Just thought I’d revive this now that it’s out.
For me of course nothing can replace Half Life, but I think in terms of story it definitely has. If I’m replaying the whole series I’ll probably play Black Mesa, but I’ll still play Half Life for old times sake.
I kind of feel as though BM trumps HL. Simply because in BM, most of the monsters are the same as in HL2, like the vorts, the barnacles, the headcrabs, and etc., and I feel as though if someone started the HL series from BM, and then played HL2, there would be a stronger connection between the two. They would understand it a bit more.
As it is, I’d say I like them equally. If they fix up some of the balance issues and add back some parts of Surface Tension then it would definitely replace it for me. And if Xen is at all better then the original, well, you get the idea.
One of my favorite things about the mod was the added “story” to the generic scientists and security guards. In HL1 I always found it funny when they died and didn’t really care about them, but BM I find myself feeling sorry when they die.
I actually like Black Mesa overall more than Half-Life… even though I think a few areas could have been improved.
I might still play the original for old times’ sake, but honestly if I’d probably play Black Mesa more now.
not just yet - but it could. once Xen is released (and in the unlikely event that Surface Tension is returned to it’s original length) it’s a definite possibility.
i’m pretty sure that from now on whenever i feel like replaying HL i will be loading up BM, but i’m not sure if it will ever REPLACE it. i’ve been playing HL since '98 so the HL universe is pretty much a staple of my gaming life, so BM can’t just make that go away. but who knows, once it’s released on Steam and Xen is complete then anything is possible (a new and improved Xen might make me forget all about the missing set pieces from OAR and ST).
There was one part in Surface Tension with that huge thing coming out of the sand that was missing in Black Mesa. I guess that area was changed, or did I miss it?
I never even planned on replaying the HL series until Hl3 was announced, but now that I am playing BM I won’t replay it and will just move on to HL2 and wait for HL3, even if it takes a year or two. I can’t really replay games besides BioShock.
So, BM hasn’t replaced HL1 for me because I probably will not replay either after I finish BM.
I feel Black Mesa could replace Half-Life for me, but it would need a few tweaks, some rebalancing and, crucially, Xen before that happens. I want to see how the team approaches Xen and whether it’s cut down or added to before I can decide either way.
never will, but it will definitely stay on my drive for a very long time
I don’t think it will, merely because I may get the hankering for some of the cut areas. I do think it works better alongside HL2, though, and actually makes me appreciate it more, especially the Vorts.
I do not think anything could replace all the memories I had has a kid playing the first half life.
Black Mesa it self is a wonderful recreation of the original that puts into play the current technology of our time. Better graphics, lighting, sound. The things that made the game what it is today are still there. The useless security guards, the scientists that seem to have never done a push up in their life, the cheese one liners, the over confident army, all of this still rings true to what Half Life is.
It is meant to be a game that allows you to enjoy the story and still get your brain working. Its not overly difficult to beat yet you feel you didn’t waste your time.
So no in my mind the original HL can never be replaced.
Edit: I actually felt that some of the changes to shorten a few areas where greatly needed. I went back and played the first HL before playing and beating Black Mesa and I found my self really enjoying the changes, it made it have a better flow, rather then doing a puzzle that added a extra hour to the game that really, in the long run, wasn’t needed.
Yep, totally replaced for me. Even without Xen I find it superior. It doesn’t do everything the way I’d do it, but I’m not a modder so that’s irrelevant.
The atmosphere is way better ofc, and the level design is just better organized, but the AI seems way more static. I think that may be a source thing, but I don’t know. I’d have preferred something closer to HL1 behavior, or even something Halo-y >.>
I’d just have liked to have more reactive AI is all. All their actions in BM seem to be based on inevitabilities. Like, if you throw on god mode and watch them work, they all end up consistently doing the exact same shit after a while.
I mean, nothing can replace the old HL. It’s got a charm that will always pull me to it. It’s got a different set of pros and cons than BM, and because of that it’s just a different game. One can’t replace the other really.
I always intended BM to replace HL for me, so it has, except for xen, for now. Although I wouldn’t mind playing through HL in handheld form (on my phone) but that’s currently impossible (or possible with win98 on dosbox emulator at 1fps).
It has for me and I think from here it can only get better… 
Yes, but I want Xen and I want Surface Tension to be extended.
There have been ok attempts at de-porting HL1 into the quake 1 engine that can work on any handheld device, but… yeah. It’s pretty damn limited.
The balacing issues and cut parts really make me sure that Half Life can’t be replaced
Personally I didn’t notice any major balancing issues. I played through on normal.
And honestly, I love OAR now, hated it back in HL1. Also don’t really mind the missing stuff in Surface Tension.
Firefights are really annoying, you can’t even use cover since the insanely perfect accuracy literally rips armor and health once you take a small peak to kill them
Oh really? I didn’t notice… But I understand.
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.