Pros & Cons of a Non-VR HL: Alyx Mod (Source/Source 2)

[Nephrite Harmony]

I would like to discuss with those willing about why it would be a good or possibly a bad idea of making a full-fledged recreation of Half-Life: Alyx in either source or source 2.

Keep in mind that spoilers may be talked about in here so you have been warned.

[Toyfan1]

Originally posted by SilentCaay:

At least 4 guns: Pistol, shotgun, SMG and grenade launcher. If you think you can count the pistol and SMG as one weapon, then I'll count the grenade launcher as a 4th. Plus, some of the upgrades really change how the weapons behave so it's more like 4+ weapons.

Honestly, though, the Half-Life arsenal has never impressed me aside from the Gravity Gun. The sound design has always been especially weak with more "pip" than "bang". I also never liked the sniper weapon being a weird heated rebar launcher thing. The weapons in HLA, while smaller in number, were WAY more satisfying to use. The sound design and feel of all of them are fantastic. I'll take 4+ HLA weapons over a dozen HL1/2 weapons any day of the week.

As I said, psitol and smg share the same purpose. But once you get a nice handful of SMG ammo, the pistol become useless outside of killing antlions- which can be done with the SMG.

The grenade launcher is also not a gun. You have a maximum of 4 shots, 2 in your pockets, 1 in your free hand, and one loaded. This is moreso a gimic, and a waste of resin.

The pistol and smg are DEFINITELY not satisying when most enemies take 4 or more shots to kill. There's a reason people remeber the smg/grenade launcher from Half Life 2, the gravity gun, the crossbow, the spaz. They were satisfying to use. Half Life Alyx? Not so much.

[Jimbalaya]

This exact game in non-VR would be boring. The excitement comes from immersion in this environment. You’d have to rewrite the levels to add more excitement in other ways, and at that point you’d have a different game. Not to mention, there are several mechanical actions that wouldn’t translate to non-VR without being clunky

[SilentCaay]

Originally posted by Toyfan1:

The grenade launcher is also not a gun. You have a maximum of 4 shots, 2 in your pockets, 1 in your free hand, and one loaded. This is moreso a gimic, and a waste of resin.

Nope, grenade launcher is one of the best uses of resin, especially with the laser sight. I would rank them reservoir > SMG auto-loader > nade launcher for the top 3. They're the game-changers. The grenade launcher is much easier to use and detonates on impact. It's completely different than just throwing grenades. After I used it for the first time, I was mad at myself for having ignored it for so long.

The pistol and smg are DEFINITELY not satisying when most enemies take 4 or more shots to kill.

The TTK is great in this game. They nailed it. The guns being satisfying has nothing to do with that but the TTK combined with satisfying guns does make the combat doubly better, however.

[Awesome!]

Originally posted by SilentCaay:

Originally posted by Toyfan1:

The grenade launcher is also not a gun. You have a maximum of 4 shots, 2 in your pockets, 1 in your free hand, and one loaded. This is moreso a gimic, and a waste of resin.

Nope, grenade launcher is one of the best uses of resin, especially with the laser sight. I would rank them reservoir > SMG auto-loader > nade launcher for the top 3. They're the game-changers. The grenade launcher is much easier to use and detonates on impact. It's completely different than just throwing grenades. After I used it for the first time, I was mad at myself for having ignored it for so long.

The pistol and smg are DEFINITELY not satisying when most enemies take 4 or more shots to kill.

The TTK is great in this game. They nailed it. The guns being satisfying has nothing to do with that but the TTK combined with satisfying guns does make the combat doubly better, however.

TTK is great, except for hard mode. Hard mode makes enemies bullet sponges.

[ShurikMur]

TL;DR
Direct port of *ANY* VR game to a non-vr going to be simply not fun to play.
Games which are build specifically for VR (including HL:A) makes extensive use of hand movements - this can't be properly simulated without hand tracking controllers.
In turn, proper port of HL:A to a non-VR game will require redoing all the puzzles to some non-VR puzzles to be interesting when played without VR. And it ends up with completely different game.
It is hard to imagine someone will ever invest resources to actually do that.

[JNK]

Originally posted by Toyfan1:

And yes, the pistol and smg share the same purpose, I count them as the exact same type of weapon. No reason to use the pistol once you get a nice chunk of smg ammo- unless you really want to kill Leggies.

So a grenade launcher is the same to you as a shotgun?

[ShurikMur]

Originally posted by JNK:

So a grenade launcher is the same to you as a shotgun?

You don't get it. The pistol and SMG share many similarities: same damage per shot, comparable accuracy. SMG is just slightly better than upgraded pistol.

In contrast, the shotgun and grenade launcher works and feels differently and requires different rules of engagement.

[Toyfan1]

Originally posted by SilentCaay:

Nope, grenade launcher is one of the best uses of resin, especially with the laser sight. I would rank them reservoir > SMG auto-loader > nade launcher for the top 3. They're the game-changers. The grenade launcher is much easier to use and detonates on impact. It's completely different than just throwing grenades. After I used it for the first time, I was mad at myself for having ignored it for so long.

I mean, yeah it's different than throwing grenades, but as I stated previously, you have 4 shots. And there's not many times you'd be able to effectively use it.

The pistol and smg are DEFINITELY not satisying when most enemies take 4 or more shots to kill.

The TTK is great in this game. They nailed it. The guns being satisfying has nothing to do with that but the TTK combined with satisfying guns does make the combat doubly better, however. [/quote]
hahaha, great ttk? Are you playing on story mode or easy? hahahah
the high ttk the guns have are a huge reason they are not satisfying hahahhaha.

[SilentCaay]

Originally posted by Toyfan1:

the high ttk the guns have are a huge reason they are not satisfying hahahhaha.

This is what people that are bad at shooting say because they just want to land a headshot and be done with it instead of being reminded missed shot after missed shot that they're bad. Git gud.

[VR-Lucky-69]

Originally posted by Hildebert:

People think a Non-VR Mod would mean to play the maps of Alyx.
If there will be a Non-VR Mod (and there will), the community has to re-design the maps. You could just delete everything between all of the main dialogues and story plots and connect them again with Half Life 2 type of maps.

Then it's just not a Half Life Alyx anymore.

[Tusk]

Are people actually aware that most enemies have weak spots that one hits them? That's the only reason why I mainly didn't have issues with the TTK, heavies are a grenade and a shotgun to the face, the more you use the shotgun the more ammo you find during the game. It all works together.

My points are under my comment as well by LemonyNebula ;D

[LemonyNebula]

Pros:
More people will be able to play the story.
It will give a new way to play
Development tools already use flat play

Cons:
It will lose 90% of it's atmosphere
It would be completed faster than the slower paced design is meant for.
Combat with fewer weapons would be more tedious in flat
Tension would be removed
Horror aspect would mostly be lost
Positional audio trickery would be lost
Puzzles would be removed or replaced
Interactions would be dumbed down with much removed.
Environmental interaction will be reduced and overlooked.
Physicality and presence would be lost
Too much work to make happen, such as a complete redesign to not be boring.
Questionable if it would be Alyx if changed to much.

[Toyfan1]

Originally posted by SilentCaay:

Originally posted by Toyfan1:

the high ttk the guns have are a huge reason they are not satisfying hahahhaha.

This is what people that are bad at shooting say because they just want to land a headshot and be done with it instead of being reminded missed shot after missed shot that they're bad. Git gud.

Lmao being good at shooting doesn't change ttk.
The amount of bullets that kinect with the enemy, i.e. DAMAGE, determine ttk.

Learn how games work instead of telling people git gud.

[ｗｉｓｅ狼]

Originally posted by SilentCaay:

It will be done eventually and it will be fine, if done well.

It won't be a new medium, like HLA in VR is, but it will be no worse than a HL2 episode which is basically all that the fans have ever wanted, anyway.

Originally posted by Toyfan1:

it is, atleast in my opinion. Having essentially 2 guns in half life alyx, compared to the several in Half life 2.

At least 4 guns: Pistol, shotgun, SMG and grenade launcher. If you think you can count the pistol and SMG as one weapon, then I'll count the grenade launcher as a 4th. Plus, some of the upgrades really change how the weapons behave so it's more like 4+ weapons.

Honestly, though, the Half-Life arsenal has never impressed me aside from the Gravity Gun. The sound design has always been especially weak with more "pip" than "bang". I also never liked the sniper weapon being a weird heated rebar launcher thing. The weapons in HLA, while smaller in number, were WAY more satisfying to use. The sound design and feel of all of them are fantastic. I'll take 4+ HLA weapons over a dozen HL1/2 weapons any day of the week.

Have to agree with this, shooting and reloading the weapons in HLA is more satisfying than any other HL game I've played.

[Titans of Time]

Originally posted by LemonyNebula:

Pros:
More people will be able to play the story.
It will give a new way to play
Development tools already use flat play

Cons:
It will lose 90% of it's atmosphere
It would be completed faster than the slower paced design is meant for.
Combat with fewer weapons would be more tedious in flat
Tension would be removed
Horror aspect would mostly be lost
Positional audio trickery would be lost
Puzzles would be removed or replaced
Interactions would be dumbed down with much removed.
Environmental interaction will be reduced and overlooked.
Physicality and presence would be lost
Too much work to make happen, such as a complete redesign to not be boring.
Questionable if it would be Alyx if changed to much.

This should be marked as the thread answer.