Steam, Tracks, Trouble & Riddles (S.T.T.&R.) is a single player adventure mod, based on source engine (Orange Box) by Valve. It combines two types of game play: an adventure game with complex, 3D-interactive riddles in a fantastic environment and a simulator for track based vehicles.
Good idea, but not really good realisation, good face animations of robot, ordinary level design, unobviously puzzles and broken scripts in couple of moments.
Liked the overall idea, level geometry, design, custom assets, and generally enjoyed it! On the downsides - some areas could use smaller lightmap scale i. e. better global lighting, and in a couple of places it's possible to get to the edge of the level and witness the great NODRAW.
My this is one of those mods that has found itself in an uncomfortable spot.
The effort that went into the mod is clearly visible and I really want to rate this mod higher, but sadly glitches plagued certain sections along with the fact that the dialogue was jarring, especially with someone like Ross Scott being forced to voice them.
Pros:
-Intricate puzzle mechanics present throughout the game
-Custom characters complete with voices
-New setting besides shooty Combine-land
Cons:
-The same puzzle mechanics are plagued with glitches
-Voice talent wasted on inane dialogue
-Mapping is sparce with details
Overall this mod is a rough gem. I really love the concept and the effort put into this mod, but it could have used more polish. Don't let this deter you from making a sequel though, as I would certainly be looking forward to it.
Great mod, crisp visuals, decent physics, good progression, Ross Scott. Yes, Ross Scott is a feature.
That aside for a second, the story is fun, sometimes haunting, sometimes taunting, never too challenging. Nothing beats looking at a puzzle and having trouble figuring it out and then going over to the robot for help only to see his happy, dumb, or clever smile staring back at you blankly.
Is the robot dumb? Is he just looking for someone to the the grunt work? Is he just sadistic? We may never know.
As I mentioned before, it has a modified version of Ross Scott's voice (Freeman's Mind). That alone adds a humor aspect to the game.
I thoroughly enjoyed playing the game. Thanks for making it!
"Steam, Tracks, Trouble & Riddles" is as original and intelligent a Half-life 2 mod as I have ever played.
The first time I.....*ahem*......'tried' to play this mod years ago, I gave up on it very soon after starting it -- not being able to figure out how to assemble the make-shift railroad cart -which was required at the very beginning of the mod...
I recently tried this mod again, last night, and was much more successful...and somehow....very miraculously....managed to finish this mod without resorting to, say, any youtube 'walkthroughs,' etc.
The mod is exceptionally difficult: The setting seems to be a "steam-punkish" post WWII Germany that is 'quasi-modern.' The graphics are unique and very high quality and reminisce of Germany -me-thinks.
The premise of the mod is 'puzzle-solving' and requires extreme patience, 'fiddling around,' thinking and brainstorming.
Because of the overt difficulty level of this mod, I believe that "7" out of "10" is a fair rating. It is worthwhile to complete the mod, but for me it was aggravating enough that it was only 'barely' worth playing it all the way through. I have to give this mod at least a "7" because of how intelligent and well put together it was...
⠀
This mod was AMAZING! I enjoyed the puzzles and the gameplay so much. In addition, the apocalyptic setting of Berlin with its wonderful historical references was brilliant.
I can highly recommend this mod to anyone who appreciates a wonderful game with intriguing puzzles and without combats.
Beautiful mod! Very creative too. So why the 5 Rating? On the 3rd puzzle onward I had to keep going back to the pdf cheat sheet... Ugh. I guess I'm just not that bright, so be it. Once a game, even a potentially fantastic game becomes a "oh nooo, another puzzle", forget about it.
Увы, уныло. (((
Almost all of the other reviews are pre-version 2.