Questionable Ethics Lobby Ambush needs rebalancing

[Echte_Brüllmücke]

I'm playing Black Mesa on the highest difficulty and had no problems whatsoever, it's quite a blast
actually, until I reached the infamous Lobby Ambush.

I remember this part to be one of the few bad things about Half-Life 1, but in this Remake it's even worse, due to the different A.I. and to complete lack of cover. There are a few crates in the back, but the marines will just rush in or smoke you out with grenades. It's not like I'm low on health or ammo, you just get ♥♥♥♥ on from every side.

This section of the game might be fun on normal or easy, but for hard there needs to be more cover. I actually thought this might be the case, since it's a Remake, adressing old issues, but I was wrong. You can't even backtrack to get some more ammo or armor you might have missed, since every door gets locked after you release the scientist.

I'm gonna drop this game for now, until further notice.

[Vassago Rain]

It was harder before 1.0. They put a stack of MP5 grenades on the lobby desk, and you should rush over there and get them. The fight is almost impossible without them. With them, it's possible, but still unfair.

If you're a crackshot, use the magnum to tag the marines as they drop from the ceiling on cables, then switch to the gauss/tau after you've fired six shots. There's not enough time to reload the magnum in that fight.

You can also try to circle the pillar behind the desk, and peg some of the first wave with crossbow bolts, but you'll be taking damage from the two dudes shooting down from the ceiling. Most of the fight comes down to crouch sliding and using the MP5 like a boss. Remember, once you clear everything, they open the blastdoor and send in another half a dozen dudes, so save an MP5 grenade so you can kill them all in a single blast.

Edit: hard wasn't hard enough for me, so I increased the damage taken further. If you want to cheese the area, and you can, it's possible. Drag all the batteries from the part of the complex you get the tau cannon with you, and toss them all the way up the stairs. If you're frugal, you'll have 5, so 75% charge, but it's more likely you'll only be able to bring along 3. Unleashing every snark you have right at the start also works, unless the guys on top get smart and decide to blow them up, instead of you.

[malek86]

I may be wrong here, but I don't remember the lobby ambush being in HL1. I thought it was added in Black Mesa.

[Echte_Brüllmücke]

Originally posted by malek86:

I may be wrong here, but I don't remember the lobby ambush being in HL1. I thought it was added in Black Mesa.

Yes, you're right. I remembered it wrong. I just looked it up. But now I wonder with what Ambush I was confusing it with?

[Sloth Bro]

Half-Life didn't have a lobby ambush nor was there much of a lobby. The second floor overlooking the first wasn't a balcony. You couldn't go under it which is the area that's behind the desk in Black Mesa.

[Venom415]

I just threw snarks to distract the soldiers and took them out with the magnum and crossbow, the guys coming from the right door I either use the satchels or the mp5 grenade. Gotta plan things out, its not hard.

[Echte_Brüllmücke]

The Snarks literally survive for 1 seconds, which gives me 2 kills at most. I use C4 for the first marines dropping down from the ceiling, giving me up to 4 kills.

I tried using the magnum or crossbow for the roof marines, but I get flanked from the right immediatly. But someone said that there are MP3 Grenades on the left side of the table: I could use these for the door marines, the crossbow for the flanked attack after I C4'ed the the dropping marines and laser cannon for the roof guys. That should work. Sadly. I missed the Laser Cannon ammo, so I only got 20 charges, which should be enough, if I quick-charge it.

[Venom415]

odd my snarks usually last around 5 seconds as they bounce around the marines

[Venom415]

glad we could somewhat help RIP. definitely practice aiming for the head as they really make a difference with how quick you kill them. GL

[Dewey, Cheatham & Livingston]

Turn the difficulty down and then turn it back up when you think it will be fun again. You can find the difficulty setting in the game options by hitting escape on your keyboard. You will not encounter any problems unlocking achievements this way. This will completely nullify your frustration. Many people seem to be unaware of the ability to change this setting and choose instead to complain on these forums, so spread this info around and together we can beat this game!!!

[Sloth Bro]

Originally posted by The Honorable Judge Reinhold:

Turn the difficulty down and then turn it back up when you think it will be fun again. You can find the difficulty setting in the game options by hitting escape on your keyboard. You will not encounter any problems unlocking achievements this way. This will completely nullify your frustration. Many people seem to be unaware of the ability to change this setting and choose instead to complain on these forums, so spread this info around and together we can beat this game!!!

But where's the fun in that?