Should I play HL before BM at this point?

Black Mesa Archive The Cafeteria
#1

Hey, long-time fan/reader, first time poster.

I know this thread has been posted before but considering the change in circumstances I wanted the board’s opinion.

Now, I have tried to play through HL before, I own the original and I made it quite a bit of the way through the game. I honestly don’t remember how far I got but I’m pretty sure I sent the rocket into space. I don’t remember if I fought any Gargantuas (this may be contradictory to the previous statement). The problem arose when my game saves were corrupted and I was unable to continue; since then I haven’t tried again (years ago).

So if I were to play it again, I’m guessing I would have to buy Half-Life: Source, if that fixed the save corruption issues?

The reason I ask is since the mod is almost at release the time is approaching where if I were to play BMS I would be unable to ever have the experience of having played HL1 first, considering there’s probably going to be quite a few callbacks and things that only an original player would notice (Yes, I know this is not a 1:1 conversion)

I have played through HL2-HL2EP2 already.

#2

Honestly it’s your choice. I would say sure, go ahead and play HL1 first. But I know some friends who won’t, and I don’t bother to contradict them because I don’t think HL1 would be as enjoyable for them in the first place. (Games from long ago tend to bore the more recent generations of gamers).

If you made it that far in HL, you probably enjoyed it. So go ahead and give it a shot.

#3

I’m not the kind of person that won’t play a video game because of its graphics.

I played Deus Ex before Human Revolution, for context.

#4

Either way really. Having played the original, I think the remake will be better since the tech is updated and it’s basically a labor of love. Having said that, playing the original is recommended either way.

#5

I would recommend you go ahead and play the original. I know the game is buggy (both the original and the Source version have their fair share of bugs) but that way you can play Black Mesa and have somewhat of a nostalgia force behind you. To be honest, I beat Half-Life 1 (Source) for the first time ever about a month ago. Were there some parts I was ready to throw in the towel and say “screw this and wait for BM”? Oh, yes. But I got through it on normal. And Black Mesa will mean a greater deal to me now since I experienced the original too. I’ve watched walkthroughs of the entire game many times, but beating it for yourself is so much better. And if you don’t make it to the end before next Friday, that’s fine, play BM. But you should be able to make it to the end in about 2-3 days. 1 even, if you have nothing else to do.

#6

Technically I only need to make it through Lambda Core.

Do you know if the save corruption issues from the original are still present in Source?

#7

I’d say definitely play the original first. You will appreciate BM so much more having done so.
Also, I would finish through Xen as well. It’s quite nice to know the whole storyline and I actually liked Xen, unlike a lot of people, lol.

I personally have never had any major issues with HL-S

#8

Playing the first one will make you appreciate it more as remake but playing BM blind without having played Half-Life might make BM itself more interesting because you’d know less of what is coming.

#9

I am planning to finish Xen eventually, but if I’m going to do this I’d rather just finish through Lambda Core and save Xen to do closer to the release of Black Mesa Part 2. Considering I’m spending most of my time between editing a feature film, college and two jobs I’m just going to aim for that by then XP

Also, thank you for someone finally answering the HL-S question.

We’ll know less of whats coming regardless because its not a 1:1 remake right?

#10

Off topic, but I have to ask… What is this feature film that you are editing?

#11

If you have the time to beat it until friday, I’d say do it.

#12

Its called The Tailor’s Apprentice: https://www.tailorsapprentice.com

I’m an undergrad at UCF (Orlando, FL), and the director is a graduate student.

Its not something you’ll ever see in theaters lol. Most it would go to is some film festivals.

#13

Its not a 1:1 remake but its still has to resemble half-life. Meaning as a person who has played HL1 I will know the story, the setting, roughly when enemies are introduced, the weapons and such. You would know nothing of this, so instead of it being refreshing it would be completely fresh.

#14

I haven’t seen any save corruptions on my experience. On Source and in the updated version on Steam. From my understanding, you bought the retail copy years ago right? If you still have the box with the CD key, you can put that CD key in Steam and get the HL Steam Version (not Source, just Steam) for free. As well as some other old Valve/HL games.

Valve updated the game a lot when they put it on Steam, so chances are the glitch should be gone. And depending on which version you bough retail, you may have noticed that the “tilt” when you move left or right that was present in some of the original releases of HL is no longer there. And the menu should be different as well.

I would recommend you start off with the plain old vanill HL from Steam. Source is a decent port but it has some really bad bugs that can ruin the game. Music cuts out in loading screens, some lighting (especially in Xen) is really messed up. As well as a lot of the physics. Nothing is really “game breaking” but the bugs suck nonetheless. The normal game will do you just fine. Just be careful about widescreen monitors. The field of view is really bad but it can be customized via console commands.

I know this is a lot, but I just want to make sure your potentially first completion of HL is a good one :wink:

#15

Ah, still cool though. :jizz:

#16

Well thats great, I went and bought HL Source on impulse before I saw this after holding off for 8 years X_X

Let me clarify; I’ve never owned the retail version of Half-Life. I got Half-Life 2 with a graphics card when it came out and played through that, it being my first introduction to the franchise. Then my friend said I needed to play Half-Life, which, for some reason I inexplicably received for free, along with Opposing Force and Blue Shift.

So the only version of Half-Life I’ve ever played is the Steam version, which does still have the save corruption issues.

I have a 16:10 monitor so I will have widescreen issues. Is that with both Source and the original?

I think I’d enjoy the nostalgia along with the changes rather than the changes without the nostalgia. Especially considering I roughly know the layout of what I haven’t played in the game from accumulated information over time.

Reread my OP, I’m not completely new to HL; I’ve played up until I reached save corruption issues.

Sankyu

#17

I’d say go for it man. Can’t go wrong. I will note with Half Life:Source if you do go that route instead of Half Life, you’ll want to go into console and activate the sv_autosave command. For some reason it’s off by default and if you forget to save and you do something stupidly, you’ll wind up back where you last saved which could be a few hours away or 5 minutes, forcing you back a few chapters or even to inbound.

Note: It’s always off when you load up the game.

#18

Wait, so I have to enable autosave EVERY TIME I PLAY THE GAME?

DAMMIT, WHY DID I BUY THIS THING???

#19

True. I got about 1/2 way through HL Source, saved, came back a week later, and had no saved data. IDK if it was for the same reason, but I will heed this advice in the future.

#20

put “sv_autosave 1” in cfg/autoexec.cfg

you’re welcome

too lazy to locate/create autoexec.cfg? Ok, type this in console instead

bind “w” “+forward;sv_autosave 1”

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.