History Awesome / BlackMesa

* Magnum ammo is a little more plentiful in this game. As such, you'll be using it more often... and every time you kill a hostile Headcrab Zombie or HECU marine with it--hell, just ''firing'' that hand-cannon, thanks to the updated graphics and sound--will make the player feel powerful.

*** Doubly so for the ZEV, an all-new Zombie variant encountered in Xen. That high-impact, reactive power armour its wearing isn't just for show, either; it'll ignore a good portion of all incoming damage, making it practically ''mandatory'' to use headshots or explosives in order to put it down for good.

* Also one for Creator/{{Valve}}: most video game companies (like Creator/{{Konami}}, Creator/{{Nintendo}} and Creator/ElectronicArts) would freak out if a bunch of fans started making a free, improved version of a product that they were still selling for ten dollars. Valve, on the other hand, put it up on Steam for download and said that they were just as excited for the release as everyone else was. A lot of people are taking odds as to whether or not the BM development team gets hired up by Valve.[[note]]On the other hand, as ''VideoGame/HuntDownTheFreeman'' proves, Valve will allow ''anyone'' to do ''anything'' with their properties, [[MoneyDearBoy as long as they can profit from it...]][[/note]]

*** Not only that but the moment where you activate the rocket engine has been amplified in intensity thanks to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jnFgqS5ZgM epic guitar music that plays]] as you ascend back to press the button, giving way to even more urgency and a greater feeling of badassery than before.

* You can't help but feel this way when you get to ''Gonarch's Lair''. The whole chapter has been completely overhauled (compared to the original), and the fight/hunt/showdown against the Mother of Headcrabs (which lasts the WHOLE chapter) will leave you very, very satisfied. Don't believe us? See for yourself. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdfAV9VBahk This is the original Half-Life's version]]; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezmgHHoEStI here's Black Mesa's version]] (protip: begin by comparing the length of each video).

* You can't help but feel this way when you get to ''Gonarch's Lair''. The whole chapter has been completely overhauled (compared to the original), and the fight/hunt/showdown against the Mother of Headcrabs (which lasts the WHOLE chapter) will leave you very, very satisfied. Don't believe us? See for yourself. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdfAV9VBahk This is the original Half-Life's version]]; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo5KR-KTfjM here's Black mesa's version]] (protip: begin by comparing the length of each video.)

*** Security guards will sneak up on enemies and put up a definite fight, lasting much longer most of the time than they normally did.

*** And as of the 1.0 beta, they take out a pair of HECU LAVs in the surface battle in ''Forget About Freeman''

* Also one for Creator/Valve: most video game companies (like Creator/{{Konami}}, Creator/{{Nintendo}} and Creator/ElectronicArts) would freak out if a bunch of fans started making a free, improved version of a product that they were still selling for ten dollars. Valve, on the other hand, put it up on Steam for download and said that they were just as excited for the release as everyone else was. A lot of people are taking odds as to whether or not the BM development team gets hired up by Valve.[[note]]On the other hand, as ''VideoGame/HuntDownTheFreeman'' proves, Valve will allow ''anyone'' to do ''anything'' with their properties, [[MoneyDearBoy as long as they can profit from it...]][[/note]]

* The [[spoiler: Lobby Ambush]] in ''Questionable Ethics''. A quick but vicious fight against the toughest enemies of the game, which the player is given suitable kudos for surviving by the [[{{NPC}} NPCs]].

*** [[spoiler:Doubly so for the ZEV, an all-new Zombie variant encountered in Xen. That high-impact, reactive power armour its wearing isn't just for show, either; it'll ignore a good portion of all incoming damage, making it practically ''mandatory'' to use headshots or explosives in order to put it down for good.]]

* You can't help but feel this way when you get to [[spoiler:''Gonarch's Lair''. The whole chapter has been completely overhauled (compared to the original), and the fight/hunt/showdown against the Mother of Headcrabs (which lasts the WHOLE chapter) will leave you very, very satisfied. Don't believe us? See for yourself. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdfAV9VBahk This is the original Half-Life's version]]; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo5KR-KTfjM here's Black mesa's version]] (protip: begin by comparing the length of each video.)]]

* Also one for Creator/Valve: most video game companies (like Creator/Konami, Creator/Nintendo and CreatorElectronicArts) would freak out if a bunch of fans started making a free, improved version of a product that they were still selling for ten dollars. Valve, on the other hand, put it up on Steam for download and said that they were just as excited for the release as everyone else was. A lot of people are taking odds as to whether or not the BM development team gets hired up by Valve.[[note]]On the other hand, as ''VideoGame/HuntDownTheFreeman'' proves, Valve will allow ''anyone'' to do ''anything'' with their properties, [[MoneyDearBoy as long as they can profit from it...]][[/note]]

* First and foremost: ''Black Mesa'' is an unofficial remake of the first ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' with graphics quality on par with its sequel. For ''free,'' no less! Even better, the team hasn't received a "cease-and-desist" order; but were instead offered the chance to ''sell it on Steam'' for a low price.

** After years of careful development, they just released the trailer for Xen, the final chapter of the game, due out in 2019. And despite the original Xen being the original TropeNamer for DisappointingLastLevel, it looks ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAIJich73NY amazing...]]''
** The Nihilanth chapter, including the full ending with the G-Man, entered public beta on December 6th, 2019, marking the first time that the game has been playable from start to finish. And it was '''''well''''' worth the wait.
* Also one for Valve: most video game companies (like Konami, Nintendo and Electronic Arts) would freak out if a bunch of fans started making a free, improved version of a product that they were still selling for ten dollars. Valve, on the other hand, put it up on Steam for download and said that they were just as excited for the release as everyone else was. A lot of people are taking odds as to whether or not the BM development team gets hired up by Valve.[[note]]On the other hand, as ''VideoGame/HuntDownTheFreeman'' proves, Valve will allow ''anyone'' to do ''anything'' with their properties, [[MoneyDearBoy as long as they can profit from it...]][[/note]]
* Early on a scientist kills a headcrab with a computer monitor. YMMV of course, but you have to give the old guy some credit for showing some real spunk to the eldritch invaders.
* During the chapter "Office Complex" in the original Half-Life, Gordon comes across a cafeteria filled with zombies and headcrabs. Black Mesa maintains the scene, with the only difference being that you can now go into the fight with as many as three security guards at your side, [[MoreDakka resulting in a hailstorm of bullets as you and your gun-toting companions mow down the horde.]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6YT8QD1hc0 The booting up of the HEV suit]]. Even without the Klaxon Beat, the music -- along with the list of executed programs and suit functions being turned on -- really sends chills up your spine. The HUD slowly flickering on, the chromatic aberration along the health and armor values, and the hands extending in front of the camera in awe of the suit is a testament to how powerful one feels in the Mark IV HEV suit.
* The [[spoiler: Lobby Ambush]] in "Questionable Ethics". A quick but vicious fight against the toughest enemies of the game, which the player is given suitable kudos for surviving by the [[{{NPC}} NPCs]].

* Keep a guard alive near the end of "Surface Tension": After another guard realizes you're not Marines, we get this exchange

* Magnum ammo is a little more plentiful in this game. As such, you'll be using it more often...and every time you kill a hostile Headcrab Zombie or military trooper with it--hell, just ''firing'' that hand-cannon, thanks to the updated graphics and sound--will make the player feel powerful.
** Related to that, the satisfaction of plugging one of those Black Ops Assassins with it and getting the Dead Reckoning achievement is just amazing

** The Tentacles you fight in the Blast Pit are a lot more sensitive to noise and movement.
*** Not only that, but the moment where you activate the rocket engine has been amplified in intensity thanks to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jnFgqS5ZgM epic guitar music that plays]] as you ascend back to press the button, giving way to even more urgency and a greater feeling of badassery than before.

** On the human side of things, the helicopter gunships used by the military pack a hard punch, and can take punishment just as well as they dish it out. Bring your heaviest firepower, and find cover.
** The human grunts get this, too. The commandos have all their original strategic maneuvers, plus they can run ''and'' shoot, now. Oh, and they're more accurate with their guns. They even have medics!

** Hell, even the Alien Crafts (commonly referred to as Manta Rays or just simply Mantas by fans) are more badass than they were in the original, even though they're still simply just background objects. They don't make the same jittery movements and animations as they did in 1 due to the much more powerful engine, and [[SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome the dogfights they have in Forget About Freeman are absolutely stunning.]]
*** As of the Surface Tension Uncut update, there's a scene where one chases a military jet fighter (contrary to a previous scene where one was chased by a jet fighter itself) and another where it actually uses its belly cannon and ''vaporizes'' a tank that was in the way.

* You can't help but feel this way when you get to [[spoiler:''Gonarch's Lair''. The whole chapter has been completely overhauled (compared to the original), and the fight/hunt/showdown against the Mother of Headcrabs (which lasts the WHOLE chapter) will leave you very, very satisfied. Don't believe us? See for yourself. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdfAV9VBahk This is the original Half-Life's version]]; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo5KR-KTfjM here's Black mesa's version]] (protip: begin by comparing time.)]]

* You can't help but feel this way when you get to [[spoiler:''Gonarch's Lair''. The whole chapter has been completely overhauled (coimpared to the original), and the fight/hunt/showdown against the Mother of Headcrabs (which lasts the WHOLE chapter) will leave you very, very satisfied. Don't believe us? See for yourself. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdfAV9VBahk This is the original Half-Life's version]]; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo5KR-KTfjM here's Black mesa's version]] (protip: begin by comparing time.)]]

** The Nihilanth chapter entered public beta on December 6th, 2019, marking the first time that the game has been playable from start to finish. And it was '''''well''''' worth the wait.

** The Nihilanth chapter entered public beta on December 6th, 2019, marking the first time that the game has been playable from start to finish. And it was '''''well'''' worth the wait.

* The booting up of the HEV suit. Even without the Klaxon Beat, the music -- along with the list of executed programs and suit functions being turned on -- really sends chills up your spine. The HUD slowly flickering on, the chromatic aberration along the health and armor values, and the hands extending in front of the camera in awe of the suit is a testament to how powerful one feels in the Mark IV HEV suit.

* You can't help but feel this way when you get to [[spoiler:''Gonarch's Lair''. The whole chapter has been completely overhauled (coimpared to the original), and the fight/hunt/showdown against the Mother of Headcrabs (which lasts the WHOLE chapter) will leave you very, very satisfied.]]

"[[OhCrap Son of a]]... Back up! ''Back up!'' BACK THE ''[[CurseCutShort FU]]''--" ''(tank is hit by the Manta's laser and explodes)''

* First and foremost: an unofficial remake of the first Half-Life with graphics quality on par with its sequel. For ''free,'' no less! Even better, the team hasn't received a "cease-and-desist" order; but were instead offered the chance to ''sell it on Steam'' for a low price.

* Also one for Valve: most video game companies (like Konami, Nintendo and Electronic Arts) would freak out if a bunch of fans started making a free, improved version of a product that they were still selling for ten dollars. Valve, on the other hand, put it up on Steam for download and said that they were just as excited for the release as everyone else was. A lot of people are taking odds as to whether or not the BM development team gets hired up by Valve.