#BeatTheBacklog Update 1: Black Mesa Complete · 10:28pm Nov 26th, 2024
My first #BeatTheBacklog game, Black Mesa, is done.
Never played the original Half-Life. I figured if I ever made the time to do so, then the plot of Half-Life 2 would make a little more sense.
I was mistaken. The only thing in the sequel that now has a modicum more of clarity was the opening 30 seconds on the train.
And Xen really overstayed its welcome; I understand that it was the weak point of the original, but Crowbar Collective really went overkill, and it nearly killed the momentum of the story; the only parts that made me go "wow" was the very beginning of Xen, and the very end of Interloper. I spent the better part of four hours on this final part of the game, and English dialogue all but vanishes save for two or three lines from the final boss.
Onto Half-Life 2!
I swear, Half Life 2 was so ahead of its time. Every time I do another playthrough I'm always seeing new things I haven't noticed before. Not to mention the facial animations (in a 2004 game) look far better than many of the animations we get today, especially Alyx Vance.
Theres just something about the "Pick up that can" part that helped reinforce that the Civil Protection weren't just mindless enemies; they're actual people with emotions who willingly became the embodiment of the worst cops in the world.
https://m.5818323
the fact that there are multiple achievements tied to that interaction always makes me smile.