Half-Life 1 vs Half-Life Source

[Plasmodium]

As far as I can tell, Half-Life Source is just a graphical remaster of HL1, is that correct? If so, do the expansions (Opposing Force, Blue Shift) work with HL:S, or do I need HL1?
Basically, I want to know whether the updated graphics are worth it, or whether I need the original to use the expansions.

[Polyphemus]

Half-Life 1, Blue Shift etc. used the GoldSrc engine. Half-Life Source uses the Source engine. The change was more than a graphical modification - the game code for the two engines is different, and they're incompatible with each other. Blue Shift is still available as a stand-alone game using GoldSrc. You don't need either HL1 or HL Source to play it, but it uses the old low-res graphics. As far as I know, Blue Shift is not available for Source. I can't comment on Opposing Force, as I don't own it.

T: -)

[Plasmodium]

Thanks. So, basically the "Expansions" are really stand-alones? So I could buy the 'updated' Half Life, and still play the non-updated expansions?

[Polyphemus]

Yes, and vice-versa. You don't need one to play the other.

T: -)

[Plasmodium]

Are there updated versions of the extensions? I looked, but they don't seem to be listed (at least, not in the "Half-Life Complete" pack).

[Polyphemus]

Only the originals are available on Steam. There is apparently an HD mod of Blue Shift in development, called "Guard Duty", but it's a mod, it's unofficial, and you'd need a paid-for copy of the Source engine to run it. You'd have to Goggle it to find out more.

T: -)

[OldMemes.biz]

I used to own GoldSrc (original) Half-Life, and I played (once and only once...) the Source version. And if I recall, there were one or two things BESIDES graphics that were different/not present in the Source version that were major enough to make me never feel obligated to play it again. I've owned it for years, played it once, and that was enough.

I would, however, play the original GoldSrc engine version again in a heartbeat.

But for the life of me, I can't remember what the problem was other than it was enough to make me dislike the Source version immensely.

[Plasmodium]

Ok. To be honest, I think I'm just gonna wait for some sort of sale and buy the HL Complete pack. I was going to buy the HL1, HL2 and all their extensions/episodes eventually anyway, and with that deal you get a couple of extras and it's still cheaper.

[Polyphemus]

Well, you know, Half-Life 1 and its GoldSrc offshoots were seriously ground breaking in their day, and I think they still stand up in terms of gameplay, though the graphics are a bit dated. If you haven't already played them, they're well worth it.

Half-Life 2, on the other hand, is a must. If you haven't played the Half-Life 2 series, you really don't know what computer gaming's about. Half-Life 2 was, and in my opinion still is, the gold standard of computer games. I don't think anyone has yet produced anything better. If you haven't played it yet, you must. Sod the expense.

T: -)

[Plasmodium]

Rave reviews like this ^ are exactly why I am planning on buying them!

[alcoholic philipp mainländer]

Half-Life: Source is currently broken after an update, buy the original HL1 instead.

[Plasmodium]

Really? I was playing it just yesterday evening.

[alcoholic philipp mainländer]

Originally posted by Plasmodium:

Really? I was playing it just yesterday evening.

It runs, but the AI, physics, hitboxes and graphics are full of glitches that didn't exist before.

[Plasmodium]

For example?
Anyway, I don't see it in the 'recently updated' list. Are you sure it's not just your PC?

[alcoholic philipp mainländer]

Originally posted by Plasmodium:

For example?
Anyway, I don't see it in the 'recently updated' list. Are you sure it's not just your PC?

I think it updated somewhere during March or when SteamPipe came. For example, the AI takes several seconds to even notice the player at point-blank range, and even if they do notice you, they fire very inaccurately or don't fire at all. The helicopter's and dam turret's hitboxes are broken and both are nearly impossible to destroy without dying. The headcrabs in the minefield don't spawn. RPG comes with only 4 rockets as opposed to 5 in HL1, and those rockets are not enough to destroy the helicopter unless you perfectly hit it's tiny hitbox with all shots and then fire a clip of MP5 ammo into the main rotor until it goes down. The skyboxes have black "cracks" in them. Helicopter only fires rockets instead of machine gun like in HL1. Keep in mind that these bugs are all in Surface Tension and I've heard a lot of people report the game crashing or graphical glitches in Blast Pit and Residue Processing. Another minor thing, the Tau Cannon's texture has the text "Gauss Canon" (sic) on the side and the weapon models, at least the shotgun, pistol and Tau Cannon are from the HL:S Ultimate Definition pack, indicating that Valve used at least partially third-party content for them. Another tiny thing, the chapter selection screen's images are badly taken with HUD enabled and the picture for Residue Processing has Gordon holding the Magnum in an area where the player has yet not acquired it in the game, and there are other weird mistakes on the menus etc. giving the game an unpolished feel. I know I'm picking on the tiny things but seeing as HL1 did this a lot more formally and generally had more effort visible I'm suspecting Valve didn't really give a ♥♥♥♥ about HL:S and just made a rushed and buggy port with no improvements other than the water effects, which are standard in all Source engine games.

[Lil PeePee]

It was fine a year ago, and now it's not - it has something to do with Steampipe and other stuff Valve is doing, the same thing happened for me with HL2 where you had to make a custom folder for skins because Valve did something with Steampipe.