got obsessed all over again with the Half-Life saga, which I’ve always adored, and especially the crazy history behind the Half-Life 2 Beta—which I’ve also always loved, including the monsters that were canceled and cut from the final version. Plus, I’ve always adored that very dark, very gritty atmosphere, that whole dystopian Russian vibe. Filled with gas in the sky, the whole original story, etc...... and this is exactly the moment when "The Radio" came in my mind as an idea.

At first, I didn't really know how to approach it; I wanted to do something more generic. But then I brought it really close to the Half-Life 2 Beta vibe and decided it to be a fan made 2D game based totally on HL2 Beta, using the original creepy sounds, sprites, and making this map.

You ended up in this place, and the goal of this challenge is that you have to try to escape from all these monsters and take them out. However, since you got lost and you lost your weapon, you need to send a signal to the rebels you were with so they can find you again. To do that, you have to activate 4 radios in the game. Once you do, the rebels—the people fighting against the Combine who invaded the world, who joined forces to overthrow them—will arrive and break through the door to take out all the remaining enemies. If you get caught by the monsters instead, you obviously lose. It’s a very simple game, an experiment, a prototype that I just wanted to make because I felt the urge to create some games again. :)

The thing is, I’d actually love to make other games too, but all the engines I’ve found and tried so far are clearly very technical, and I don't really get along with them. These engine developers created them to be highly technical and way too focused on mechanics, instead of art and creativity—unlike engines like ClickTeam Fusion 2.5, which are clearly much more based on creativity and simplicity. Honestly, that should be the modus operandi for all engines; they should all be like that, but unfortunately, they aren't. And for me, that's a limit because I obviously don't know how to code. But it's unfair that this has to be a limit for making games, because I have so much to give, so many ideas, and I would really love to be able to bring them to life.

It also has to be said that over the last few years, I’ve gone through many difficult moments that drained my energy and strength, and this is also the reason why for me it's difficult to do games many times.

Last year, it was a miracle that I managed to make so many games in just one or two months, in July 2025 & in March 2025 also. This year, I made various remakes, and now I wanted to make this new prototype new game after the ones I did at the beginning of the year, and I really hope you like it! :D

Tags:

#horror #retro #adventure #arcade #rpg #fangame #survival #strategy #altgame #textadventure #2d #halflife #scary #creepy #creepypasta #analog