bodysplat.wav | Hazardous Course 2

Channel:

andynomical

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200

Published on March 3, 2023 8:43:11 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_wgRPGjWTo

Game:

Half-Life (1998)

Duration: 3:02:55

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1

is it gibbed or gibbed 🤔

REVIEW
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Half-Life. When it comes to PC gaming, it's hard to ignore the influence Valve's title has held in the medium that is video games. One notable aspect is the inspiration of modification utilizing the GoldSource engine to build unique stories and diverse mechanics that span throughout different genres be it horror, action-adventure, comedy and the like. For Hazardous-Course 2, it touches upon many different themes while staying true to the original formula.

There really isn't a story to this game. It's one challenge after another, where environments introduce a certain theme to their overall feel (scary, action-packed, platforming, puzzle-solving, etc.) and you simply respond to the test with a combination of physical and mental prowess.

The level design for the most part was pretty impeccable. Not only is there a lot of diversity in the places you progress through but also the fact it synergizes quite nicely to the OG design of Black Mesa. Spoof game be damned, it has a level of maturity to it where despite it flip floppy between silly and serious, the levels are often realistic and could very well been 1:1 to the base game that is Half-Life.

The majority of levels revolve around platforming and they're done quite nicely where a balance of skill, execution and quick thinking are often needed. They varied in difficulty and regardless of my temperament here and there, I really did enjoy them as I'm quite fond of this genre. Veiled in classic Half-Life fashion is even better.

I like the comedic goofiness that is sprinkled throughout the game (especially when it started off strong at the beginning) but I felt that the game was weakened by certain tropes being implemented a bit too much. Guessing game scenarios like the underwater vents and the loop-de-loo tram segment, brute force scenarios like the flame and radiation hazard segments and the very tedious item hunt/fetch quest at the end of "Climbing Tower Access" were either boring and/or annoying. Obviously this game filters everything through a sense of challenge so one could argue that these areas were simply not to my liking. Personally, I just wish tropes requiring repetition or backtracking weren't done too heavily.

I'm not sure if I like an ending being locked behind collectibles. Apparently, you needed the RPG (which was not needed to progress in "Basic Training"), the Monolith (foreign object in "Climbing Tower") and something else I completely missed. These lead to the 3rd floor elevator being opened to get access to the final cutscene. Considering how often I overlooked things here and there, it'd be no surprise why that would leave a bad taste in my mouth.

I may have my grievances with this mod but they pale in comparison to the positives the game showcases. A Half-Life providing an approach to many different aspects of video games all in one package, for better or for worse, it's a hell of a deal. Do not sleep on video game mods, many of them are diamonds in the rough.

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