| Swelter
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Steam header image
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| Release Date:
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2023
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| Developer:
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SnowDropEscape development team
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| Publisher:
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SnowDropEscape development team
Eduard Rostovtsev
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| Platforms:
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PC
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| Genre:
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First-person shooter
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Swelter is a Half-Life 2 mod created by the SnowDropEscape development team in 2023. Taking place before the events of Half-Life 2 in the post-Soviet Central Asian City 545, the main character is an agent sent by the European Resistance to assassinate the leader of the Black Battalion, a commune of anarchists, due to a series of disagreements. Swelter revamps weapon mechanics with aim down sights, new magazine systems, and updated animations for guns in game. The game also has an extra chapter unrelated to the main story, "Incident in Aperture", that is inspired by Portal.
Note: Swelter has a configurable viewmodel FOV which can be changed through the options menu. There are three settings: close, medium, and far. All screenshots on this page were taken on the "medium" setting.
The following weapons appear in the video game Swelter:
Handguns
Heckler & Koch USP Match
The Heckler & Koch USP Match returns from Half-Life 2. It's based on the 9x19mm chambered variant with an 18-round magazine. Like the original game, the only NPCs that use the weapon are Civil Protection officers.
Heckler & Koch USP Match - 9x19mm
The player character (who is not named at any point in the game) holds the USP Match in the delightful City 545.
Aiming down the glow sights.
Firing; the 9mm rounds used by the pistol are no longer caseless.
Thumbing the slide release.
A USP Match next to a 9mm ammo box. The pistol has the same world model as
Half-Life 2.
Colt Anaconda
The Colt Anaconda returns as the "Officer's Revolver .357", using the same model from Half-Life 2. It is first found on the roof of a school right next to a dead Combine Elite, and is fired in single-action only. The revolver is not used by any NPCs. It appears in the game's ending.
Colt Anaconda with 6" barrel and Pachmayr grips - .44 Magnum
The first Anaconda found in the game, next to its former owner,
3650.
The rather dramatic draw sequence gives a good side profile of the revolver.
Holding the Anaconda in a scenic drained riverbed outside City 545.
Flinging a .357 slug downriver...
...and then cocking the hammer.
Reloading starts with a recognition of the fact that the cylinder can't be swung out with a cocked hammer, and so starts with a decock.
Swinging out the cylinder...
...and ejecting the cases. There is a modelled ejector rod and extractor this time, but the crane is still stationary.
Loading in new cartridges, with an actual speedloader this time...
...flicking the cylinder shut...
...and finishing off with recocking the hammer.
The revolver on the ground next to a box of .357 Magnum cartridges. Note the grammatically-incorrect sentence "A CENTERFIRE .357 HIGH VELOCITY PISTOL LOADS" written on the box.
Submachine Guns
Heckler & Koch MP7A1
The Heckler & Koch MP7 returns from Half-Life 2 as the "Submachine Gun". It is based on the model from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive but modified to make it more closely resemble the HL2 version. It can also no longer fire grenades and its second barrel has been accordingly removed. It uses 30-round magazines that hold 45 rounds. It is the most common weapon in the game and is used by every faction.
Heckler & Koch MP7A1 - 4.6x30mm
Aiming down the Hensoldt sight.
Shooting; the casing model is still incorrect.
Removing an empty magazine.
Loading in another empty mag. Note that the bolt can be seen clipping through the back of the gun.
Pulling the charging handle.
The world model of the MP7 next to a 4.6mm ammo box. Like the base
HL2 MP7, the pistol grip has been moved back so that it can fit with the third-person hand positions. Note also that the barrel is misplaced; a pre-release screenshot shows that it did in fact once have two barrels, but the one that was excised was the bottom one, which is where the barrel is actually located on a real MP7.
Heckler & Koch MP5SD3
The Heckler & Koch MP5SD3 from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is known as the "Pre-war Submachine Gun" in-game. When aiming down the sights, the player character looks over the rear sight instead of through the peep hole. It is an NPC-only weapon in the main campaign where it is used by Academic and Black Battalion stormtroopers. In the bonus chapter "Incident in Aperture" it is used by the liquidators and is the only firearm available.
Heckler & Koch MP5SD3 - 9x19mm Parabellum
The Incident in Aperture protagonist holds the MP5SD.
Firing; there's no real visual indication of this apart from the casing, since there's no muzzle flash.
Locking back the bolt handle...
...taking out the empty full magazine...
...inserting a full full magazine...
...and karate-chopping the bolt back into battery.
The MP5's world model. The only real difference is that it uses a lower-resolution texture.
Rifles
AK-74 with GP-30 grenade launcher
An AK-74 with a GP-30 grenade launcher appears in game as the "Pre-War Assault Rifle + Grenade Launcher". Its model is a modified version of the "AK-47" from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and retains its AK-47-style front sight and handguard. It is found only once in the game, inside a safe in the Overwatch Nexus in Chapter 3, where picking it up with also unlock the achievement "Echoes from the past"; it is also used by Black Battalion stormtroopers. Versions of the AK without the grenade launcher are used by NPCs in the game; this variant can only be acquired through cheats.
AK-74 with GP-30 grenade launcher - 5.45x39mm & 40mm VOG-25
Holding the AK in the Overwatch Nexus.
Aiming using the red-and-white contrasted sights.
Adding some 5.45 into the City 545 Nexus.
Pulling out the old magazine...
...rocking in a fresh one...
...and chambering a round.
Sliding a grenade into the GP-30. The grenade is marked "ВГП-125" but the HUD icon says "ВПГ-125".
Blooping out a grenade from the launcher.
The effect on target is as expected.
The AK-74 as it is initially found in the game, with a few 5.45 ammo boxes (which appear to be based on the 250-round belt boxes for the
PK Machine Gun) and a grenade for the GP-30.
A rebel plays a guitar with an AK next to him, while the player character wonders if he's somehow wound up in
the Zone.
The normally-unobtainable GP-30less version in first-person. Note that it still has the bracket for the grenade launcher sight.
Overwatch Standard Issue Pulse Rifle
The fictional Overwatch Standard Issue Pulse Rifle from Half-Life 2 reappears, this time named the "Combine Pulse Assault Rifle". Unlike its original depiction, its pulse plugs only contain one shot before being replaced, and its entire magazine is replaced when reloading, making it more akin to a belt-feed system. Its secondary dark energy orb launcher now also needs to be reloaded, instead of having the entire ammo pool in the gun at once.
The player character holds the OSIPR in the City 545 Nexus.
Aiming through the rather curious holographic rear sight. At least it has a front sight this time.
Firing the AR2 makes the pulse plug disappear from the chamber...
...because it gets immediately replaced by a new one.
Pulling out the spent magazine...
...lining up a new one...
...and latching it into place.
A pulse plug will then get seated into the chamber.
Loading a dark energy orb through the port on the right side.
Winding up the secondary fire...
...and unleashing the orb.
The AR2 found on the gun rack in the Nexus.
Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine
A Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine fitted with a PU sniper scope appears in game as the "Sniper Rifle" and is found in Chapter 1 in a tutorial-like sniper section. It is loaded round-by-round due to the scope blocking insertion of stripper clips. Scopeless Mosins are used by various NPCs; like the grenade launcher-less AK-74, this variant can only be obtained via cheats.
Mosin-Nagant M38 Carbine with PU sniper scope - 7.62x54mmR
"Here's the rifle; it's old but robust, I hope."The Mosin-Nagant as it is first found.
The player character looks out for the Combine gunners with the Mosin in hand.
Sighting up a gunner with the PU scope. The reticle is incorrect; the actual reticle is much thicker, and forms a T-like shape with three lines.
Attempting to hit the soldier without the helpful aid of the scope. A nice but not very noticeable detail is that the cocking piece visibly moves.
Five rounds down and zero hits, the player character opens the bolt. When a non-empty reload is triggered, the chambered round that gets ejected will be added to the player's reserve ammunition, even though a visibly spent case is ejected from the rifle and onto the ground.
Loading in five more rounds...
...and chambering the rifle.
A rebel holding the unobtainable scopeless version.
Shotguns
Franchi SPAS-12
The SPAS-12 returns as the "Shotgun". The model is based on the one from Left 4 Dead 2. Like the original HL2, it holds an underloaded 6 shells in an 8-round tube. It no longer has the "fire both barrels" secondary attack, instead being replaced by an also-impossible 2-round burst. It is used by Overwatch shotgunners, Resistance shotgunners, and Black Battalion Stormtroopers.
Franchi SPAS-12 with stock removed - 12 gauge
"Why, I'm not sending him into battle with just his bare hands! Let him have a shotgun; that'll make him fearless."Not-Barney hands the protagonist the SPAS-12.
Looking down the iron sights.
Letting out a salvo of buckshot...
When firing the burst alt-fire the shotgun will visibly fly out of the character's hands. Like the base game, when the pump is worked only one shell will be ejected, the second one seemingly vanishing into the ether.
Loading shells into the correct place this time.
Racking the pump after reloading from empty.
A SPAS next to a box of shells. The model for the shell box is reworked from the Incendiary Ammo model from
L4D2. Note the misaligned texture on the bottom of the receiver.
Launchers
M79
The M79 first appears in the last map of Chapter 2 where it's given by the Black Battalion to shoot down a Hunter-Chopper. Unlike every other ranged weapon in the game, its sights cannot be used. Its ammunition is found significantly earlier than the launcher, as they can also be used standalone.
M79 grenade launcher - 40x46mm
"Shit, shit, shit! Helicopter's coming here, and the MANPADS is broken! Backup plan: grab the grenade launcher; the high explosive will not penetrate the helicopter, but you can try and bend its blades."The M79 in the case it's acquired from. Note that it lacks a trigger.
Having dealt with the chopper, the player character looks over the wreckage whilst a rather impatient man yells at him to get back inside the train shed.
Blooping a grenade at the heli, just in case.
Breaking open the M79. The texture for round's primer is reused from the rifle casing model.
Dumping out the spent case...
...slipping in a new one (that still has a struck primer)...
Mounted rocket launcher
A vaguely Panzerschreck-like improvised rocket launcher is used as a mounted weapon. It is loaded from the front, and is aimed by using an attached bicycle handlebar. It uses the same rockets as the "RPG" from Half-Life 2.
RPzB 54/1 "Panzerschreck" - 88mm
The player character looks at a mounted RPG in the streets of City 545.
About to load in a rocket.
Firing the launcher. Sadly, any dickheads around had already been dealt with by the time of these screenshots, so firing it at nothing in particular will have to do. On another note, the launcher has no apparent trigger mechanism.
Grenades
MK3A2 Offensive Hand Grenade
The MK3 offensive hand grenade from HL2 appears in-game as just "Grenade". It is primarily found in puzzle sections with turrets, ammo resupply boxes, and hidden stashes in Chapter 2. Although grenades can be seen on the models of some rebels, they never use them, and the only characters to use the grenades are Combine soldiers.
MK3A2 offensive hand grenade
The player character holds a grenade, thankful that he has an infinite supply of them for this puzzle.
Unlike Gordon Freeman, the player character wisely recognises that holding an unpinned grenade at all times is a bad idea, and as such only pulls the pin out when preparing to use it.
...and pitching the can. Note that, unlike base
Half-Life 2, the spoon has not detached.
It still produces an effective explosion nonetheless.
It also retains its two other alternate throws...
...a short-ranged underhand drop...
...and a roll when crouched.
World model of the grenades.
"Grenade for Launcher"
As mentioned in the M79 section above, its ammunition can be used as standalone impact grenades as the "Grenade for Launcher". It is a 40mm shell but with a strange "wind-up" modification. Also stated in the aforementioned section, the Grenade for Launcher is found much earlier than the launcher itself, in Chapter 1.
Pulling out the grenade has the player character twist the cartridge's projectile, although it clearly doesn't actually rotate at all.
The Grenade for Launcher in idle. Apparently, being used without the launcher makes the grenade significantly larger.
Throwing it also apparently makes the case vanish into the ether, as unlike with the M79, no visible case is dropped.
Unlike the MK3 grenade, the Grenade for Launcher has a rather short throwing distance.
Rather more like the MK3, it still has its secondary throw...
...which actually makes the grenade land in the exact same spot as the regular one, making it rather pointless.
Not much to say about the world model, really.
Unusable Weapons
Most NPC-only weapons can be acquired using cheats, and are completely functional for player use.
"Alyx Gun"
A rebel uses Alyx's pistol from Half-Life 2 in Chapter 2. Roki uses a suppressed pistol during the attack on the Overwatch Nexus but quickly replaces it with an OSIPR. It recycles the model from Snowdrop Escape.
The rebel holding the pistol.
Roki's suppressed pistol.
The Alyx Gun used via cheats. When used by the player, the rear section of the gun is extended to form a rough stock.
For whatever reason, aiming the weapon results in this view.
Equipping the suppressed version; all of its animations are from
Left 4 Dead 2's SMGs.
ATK SLAM
The SLAM is seen in the game as laser-activated tripmines. They are not available for use by the player.
A SLAM planted on the ground.
Fictional rocket launcher
The seemingly fictional rocket launcher from Snowdrop Escape appears as an unusable prop.
The rocket launcher perched on a windowsill, near the start of the mod. Here, the player has to toss three rockets to the rebel in order to destroy a Combine APC.
The player character decides to take closer look at a broken RPG instead of dealing with the attacking Hunter-Chopper.
Using the launcher through cheats.
KPVT
The KPVT can be seen on BTR-70 APCs.
Looking at the BTR's armaments.
M16A2
A rebel is seen cleaning an M16A2 at a base. It uses the model from Left 4 Dead but with the flashlight removed.
The rebel holding his M16. The cleaning rod can just be glimpsed at the top of this image.
PKT
PKTs are also mounted on BTR-70s. The PKT-based pulse machine gun mounted on Combine APCs also return.
Looking at the BTR's armaments.
Sawn-off Double Barrel Shotgun
The Sawn-off Double Barreled Shotgun from Snowdrop Escape is used by some rebels as well as Roki in the game's ending.
Sawn-off Stevens 311R - 12 gauge
A Black Battalion member holding his double-barrel. Due to reusing hand positions he holds it by a nonexistent vertical foregrip.
The cheat-acquired shotgun in first-person. It can fire either one barrel through the primary fire or both with the secondary.
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