Experience Half-Life 2 like never before. Return to City 17, held within the iron grip of the Combine and the Consul. Reunite with old friends, and enemies. Traverse vicious canals, make new allies, and brave the horrors of the Quarrytown. Immerse yourself in a revitalised combat system featuring old arsenals made new again, with added features to raise the bar in gameplay. You've been waiting for quite some time, now. It's time to climb aboard.
This was such a fun experience to go through. So far, it's definitely the most complete and fleshed-out Beta recreation mod, and the work put into it is very impressive. The gunplay, especially, is very satisfying and fun. The levels also feel very distinct and are highly detailed, making them fun to explore every nook and cranny.
The only real downside for me is that the beginning feels like a bit of a slog. I enjoy seeing more of City 17, but in comparison to a mod like Dark Interval, the early exploration of the city feels a little less interesting with not as much to do and taking a lot longer through more winding and twisting locations.
However, after that, the rest of the mod shines with IMO some great level design and fun gameplay, especially in the later chapters as you get some more weapons.
Very much looking forward to Division 3 and the rest of the mod in the future.
Have played about 80% of the demo and i have to say that i can clearly see that the makers have put much work and effort put in to this. Believe i did read somewhere that it was tested for several months with several men. That really does surprise me because i did find quit a lot of errors and unclear scenes in the mod. From weapons that were 'given' to the player by dead combines. Just to disapear minutes later out of players hands and to be replaced with a large 'red error' sign above the player that moved with him. Right from the start in i believe map 2 i did get stuck. A citizen tells me to follow him to a closed gate, a combine opens the gate and one comes from behind. The citizen says then to wait a second. Waited for hours there, played the whole part 3 times. With noclip i then noticed that door at the other end of the map was opened ??? So i moved to there.
The mapping was very inconsistent. Some parts were very well done and others were looking less. Like different skilled mappers worked on this. The Barney part were he takes his mask of felt like a real HL2 rip off. We all remember that scene ofcourse from HL2, probably was that the idea, but to take it so right out of HL2 felt odd and well, i say it, like it was just a copy apste job. There were many other issues. The city clearly was made to make the player feel hunted by the combines. But, in many cases i stoud right beside people who did get shot or were taken away. And not one combine did something to me which felt really VERY odd. Some npc's did act very strange, some were frozen in there animation, others were just.... well, it was all very odd. So, i really hope that this demo will not be a sign of how the mod will be. Seems there is still lots of work to do guys. Sorry, as mapper/modder i know how harsh my words are, but, i just can't say it any other way. Sorry,
Leon
Great mod
This isn't just a rebuild of the original work, this is a slight reimagining. Building on that original work. And it does it so well. Genuinely one of the best Half Life 2 mods ever made. It's up there with Entropy Zero, Black Mesa, and Minerva. Which reminds me I have to play Minerva again.
All said and done, this is the best HL2 experience I've had in a very long time, and I'm definitely going to donate to the team, since they've earned it. I do hope they can finish this, and release it on Steam.
If you haven't done so, I highly recommend you give it a try. Since the old beta content, the WC map pack, and the book Raising the Bar holds a very special place in my childhood. I used to obsess over stuff like this.
It's true view on how Half-Life 2 should've released.
nice mod
Solid gameplay but maps requires some polish