Half Life thread - Discussions about Valve's FPS magnum opus(es) and any related content (spin offs, expansions and etc)

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HL 3...is it still happening?

  • No and anyone that still thinks that it will is delusional

    Votes: 289 45.6%

  • Yes, they just need a few more years to perfect it so it can another game changer in the industry

    Votes: 187 29.5%

  • Shouldnt it be called "Two Lives and a half" instead?

    Votes: 101 15.9%

  • Half life is overrated, you neckbeard homos

    Votes: 57 9.0%
  • Total voters
    634
See Black Mesa has grown on me over the years.

At first I was definitely in the "they changed the combat, I hate it" crowd, and I was on the fence about the soundtrack. But when I came back to it after long enough that I was willing to look at it fairly (I am talking, I played the initial release in 2012, then played it again in about 2018, then again in probably 2022), I can appreciate what it did in good faith, instead of just comparing it to the original.

I still don't really like what they did with the enemy AI and the lower ammo carry limits. But I find the overall feel of movement and shooting to be more satisfying, and the soundtrack is just more consistent rather than being a bunch of random bullshit which the original kinda is.

Then again maybe by now, it's just because Black Mesa is old enough by itself that I have nostalgia for it too.
 
Nick Wilde said:
See Black Mesa has grown on me over the years.

At first I was definitely in the "they changed the combat, I hate it" crowd, and I was on the fence about the soundtrack. But when I came back to it after long enough that I was willing to look at it fairly (I am talking, I played the initial release in 2012, then played it again in about 2018, then again in probably 2022), I can appreciate what it did in good faith, instead of just comparing it to the original.

I still don't really like what they did with the enemy AI and the lower ammo carry limits. But I find the overall feel of movement and shooting to be more satisfying, and the soundtrack is just more consistent rather than being a bunch of random bullshit which the original kinda is.

Then again maybe by now, it's just because Black Mesa is old enough by itself that I have nostalgia for it too.
Click to expand...

Black Mesa as a finished product is very odd since the main idea sort of changed throughout the 18 year development cycle. A lot of ideas (like lower ammo carrying or flares) is from when Black Mesa was basically HL1 with HL2 & the Episodes gameplay design. Most of the art and assets are from like 2010, some even older. And then Xen and some of the changes made to the earth chapters are from the later era of development where it shifted into making a reimagining of HL1.
 
Star Classic said:
Black Mesa as a finished product is very odd since the main idea sort of changed throughout the 18 year development cycle. A lot of ideas (like lower ammo carrying or flares) is from when Black Mesa was basically HL1 with HL2 & the Episodes gameplay design. Most of the art and assets are from like 2010, some even older. And then Xen and some of the changes made to the earth chapters are from the later era of development where it shifted into making a reimagining of HL1.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I definitely remember the feel of the combat didn't feel so over-tuned in the original BM:S release. Or at least, I didn't notice that as a flaw until subsequent playthroughs, when they had further developed it, so I assume it had changed since then.

The aesthetics are kind of a matter of taste but I think they really nailed that part at least, despite the age of a lot of the assets. I love the vibe of Black Mesa (the facility itself) being an Area 51 style military industrial complex blacksite, which didn't properly come across in the original Half Life for the most part. Really has that sinister 1950s/60s cold war feel to it.
 
Diesel said:
I think the 1st game is the better one, is that the common sentiment?
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If you like difficulty, HL1 is better. HL2 is a better technological showcase and has more of an actual storyline, but so many checkpoints pretty much anyone could beat it. Also the physics haven't aged terribly well.
 
Blue shift, weakest of the 3 we can agree?
• The only new thing it adds is the way armor works, It is interesting that you don't get drip fed batteries and chargers but instead get worn down to nothing and pick up a 100% recharge from your dead brethren.
• Lots of down time/dialog. Seems like you spend half the game waiting for Dr. Rosenberg to tell you something.
• Games short yo.

I don't think it's bad, It's just ok.
 
Diesel said:
Blue shift, weakest of the 3 we can agree?
• The only new thing it adds is the way armor works, It is interesting that you don't get drip fed batteries and chargers but instead get worn down to nothing and pick up a 100% recharge from your dead brethren.
• Lots of down time/dialog. Seems like you spend half the game waiting for Dr. Rosenberg to tell you something.
• Games short yo.

I don't think it's bad, It's just ok.
Click to expand...
I went through it again a couple days ago. It alright. I would say it's comparable to Episode One, but since I think Episode One is better than HL2, I guess that's out.

It is the weakest of the 3 yeah, but I mean its not like it was ever going to win over OP4 or HL1. The thing about Blue Shift is that it makes a lot more sense when you realize it was supposed to be an extra campaign for the Dreamcast port that got shelved, and then they just decided to release and package it with the HD models. I'm glad they did, I do think Blue Shift brings something to the table, even if its not much.

I know a lot of people hate the HD models, I think a lot of that is undeserved, well, mostly. Blue Shift is so milquetoast that I HAVE to use HD models just for varieties sake, plus the maps are actually more detailed than HL1 and OP4, so they fit quite well all things considered.
 
Diesel said:
Blue shift, weakest of the 3 we can agree?
Click to expand...
Opposing force, weakest of the 3 we can agree?
bestgame.pngblueshiftenjoyer.jpeg
 
Pumpkin_Spice_Bastard said:
No more HLX leaks....
My hopium withdrawal is driving me nuts
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it'll be 6 years to the day Alyx released on the 23rd. That doesn't really mean anything concretely. But I thought it was interesting, the time between HL1 and HL2 was almost 6 years to the day.

I've probably said it somewhere in the thread but the probabilities are:
  • Alyx's release date anniversary
  • With Steam Machine & others pricing
  • On a random Tuesday or Thursday
  • some other avenue I'm forgetting
I will say I do wish I'd jumped on the "info from a supposed employee who can't keep his mouth shut" train sooner.

But patience is a virtue as they say.
 
Star Classic said:
it'll be 6 years to the day Alyx released on the 23rd. That doesn't really mean anything concretely. But I thought it was interesting, the time between HL1 and HL2 was almost 6 years to the day.
Click to expand...

And it was about 12.5 years from Episode 2 to Alyx, meaning that Half Life: Still Not 3 will release around 25 years after then, around 2045. Mark it down.
 
Star Classic said:
But I thought it was interesting, the time between HL1 and HL2 was almost 6 years to the day.
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Half Life 2 though was in development before Opposing Force. They were doing storyboards and even placeholders for voice acting lines sixth months after Half Life 1 was out at retail. The plot was mostly written out, though eventually scrapped for the final product, and just needed the game built around it. I wonder how many times they've gotten through writing a potential Half Life 3 only to toss it into the trash and start over. They are into GRRM and ASOIAF territory now.
 
Diesel said:
Blue shift, weakest of the 3 we can agree?
• The only new thing it adds is the way armor works, It is interesting that you don't get drip fed batteries and chargers but instead get worn down to nothing and pick up a 100% recharge from your dead brethren.
• Lots of down time/dialog. Seems like you spend half the game waiting for Dr. Rosenberg to tell you something.
• Games short yo.

I don't think it's bad, It's just ok.
Click to expand...
Yes but power struggle is the best chapter in HL1.

I just think it's neat.
 
Half Life 3 times Half Life 2 is 6, 6 years, Half Life Alyx will have been released 6 years ago on the 23rd.

Half Life 3 = 3
3 = March
Half Life 2 Episode 3 = 23
March 23
Half Life Alyx was released on March 23rd

Half life alyx was released 6 years ago.
The current year is 2026
2+0+2+6=10
10-6 years = 4
4 - Half Life 3 = 1

1 means True in computing.

It's happening
 
I remember seeing a meme video that everyone hates for some reason but I thought was really funny.
It was a compilation of bad memes with the punchline replaced with promotional art of Gordon completely stonefaced.
 
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