Black Mesa
Release Date: March 5, 2020
Action, FPP, science fiction, FPS, remaster/remake, indie games, shooters, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet
OpenCritic
Steam
A fan modification of the classic first-person shooter Half-Life from 1998; the mod's development took roughly 8 years to complete. In terms of plot, the production is a faithful recreation of the original game and tells the story of Gordon Freeman, a physicist, and his struggle for survival in the titular Black Mesa Research Facility invaded by mysterious beings from another dimension.
Black Mesa is an original, indie modification by Carlos Montero and more than 40 people of Black Mesa Modification Team, which is a refreshed version of Valve Software's Half-Life game.
Plot
Black Mesa recreates the events shown in Half-Life. We're playing the role of Gordon Freeman, PhD in theoretical physics, an employee of the Black Mesa secret research complex. After a tragic experiment, he has to face hordes of aliens who have come to the center from the Xen world, as well as the U.S. military trying to eliminate the threat and cover up all evidence of illegal activities, eliminating surviving witnesses of the disaster.
Mechanics
The gameplay mechanics are based on the 1998 original. Again, the player is dealing with a first person shooter, which puts a lot of emphasis on the plot. During the game, we explore locations and eliminates the opponents. In addition to fighting a wide range of opponents, the game also requires solving simple logic puzzles.
In Black Mesa all enemy models known from the original were implemented, but changes were made to their artificial intelligence. In addition, the available weapons are also similar to the arsenal known from Half-Life. The player can use conventional and experimental weapons (based on alien technology), as well as the cult crowbar.
Game modes
Black Mesa offers both an extensive single-player feature campaign and a multiplayer mode, which allows you to fight against other users on maps known from Half-Life such as Bounce, Stalkyard or Undertow.
Technical aspects
Black Mesa takes full advantage of the Source Engine. The project did not use the original Half-Life code. This resulted in two thousand models, five thousand textures, more than two thousand sound effects, as well as new recordings of six and a half thousand dialog lines. A new soundtrack was also composed by Joel Nielsen.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
Videos and Screens
[1:45] Black Mesa first trailer
Attack of the Fanboy: 4.5 / 5 by Brandon Adams
Black Mesa may show its age in some areas, but that doesn't detract from what is an otherwise stunning achievement. It's not only Half Life at its best - it's one of the finest shooters available today.
PC Gamer: 84 / 100 by Andy Kelly
A quality remake that broadens the scope of the original and massively improves its final chapters.
IGN: 8 / 10 by Dan Stapleton
Black Mesa is the best way to play the classic original 1998 Half-Life today, but it's a remake that already feels old enough that it would benefit from a remake itself.
The main pros of the game
- Visual Upgrades: Players praise the stunning graphics and detailed environments, which significantly enhance the immersion compared to the original Half-Life.
- Gameplay Improvements: Enhanced mechanics, smoother controls, and improved enemy AI create a more engaging and dynamic combat experience.
- Faithful Remake: The game maintains the original story and atmosphere while adding new elements and areas, making it feel both familiar and fresh.
- Expanded Levels: The Xen levels, in particular, are highlighted for their beauty and depth, offering a richer experience than in the original game.
- Sound Design: The soundtrack and audio effects have been well-received, contributing to the overall atmosphere and immersion.
- Nostalgic Experience: Long-time fans of the franchise appreciate the homage to the original game, while newcomers find it an excellent introduction to the series.
The main cons of the game
- Technical Issues: Several players report crashes, particularly during intense moments or boss fights, which can disrupt the gaming experience.
- Pacing Problems: Some levels, especially in Xen, are described as lengthy and tedious, causing frustration for players.
- Minor Bugs: Issues like visual glitches and AI behavior inconsistencies have been noted, detracting from the overall polish of the game.
- Achievement Frustrations: Certain achievements, particularly those involving item escorting, are seen as tedious and not enjoyable to complete.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Interactivity with Environment: Players expressed a desire for more interactive elements within the game world to enhance immersion.
- Original Soundtrack Options: Some users missed the iconic sounds from the original Half-Life and wished for an option to toggle between the new and old audio.
- Streamlined Sections: While some levels were praised for their improvements, others felt that certain sections could have been better streamlined to enhance pacing.
- More Guidance: A few players noted that navigation in some areas could be confusing, suggesting that clearer cues or guidance would improve the experience.
Summary
- Overall, Black Mesa is celebrated as a remarkable remake that revitalizes a classic while also facing some criticism regarding technical issues and pacing.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 2497 votes. 282 players anticipated the game.
10
GAMES
in Half-Life Game Series
Game Series
Half-Life Series
A hugely popular series of first-person shooters (FPS) in science fiction climates. The series was created by Valve Software studio with support from Gearbox Software and Taito Corporation, among others.
10 video games
Black Mesa Summary
Early Access:May 5, 2015
Platforms:
PC Windows
Developer: Crowbar Collective
Publisher: Crowbar Collective
Age restrictions: 16+
Black Mesa System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Dual Core 2.4 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GTX 460 or better, 15 GB HDD, Windows Vista/7
Recommended: Quad Core 3.0 GHz, 6 GB RAM, graphic card 3 GB GeForce GTX 1060 or better, 15 GB HDD, Windows 7/8/10
This mod for Black Mesa lets you take on the role of the villains and come face to face with Gordon Freeman himself
Black Mesa: Military has finally seen the light of day. The fan-made mod, which has been in development since 2018, allows players to stand on the other side of the barricade and take on the role of one of Half-Life series protagonist Gordon Freeman's opponents.
Files and Mods
Adrian Werner
February 11, 2025
Half-Life Remake Devs Announce New Game. Mysterious Teaser Suggests Similarities to HL
Independent team Crowbar Collective is known for now only for Black Mesa, a remake of the original Half-Life. However, it will add another project to its portfolio in the near future.
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Kamil Kleszyk
February 27, 2024
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Fans Make Impressive Remakes of Half-Life DLC [Update: New Levels]
Half-Life DLCs have never lived to see official remakes, but fans are trying to fill the gap. One such project, based on Opposing Force, has just received a new version.
Files and Mods
Adrian Werner
August 20, 2023
Black Mesa: Blue Shift - Fan Remake of Half-Life DLC Gains New Missions
A new version of the Black Mesa: Blue Shift mod, a remake of the second Half-Life DLC, has been released. The update introduces the fourth chapter of the campaign.
Files and Mods
Adrian Werner
December 16, 2022
Black Mesa: Blue Shift - Half-Life: Blue Shift Remake in the Works
A team of experienced modders is creating a remake of the second story expansion for the original Half-Life. The project is being created as a mod for Black Mesa, released last March, and will build on its foundations.
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February 19, 2021
Black Mesa Reaches End of Development With Definitive Edition
The Definitive Edition patch for Black Mesa has been released. It brings many improvements and is the last big update for Half-Life's remake project.
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Adrian Werner
November 25, 2020
Black Mesa – Half-Life's Remake Launches Today
Today, the full version of Black Mesa, a remake of the classic FPS Half-Life, will officially launch on Steam. This will mark the end of almost five years of early access.
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Adrian Werner
March 5, 2020
Black Mesa - Fan-made Remake of Half-Life Scheduled to Leave Early Access
We know the exact release date of version 1.0 of Black Mesa. The fan-made remake of the iconic Half-Life will leave early access phase on Steam on March 5, this year.
video games
Milosz Szubert
February 25, 2020
Black Mesa 1.0 Beta Goes to Steam
Crowbar Collective has released the full version of Black Mesa in an open beta. If the tests are successful, the Half-Life remake will soon leave Steam's Early Access.
video games
Jacob Blazewicz
February 13, 2020
Black Mesa - Half-Life Remake Completed
Xen came to Black Mesa. Crowbar Collective released the complete version of Half-Life's remake yesterday. Nevertheless, it still has Early Access status, as the developers have plans for further development of the game; the devs have used the same opportunity to share the said plans with the community.
video games
Bart Woldanski
December 25, 2019