Why Xen is mid

[inpurpleshadows]

Half-Life is without a doubt one of the most beloved and influential FPS games of all time. Its gameplay, graphics and unique take on narrative have been universally praised and rightfully so. When playing Half-Life for the first time this summer, I loved almost every aspect of it. Its intricate gameplay design, story and charming visuals earned it a spot as one of my favorite games of all time. Half-Life is a masterpiece and every aspect of its design is incredible... almost. I say almost because the last few chapters of Half-Life, especially the ones that take place in Xen are poorly-designed and full of other gameplay problems.

Throughout the game, Xen was hyped up as this epic finale in an alien world with surreal visuals that took advantage of GoldSrc's engine. The end result was... dissapointing. Xen completely changes the gameplay and focuses more on platforming rather than shooting. I don't inheirently mind gimmicks like this in FPS games, but to have an entire chapter dedicated to it is insane. The difficulty is also very unbalanced as the level fluctuates between piss easy and frusturating. I also encountered some bugs. There was this one time when I was fighting the Gonarch and it got stuck on a platform, leaving me softlocked. To circumvent this glitch, I had to use multiple explosives in a specific spot in order to even continue. I initially thought this glitch only happened to me, but it's occured for many players, there was even a recent discussion post about this glitch. I don't care if this game was released in 1998, stuff like this should never happen and 25 years later Valve still hasn't patched it. The final boss is just underwhelming. I had some trouble with this boss on my first playthrough, but when I knew what to do, it wasn't that challenging.

I don't think that Xen is as bad as other players say because there are some aspects of it I do like. The visuals, while dated look pretty cool. The new enemies introduced in Xen also add some variety to the ones you fight in Black Mesa. I love the ambient music used throughout Xen, very atmospheric. But despite everything it does right, Xen is heavily flawed and a disappointing finale to an otherwise great game. If you like Xen or disagree with some of the points I made, I would genuinely love to hear why.

[Marmarmar34]

Xen was mid for me because it doesn't really showcase how cool the jump upgrade is. Yeah there's some wide jumps to show you HOW to use it, but not how to style on your enemies with it. Having the big fight up to the finale be corridors with some verticality was a bad move.

[thecatcher]

i think it hasen't aged well at all, the main game has a pretty grounded setting with a science experiment gone wrong with great level design. xen is like playing a generic fps game and the final boss is even more laughable, but almost every game back then had alien levels near the end. still one of my favorite pc games though

[RamiroRa]

This is one of those debates that everyone agrees, yet still discusses. Yes, unlike the black mesa chapters, xen feels weird. First, the levels starts right when most players think they are reaching the final boss, so it feels like extra steps. Second, Valve hired engineers to make the game, that's why the black mesa levels feels so well done, because they were made to feel like real buildings with engineering mapping. Xen doesnt have that. On top of that, it makes you change the way you move because of how the physics work, and the constant jumps between rocks and platforms, doing a 180° spin on the pacing, and that feels specially weird when you are accustomed to the 3/4 of the game and with new enemies and bio. Yes the levels feels rushed, like something they made and didn't want to let it go. With all its faults I think they are good enough and should be played. Going on the second playthrough, I realize what a chore Interloper is.

[painka05]

Rushed in development maybe

[Sana-kan]

I am perfectly fine with Xen, it's the Controllers I have issue with.
Can't argue that the borderworld was rushed though, what we got is not what Valve intended.

[Garrec]

There are glitches in other parts of the game. Doesn't make them acceptable, but it's not exclusive to Xen, nor strictly a product of Xen being rushed.

I agree that Xen isn't great. But it's not bad either. They're far from the worst chapters in the game. I'd place Apprehension and Residue Processing at the bottom. There is a sense of accomplishment from the platforming, but admittedly some of the platforming is too precise for its own good. Also the healing pods are slow, and there's an over-reliance on using spawn triggers for Alien Controller ambushes. That does get tiresome.

The difficulty is also very unbalanced as the level fluctuates between piss easy and frusturating.

That applies to the rest of the game too. It's not necessarily bad that some parts are easy and some difficult. However, having done multiple "no saving" runs through the game, Interloper is one of the most difficult chapters. Mostly due to the precision platforming. This is easily mitigated by quicksaves.

I had some trouble with this boss on my first playthrough, but when I knew what to do, it wasn't that challenging.

That's normal for bosses. They always get easier with experience. Lots of games are like that.

To list some positives, long jump makes Gonarch fun to fight. With the exception of the last room, since it's too small to move around. The baby headcrabs are annoying but the hive-hand is S-tier against them. Lots of people overlook that weapon for being weak, but it's very useful there.

The boss is also fun with long jump. Some players hide behind the spike pillars. Try long jumping instead, it's way more satisfying. Also the teleport rooms can be pretty fun too. More fun than exploiting the pillars. Though I admit the first teleport room is a platforming slog, and the second is tricky because of the Alien Controllers and not much room to hide (save plenty of gluon energy for this, if you can). The third room is tricky but gives you free healing and tons of ammo. Lots of ammo canisters hidden in the water, but beware the ichthyosaur. The fourth teleport reuses the third room, but gives you a gargantua to fight. With all the ammo, you can just go ham with explosives or the gluon gun. It's fun. Then the boss is out of tricks and you can finish it.

[Almy the Alien]

I honestly really like the whole aesthetic and vibe of Xen, heck I don't even mind the focus on low gravity platforming, I just wish there was a bit more texture variety and that they'd added a couple new enemies.

Considering you're already fighting Alien Controllers in the teleporter room before you even reach Xen, the only new threats you encounter up until Nihilanth are the Gonarch, its legion of quarter-scale headcrabs, and a couple stationary hazards.

[user]

can everyone stop whining about a game from 1988

[StrobaCat]

this post is like saying 9/11 was bad
ofc is an obvious statement on why xen is so fricking mid

[Vamp]

Originally posted by fridge:

can everyone stop whining about a game from 1988

Aah yes, good old 1988. playing Half-Life on my dad's Amiga 500.

[inpurpleshadows]

Originally posted by Vamp:

Originally posted by fridge:

can everyone stop whining about a game from 1988

Aah yes, good old 1988. playing Half-Life on my dad's Amiga 500.

Let's not forget DOOM for the NES.

[inpurpleshadows]

Originally posted by AlmyriganHero:

I honestly really like the whole aesthetic and vibe of Xen, heck I don't even mind the focus on low gravity platforming, I just wish there was a bit more texture variety and that they'd added a couple new enemies.

Considering you're already fighting Alien Controllers in the teleporter room before you even reach Xen, the only new threats you encounter up until Nihilanth are the Gonarch, its legion of quarter-scale headcrabs, and a couple stationary hazards.

I don't think that Xen as a concept is bad. However the execution was, probably because Xen was redesigned numerous times and the version we got was a rush job. I did compliment the visuals and atmosphere of Xen because they work pretty well in presenting it as this alien world as well as adding something new compared to the narrow corridors of Black Mesa. As with the focus on platforming, I previously said I don't inherently mind it but in Xen it was poorly designed because of how tedious it became. It was also a missed opportunity to not introduce more enemies in Xen (other than a few bosses) as this chapter was brimming with potential.

[Cat]

It's an alien world, there's nothing to like.

I dont think it was bad, I only had issues when I got to the third area of Gonarh's Lair where it had the invincible bug so I had to redo the chapter.

And I didn't like the platforming rooms when NIhilanth teleports you with its green ball. Not that I don't like jumping puzzles, the first room jumping was so bad. The second and third rooms are fine, except the fact that the enemy placement was lazily done (lots of aliens packed together and you had little to no cover).

[Ikagura]

Originally posted by fridge:

can everyone stop whining about a game from 1988

Half-Life was really in advance for this time then.

[Lennart]

Xen is awesome, but it's way too short. I think the final "outdoor" area should have been its own full chapter, same goes for manufacturing plant of Interloper which is when Xen really gets good. I like how you have to play smart from that point on, make good use of resources and movement.