Houndeye



The houndeye, or sound dog, is a fictional alien in the science fiction computer game Half-Life (Valve Software, 1998).

The houndeye is apparently from the dimension known as Xen and has an appropriately alien appearance. Possessing three legs and only a thorax, the houndeye is a faint yellow-green in colour, with electric blue tiger-like stripes adorning the spine of the animal. In place of a head there is a large, black, compound eye that is protected by a single eyelid. They apparently communicate through a series of high-pitched sounds somewhat similar to the barking of dogs.

When attacking an enemy, the houndeye will emit a high-pitched scream in order to cause damage through the sonic wave.

The houndeye is an excellent example of a social animal in terms of pack hunting. While a shy and timid creature by itself, groups of three or more creatures display resonant behaviour, emitting destructive harmonics capable of injuring those they attack.

The Houndeye is the only remnant of a type of creature that was to be more common in Half-Life. Originally there was to be a "Panthereye" creature, similar to but stronger than the Houndeye. The Panthereye was re-integrated into a Half-Life mod called Point of View, which allows players to take the role of a Vortigaunt.

According to the book Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar, houndeyes (as well as bullsquids) were supposed to be in Half-Life 2 in game, and during a plot-reveal scene where they terrorized a suburb.