Reviews - Astraxis

A remarkable mod that isn't aiming to be a grand reinvention of the HL2 formula, but a short, well crafted experience to dump half an hour into.

All the little details make so much of a difference; all the custom graphical effects, complete revamp of the arsenal, new sounds/effects/textures, all of it makes this mod stand out from the pack by a very large margin. Not only did much of the HL2-esque visual style get an overhaul, a ton of new graphical effects and tech are introduced as well, adding more modern features such as godrays, phong, dynamic lighting, etc.

The map details are mildly lackluster, but the flow is good and it hosts a lot of variety in gameplay. It hits all the right beats with turret defense, zombie survival, and sniper dodging events tied together with puzzles and corridor shooting greatly enhanced by thoughtful implementation of weapon inertia and stylish reloads. The final sections make good use of godrays and enhanced shadows, masking the old Source look almost entirely and making it feel fresh to look at. In sections where finding the objective is a bit vague, they included a L4D2 style objective highlighting system that makes flow smooth as butter; no backtracking, no confusion, just appreciation.

The custom music tracks are just great. The thumping, synth flavored score excellently punctuates moments of action and doesn't overstay its welcome. (not that I mind, it slaps) When woven together with moments of impending action, I honestly got goosebumps.

The cherry on top is just the feeling of a tight and professional production (I see you there Gunship): They knew exactly what they wanted and they did it to the best of their ability, and by god they did a phenomenal job. Following this mod was incredibly interesting, seeing them show off their new tech and finally seeing their implementation on release.

All in all, it was a pleasure to play. I don't normally review mods but this really did hit all the right notes in all the right places. You can tell the team thought though everything and really poured their hearts into this, and the final result is an absolute blast. Thank y'all so much for this, you did an amazing job!

Much potential, such fun, wow.