Black Mesa is Amazing.

[inpurpleshadows]

The original Half-Life is a game that can only be described as revolutionary. It's varied gameplay, detailed visuals and seamless integration of narrative changed not only the FPS genre, but gaming as a whole, and I don't think there's any other shooter that has since surpassed its level of innovation, well, except Half-Life 2. Due to it, Half-Life is considered by many to be one of the greatest video games of all time, and for good reason. So when you create a remake to one of the most influential games ever made, people are gonna have some high expectations. I was expecting Black Mesa to be great, but I was surprised with how high-quality it is as it comes real close to being as good as the OG game.

I was originally going to write a review of Black Mesa, but I thought posting my appreciation of it in the community hub would allow me to not sound like a ChatGPT-like robot and actually engage with those who have played this game. There are so many things about this remake I love. First off, the attention to detail is incredible. I don't normally pay attention to how realistic a game's graphics are because that's low on my radar, but the sheer detail put into all of the environments is very impressive. I honestly can't tell whether if the visuals look great because the Source engine has aged that well, or due to the game pushing said engine to its limits. The lighting in particular is fantastic, really shines during some of the earlier chapters and kind of adds an extra level of "survival horror" that was seen in the original Half-Life.

In addition, the gameplay received a ton of improvements. I was originally afraid that Black Mesa would scale back on the weapon variety just like Half-Life 2, but that's not the case at all. The combat is really good; it has the variety of Half-Life's arsenal, while also integrating the balanced and satisfying feeling of Half-Life 2's combat. The puzzles aren't anything to write home about, but they're different enough to not have a "more-of-the-same" factor to it. Though, the biggest improvement is definitely Xen which was the weakest aspect of the original game. Despite that, Xen in Black Mesa essentially fixes everything wrong with how it was in 1998. Whereas the chapters taking place in the research facility simply remake them with moderate changes, Xen is a full-on re-imagining and it shows.

In all honesty, the only complaint I have with Black Mesa is the pacing, good lord, the pacing. Black Mesa is significantly longer than Half-Life, clocking in at around 13 hours for me. I don't think the length of a game determines its quality, but the way the amount of content is stretched out can. There were some chapters that dragged on and on. Interloper especially sucks, as you complete the same gameplay loop for what feels like eons with no variety. One thing I liked about the original Half-Life was that it always felt like things were progressing and it never got boring, even during its weaker and more slow-paced moments. However, I didn't get that same feeling with Black Mesa. Despite everything great about this remake, I still prefer the original Half-Life, mostly due to my bias for old-school games. I've heard people (full-grown adults btw) get into fights over which game is better, when it's all subjective and up to one's personal preferences. So yeah, I hope Crowbar Collective succeeds with their next project and I wish them a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

[pfrigos2017]

Originally posted by inpurpleshadows:

The original Half-Life is a game that can only be described as revolutionary. It's varied gameplay, detailed visuals and seamless integration of narrative changed not only the FPS genre, but gaming as a whole, and I don't think there's any other shooter that has since surpassed its level of innovation, well, except Half-Life 2. Due to it, Half-Life is considered by many to be one of the greatest video games of all time, and for good reason. So when you create a remake to one of the most influential games ever made, people are gonna have some high expectations. I was expecting Black Mesa to be great, but I was surprised with how high-quality it is as it comes real close to being as good as the OG game.

I was originally going to write a review of Black Mesa, but I thought posting my appreciation of it in the community hub would allow me to not sound like a ChatGPT-like robot and actually engage with those who have played this game. There are so many things about this remake I love. First off, the attention to detail is incredible. I don't normally pay attention to how realistic a game's graphics are because that's low on my radar, but the sheer detail put into all of the environments is very impressive. I honestly can't tell whether if the visuals look great because the Source engine has aged that well, or due to the game pushing said engine to its limits. The lighting in particular is fantastic, really shines during some of the earlier chapters and kind of adds an extra level of "survival horror" that was seen in the original Half-Life.

In addition, the gameplay received a ton of improvements. I was originally afraid that Black Mesa would scale back on the weapon variety just like Half-Life 2, but that's not the case at all. The combat is really good; it has the variety of Half-Life's arsenal, while also integrating the balanced and satisfying feeling of Half-Life 2's combat. The puzzles aren't anything to write home about, but they're different enough to not have a "more-of-the-same" factor to it. Though, the biggest improvement is definitely Xen which was the weakest aspect of the original game. Despite that, Xen in Black Mesa essentially fixes everything wrong with how it was in 1998. Whereas the chapters taking place in the research facility simply remake them with moderate changes, Xen is a full-on re-imagining and it shows.

In all honesty, the only complaint I have with Black Mesa is the pacing, good lord, the pacing. Black Mesa is significantly longer than Half-Life, clocking in at around 13 hours for me. I don't think the length of a game determines its quality, but the way the amount of content is stretched out can. There were some chapters that dragged on and on. Interloper especially sucks, as you complete the same gameplay loop for what feels like eons with no variety. One thing I liked about the original Half-Life was that it always felt like things were progressing and it never got boring, even during its weaker and more slow-paced moments. However, I didn't get that same feeling with Black Mesa. Despite everything great about this remake, I still prefer the original Half-Life, mostly due to my bias for old-school games. I've heard people (full-grown adults btw) get into fights over which game is better, when it's all subjective and up to one's personal preferences. So yeah, I hope Crowbar Collective succeeds with their next project and I wish them a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Concordo com você , quando joguei o Black Mesa pela primeira vez ...fiquei maravilhada com a riqueza de detalhes , os personagens tem sentimentos , expressões , nomes e eu acabei fechando o BM pela primeira vez em anos este ano e o final dele é incrível .

[Sidakte]

Originally posted by inpurpleshadows:

The original Half-Life is a game that can only be described as revolutionary. It's varied gameplay, detailed visuals and seamless integration of narrative changed not only the FPS genre, but gaming as a whole, and I don't think there's any other shooter that has since surpassed its level of innovation, well, except Half-Life 2. Due to it, Half-Life is considered by many to be one of the greatest video games of all time, and for good reason. So when you create a remake to one of the most influential games ever made, people are gonna have some high expectations. I was expecting Black Mesa to be great, but I was surprised with how high-quality it is as it comes real close to being as good as the OG game.

I was originally going to write a review of Black Mesa, but I thought posting my appreciation of it in the community hub would allow me to not sound like a ChatGPT-like robot and actually engage with those who have played this game. There are so many things about this remake I love. First off, the attention to detail is incredible. I don't normally pay attention to how realistic a game's graphics are because that's low on my radar, but the sheer detail put into all of the environments is very impressive. I honestly can't tell whether if the visuals look great because the Source engine has aged that well, or due to the game pushing said engine to its limits. The lighting in particular is fantastic, really shines during some of the earlier chapters and kind of adds an extra level of "survival horror" that was seen in the original Half-Life.

In addition, the gameplay received a ton of improvements. I was originally afraid that Black Mesa would scale back on the weapon variety just like Half-Life 2, but that's not the case at all. The combat is really good; it has the variety of Half-Life's arsenal, while also integrating the balanced and satisfying feeling of Half-Life 2's combat. The puzzles aren't anything to write home about, but they're different enough to not have a "more-of-the-same" factor to it. Though, the biggest improvement is definitely Xen which was the weakest aspect of the original game. Despite that, Xen in Black Mesa essentially fixes everything wrong with how it was in 1998. Whereas the chapters taking place in the research facility simply remake them with moderate changes, Xen is a full-on re-imagining and it shows.

In all honesty, the only complaint I have with Black Mesa is the pacing, good lord, the pacing. Black Mesa is significantly longer than Half-Life, clocking in at around 13 hours for me. I don't think the length of a game determines its quality, but the way the amount of content is stretched out can. There were some chapters that dragged on and on. Interloper especially sucks, as you complete the same gameplay loop for what feels like eons with no variety. One thing I liked about the original Half-Life was that it always felt like things were progressing and it never got boring, even during its weaker and more slow-paced moments. However, I didn't get that same feeling with Black Mesa. Despite everything great about this remake, I still prefer the original Half-Life, mostly due to my bias for old-school games. I've heard people (full-grown adults btw) get into fights over which game is better, when it's all subjective and up to one's personal preferences. So yeah, I hope Crowbar Collective succeeds with their next project and I wish them a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Hello to you as well and Merry Xmas and Happy New Year as well in case we do not communicate till then hehe

I read your thoughts carefully and i must admit that i am among the people who consider og Half-Life and its expansions among the best vgs of all time indeed.

Having said that when i purchased and started exploring Black Mesa thoroughly even though i still have stuff to find around, i did not had any expectations whatsoever because i knew that Crowbar Collective would do an awesome yet different job than Valve. thus i shouldn't judge Black Mesa solely on my appreciation of the og game even though also a sucker for old school games. the same yet two different games at the same time, for instance i loved the lighting along with the alarm going at the entrance of Office Complex, felt better than the original. same goes with some aspects of the gameplay, the movement, the design of the weapons and how they felt when they were firing etc.

When it comes to Xen though, i must admit that i actually liked it alot personally. the lighting, the colors, and i liked it even better than the original Xen, i know it's unpopular opinion to say this but it felt better than the original. same with the battle with Nihilanth, it felt good blowing up all three of his crystals at once and not having to jump on the pads to reach certain rocks to fire at his crystals in the og the pacing wasn't something i really noticed tbh because i was mostly drawn into exploring every single tiny pixel while i proceeded.

The same way i play Diablo 2: Resurrected, the same way i played Black Mesa. i love remakes so these two are a top must for myself just because i melted the original games first so i wanted to see the changes.
But i won't say that i prefer most the og or the remake, i'll just say i prefer all of them for what they were and are, separately.

Happy New Year mate