The original Half Life gets a source makeover.
If you’re a PC gamer, or even if you’re not normally one, and you’re looking for a free game that you can really sink your teeth into; I have just the thing for you. You may have heard of a little series called Half Life which, way back in 1998, was released by a small company called Valve. Little did they know (or maybe they did know), that this game would recruit legions of fans to their banner and serve as one of the catalysts that would launch the Steam game distribution platform.
So, since this is the Free Game Spotlight, you might be thinking that I’m going to tell you Valve is giving away Half Life for free. Not exactly; meet Black Mesa Source, a fan project that has been in the works for a long time with the goal of remaking Half Life. Using the Source game engine, the same engine Valve used to make Half Life 2 and many other popular titles, the developers behind the Black Mesa Project have rebuilt Half Life from the ground up.
Black Mesa Source uses an all new sound track, and voice acting, to set the tone in this creepy first person shooter that I, personally, would classify as a survival horror game more than any other genre. You’ll be playing the role of Gordon Freeman, a research scientist working in a secret underground facility called Black Mesa. One of the experiments you’re working on goes awry and strange creatures begin attacking the facility and its researchers. Freeman must fight his way to the surface, using what weapons and equipment he comes across, and figure out just what is happening at the Black Mesa Research Facility.
The Black Mesa Project has made the game available, for free, by direct download ahead of its upcoming release on the Steam platform. Black Mesa Source is a lengthy, engaging and challenging first person shooter that has a surprisingly professional level of quality for a fan project. The world of Half Life has been lovingly recreated with more modern graphics in a way that will please long-time fans newcomers alike.
Developer: Black mesa Project
Release Date: September 14th, 2012
Age Rating: Not Rated
Available On: Direct Download / Coming soon to Steam
