So... Black Mesa
- Thread starter Bagged Milk
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It took me about 45 minutes from download to starting it up, I imagine I was lucky. :3
On another note; it's fantastic. I sat down, thinking "I'll just get started and check it out, see if everything works right". Then suddenly, it was dawn outside... Dearie me, it was a long while ago something like that happened.
On another note; it's fantastic. I sat down, thinking "I'll just get started and check it out, see if everything works right". Then suddenly, it was dawn outside... Dearie me, it was a long while ago something like that happened.
There's definitely a sense of wonder I've experienced while playing this game over the weekend that I felt when I played the original in 1998. The team did a fantastic job paying homage to a great game, while still making it something that's their own. I like how they've fleshed out Black Mesa a bit more, put more offices and restaurants in it, and things like that. I'm also really impressed by the amount of little details they included, which is something Valve does really well. I like how monster guts can spatter onto your hands and gun, and I love the work done to the zombie faces if you get the headcrabs off, truly unsettling.
There are a few nitpicks though, like I wish the shadowing was a bit better, the immersion is broken a bit when you shine a flashlight on a scientist or security guard and there's no shadow on the wall. I'm also not as keen on the iron sights aiming for the revolver, but I will admit it has made some long range shots against targets work for me.
There are a few nitpicks though, like I wish the shadowing was a bit better, the immersion is broken a bit when you shine a flashlight on a scientist or security guard and there's no shadow on the wall. I'm also not as keen on the iron sights aiming for the revolver, but I will admit it has made some long range shots against targets work for me.
Finally "finished" it. Actually, I don't mind that Xen is missing. Xen is horrible, and Questionable Ethics had that little habitat thing, so we know what it looks like 
Black Mesa is an awesome thing to behold. I was surprised to see all those little (and sometimes not so little) expansions to the areas. The BM team, fittingly, made a great Black Mesa Research Facility
But what the hell did they do with the soldiers? I don't know if it's their aim, their fire rate, their health or what, but they make this game brutal. I finished HL:S last year or so (it's on youtube!) and didn't have nearly as many problems dealing with the enemies. In fact, for shits and giggles, I whacked the Black Ops gals in the face with the crowbar! [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMqD3BZhKSA]
I tried replicating that in BM. All I got was 7 quick deaths.
Know that part where you shoot down the VTOL(?) with the Grunts around? Fun in HL:S, pure rape in BM. In HL:S you come out some corridor, in BM you drop down a hole and are stuck in a dead end with virtually no cover - and that's before you even get to the damn plane! I'll admit, I just cheated at that point. That was ridiculous.
Black Mesa is an awesome thing to behold. I was surprised to see all those little (and sometimes not so little) expansions to the areas. The BM team, fittingly, made a great Black Mesa Research Facility
But what the hell did they do with the soldiers? I don't know if it's their aim, their fire rate, their health or what, but they make this game brutal. I finished HL:S last year or so (it's on youtube!) and didn't have nearly as many problems dealing with the enemies. In fact, for shits and giggles, I whacked the Black Ops gals in the face with the crowbar! [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMqD3BZhKSA]
I tried replicating that in BM. All I got was 7 quick deaths.
Know that part where you shoot down the VTOL(?) with the Grunts around? Fun in HL:S, pure rape in BM. In HL:S you come out some corridor, in BM you drop down a hole and are stuck in a dead end with virtually no cover - and that's before you even get to the damn plane! I'll admit, I just cheated at that point. That was ridiculous.
Like everyone says, it's incredible and I love it. But I'd just like to highlight the movement mechanics; the slight lean to the left or right when you strafe if one of my favorite things I've seen added to a game ever. I wish every game had it.
Well, I've played about 6 hours straight now, and I'm completly in love with it. They've improved so much about it, and It almost feels like It's the first time Im playing it! <3 The only issiue is that It can crach every once in a while when a new chapter or a new loadingzone comes. But It's a newly released mod, I can't complain too much about it. It will problaby be fixed in a day or two.
agreed, the music is really quite good, downloaded the soundtrack for keeps, and i hardly ever do that.NLS said:
the only thing that's annoyed me is the crouch jumps, otherwise it's pretty much spot on perfection for a mod
I know the feeling. I'm just more curious as to why they made them like that. After playing Half-Life 2, I never expected the AI to be ball-bustin' brutal with them taking 3 shotgun shells on Normal.CleverNickname said:
Exactly my thoughts about this mod.Phlakes said:
It's definitely impressive, I'm about to finish it, but so far, I love most of the changes. And I second the notion about this mod feeling like something that Valve themselves would've made.
After finally beating the mod on hard I think the best way to put it is with some in game dialogue:
"Look what you did!"
"Holy shit..."
"I can't believe what you did!"
The creators of this game, which I can't even begin to think of as a mod, have got some serious talent.
"Look what you did!"
"Holy shit..."
"I can't believe what you did!"
The creators of this game, which I can't even begin to think of as a mod, have got some serious talent.
This is probably the greatest mod ever made. It's everything I dared hope for and more. I was so afraid it would suck.
Finally beat it and all I can say is wow. Fun all the way through and the changes were welcomed. Even on easy the game can be freaking brutal and the attention to detail is nice.
Overall it feels like Valve quality and that can come from only pure talent. Hope to see more from these guys in the future.
Overall it feels like Valve quality and that can come from only pure talent. Hope to see more from these guys in the future.
Try playing around with the graphics settings. I have been getting shadows from NPCs with the flashlight. I was messing around with it while waiting on dialog before getting into the test chamber and there were most definitely shadows.LoathsomePete said:
Well Half-Life was supposed be the first FPS that was half way grounded in reality, so it makes sense to treat the destruction and invasion as a little more macabre than most other games would.Woodsey said:
That's the thing about Black Mesa. I don't see it as a mod. I see it as a full fucking game.
It's been added for the mod though, hasn't it? Doesn't really fit, especially with the other tracks. Nor does it occur at natural times. It started playing it when I was creeping past the three tentacled fucker that smacks the walkways in the silo.Triforceformer said:
Well the other tracks are supposed to serve background to large fight scenes with Marines and Tanks. So naturally they'd be more uptempo.Woodsey said:
It's still jarring and out of pace with the tone. I don't think that stuff works great either , but it's better than the attempts to try and make things poignant. The series has always been more unnerving and slightly creepy than it ever has sad or melancholy.Triforceformer said:
Even the end of Episode 2 has something a little creepy about it with the fade-to-black.
