Inspiration

BREAKDOWN draws inspiration from several other Sci-Fi works, namely Half-Life and Halo.

Terminus 4 is based heavily off of Black Mesa from Half-Life, while Site-Zero seems to draw inspiration from both Xen (Silo) also from Half-Life and the Halo Ring (Sanctuary) from the Halo series.

Many of the events from Half-Life are also present in BREAKDOWN, such as an alien invasion, the silencing of the facility, and a helicopter attack Boss-Battle.

Much like Black Mesa, Terminus 4 also has an extensive tram system which the player utilizes for transportation. Additionally, Terminus 4 is very much an analogue to the Lambda Complex, Black Mesa's advanced research compound.

α-Project and β-Project both seem to draw inspiration from the SPARTAN II Project from the Halo series. The use of children in β-Project and the high mortality rate being prominent similarities.

The number 117 is seen on the Black Hawk used throughout BREAKDOWN. This is the same number given to John, Master Chief Petty Officer Spartan 117 in the Halo series.

Derrick Cole is test subject 7 of α-Project. This is yet another nod towards Halo as Bungie often incorporates the number seven into their works.

The driving sequence during the escape from Site-Zero is clearly inspired by the Warthog-Run at the end of Halo: Combat Evolved. The final escape is also similarly made via aircraft, as the previous location explodes.

Several of the action sequences and the "awakening to reality" aspect seem to draw inspiration from The Matrix.

The gargoyle-like statues within Silo seem to be heavily influenced by Gieger's Alien as they appear in a "curled" sate. This inspiration is especially prominent due to the fact that none of the T'lan have a large, barbed tail (or any tail for that matter) as present in the statues.

Similarly, the dark growth seen on the T'lan and structures (and in a slightly inverted manner, the white growth seen later in the game) parallel that of the organic hive material secreted by Xenomorphs.