Black Mesa [v0.4.1 HF2] (2015) PC

Black Mesa is a first–person shooter that is a remake of the revolutionary game of the late nineties Half-Life. It took eight whole years to transfer the original gameplay to the Source engine, but this resulted in significantly improved graphics and the preservation of the former atmosphere of the legendary sci-fi shooter.

Deadly physics

A new researcher and part-time main character of the game, Gordon Freeman, arrives at the secret experimental complex Black Mesa, located in New Mexico. The first steps of a young scientist in the field of physics take place in the laboratory of anomalous materials. This path turns out to be extremely short: the first experiment at which Freeman is present gets out of control, as a result of which portals to the world of Zen open. Very aggressive aliens immediately appear from there. No one is destined to get out of the laboratory: the government has already sent a cleanup team to destroy aliens and eyewitnesses of the disaster.

More life

The first thing that is noticeable in Black Mesa is the elaboration of the environment. Locations are not just rooms and corridors where running and shooting takes place. Suitable furniture and fittings have appeared in the complex, which suggest that people really spend their working days here. If in the original there were only two faces for all the guards and scientists, now each character has become a separate person. Female employees also appeared. The remake not only got high-quality textures, but also took a big step towards realism. For example, the same blood from the protagonist's wound appears on the butt, and the enemy's blood appears on the muzzle.

Not a copy paste

The goal of the developers was to give the cult game a more modern look, but they refused to completely copy all the material. In Black Mesa, some moments that seemed rather long in Half-Life were shortened or cut out altogether, which affected the dynamics of the gameplay.

Difficult, but possible

The main character is mainly engaged in the destruction of aliens and mutated laboratory staff. Thanks to an improved physical model and a smarter AI, the difficulty of passing some segments of the gameplay has increased significantly. Hiding behind corners is not an option for Freeman. His weapons are quite powerful, and he also has the opportunity to interact with the environment and a