Game: Black Mesa

Black Mesa

Black Mesa is a re-envisioning of Valve Software's classic science fiction first person shooter, Half-Life. Powered by Source Engine, You will re-visit the inaugural role of Gordon Freeman and his memorable journey through the Black Mesa Research Facility. Expect detailed environments to explore, a huge cast of characters and experimental weaponry. All-new music, voice acting, choreography and added dialogue give way to a more expansive and immersive experience than ever before.

8.8

Release date: 3/6/2020

Storyline

The plot of Black Mesa is almost identical to Half-Life's storyline, playable through the "Lambda Core" chapter. As in the original game, the player controls Gordon Freeman, a scientist working at the Black Mesa Research Facility. He is tasked to place a sample of a strange material into an electromagnetic instrument, using the Hazardous Environment Suit Mark IV to do so safely. However, the sample material causes a "resonance cascade", devastating the facility and creating an interdimensional rift to an alien dimension called Xen, bringing its alien creatures to Earth. Freeman survives, finds other survivors, and makes his way to the surface with the protection of his hazard suit to get help. Upon reaching the surface, however, he finds that the facility is being cleansed of any living thing - human or alien - by armed forces. From other scientists, Freeman finds the only way to stop the alien invasion is to cross over to Xen and destroy the entity holding the portal open.

Genres

Shooter, Platform, Adventure, Indie

Platforms

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows)

Game Modes

Single player, Multiplayer

Player Perspectives

First person

Companies

Crowbar Collective

Themes

Action, Science fiction, Warfare

Keywords

aliens, assassin, bloody, military, total conversion, steam, steam trading cards, conspiracy, teleportation, silent protagonist, swimming, steam greenlight, alien invasion, one-man army, steam achievements, digital distribution, steam cloud, pre-release public testing, polygonal 3d, pop culture reference, cameo appearance, color separation, non-player character, ragdoll physics, environmental puzzles, a.i. companion, self-referential humor, inconvenient malfunction, rock music, interactive environments, been here before, game with chapters, mod origin, fan service, severed limbs, environment as weapons, novint falcon support, fangame