Reviews - boxesunstacked

This is spiritually what the PS2 splitscreen PVP experience offered, but with fresh and even returning levels and features.
Love the crosshairs, quality of life addons and subtle adjustments.
Absolutely solid all around.

this release has made me incredibly happy. i can not express my absurd amount of gratitude for releasing something of this caliber and quality. it's like when i first got the expansions all over again as a wee lad. i logged into my years old ModDB account JUST to give my appreciation.
i took notes while playing the game, simply because i was so overwhelmed with things to appreciate. i had no idea it was going to end up being SIX HOURS of QUALITY content! for FREE! this will be something i replay for years to come. here are some simplified highlights, and a few critiques i had.
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+ no artstyle clashing custom assets
+ new enemy variants, and slight reworks in behavior
+ feels like a proper expansion piece in the established half-life world
+ revisit familiar locations in black mesa, most notably Decay, other expansions, even segments from DM maps with organic feeling and fresh application from an hgrunt's perspective. doesn't overstay it's welcome
+ cameos from two of the most based women at black mesa, and other expansion stars
+ impressive attention to detail in things like usable soda machines (+1 hp each if you're struggling), brush texture mapping, rooms very rarely feel empty or like they wouldn't be used.
+ tasteful use of the original soundtracks
+ the return of swingable ropes
+ seriously the mapping is gorgeous
+ consistenly rewards player exploration
+ npcs companions do not slog the pacing
+ easily missed csaual scripted sequences breathe life into the traditional black mesa coridors
+ brand new snark friend!
+ what an ending!
- the voice acting is 'the best they could do'. the writing is obviously a mod, but it get's all of it's shenanigans out early. i really appreciate the effort though. do not let this deter!
- game likes to spawn shi on you, or put headcrabs around corners constantly, but is pretty much always is overgearing you for the encounters anyway.
- difficulty curve with the [SPOILER] spawn spam is sorta abusrd. not a problem for anyone who plays these games, but i imagine this has the potential to hurt a lot of player's sense of pace.
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