But it’s only when you go back and replay the original Half-Life that you realize how much has been opened up in terms of character interaction, environmental design and detail. Outside of major content additions, Black Mesa may not seem to be doing much outside of remaking visuals. "Everything that’s been touched up and improved feels like it’s been done so in service of maintaining that signature Half-Life atmosphere and it works marvelously." Of course, the biggest change and addition to the base experience is Xen, fully built from scratch and looking breathtakingly gorgeous. Enemy artificial intelligence feels more on point, as evidenced by the way the classic Marines flank, utilize explosives and juke past several shots. Utilizing Source Engine has allowed for spaces to be more open, especially during combat, but without feeling too empty. The remake enhances this all the more, filling in all sorts of great story details – like cameos from a young Eli Vance – while maintaining the trademark flow of the level design. You have your own locker and degree, your own reputation and demeanor, which is all the more reinforced as the story players. Conversations play out regardless if you’re near. You’re not just a nameless gun, walking around levels – you are Gordon Freeman, taking the tram to Black Mesa, passing by all manner of facilities and happenings. “Theoretical physicist becomes embroiled in an experiment gone wrong” works as a nice blurb but Half-Life does so much to dispel any hang-ups over this premise. Cue record scratch and freeze frame meme and away we go. To summarize the story of Half-Life, just imagine protagonist Gordan Freeman in a seemingly hopeless firefight against some Marines. "You have your own locker and degree, your own reputation and demeanor, which is all the more reinforced as the story players." What originally started as a fan project to remake Half-Life has evolved into a stellar first person shooter in its own, adding and expanding onto the original to create something truly worth playing. Over two decades later, the Crowbar Collective has released Black Mesa, which was itself in development for 14 years.
It was the year that Valve Software released Half-Life, eradicating every preconceived notion for what shooters – and video game stories – could be. However, for many, 1998 still serves as the year that the genre changed. The world of first person shooters has teetered back and forth between out-and-out action and deep story-telling, between extensive single-player campaigns and dedicated platforms for competitive multiplayer.
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