Hydra

The Hydra   is an enemy cut from Half-Life 2 during the later stages of the game's development.

Overview
The Hydra was to be made of gelatinous, transparent flesh, with organs clearly visible. It was originally to be a large underground entity with three tentacles that went up to the surface, while apparently attached to the ground below. It was to be met as a boss at the end underground levels of City 17, during the uprising. These areas are now partially included in the Half-Life 2 chapter Anticitizen One, while others, designed specifically for the creature, such as " " or " ", have been completely removed.

Behavior and skills
Its tentacles were to be neon blue, and capable of piercing through prey.

Fate
According to Ken Birdwell, who was responsible of its coding and AI development, the Hydra was cut for coding difficulties, a troublesome AI, and - while it looked good while fighting other players - an unsatisfying fighting experience in the first person, as the players couldn't see properly what they were fighting, before simply dying.

Trivia
The Hydra bares a passing resemblance to the Tentacle from the original Half-Life and from what little is known about it it would seem it was intended to perform a very similar role. It is possible that it was intended to be some sort of mutated Tentacle, in the vein of the Fast and Poison Headcrabs.

List of appearances

 * Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar