system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Half life 2] What's the difference between humans and trans-human overwatch soldiers?

The combine are supposed to heavily modify humans to turn them into Overwatch soldiers, but they don't seem to have any special abilities. They can only carry a normal amount of weaponry, and go down when hit about the head with a crowbar, same as regular humans

What is the point of all that modification?
gpt
The transhuman modification process physically rebuilds the person to be both wholly reliant on Combine tech (the suit and mask are environmentally sealed so the transhuman inside can survive) and utterly brainwashed to be loyal to the Combine. The Overwatch uses them as disposable grunts since they're unfailingly loyal to the Combine, despite being mentally crippled to the point of being automatons. There have been cases where they won't get out of the way of a speeding car or falling objects so they can keep shooting at their assigned target.

There's regular humans in the Overwatch as well, race traitors who've sold out to the oppressors in order to secure a slightly better standard of living and better food rations. Barney is one of these - no transhuman modifications and the suit/mask can be removed.