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Half-Life 2 Hints
Balcony Perch Strategy Variation
1 of 12: There are two balconies that you can set up your crate staircase next to in order to return to the upstairs office area. I recommend the one that's on the left as you face that way.
2 of 12: After the crate staircase is finished, use the gravity gun to throw two of the available sentry guns up there.
3 of 12: It can be kind of hard to toss sentries so they don't bounce back, so toss them up to the balcony that your crate staircase isn't next to. That way, they at least won't mess the crates up if they fall back down.
4 of 12: Hop up there using your crates, then set up both sentries to face the wide staircase that leads down to the lower floor.
5 of 12: Put one on each side of the big pillar that's nearest that staircase, and set them back from the pillar just a tad.
6 of 12: If you brought a sentry gun with you from the previous area, set it up next to the middle pillar, facing the opposite direction from the other sentries. This is because soldiers can magically appear in the corner that's to the right of the right-hand balcony, and you want that corner covered.
7 of 12: Drop back down to the main cell block floor so you get the third sentry gun.
8 of 12: Quicksave before you toss it at the balcony that your crate staircase is next to, just in case something goes wrong.
9 of 12: Get up your staircase as fast as you can, then set up this sentry gun to face the "magic soldier corner" described above. (This is especially important if you didn't bring any extra sentries in with you.)
10 of 12: Run into the small office and jump onto the desk, which is a good spot to monitor the action from without being shot.
11 of 12: It is possible for soldiers to knock your sentry guns over with grenades, though it isn't very likely to happen. Be ready with the gravity gun in case they manage it (and for when manhacks fly into the office).
12 of 12: After the battle is over and Alyx shows up, toss all of the sentry guns down to the main cell block floor before you drop down if you plan to take any of them with you into the areas ahead.
