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Did Holmes forget to switch over to his troll account before posting? :-)
I jest, everyone's entitled to their opinion. Maybe seeing it in motion would be a different story though, I played a couple of hours of it yesterday and it's lovely; they've done a great job.
I jest, everyone's entitled to their opinion. Maybe seeing it in motion would be a different story though, I played a couple of hours of it yesterday and it's lovely; they've done a great job.
btw I love the mod, it is awesome to relive what was half-life (slightly changed) but like 10 years later on the HL2 engine
@Holmes
If this was an entirely original game released now then... yeah people would care, it's awesome. I only played about 1 hour of the original due to age kinda ruining it for me but this game I'm actually a good 3 hours into with every intention of finishing it. It's a solid release.
If this was an entirely original game released now then... yeah people would care, it's awesome. I only played about 1 hour of the original due to age kinda ruining it for me but this game I'm actually a good 3 hours into with every intention of finishing it. It's a solid release.
I may be tossing a match into a bale of hay, but I never liked Half-Life, Half-Life 2, or any of the episodes. Does Black Mesa change anything, or is it just an upscaled version of of the original?
@amtalx
If you've never liked a Half Life game you are unlikely to like the half Life game. Still it is completely free, so knock yourself out.
If you've never liked a Half Life game you are unlikely to like the half Life game. Still it is completely free, so knock yourself out.
@Holmes
I think you may have some rose colored memories of what the PS2 was capable of. I still play my PS2 from time to time, and the graphics aren't nearly as smooth, not to mention the lighting, physics, etc.
Also, a fan made modern update of a well beloved title is exactly why people are excited over this. I don't remember anyone pretending that Black Mesa was anything else. People do get excited over HD redos of popular games, and if Silent Hill HD is any indication, some series might be better off in the hands of dedicated fans.
I missed out on the original Half-Life since I wasn't a PC gamer, however I can certainly appreciate what the fans have done here.
I think you may have some rose colored memories of what the PS2 was capable of. I still play my PS2 from time to time, and the graphics aren't nearly as smooth, not to mention the lighting, physics, etc.
Also, a fan made modern update of a well beloved title is exactly why people are excited over this. I don't remember anyone pretending that Black Mesa was anything else. People do get excited over HD redos of popular games, and if Silent Hill HD is any indication, some series might be better off in the hands of dedicated fans.
I missed out on the original Half-Life since I wasn't a PC gamer, however I can certainly appreciate what the fans have done here.
Is this the entire game, or just part of the game? If it's the entire game I'm definitely playing it. I tried playing the original HL a couple years ago, but a FPS with hideous graphics just doesn't work for me.
Black Mesa Source vs Original Half-Life comparison for all who are confused
Errr Jonathon should take this "debate" to this comment section for those of us who aren't twitter happy. We'll be nice.
Josh Derocher @Josh_Derocher
@tronknotts "And I'm sorry people wrote mean comments about you on my article. You were asking a legit question, and they can't handle it."
I like that you're casually ignoring the fact that he compared the game's graphics to a "good PS2 game" when that's so blatantly stupid that everybody jumped on it immediately.
That tweet you just sent him is about the most hilarious fellating I've ever read. I'll be skipping your articles from now on.
@tronknotts "And I'm sorry people wrote mean comments about you on my article. You were asking a legit question, and they can't handle it."
I like that you're casually ignoring the fact that he compared the game's graphics to a "good PS2 game" when that's so blatantly stupid that everybody jumped on it immediately.
That tweet you just sent him is about the most hilarious fellating I've ever read. I'll be skipping your articles from now on.
@vance I'm sad inside now.
I know holmes, and I know he isn't trolling us or being stupid. He doesn't get it, and that's OK. Not everyone is into this. It's definitely a niche thing for people who probably already like Half-Life. Sure, there are a lot of those people, but it's still a small number when compared to mainstream releases.
And yeah, Black Mesa looks better than a PS2 game, but it's not going to blow the socks off of most people.
Holmes has a different opinion than us on the subject, but it's not cool to say things like "he went full on retard", or to accuse him of trolling.
Argue and disagree all you want, but there is no reason to get petty over it.
I know holmes, and I know he isn't trolling us or being stupid. He doesn't get it, and that's OK. Not everyone is into this. It's definitely a niche thing for people who probably already like Half-Life. Sure, there are a lot of those people, but it's still a small number when compared to mainstream releases.
And yeah, Black Mesa looks better than a PS2 game, but it's not going to blow the socks off of most people.
Holmes has a different opinion than us on the subject, but it's not cool to say things like "he went full on retard", or to accuse him of trolling.
Argue and disagree all you want, but there is no reason to get petty over it.
@vance Ha ha ha. That twitter post is hilarious. If anyone believes that was a legitimate question, they are intellectually bankrupt. We are all familiar with the internet and how people troll by throwing out some hyperbole. Putting it in the form of a question is just a way to hide and skirt the issue when people get pissed off. "I was just asking a question". He was trying to get a rise and it worked.
I also see that Holmes kept this topic alive on twitter. Probably a good move not to address it here further because it would just get ugly fast.
I also see that Holmes kept this topic alive on twitter. Probably a good move not to address it here further because it would just get ugly fast.
@dunnace
I meant it as a joke because it was the PS2 version which looks exactly like Black Mesa Source and... yeah, I'll stop now.
I meant it as a joke because it was the PS2 version which looks exactly like Black Mesa Source and... yeah, I'll stop now.
Wow, after reading some of the Twitter stuff, it's hard to even react. Holmes has usually been one of my favorite guys here, yet he seems fundamentally incapable of realizing two things:
1. BM is rather significantly beyond the PS2's capabilities. I mean, the resolution isn't even close.
2. In any case, how much do graphics even matter? This is a guy who gave a perfect to Bit Trip Complete. I was always under the impression that gameplay trumped graphics, yet we get "Why the excitement? Looks PS2 LOL".
1. BM is rather significantly beyond the PS2's capabilities. I mean, the resolution isn't even close.
2. In any case, how much do graphics even matter? This is a guy who gave a perfect to Bit Trip Complete. I was always under the impression that gameplay trumped graphics, yet we get "Why the excitement? Looks PS2 LOL".
@Joshua. I don't think anybody throws out "PS2" without meaning to get under your skin and troll you. I mean I actually played HL1 vanilla for a couple of hours last month. If you compare the two, it's not even funny. So he came in here not really knowing anything about the subject. If it's not his thing, move along, that's fine. I ignore the games and genres that aren't in my wheelhouse. But he had to come in an piss on it, so folks will do what they do and respond.
I mean, while I was surprised by the original statement, I really can't believe how much he's circled the wagons on this. He could just say, "I spoke too soon with the PS2 comment, and I get that people can get excited about things even if the graphics aren't incredible. This just ain't my dig," and we could all move on. Instead he is literally still saying, "Looks like a PS2 game to me," and still implying that moderate looking games aren't worth any excitement.
I really don't get it.
I really don't get it.
Just admit that what he wrote was stupid and get your head out his arse. God, I hate that weaselling.
From what his Twitter feed says, it seems like he just doesn't like Half-Life. Well Holmesy, you know what they say:
"If you've got nothing nice to say, don't say it at all"
So saying something negative about a certain game in place where a lot of people like this certain game will only lead to trouble.
I know this because I too have done the same mistake you have done. *coughmylittleponyfandomcough*
I think if you really wanted to express your opinion more appropriately, you should have just went on Twitter and be all like, "I don't like Half-Life and I'm not too fond of Black Mesa Source either."
I think that would have been more effective without getting anyone upset. Just be careful next time.
"If you've got nothing nice to say, don't say it at all"
So saying something negative about a certain game in place where a lot of people like this certain game will only lead to trouble.
I know this because I too have done the same mistake you have done. *coughmylittleponyfandomcough*
I think if you really wanted to express your opinion more appropriately, you should have just went on Twitter and be all like, "I don't like Half-Life and I'm not too fond of Black Mesa Source either."
I think that would have been more effective without getting anyone upset. Just be careful next time.
The problem is that Holmes doesn't seem to be aware of the irony in someone like HIM making a statement like that, wot when he's always being defensive of anyone being critical about the kind of games he likes...
Also my video card gets here Tuesday, but then I'm working the whole week after that =<
Also my video card gets here Tuesday, but then I'm working the whole week after that =<
Yeah it's a bit hard to bare. Ironically enough my first comment had some basis considering one of Holmes first tweets was "it's weird because no one thought the GoldenEye remake had amazing graphics, did they? People love dem Half Lifes".
I don't mean to press this further, but I just wanted to clarify my original comment. It's fine to not like most of the games on current gen consoles (hell I don't), it's fine to not like Half life, I always new this about Holmes, I always new he was a more niche version of myself (given my nintendo and indie love), but honestly he spoke about something he doesn't really understand or like, and that would have been fine had it not been for his almost passive aggressive comment, and never really owning up to it except for on twitter where he still avoided some of the better responses and carefully avoided directly answering others while still still responding to them (if that makes sense).
I don't mean to press this further, but I just wanted to clarify my original comment. It's fine to not like most of the games on current gen consoles (hell I don't), it's fine to not like Half life, I always new this about Holmes, I always new he was a more niche version of myself (given my nintendo and indie love), but honestly he spoke about something he doesn't really understand or like, and that would have been fine had it not been for his almost passive aggressive comment, and never really owning up to it except for on twitter where he still avoided some of the better responses and carefully avoided directly answering others while still still responding to them (if that makes sense).
@Holmes
Holmes, it's the same rationale behind people wanting HD collections. It's an excuse to experience one of your favorite games again, or it's a chance for younger generations to play a classic that they've avoided thus far just because the old version's graphics and sound are really dated. Imagine if a fan (or even Capcom) released a free downloadable version of the original Resident Evil with more modern graphics and tighter controls. Wouldn't you be at least a little excited for that?
Holmes, it's the same rationale behind people wanting HD collections. It's an excuse to experience one of your favorite games again, or it's a chance for younger generations to play a classic that they've avoided thus far just because the old version's graphics and sound are really dated. Imagine if a fan (or even Capcom) released a free downloadable version of the original Resident Evil with more modern graphics and tighter controls. Wouldn't you be at least a little excited for that?
Well it seems to reconfirm that Holmes only likes Nintendo rehashes (which are completely new games and experiences every time, I promise!) and indie games with "retro" graphics and outdated gameplay.
I like you as a person Holmes, but your view on them video games is just so ... wrong.
I like you as a person Holmes, but your view on them video games is just so ... wrong.
Holmes, I don't mean to join the dog pile on you, but I suspect your apathy towards this is mostly based on the fact that you're not a fan of FPS games in general. If I had to guess, you probably don't count yourself as a Half-Life fan. Thus, this is a much-hyped fan-remake of a game you have little interest in. You may not believe it, but I would be willing to bet money that if an old game that you really love got the same treatment, you'd be far less cynical about the idea. Just a possibility to consider.
Maybe it's a different Jonathan Holmes. You know, like with an upper case 'I' instead of a lower case 'l' like that one fake Jim Sterling a/c. Or something.
"Looks like a pretty good PS2 game?
Would people be this excited about this thing if it weren't
1) Fan-made
2) A remake of a game that people are desperate for more of?"
Has somebody hacked your account or something? A comment like that by jimboxx I could understand but from Holmes? What PS2 games did you play that looked anything as remotely good as Source? I'd love to know. As obviously, graphics are everything to a game, right?
Would people be this excited about this thing if it weren't
1) Fan-made
2) A remake of a game that people are desperate for more of?"
Has somebody hacked your account or something? A comment like that by jimboxx I could understand but from Holmes? What PS2 games did you play that looked anything as remotely good as Source? I'd love to know. As obviously, graphics are everything to a game, right?
Anyway, it looks really cool and I'm delighted that it's released even though my shitty integrated graphics college laptop probably can't play it. Not every game with a protracted development cycle ends up like dog-shit it seems.
Sorry to annoy you guys so much! I was just confused that so many people were saying "I love this because I love Half Life but Half Life sucks and this finally makes it good!" A lot of contradictions in there.
Anyway, I think I get it now.
Anyway, I think I get it now.
@Holmes
It's not that. The reason why this is so good is because Half-Life IS good, but just very very old. Seeing it re-imagined with more modern visuals is really cool.
Also, Black Mesa is more than just a direct-remake - theres a lot of little things put in by the developers that take areas and situations in the base game that were improved on or the developers put their own little touches. Such as the AI is improved, some of the "less fun" puzzles in the game are improved, and certain areas that were universally thought of as weaker than others in the game were tweaked a little bit.
But the jist of it is, imagine what the reception would be like if something like Final Fantasy VII was remade with the FF13 engine and voice acting, and released as a totally free fan-project, with the fans putting in their own touches/improvements to the dated game. That's basically what this is, except for a shooter and not a JRPG.
@Everyone Else
I think you guys read Holmes too cynically. He simply words things bluntly or says it how it is - he didn't actually mean to bash the game or anything, he was just wondering what the deal was with Black Mesa or knew exactly what it was and happened to word it in a way that could be read as "trolling" or "bashing".
It's funny because I knew Holmes didn't mean anything bad by his comment but I knew it would cause a bit of a shit storm.
It's not that. The reason why this is so good is because Half-Life IS good, but just very very old. Seeing it re-imagined with more modern visuals is really cool.
Also, Black Mesa is more than just a direct-remake - theres a lot of little things put in by the developers that take areas and situations in the base game that were improved on or the developers put their own little touches. Such as the AI is improved, some of the "less fun" puzzles in the game are improved, and certain areas that were universally thought of as weaker than others in the game were tweaked a little bit.
But the jist of it is, imagine what the reception would be like if something like Final Fantasy VII was remade with the FF13 engine and voice acting, and released as a totally free fan-project, with the fans putting in their own touches/improvements to the dated game. That's basically what this is, except for a shooter and not a JRPG.
@Everyone Else
I think you guys read Holmes too cynically. He simply words things bluntly or says it how it is - he didn't actually mean to bash the game or anything, he was just wondering what the deal was with Black Mesa or knew exactly what it was and happened to word it in a way that could be read as "trolling" or "bashing".
It's funny because I knew Holmes didn't mean anything bad by his comment but I knew it would cause a bit of a shit storm.
@Holmes
People like this mod because the original Half Life hasn't aged graphically, and the official "Remake" Half Life: Source wasn't well done at all. So this feels like the actual remake of the game everybody wanted. This isn't contradictory at all, it's just common logic.
Here's something that's actually a little contradictory:
Ripping on a fan-made game for looking like a PS2 era game after you gave a 9.5 to a Zelda game that actually looks more like a PS2 game.
People like this mod because the original Half Life hasn't aged graphically, and the official "Remake" Half Life: Source wasn't well done at all. So this feels like the actual remake of the game everybody wanted. This isn't contradictory at all, it's just common logic.
Here's something that's actually a little contradictory:
Ripping on a fan-made game for looking like a PS2 era game after you gave a 9.5 to a Zelda game that actually looks more like a PS2 game.
@SephirothX
This is what I was talking about - he wasn't ripping on it, and he doesn't actually care if a game looks like a PS2 era game or not (which is why Zelda can get a 9.5 despite looking more dated than Black Mesa). You could say he falsely stereotyped other gamers and assumed people wouldn't care about Black Mesa because of X reasons (as he was someone who has no idea what this is or what the fan-base appreciates in this series). You could say he used a bad choice of words judged only on a small preview video of it (above), and noticing that it doesn't look as super shader-jam packed as current games (even though when you actually run it on high settings at full resolution on your computer it looks goddamn beautiful at times). But he wasn't really ripping on it - it's just easy for people to sometimes say the wrong thing in the wrong way when you don't intend to be hostile/trolling twoard something you don't know all that much about.
This is what I was talking about - he wasn't ripping on it, and he doesn't actually care if a game looks like a PS2 era game or not (which is why Zelda can get a 9.5 despite looking more dated than Black Mesa). You could say he falsely stereotyped other gamers and assumed people wouldn't care about Black Mesa because of X reasons (as he was someone who has no idea what this is or what the fan-base appreciates in this series). You could say he used a bad choice of words judged only on a small preview video of it (above), and noticing that it doesn't look as super shader-jam packed as current games (even though when you actually run it on high settings at full resolution on your computer it looks goddamn beautiful at times). But he wasn't really ripping on it - it's just easy for people to sometimes say the wrong thing in the wrong way when you don't intend to be hostile/trolling twoard something you don't know all that much about.
@Ardent Snow
You're tired of people being "hostile", but you're not too tired to come here and show everyone how self righteous you are and chastise us? Twice. Lol, okay buddy.
@dunnace
And that's the actual PS2 version. It's using an improved version of the High Definition Pack Valve release 3 years after HL1 came out. That's the best the GoldSrc engine has ever looked. Going back to the original '98 version, the jump is HUGE, and it's a part of the reason this is such a big deal. And this is why I take exception with Jonathan's ignorant comments.
@Wrath and Pride
Lol he literally spent HOURS yesterday going back and forth with people on Twitter. He won't come here and actually have that conversation because the community is already on the site. I swear, sometimes I think he does this shit to bait people into arguing with (and following) him on Twitter. It's a hell of a way to market yourself (and your shows).
@Joshua Derocher
Is Holmes LEGITIMATELY trying to troll people? Probably not. That's probably not that likely. It's possible, but not likely. He's probably just ignorant. He probably hasn't touched a PS2 game in years, so he has no frame of reference to be comparing it to. He also doesn't play PC games, and I highly doubt he played them 10+ years ago, so he has no frame of reference there either.
He made a statement in the comments section about something without knowing what he was talking about first. He's an editor on the site. He should know better. Period. This has NOTHING to do with opinions. AT ALL. First we have the apologists trying to say he was asking a question with the PS2 comment when he wasn't. The we have the apologists saying he was trying to voice his opinion with the PS2 when he wasn't. It was a STATEMENT. I really don't understand why you people continue to defend him.
@Jonathan Holmes
Why can't you just admit you were wrong? Honestly? Are you that prideful? Just admit it. "I, Jonathan Holmes, know absolutely nothing about PC games or first person shooters, and I made a comment comparing this game to a PS2 title out of complete ignorance. I apologize." Then we'd all shut up, we'd accept your apology, and we'd all have a new level of respect for you for being the bigger man. Instead, you continue to skirt the issue and use straw man arguments. What you claim you don't get that people are saying isn't what ANYONE HERE IS SAYING. At all.
You're tired of people being "hostile", but you're not too tired to come here and show everyone how self righteous you are and chastise us? Twice. Lol, okay buddy.
@dunnace
And that's the actual PS2 version. It's using an improved version of the High Definition Pack Valve release 3 years after HL1 came out. That's the best the GoldSrc engine has ever looked. Going back to the original '98 version, the jump is HUGE, and it's a part of the reason this is such a big deal. And this is why I take exception with Jonathan's ignorant comments.
@Wrath and Pride
Lol he literally spent HOURS yesterday going back and forth with people on Twitter. He won't come here and actually have that conversation because the community is already on the site. I swear, sometimes I think he does this shit to bait people into arguing with (and following) him on Twitter. It's a hell of a way to market yourself (and your shows).
@Joshua Derocher
Is Holmes LEGITIMATELY trying to troll people? Probably not. That's probably not that likely. It's possible, but not likely. He's probably just ignorant. He probably hasn't touched a PS2 game in years, so he has no frame of reference to be comparing it to. He also doesn't play PC games, and I highly doubt he played them 10+ years ago, so he has no frame of reference there either.
He made a statement in the comments section about something without knowing what he was talking about first. He's an editor on the site. He should know better. Period. This has NOTHING to do with opinions. AT ALL. First we have the apologists trying to say he was asking a question with the PS2 comment when he wasn't. The we have the apologists saying he was trying to voice his opinion with the PS2 when he wasn't. It was a STATEMENT. I really don't understand why you people continue to defend him.
@Jonathan Holmes
Why can't you just admit you were wrong? Honestly? Are you that prideful? Just admit it. "I, Jonathan Holmes, know absolutely nothing about PC games or first person shooters, and I made a comment comparing this game to a PS2 title out of complete ignorance. I apologize." Then we'd all shut up, we'd accept your apology, and we'd all have a new level of respect for you for being the bigger man. Instead, you continue to skirt the issue and use straw man arguments. What you claim you don't get that people are saying isn't what ANYONE HERE IS SAYING. At all.
"I love this because I love Half Life but Half Life sucks and this finally makes it good!" A lot of contradictions in there.
W-what?
As someone who only has a passing interest in the Half-Life series I have no problem understanding why this release is a big deal for a lot of people. It's been a labour of love for a bunch of die-hard fans for nearly a decade and, at least according to what I've seen and heard, it even manages to surpass the original in some respects. That it manages to do all that while preserving what was great about the original Half-Life makes it all the more impressive. Hell, the level of effort put into this re-imagining puts a lot of "professional" remake efforts to shame.
W-what?
As someone who only has a passing interest in the Half-Life series I have no problem understanding why this release is a big deal for a lot of people. It's been a labour of love for a bunch of die-hard fans for nearly a decade and, at least according to what I've seen and heard, it even manages to surpass the original in some respects. That it manages to do all that while preserving what was great about the original Half-Life makes it all the more impressive. Hell, the level of effort put into this re-imagining puts a lot of "professional" remake efforts to shame.
@Holmes: You went from idol to douche in just one comment man! Don't you know Half Life is a big deal? Please don't tell me the wii u got over your head.
@Jonathan Holmes
"Sorry to annoy you guys so much! I was just confused that so many people were saying "I love this because I love Half Life but Half Life sucks and this finally makes it good!" A lot of contradictions in there.
Anyway, I think I get it now."
No, you really don't get it. You don't get it so much that you decided to finally comment in a shitstorm YOU created, and instead of apologizing for saying the stupid shit you said, you just say more stupid shit.
Maybe I'm just not seeing it, but where in this comment section were people saying "I can finally play Half-Life now because it's good"? Informed people already know it's good. People who have already played it also know it's good. Some people don't like aged graphics. It happens. That's not what you're claiming they said, though. This mod was a labor of love to the crew that made it, and for you to compare it to a PS2 game is shitting on the hard work they put into it. That's not even acknowledging the fact that you haven't played any of the games, or are a big fan of the FPS genre to begin with, so the very idea that YOU, of all people, came into this article and made such an idiotic comment is just baffling.
That people are actually defending this and kissing your ass is what pisses me off the most, though. Joshua up there doesn't think you're stupid or trolling (even though you said something unfounded and stupid about a game series you know nothing about), yet is absolutely okay with selling out his readers to make you feel better about the situation on Twitter.
I know one thing for sure: I'd respect you a HELL of a lot more if you actually admitted that you were in the wrong, instead of playing dumb and saying "I just don't get it guys! lol"
"Sorry to annoy you guys so much! I was just confused that so many people were saying "I love this because I love Half Life but Half Life sucks and this finally makes it good!" A lot of contradictions in there.
Anyway, I think I get it now."
No, you really don't get it. You don't get it so much that you decided to finally comment in a shitstorm YOU created, and instead of apologizing for saying the stupid shit you said, you just say more stupid shit.
Maybe I'm just not seeing it, but where in this comment section were people saying "I can finally play Half-Life now because it's good"? Informed people already know it's good. People who have already played it also know it's good. Some people don't like aged graphics. It happens. That's not what you're claiming they said, though. This mod was a labor of love to the crew that made it, and for you to compare it to a PS2 game is shitting on the hard work they put into it. That's not even acknowledging the fact that you haven't played any of the games, or are a big fan of the FPS genre to begin with, so the very idea that YOU, of all people, came into this article and made such an idiotic comment is just baffling.
That people are actually defending this and kissing your ass is what pisses me off the most, though. Joshua up there doesn't think you're stupid or trolling (even though you said something unfounded and stupid about a game series you know nothing about), yet is absolutely okay with selling out his readers to make you feel better about the situation on Twitter.
I know one thing for sure: I'd respect you a HELL of a lot more if you actually admitted that you were in the wrong, instead of playing dumb and saying "I just don't get it guys! lol"
@Holmes
"so many people were saying 'I love this because I love Half Life but Half Life sucks and this finally makes it good!' A lot of contradictions in there."
Here's where you're wrong: LITERALLY ZERO PEOPLE have said that. No fan of Half Life says that Half Life sucks or isn't good.
Black Mesa offers an excuse to replay a game many people love but have perhaps already played numerous times, or enjoyed but haven't been *quite* motivated enough to revisit due to many other gaming priorities. Black Mesa offers more than a shiny new coat of paint: it improves on the level design and puzzles. As fun as the original Half Life is and as groundbreaking as it was for its time, a bit of the maps and gameplay elements have ages as poorly as the visuals. The Black Mesa team succeeded in trimming some of the fat and making adjustments to the levels which result in more "realistic" hallways/rooms/pathways as well as more "realistic" and entertaining NPC interactions and scripted events. Long, empty dead-end hallways have been replaced by more interesting and populated scenery, or at least painted with locked doors or broken elevators. The number of jumping puzzles has been greatly reduced, and the Source engine has allowed for the addition of new more physics-based puzzles à la Half Life 2.
There are a lot of reasons for fans of Half Life to be excited for Black Mesa. None of them are because Half Life sucked. But only Half Life fans are really going to be excited at all over this.
"so many people were saying 'I love this because I love Half Life but Half Life sucks and this finally makes it good!' A lot of contradictions in there."
Here's where you're wrong: LITERALLY ZERO PEOPLE have said that. No fan of Half Life says that Half Life sucks or isn't good.
Black Mesa offers an excuse to replay a game many people love but have perhaps already played numerous times, or enjoyed but haven't been *quite* motivated enough to revisit due to many other gaming priorities. Black Mesa offers more than a shiny new coat of paint: it improves on the level design and puzzles. As fun as the original Half Life is and as groundbreaking as it was for its time, a bit of the maps and gameplay elements have ages as poorly as the visuals. The Black Mesa team succeeded in trimming some of the fat and making adjustments to the levels which result in more "realistic" hallways/rooms/pathways as well as more "realistic" and entertaining NPC interactions and scripted events. Long, empty dead-end hallways have been replaced by more interesting and populated scenery, or at least painted with locked doors or broken elevators. The number of jumping puzzles has been greatly reduced, and the Source engine has allowed for the addition of new more physics-based puzzles à la Half Life 2.
There are a lot of reasons for fans of Half Life to be excited for Black Mesa. None of them are because Half Life sucked. But only Half Life fans are really going to be excited at all over this.
"I love this because I love Half Life but Half Life sucks and this finally makes it good!" A lot of contradictions in there.
Anyway, I think I get it now."
Oh dear. Well, that's a shame. I'll probably continue to read your articles but I have to say that for an editor to write such silly comments whilst also making childish comebacks is pretty disappointing and poor all round.
You should leave that kind of thing to scrubs like me!
Anyway, I think I get it now."
Oh dear. Well, that's a shame. I'll probably continue to read your articles but I have to say that for an editor to write such silly comments whilst also making childish comebacks is pretty disappointing and poor all round.
You should leave that kind of thing to scrubs like me!
Okay. I'm pretty convinced that Holmes is doing this on purpose :P
Either that or he has to be less vague with his responses otherwise he comes off as kind of a ignorant poo head.
I'm not saying you are, but that's how it seems.
Either that or he has to be less vague with his responses otherwise he comes off as kind of a ignorant poo head.
I'm not saying you are, but that's how it seems.
Maybe some people who "get" games should be writing about them instead of someone trying to keep their job embarrassing themselves on the internet?
The level design, the models, the sounds, the dialogues, the music, the amazing attention to detail and the subtle new elements make Black Mesa an instant classic. It's familiar and exciting at the same time and I think it's amazing how they found the balance. I find it somewhat difficult on Normal though but that's all right!
@Dr Kroghsj
Yep, somebody else on the internet pointed out how the devs must have struggled to balance between keeping nostalgia and the opportunity to improve upon areas that suffered due to the time period's limitations. It seems they mostly went with nostalgia and added new detail wherever it had no impact on the story.
Additionally, it's not just you - everybody is noticing the advanced enemy AI. The game is distinctly tougher than it was originally. The marines in particular are smarter and everything seems to do more damage.
Yep, somebody else on the internet pointed out how the devs must have struggled to balance between keeping nostalgia and the opportunity to improve upon areas that suffered due to the time period's limitations. It seems they mostly went with nostalgia and added new detail wherever it had no impact on the story.
Additionally, it's not just you - everybody is noticing the advanced enemy AI. The game is distinctly tougher than it was originally. The marines in particular are smarter and everything seems to do more damage.
It's amazing how easily butthurt people get when someone makes a comment like Holmes did, especially considering that he did raise a good point:
If this game didn't have the pedigree preceding it, who'd actually be busting so many nuts over it now?
Gamers sure are a special lot, ha.
If this game didn't have the pedigree preceding it, who'd actually be busting so many nuts over it now?
Gamers sure are a special lot, ha.
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