Gargantua logic problem in final stage of Surface Tension

Black Mesa Archive In-game Issues (Mod)
#1

My complements on Black Mesa. 10/10.

I have a suggestion for improving a logic issue I started thinking about in the final stage of Surface Tension where the Gargantua corners you at the top of a water tower. It’s not a bug, just something that made me go “huh”.

When I first encountered the gargantua and ran down the tunnel and out into the open, my first reaction was to run out as far as I could and hide behind something, assuming there would be a tunnel or ladder or something. I didn’t immediately assume to climb up on top of a tower and trap myself.
After the creature busts through the door and starts chasing me, I panicked and ran around looking for some place to go. Then, mysteriously, he broke off of chasing me and started shaking the tower and banging his head against it. He wouldn’t notice me until I walked right up to him, then he finally turned around and attacked. But when I retreated about twenty yards, he turned back to shaking the tower. So I went “huh? Why is he shaking this stupid tower for no reason?”. Then I realized “oh, it’s because I’m supposed to be at the top and he’s trying to get at me.” This line of reasoning broke the realism and took me out of the game for a moment.

This scene is too scripted. The gargantua should chase me around UNTIL I try to run up the tower to get out of his way, like a cat climbing a tree to get away from a dog. Otherwise it doesn’t make much sense for him to randomly shake the tower and ignore me, because the game expects me to have immediately known to climb it. It also defeats the purpose of the stage because once he starts shaking the tower it is very difficult for me to get to the ladder without suffering a lot of damage or dying-the last thing I want to do now is climb up the ladder.

See how this is kind of a break in logic? Or am I being petty?

#2

I agree, kinda weird but nothing game breaking

#3

Absolutely, nothing game breaking. Just a suggestion for tightening up the gameplay mechanics in future updates. Shouldn’t be too hard to look at, especially since this stage already has another significant issue with the buggy airstrike control screen.

#4

Yeah I noticed this, I assumed the areas I went to weren’t noded or something, or that since they were just too narrow instead of waiting for you to come out he glitches and executes the same action he would as if you were on top or something. It kinda made it a little easy.

#5

It also glitched out on me when he first overtook me in the tunnel and noclipped through the blast doors, then ran and noclipped back - and then started the ‘breaking thru’ animation.

Matter of fact - this belongs in the bug section.

#6

Ha, I noticed the same thing.

Related question: are you supposed to kill the gargantua by ordering an air strike a few feet away from the tower? Because I did, and it worked, but I spent the whole time thinking it was a really bad idea … and it probably shouldn’t have worked, given the destructive power here. (After all, if that strike can kill the gargantua, it should seriously damage the tower — at least the ladder! — and kill Gordon).

#7

Yup, got this too. Specifically I ran towards the antenna thingy and watched him freak from there. Getting a little closer he ran over to me and I make a break for the tower and he kinda stood there. This could do with at least a small fix.

I’m pretty sure I did this same thing. Might just be how you’re supposed to do it.

#8

I ran and jumped into the pool that was in the same map. I didn’t even notice the ladder until the Garg turned around and started shaking the tower.

If there are any other improvements to be made to this scene, I think instead of the Garg running through exploding cars, he should flip them over like in the original. Maybe a couple can explode also. He should also smash a car into the two soldiers in the beginning

#9

I encountered a similar bug with him on my first encounter, as seen in this video I posted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MbcCTG9QA0

#10

Yep, I did the same thing, ran right past that ladder. To compound the matter, when I tried to hastily go back up, I was insta-killed by something. Also, he ran right past those soliders who shoot open the vent, which was particularly equally immersion-breaking.

#11

You’re right. I just didn’t anticipate so many people chiming in with actual bugs, I thought it would be more of a suggestion column. Hopefully a friendly mod will move it.

#12

Unfortunately, you’ll have to do with me. :wink:

#13

Agree with the suggestion.

Btw, this is the chase…

Link

#14

Well, in the original, the tower was much larger and the explosions much smaller, plus for me the Gargantua always bugged and stood at the door where he knocked it down. But I don’t see a problem with this in Black Mesa, if the team are interested in altering it a bit. Have the Garg stay still on one side, then have Gordon order an airstrike near the tower, killing the monster and knocking the tower over, ending the airstrikes. The way it’s been done in Black Mesa, you don’t need an airstrike to knock over the other tower to proceed, nor break open the bunker door, so it makes sense to have Gordon order an airstrike on himself and get thrown around by the explosion.

Might be a waste of the PIP airstrike interface, though, but it already is, considering there’s no need to use it anywhere but the Gargantua as it is.

#15

I think the garg is to easy to kill. :confused:

#16

I disagree. The Xenians are an organized military force as well. The Gargantua likely saw you as a higher priority target than the Marines, considering you’ve already killed a Garg before. Something that can do that is quite threatening in itself, nevermind the other Xenians you’ve killed as well.

#17

I agree, it’s behavior should be a little less scripted there. It also seems odd, that it totally ignores the 2 soldiers in the tunnel.

#18

in Half-Life, the Garg encounter on Surface Tension Kills the Marines and then Chase the player to the bombing area, in this case, ignoring the soldiers does not look good cause the Gargantua must destroy everything on its path , i totally think that was a bad or not coordinated scripting.

this is not fine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tXWWZDxwtk

#19

Haha when one of the devs was speedrunning the other night the garg pushed a burning car through the doors even though there wasn’t enough room for it. Yay physics!

THEN he broke the door down.

#20

I was only referring to it ignoring the Soldiers.

Founded in 2004, Leakfree.org became one of the first online communities dedicated to Valve’s Source engine development. It is more famously known for the formation of Black Mesa: Source under the 'Leakfree Modification Team' handle in September 2004.