Black Mesa

So, tried it out. It's okay. Voice acting is a bit iffy but the graphics are good. I don't think I'll keep playing for long, though, since it's just the same game I've played half a dozen times already, but with prettier graphics. A for effort, but it's a shame the designers didn't put all their time and talent into making something original.

I think having Alien Swarm (which is free) will suffice, but I'm not sure.

edited 14th Sep '12 6:14:41 PM by cfive

TF 2 is enough? do I need Source code 2007????

TF 2 is enough.

The Shacknews download mirror seems to be going well, I've been downloading for a minute or two, and I'm at 20%.

You actually don't need to own any games; just the Source SDK 2007.

x6: That's understandable, but I'm having a blast with it so far. The layout and pacing is mixed up enough that it plays with your expectations.

I never did play the original Half Life so I'm looking forward to this one. Gonna wait til it shows up on Steam though.

I'm up to the hangin boxes room. So far, I'm really impressed and I can see how it took so long. I love all the added dialogue for the parts before the cascade. It was so fun walking around hearing all the different conversations the scientist have and I feel like it's really expanding on the immersive elements that made the original great. Some of the voice acting is hit or miss, but for the most part it sounds professional and the guy who does the Kleiner voice does a pretty good impression. The crowbar feels awkward, but the rest of the controls seem good. I like how it uses the player's knowledge of the original version to create subversions in places. So far, my favorite instance of that is (Gameplay spoilers) how you get flares at the spot you would normally get the crowbar at in the original. At first I thought I missed something, and I ended up getting killed by zombies. Then I saw the prompt to pick up the flare and much fun was had burninating every zombie in sight. All in all, pretty great.

Hold on, question. Is this a Half-Life 1 remake?

More or less.

I can't believe I'm playing this.

Can anyone help me? I'm at the part where the idiot security thinks the head crab is stuck on his buddy's head, and wants my help and gets killed by him.

Where do I go next?

Oh god that part. I remember being stuck there for ages.

What did i do.... Oh yeah you know the room with the window where u see electric sparks? Smash the window and get in.

So I guess that was an easter egg then. Thanks.

First off you can save him by shooting him. Second, it's back where you came from. Break the glass in the room with water and exposed electrical circuits and hop across tables to get to the vent.

Also Ninja'd.

edited 14th Sep '12 9:28:28 PM by Scherzo09

Really? I shot the thing like 12 times. I figured he was designed to not die until then.

Oh well.

Also Vortigaunts hit hard! Also all the same voices are hilarious.

The VA work is iffy at times; most noticeably the 'off' Eli Kliener and the HECU soldiers are pretty hilariously bad. But I love all the allusions to canon, like the microwave.

So are they reusing HL 1 sounds or making their own?

They reuse several monster sounds from Half-Life 2, but they have a lot of their own sounds, so it's a little of both.

Well I notice the zombies dont have the cries of help.

My installation seems to be stuck. Should I just wait or is there a problem?

EDIT: ignore, it's completed.

edited 14th Sep '12 10:43:19 PM by Exploder

My comments so far

• They give the magnum two chapters early, Where you normally first find a shotgun. Unfortunately the magnum was nerfed to compensate.
• Bullpups and Vortigaunts are FUCKING FAST on their attacks, No telegraphed dodging here. On the other hand, they don't do as much damage so getting hit by a vortigaunt is no longer a serious problem.
• Bullsquids acid now has this acid splash thing instead of a glorified projectile. Sidestepping is still more desireable than back pedalling due to the spread.
• Do not like the new jump physics
• Pistol ammo is much more common early on, Although what was an optional easter egg to get grenades (In the original that's the only place they show up for at least 2 chapters) is now a requirement, On the other hand, free grenades still. Also you don't get the pistol until now
• Flare physics is rather wonky and unreliable
• Crowbar sucks, It's only use is against headcrabs, They inheirited the crowbar weakness from HL 2. On the other hand, Barnacles did not, So don't go expecting to oneshot barnacles with it.
• Love the little dialogue, Although I feel as if Conservation of Detail was violated a little bit, but the atmosphere added is nice.
• Female Scientists and Eli have terrible VA's
• Headcrab elevator is a nightmare, You can no longer get away with just plain dodging the buggers, they actually land on the platform, And there is a lack of things below to kill the ones that do fall off.

edited 14th Sep '12 11:32:13 PM by stevebat

I feel really stupid asking this but... how do I download it? I tried to download it from Mod DB but the download canceled for no reason halfway through. What should I download from the site? What mirror should I use and how do I use it?

Maybe It's just cause I'm on... whatever default difficulty I'm on, but how is the Magnum nerfed? I'm oneshotting Vorts with it.

As for the V As, the women are pretty wooden but it wasn't that distracting. The Totally Doesn'tHaveABlackVA!Eli is pretty distracting, since he's obviously trying to replicate Vance's original VA and... not doing well (though his original original voice was just another 'Kliener', so I guess it's a step up). But probably the most annoying thing is the obvious, nasally twentysomethings trying to pass themselves off as gruff HECU Marines. I mean, it's not a deal breaker or anything, this was made gratis after all, but I kinda find it hard to believe that they looked at some of these line reads and said, "Yep, this shit's golden."

That being said I love, love, love the atmosphere the new material has given to the game. I especially liked how they handled Magnusson's lasagna without actually having him there. I also like how the game plays on the gamers' expectations, I think it definitely benefits the experience to have played Half Life.

As for jumping, I don't remember crouch jumping as much in the original, but it's something I've gotten used to.

I's downloading from this torrent HERE. Give it a try.

Oh and yeah, I agree that the Crowbar doesn't feel right. It should be this big sweeping motion but instead comes across as more of a love tap. Love the sidearms so far though, prefer using a magnum to the SMG. Kinda find it weird that they decide to give the Magnum Ironsights aiming but not the SMG. I guess they were afraid it'd make it too much like every other Modern FPS on the market.

Thanks. I'm ready to go.

I actually think that some more modern touches would've worked well, but some of them are heresy, so...