Ether is a puzzle game that makes use of the already implemented physics, but lets the player interact with them in a completely new way. Taking place in a world were gravity has shaped everything from animals to houses, and from weather to communication devices, the player is faced with different obstacles on her way through the game. To progress, the player has the ability to change the gravitational state of nearly every loose object in the environment using a stick. This stick can turn objects weightless, freeze them mid-air or have them fall back on the ground. Hoping to bring a brand new experience with the game play we have no intentions of leaving the visuals unaltered. The Source Engine is deeply modified to provide a vision of something new, a world that feels alive and different from what you have seen before.
One of the most unique and innovative HL2 puzzle mods I've played!
Physics puzzles as a game concept is really interesting. Unfortunately, this one never made it very far, but what's here is really cool!
A very short mod, Ether is a nice first person puzzle game where you have a wand that either freezes or toggles the gravity of objects. The artstyle is really unique for a HL2 mod- very fantasy-esque and pleasant enough (I love the little bug guys that squirm when you freeze them). Sound design is functional, but there's no music (from what I can tell) and all the sounds are just things slamming into walls so it's fine. The main attraction, the puzzles, are cool! The first one had me stuck for ages but once you figure out how to fully open the door it makes sense enough. The second one I think I cheesed, but that's whatever. In a puzzle game like this, I feel like any solution is valid enough, as there's no guiding voice to anything, making the puzzles very free. I enjoy this take, as it allows the player to really get into the world and makes solving the puzzles a lot more rewarding.
All that being said, it's too bad it ends with a simple "Thanks for playing" written in the ground. Not even a credits roll! It's fine enough though. I liked this mod, and I would've loved to see it developed more, but seeing as the last updates were from so long ago, I guess I'll just have to dream.
Very basic and monotonous. The "puzzle" is way too open for a solution and is difficult to platform your way around.