Minerva is often considered by many to be one of the greatest HL2 mods ever, if not the best. So here I am to post my opinions!
First of all, lets go with storyline. The storyline, for a mod, is top-notch. A mysterious narrator watching you and making you penetrate a facility to destroy a portal to the Combine world. Its epic! While many mods of all engines simply create a shooter, Minerva truly takes advantage of source and has created an immersive and interesting story. 9/10, because there could possibly be a little more backstory.
Second, the mapping. The mapping is sort of a twist. Its your basic classic mapping... Same textures, same sounds, same everything. The mapping would usually bore me out of my mind for it is all underground and seems like the Citadel wherever you go, yet somehow it dosent. All locations in the mod are similar to the last, but are unique and interesting in their own way. It may have something to do with all the moving parts, the massive cliffs, or the feeling that you are slowly decending lower and lower into hell, but it just feels fun and new wherever you go. Minerva also stretches source to its limits... Intense detail and HUGE maps. I noclipped around for a bit, and hell... I didnt think that you could make boxes with no detail at all get that large and still run. Mapping is a 9/10 because as interesting as it may be, I would love to see the skill seen in his maps placed in a different terrain. Still, Ive played it twice and I just cant get over it!
Third, custom content and characters. This is the most lacking part of Minerva, for there is no custom content and only one character you never meet. But even the defects have upsides in this. The lack of custom content only increases the fantastic sense in the mod, showing that anyone can take very little content and make it have a totally vast new look. Minerva changes everything into something totally new. As for characters, there is only one, and you never see them. Yet somehow, you almost start to develop a relationship with them. He (or she) starts out treating you as a lab rat, and then slowly becomes attatched to you and eventually saving your life. The sarcastic themes presented are funny and add almost a sense of realism. So in the end, while what they do is awesome, it still comes in very little amounts. I do take quality of quantity, but this is truly minimal. 6/10.
Last but not least, overall style. I just loved this mod's style. Excellent music. Quality mapping. It dosent try to impress you with flashy new models or textures, it just satisfies you with good old HL2 maps. Before I played it, new content was a big part of a mod to me, but now I judge mods more on their feeling. 10/10.
In the end, its about an 8.5/10, and just because the world revolves around me and I especially like it, 9/10. Excellent mod all around, I highly suggest it to the people that havent played it yet (which I believe has a population of maybe 3). Minerva is a classic, and it totally deserves to be!
Oh and heres the link: Moddb.com
cool
Thanks :D
too busy to read, halo Reach. I never played Minerva too, if its HL2 based then its a reason. Imma make an article of a mod aswell, but something abit more horrific, as thats my style :p
As long as its source, please do :D
Startin out with the big guns, eh ? One of the top 3 HL2 mods I've played more than twice. Excellent choice and descriptive article.
When I played this mod, it really was epic, the atmosphere, the background story, everything.
It made me play through multiple times and everytime, it felt great!