Black Mesa... Ahh the memories...

Been playing Black Mesa for about 3 hours now and just goes to show what a great game HL1 was. I thought I would start the mod and get bored since I've played it before, but alas....I can't stop playing it.

I just wish they would have fixed the loading screens...

Those loading screens are really annoying, but that's a source thing, I'm sure.

I spent about 12 hours playing it yesterday. It was fantastic.

Yep, the loadings do take forever, if thats what you mean.

I can't believe how awesome this mod is. Shooting is satisfying as hell, the attention to detail is amazing, graphics look really, really great, and combines all the great elements of the original as well as improving many. Voice acting, some of the changed level design, Kleiner and Eli with their own models... all top notch. Best of all, very immersive and addictive.

The only complaint I have is that the regular jump aside from crouch jump is laughable. Easily worth the wait, a triumph for the modders.

Now if we could get that OpFor remake... :D no hurry. Get the Xen levels out first.

A question, as long as I have a Source engine game installed I can run the mod, right? Miroku32

A question, as long as I have a Source engine game installed I can run the mod, right? Miroku32

Love the new mod, they sticked to the original, but it still feels fresh! Freaking love it!

Black Mesa is an unbelievably well-done remastering of one of the best games of all time. I too am hooked. I played HL back in 1999 not long after it came out. This is just as good.

It's amazing, yes. And I've definitely noticed some subtle (and not so subtle) changes to some level design and layout, which helps it seem really fresh. It's a blast. But.. I'm stuck. I can't figure out where to go after the scientist lets you into the security office to get the gun. All the directions seem to lead to dead ends.

Felipe, please stop.. my Half-Life 1 days are behind me. I must stay focused on Guild Wars 2.

Sincerely,

Elann

It still stands the test of time and the source engine is still pretty to look at imo. Just nice and clean without tons of post processing and bloom.

A great mod for a great classic!

[QUOTE="Miroku32"]A question, as long as I have a Source engine game installed I can run the mod, right? FelipeInside

Oh really, so CS:GO wouldn't work then huh? Where would the directdownload for the sdk source 2006 & 7 be, if if not?

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"][QUOTE="Miroku32"]A question, as long as I have a Source engine game installed I can run the mod, right? Lach0121

Oh really, so CS:GO wouldn't work then huh? Where would the directdownload for the sdk source 2006 & 7 be, if if not?

[QUOTE="Lach0121"]

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"] You need the SDK Source 2006 and 2007 installed and updated. Then you download Black Mesa and install it. Then it should show up as a game in Steam. As for the loading, I know they are the original ones from the original game.... they were done like that cause back then PCs weren't as powerful. Surely they could have made a fix for not so much loading?DigitalExile

Oh really, so CS:GO wouldn't work then huh? Where would the directdownload for the sdk source 2006 & 7 be, if if not?

K cool, now that you mention it, I think I remember seeing some downloadable SDKs in there.

Thx.

It's amazing, yes. And I've definitely noticed some subtle (and not so subtle) changes to some level design and layout, which helps it seem really fresh. It's a blast. But.. I'm stuck. I can't figure out where to go after the scientist lets you into the security office to get the gun. All the directions seem to lead to dead ends.

the_bi99man

Felipe, please stop.. my Half-Life 1 days are behind me. I must stay focused on Guild Wars 2.

Sincerely,

Elann

Elann2008

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]

Felipe, please stop.. my Half-Life 1 days are behind me. I must stay focused on Guild Wars 2.

Sincerely,

Elann

FelipeInside

Does it have new levels? Cause I don't remember playing some of them. (maybe cause it's was 14 years ago...lol)FelipeInside

They definitely changed the level design a bit. I was doing a bit of replaying actual original half life only a couple months ago, so it was pretty fresh in my mind, and I was quite pleasantly surprised to find that Black Mesa had moved some things around, and changed paths, and added a few new rooms, and corridors. It looks like the iconic, really memorable rooms and fights have been preserved just about flawlessly, but the filler in between has been spiced up a bit. I like. Keeps it feeling very fresh. Plus, yeah, it looks gorgeous. They went all out with that Source. And the new music kicks ass.

*Spoiler* They're actually alien slaves(the green collar things) and Nihilanth is their oppressor(the final boss of Half life) so thats why they love you so much in Half life 2 :)

[QUOTE="Miroku32"]A question, as long as I have a Source engine game installed I can run the mod, right? FelipeInside

No because Half Life 2 has the exact same issue. All (single-player) source games do. It's a matter with the engine: the levels can only be so big before the game has to load the next part.

I hope Valve can improve loading times on their next engine.

Funny to see not one crap comment about this free mod, must be good. Good job gents.Travis_Odell

It's just that good :P also I think people didn't expect it to be that good after being in development for so long. Projects that take 8(+) years to complete usually don't turn out this great.

[QUOTE="Travis_Odell"]Funny to see not one crap comment about this free mod, must be good. Good job gents.R4gn4r0k

It's just that good :P also I think people didn't expect it to be that good after being in development for so long. Projects that take 8(+) years to complete usually don't turn out this great.

And it's not even complete yet. Only up to the Lambda Core level. It is amazing, though. Pretty much a definitive version. Anyone who has ever hesitated to play HL1, possibly because they weren't interested until HL2, and felt the graphics were dated by then... get this, and play the best damn game ever.

[QUOTE="R4gn4r0k"]

[QUOTE="Travis_Odell"]Funny to see not one crap comment about this free mod, must be good. Good job gents.the_bi99man

It's just that good :P also I think people didn't expect it to be that good after being in development for so long. Projects that take 8(+) years to complete usually don't turn out this great.

And it's not even complete yet. Only up to the Lambda Core level. It is amazing, though. Pretty much a definitive version. Anyone who has ever hesitated to play HL1, possibly because they weren't interested until HL2, and felt the graphics were dated by then... get this, and play the best damn game ever.

This will actually be my first time playing Half Life 1. I never did play the original

I played it for 3 hours yesterday, amazing mod, completely free as well. I am constantly amazed at every turn at how well this has been redone. Also loved the Office Space reference at the beginning.

This will actually be my first time playing Half Life 1. I never did play the original

BPoole96

I played it for 3 hours yesterday, amazing mod, completely free as well. I am constantly amazed at every turn at how well this has been redone. Also loved the Office Space reference at the beginning.

sailor232

It's amazing. It's Half Life on steroids. I spent a long time just looking around the first level at all the little easter eggs and all the extras scattered around the environment, it was like playing HL for the first time again it's such a new experience.

Pros:

• The level design's more in depth; Black Mesa feels larger and makes more sense than HL i.e. more labs, offices and security rooms where there should be giving the place that Labyrinth effect where it feels like a bigger-than-meets-the-eye underground lab.
• It's great seeing Kleiner and Eli with their unique models.
• The soundtrack's spot on and really goes well with what's happening on screen.
• The ambient sound's extremely well done, I don't think I've played a game with such great use of ambience.
• The shooting's really enjoyable.
• Enemies appear where you don't expect.
• The creatures seem a little more challenging; some zombies and the houndeyes are harder to kill, crabs are tougher to dodge, vortigaunts zap faster, the blue beast aims further and reacts faster, and those squids never miss this time.
• The visuals are very well done and I personally think it holds up to modern day graphics still.

Cons:

• The NPC AI seems a bit off. Security guards shoot walls sometimes and soldiers don't seem as smart as before.
• Gordon wouldn't win any medals in the hurdle jumping that's for sure.
• A few bugs here and there e.g. crabs falling through vents.
• I prefer being able to store more ammo in the older version.

Apart from the loading, and the odd performance hit, its easily the GOTY. A very worthy remkae, and one hell of a game! Everyone must downlaod it!

[QUOTE="the_bi99man"]

[QUOTE="R4gn4r0k"]

It's just that good :P also I think people didn't expect it to be that good after being in development for so long. Projects that take 8(+) years to complete usually don't turn out this great.

FelipeInside

And it's not even complete yet. Only up to the Lambda Core level. It is amazing, though. Pretty much a definitive version. Anyone who has ever hesitated to play HL1, possibly because they weren't interested until HL2, and felt the graphics were dated by then... get this, and play the best damn game ever.

I have replayed the first half life many times and I have to agree with bi99man, this is the best version I have played so far. I wonder what they will do with Xen...

And also gibs

this is what a 50cal does to a bunch of army dudes :P

game is great....but some of the sound in game feel missing...and new solider voice is bad.....miss the old soldier voice...

game is great...but some of the sound feel missing in the game....and new soldier voice..suck....love the old voice...

soldiers don't seem as smart as before.

cyborg100000

And they had their dumb moments too. Like all gathering behind a fire door and stay there as it slowly opens. Fortunately for them, there legs have tons of armor points. . .

This will actually be my first time playing Half Life 1. I never did play the original

BPoole96

The only downside to Black Mesa is that you do miss the last few levels. They are pretty important if you want the whole experience. I hope they eventually release a complete Black Mesa with all levels, but what they've released so far is nearly flawless.

If you play Black Mesa instead of the original Half-life, you will be getting an authentic HL experience up to the point where it ends. The job they did on this is unbelievable. We get to enjoy all the greatness of the original game with modern visuals. I don't think this has ever happened before.

And also gibs

this is what a 50cal does to a bunch of army dudes :P

R4gn4r0k

Hah, I took a picture of the exact same area. Even the gibs are almost indentically placed.

Anyway, this mod is top-notch. Met only few bugs and I find the crowbar animation swing a bit silly, but other than, awesome.

Just finished the game and it was a lot of fun. =)

The game only had a few cons:

-climbing ladders had been changed a bit from the original. getting off a ladder with a simple push of the spacebar doesn't always work here and I sometimes got stuck to the ladder unwillingly, even causing me to get killed from enemies.

-some npc dialogue is bad. and I don't mean the voice acting, but the actual lines of dialogue. swearing ("what the sh*t was that sh*t"), out of place attempts at being funny ("please tell me if you find a bathroom"). However I have to say that some other npc dialogue actually had been improved over the original.

Overall a great remake, absolutely excellent. The music is worth noting especially, it's awesome and captures the Half Life spirit perfectly.

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

This will actually be my first time playing Half Life 1. I never did play the original

hartsickdiscipl

The only downside to Black Mesa is that you do miss the last few levels. They are pretty important if you want the whole experience. I hope they eventually release a complete Black Mesa with all levels, but what they've released so far is nearly flawless.

If you play Black Mesa instead of the original Half-life, you will be getting an authentic HL experience up to the point where it ends. The job they did on this is unbelievable. We get to enjoy all the greatness of the original game with modern visuals. I don't think this has ever happened before.

Question then.

Is there any word on them working on those last few levels, or are there no plans for it?

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

This will actually be my first time playing Half Life 1. I never did play the original

Lach0121

The only downside to Black Mesa is that you do miss the last few levels. They are pretty important if you want the whole experience. I hope they eventually release a complete Black Mesa with all levels, but what they've released so far is nearly flawless.

If you play Black Mesa instead of the original Half-life, you will be getting an authentic HL experience up to the point where it ends. The job they did on this is unbelievable. We get to enjoy all the greatness of the original game with modern visuals. I don't think this has ever happened before.

Question then.

Is there any word on them working on those last few levels, or are there no plans for it?

The last levels are coming in a future update, along with MP, hopefully by the end of the year.

[QUOTE="Lach0121"]

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

The only downside to Black Mesa is that you do miss the last few levels. They are pretty important if you want the whole experience. I hope they eventually release a complete Black Mesa with all levels, but what they've released so far is nearly flawless.

If you play Black Mesa instead of the original Half-life, you will be getting an authentic HL experience up to the point where it ends. The job they did on this is unbelievable. We get to enjoy all the greatness of the original game with modern visuals. I don't think this has ever happened before.

ultimate-k

Question then.

Is there any word on them working on those last few levels, or are there no plans for it?

The last levels are coming in a future update, along with MP, hopefully by the end of the year.

Sweetness, then I think I may hold out until then.

But will definitely be checking it out.

The only downside to Black Mesa is that you do miss the last few levels. They are pretty important if you want the whole experience.hartsickdiscipl