This game of what I would say is one of my favorite games is something of an anomaly, since the original iteration of this was a free mod called Black Mesa: Source. Then again, a lot of Valve official games started off as mods, so this must have started off on the right foot, right?
Well yes, but also no. Later levels are much more well polished for what Black Mesa intended to do, which was to offer up a fresh way of playing HL1. Xen is evidence of this as Xen was beautiful and fun in this game as opposed to the source material. The earlier levels, which were first thought through before this became a standalone game really don't have that reimagined feel and just feels like to a certain extent that someone ported up Half Life Source with better quality models and textures. That's not a bad thing; I think the first few chapters didn't really need that much revision, but it still feels odd to see that departure about 30% through the game.
Since this game is not on GoldSrc and is a re-imagining I feel it is unfair to grade it solely on that, especially when the gunplay and AI is so different in these games compared to how the AI functioned in Half-Life 1. I don't think they had pieced together voicelines for better or for worse, and I also think that the weapons don't fit the gameplay as well as they did in HL1. There are many more long range angles that the AI can chip you in due to hitscan but you have guns that just seem to not be as accurate, which can cause some unneeded stress. Out of all of the things to be faithful on, I don't think the guns should have been one of them given certain areas of the game. Most areas however play amazingly.
If you have a friend who has never played HL1, recommend this instead of HL1. Having achievements, a physics based engine, those funny carry this item through this entire section of the game areas, and most importantly streamlined less-technically inclined gameplay means that this should appeal to a wide variety of players not interested in bhopping through the game and would instead like to take in the atmosphere of the Black Mesa incident in a way that the original dev company approves of and even gives their graces for.
Well yes, but also no. Later levels are much more well polished for what Black Mesa intended to do, which was to offer up a fresh way of playing HL1. Xen is evidence of this as Xen was beautiful and fun in this game as opposed to the source material. The earlier levels, which were first thought through before this became a standalone game really don't have that reimagined feel and just feels like to a certain extent that someone ported up Half Life Source with better quality models and textures. That's not a bad thing; I think the first few chapters didn't really need that much revision, but it still feels odd to see that departure about 30% through the game.
Since this game is not on GoldSrc and is a re-imagining I feel it is unfair to grade it solely on that, especially when the gunplay and AI is so different in these games compared to how the AI functioned in Half-Life 1. I don't think they had pieced together voicelines for better or for worse, and I also think that the weapons don't fit the gameplay as well as they did in HL1. There are many more long range angles that the AI can chip you in due to hitscan but you have guns that just seem to not be as accurate, which can cause some unneeded stress. Out of all of the things to be faithful on, I don't think the guns should have been one of them given certain areas of the game. Most areas however play amazingly.
If you have a friend who has never played HL1, recommend this instead of HL1. Having achievements, a physics based engine, those funny carry this item through this entire section of the game areas, and most importantly streamlined less-technically inclined gameplay means that this should appeal to a wide variety of players not interested in bhopping through the game and would instead like to take in the atmosphere of the Black Mesa incident in a way that the original dev company approves of and even gives their graces for.
Reviewed on May 23, 2023