JohnnyTheWolf on 19/1/2009 at 22:10
Quote Posted by dethtoll
Aside from the fact that you should go buy the Episodes, you either got a very early buggy version or you tried to play it on a shitbox. Either way saying "what's so great about Minerva" when you haven't even played the entire damn thing properly is amount to saying "I'm pretty sure the moon landing was faked." gg nextmap
Dethtoll, as kind and understanding as ever.
Anyway, yeah, I know I should definitely own an expansion pack that's insanely short and barely adds anything to the original game in order to play a single map. What was I thinking? I already made that mistake before, by ordering HL1 Platinum Collection instead of Blue Shift alone.
Sarcasms aside, it seems that I wasn't clear enough when I wrote "I'm not saying that it's bad". Indeed, Minerva Ep 1 wasn't bad at all but it just felt like some bonus level for HL2, you know, really nothing to write home about. Hence why I'm asking what's so great about it so I could, you know, understand you people and, why not, boost my interest.
Instead, I'm getting some nerdy answer drawing parallels with moon landing. wtf
Aerothorn on 19/1/2009 at 22:38
Quote Posted by henke
oh my god
OH MY GOD
I can't believe I haven't heard about this before now. Especially considering how much it reminds of TTLG darlings NOLF and Psychonauts(to the artstyle). Just too damn short. I hope they're making a sequel.
I would argue that its shortness is integral to the gameplay. This is fleshed out more (
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/01/06/we-are-spies-we-will-thrill-you-gravity-bone/) here, though be warned that THERE LIES SPOILERS for people who haven't played it.
As far as other linked things go, much appreciated (though I feel I don't have enough of an appreciation for classic shooters to try the ZDoom stuff).
Are there any mods that either have a really good story or do something very different from the norm? I've been suffering from severe gaming fatique, and I've got plenty of perfectly good games that I can't bear to finish simply because I feel like I've played them before (Crysis, I'm looking at you).
june gloom on 19/1/2009 at 22:38
JohnnytheWolf, as witty and intelligent as ever.
First of all, define insanely short because you get at least 4-5 hours out of each episode, and it's not like you're paying $50 for 'em. They take the best parts of HL2 and add more.
Secondly, NNNYEAARRRROWWWWMMMMMMM
I just explained to you why your opinion is invalid- you're judging Minerva based on an apparently broken version of the first map (of four.)
I mean sure it's the same HL2 gameplay we all know, but you completely missed out on the little story touches that make it special.
Also, unintelligent people and the terminally deranged seem to think the moon landing was faked. I think you can see where I'm going with this.
Angel Dust on 19/1/2009 at 23:21
What's all this talk of 4-5 hours each episode and paying for them? I assume that Metastasis is one episode then and that means there are others that you pay for? A quick search doesn't reveal anything except that Adam Foster is working on the next part at the moment.
I played the entirety of Metastasis and was not that impressed. It was certainly well made but I got bored of the bland interiors, I realise the Citadel interiors are supposed to be bland but in HL2 they where used more sparingly and not until the end which meant the contrast had impact, and dull combine soldier combat, which only works in HL2 because of set pieces like the White Forest Inn. I found the story to be good but the storytelling itself unengaging. This is of course not really Foster's fault, he can hardly be expected to have Valve level storytelling, but I think a voice for MINERVA would have good a long way.
Despite all that I can see the skill the guy has for level design and I will definitely check out anything else he does. Although doesn't he work for Valve now?
june gloom on 20/1/2009 at 00:00
You misread, I was referring to the official HL2 episodes.
Volitions Advocate on 20/1/2009 at 02:29
What makes metastasis so groundbreaking is the mapping imo.
each episode of minerva was one map. He uses every square unit of space and the maps aren't so much massive as they are efficient. There's virtually no dead spots. Which demands the need for rather ingenius level design that is well thought out in advance. If you see a place.. ever. the chance is you will be standing there at some point. Even if it seems like you may never. like with so many linear fps shooters.
Volitions Advocate on 20/1/2009 at 02:33
Are there any Build Engine Source ports?
I'm gonna google it myself i just though I'd ask.
june gloom on 20/1/2009 at 02:42
Try (
http://eduke32.com/) EDuke, it's the only one still updated. Unfortunately Duke3D is the only Build game supported to my knowledge. JonoF's source port supports Shadow Warrior but it's incomplete and buggy and hasn't been updated in years.
icemann on 20/1/2009 at 04:54
Halflife and Halflife 2 definately have some of the best singleplayer mods I`ve ever played. Heres some not already mentioned that are worth a mention:
Get a Life - This one starts off alittle strange with absolutely no action at all going on, and then all of a sudden becomes a huge zombie fest, And then gets even better after that. Awesome final boss battle in Antarctica. This mod even has elements of the Evil Dead movies in there. Has a custom GUI, a bleeding system (as in if you get hurt seriously enough you bleed and need to bandage up otherwise you bleed to death), and superb level design. Highly recommend this one. This one will take you a few days to beat so be warned. Has ALOT of levels.
Mistake -1 - Prequel to the survival horror mod Mistake. Has some really freaky ass shit going on in it. Had me jumping a few times, and I dont jump much from scares in games nowadays. Few hours worth of gameplay.
june gloom on 20/1/2009 at 05:05
Get A Life is very, very boring, with the exception of the zombie rampage in the church. Level design is less than stellar, too.
