Half Life 1 Source No Steam
Download Half Life No Steam
If you want to play it like it was back in the day (as close as possible at least) aka, you're trying to relive 1998, get HL1. If you don't care and just want HL1 to look as best as possible, get HL Source. Source looks a little odd because it's in a modern game engine yet has some low poly models and low resolution models and better lighting/water. If you do download HL1, you want to get the high resolution model pack that came with Blue Shift. I don't remember if you need to buy Blue Shift to enable that. @RobertOrri said: I recommend the original game.
Half-Life: Source is kind of a hack-job where they just ported the maps into the new engine. As a result, players get the ragdolls, improved physics, better lighting effects and water but very little was changed to take advantage of these features.But at least you GET the features. If he's buying only one of them, he might as well buy Source since it has that stuff. If you're playing it for the first time, might as well play it with better water. @Rockanomics said: Comeon the answer is obviously Black Mesa: Source guys, ya just. Keep on watin'.
Tooooootally coming out anytime ever. Gonn happen, serious.You jest, but on hearing about Black Mesa about 2 years ago and reading an interview with one of those guys I made the decision then to hold off on buying and playing Half-Life and waiting till BM came out. It passed through my mind just recently whether I should reevaluate that decision and also in that case if I should get the original or Source version of Half-Life - so I'm glad to see this thread. I'm not 100% sure but I think I may have changed my opinion about the way I would want to experience HL. I'm now thinking that probably one of the big reasons for me to play it is to understand why other people loved it so much and to share that experience with them and that would kind of lean me towards getting the original so that I get this same experience. Ultimately I can't really see myself getting it any time soon because of my backlog of games but I feel I should play it some time since it's such a classic and constantly gets referenced. @RagingLion: I was kidding, but at the same time I am waiting for it to come out so I can do the Half Life marathon I planned on doing in preparation for Ep 3.
I remember saying to myself 'I hope BM:S comes out before episode 3 so I can go through them all in sequence.' That was probably 3 years ago and neither of them are in sight yet. But while I thought I'd share that little tidbit it's not why I replied. My main point is responding to the idea of playing a classic for the first time, and I don't think it's a good one. Arslan sony tv episode 1.
It's a noble goal, sure, but I feel an impossible one. I'd like to be wrong but the way I see it the reason people like myself have those warm nostalgic feelings about a 'Half Life' or whatever game of choice is because they did magical things that no one had seen before. The fact that you started up the game and your objective was to go to work, or you didn't encounter combat until the first chapter was over was mind-blowing.
I want to say Ryan Davis was saying that F.3.A.R. Surprised him because the game started by instantly throwing you into the action. That was like every single FPS before Half Life! A slow build up to the action is standard practice these days, and that's my point. 75% of what made something like Half Life special to me and others is all taken for granted nowadays, which is a good thing, it means the medium is growing that fast. Man, I feel all gross with fanboy sweat.
Anyway I do feel bad pissing on people's parades but I guess the point is temper your expectations.