Research and Development is a puzzle-centric mod for Half-Life 2: Episode Two featuring an unarmed player but plenty of violent mayhem.

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26 comments by Varsity on Jul 20th, 2009 digg this super bookmark


PC gaming super-blog Rock, Paper, Shotgun loves R&D! In a new review Alec Meer praises the mod as "a seismic shift" away from the norm, telling readers that it is "as must-play as an HL2 mod gets":

R&D’s hook is that it’s essentially non-combative. Yep – you go without guns throughout (bar the ol’ Gravity jobbie, but hey, that’s more about construction than destruction here). Sure, you can tell an Antlion to claw someone to death or arrange to squash men with falling girders, but you’re definitely not Edward Pistolhands. It’s an environmental adventure game, taking the irregular physics and logic puzzles seen in HL2 itself and turning them into the game itself. Mazes, gravity, exploding microwaves and fire-retardant antlion carapaces all make an appearance – it’s very much a point’n’click adventure in an FPS engine.

If you still haven't played Research and Development, which requires Episode Two, download it now!

Update: Destructoid also has a very positive review.

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Research and Development (installer)

Research and Development (installer)

Jul 18, 2009 Full Version 42 comments

Updated 17 July 2009, fixed several issues & added a dynamic crosshair when using the keypads & lab buttons. Requires Episode Two.

Research and Development

Research and Development

Jul 17, 2009 Full Version 22 comments

Updated 17 July 2009, fixed several issues & added a dynamic crosshair when using the keypads & lab buttons. Requires Episode Two.

Comments  (0 - 10 of 500)
lambdapi1248
lambdapi1248 Nov 18 2009, 6:31pm says:

This mod is brilliance...

I think one of the things you did extremely well which few others seem to be able to pull off is that you had an abundance of relatively difficult puzzles with no spoon feeding, yet at the same time the solutions were logical and apt... there was no moments of drawn out frustration wondering "what the fuck do I do now" but at the same time I never felt like the game was saying "over here idiot"...

Length was excellent... *kind of a spoiler* though I found the end to be a bit abrupt, I guess I was expecting a meet up with the other human/s and face an 'onslaught' of a culmination of the enemies faced, with the help of antlions of course... though the epilogue does kind of allude to something like this so if a sequel is intended then the ending is perfect as it is...

Also, the moderation of gameplay elements was superb... you introduced things (eg breaking pipes) and used them enough for them to be understood a used in a few different ways but never did anything became repetitious or tedious...

Anyways THANK YOU for making an actual FUN GAME, something a lot of people seem to not comprehend...

This is better than episode 1 and on par with episode 2...

10/10

+1 vote     reply to comment
GregP
GregP Nov 8 2009, 9:41pm says:

WOW, just ... wow. Guys, this was the most creative, original, and just plain FUN mod that I've played in a long, long time. I absolutely loved it from start to finish. Some of the puzzles even confused me to the point where I'd give up for a night and then come back the next day, having thought about what the heck I was supposed to be doing to get past that part of the level.

Just an amazing piece of work here. Thanks!

+3 votes     reply to comment
johnnywutang
johnnywutang Nov 5 2009, 2:14pm says:

A very clever interpretation of HL2. Being very loyal to the play mechanics and feel of HL2, it feels like a worthy extension of the series. This one is puzzle-based, though it still has its moments of intense action - especially on the cart ride!

the level design and art are great, feeling like a continuation of City 17. its lack of actors and occasional release from 1st person view during cinematics are the only departures from the Valve canon, but in no way hurts the quality of the game. Definitely wouldn't mind a sequel. Nice work!

+3 votes     reply to comment
gsp1995
gsp1995 Oct 31 2009, 9:36pm says:

Pros: Very entertaining, beautiful visuals and average level design, challenging and varied puzzles, nice concept.

Cons: Absolutely nothing, I love it. Best 2009 mod by me.

Suggestions: Research And Development 2 with Coop mode, bigger and even more challenging puzzles! And of course, Mr. Whirly should come back even powerful than before =D

+2 votes     reply to comment
metzGRR
metzGRR Oct 23 2009, 10:25am says:

Truly truly amazing. That was the best fps singelplayer experience Ive had in a long time, every challenge just felt so rewarding. I would be more then happy if there would be a sequel or a similar game.

Only thing it lacks is a unique soundtrack.

+2 votes     reply to comment
Info_Phil
Info_Phil Oct 18 2009, 6:21am says:

I just completed and all I can say is:
Wow. This was the best mod I've ever played.
Not cheap, not boring.

Ultimate action and epic cutscenes!
Thx for that!

+2 votes     reply to comment
DarkElf9727
DarkElf9727 Oct 15 2009, 8:36am says:

I just stumbled upon this brilliant mod, an exceptional combination of intricate level design and way too clever puzzles, a couple of them which kept me occupied for minutes if not longer. The whole Mr. Whirly level was the icing on the cake, and I loved the short epilogue, which begs for a sequel.

As everyone has stated already... if there's ever a sequel I'd play it in an instant. This is hands down one of the best mods ever for HL2, I haven't seen this level of inventiveness and awesomeness since Minerva.

This is a MUST-download !!!

+3 votes     reply to comment
jpaf84
jpaf84 Oct 13 2009, 5:35pm says:

Praise: Great Mod. Clever design. Loved all puzzles, specialy the lazer (light) puzzle, and the microwave. Did I mention I loved the puzzles?

Trash: Battle with chopper (the 2nd one) unnecessary. nothing else to trash.

Sugestion: implement hint system to help players that are stuck.

Challenge: Make a coop mod with puzzles.

+1 vote     reply to comment
Hamtaro
Hamtaro Oct 5 2009, 11:00am says:

My only problem was that I died two or three times using the vehicle. Would be nice to implement a "garrys mod"-like seat, in which you really "sit" and are, well, welded to the vehicle, so you cant get crushed when you jump and fly into a wall or the strider.

But still 9/10 for it truly is one of the best hl2-mods.

+2 votes     reply to comment
noderunner
noderunner Oct 4 2009, 10:54pm says:

Just finished going through it. Wow. I loved R&D. Please make a sequel! Fantastic job in every respect. If you haven't played this yet, grab it immediately!

+2 votes     reply to comment
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Platform
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Developed By
mbortolino
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Release Date
Released Jul 15, 2009
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9.6

624 votes submitted.

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First Person Shooter
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