Comments on: Aggregate Pain – Half-Life http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/ Finishing Half-Life is just the beginning! Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:57:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Technic http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/comment-page-1/#comment-351898 Technic Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:34:38 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/#comment-351898 Poorly designed minimod with no real story, specials or anything exciting than hard combats, sorry.. Pro's: -Combat scenes -Lot of weapons but quite less ammo (except from dead soldiers) Con's: -No hev at start -Hard beginning, less health available during whole map -No story just blind fighting sequences -Partly unfair placed enemies -No puzzles -Bad level design, but this map is also very old -Hard difficulty -Bugs (Apache blowed itself up, lol? I even wasn't about to fight it with only 1 rocket and suddenly BOOM!!! WTF?) Poorly designed minimod with no real story, specials or anything exciting than hard combats, sorry..

Pro’s:
-Combat scenes
-Lot of weapons but quite less ammo (except from dead soldiers)

Con’s:
-No hev at start
-Hard beginning, less health available during whole map
-No story just blind fighting sequences
-Partly unfair placed enemies
-No puzzles
-Bad level design, but this map is also very old
-Hard difficulty
-Bugs (Apache blowed itself up, lol? I even wasn’t about to fight it with only 1 rocket and suddenly BOOM!!! WTF?)

]]> By: erc http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/comment-page-1/#comment-178531 erc Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:26:06 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/#comment-178531 Here's my AMC review, which was published back in 2003... Michael Sisk was one of the most productive authors of 1999. His first project; Sepulcher, which only consists of one level, was on the net just two months after the game's initial release. Although it was clearly a learning map for him, it gave us a promise for his upcoming episode. With Aggregate Pain, he shows his real talent. According to the author's alternate storyline; you, as Gordon Freeman, has just made it out alive while military was taking over the Black Mesa compound. Now you're a member of a newly founded organization and military is engineering a monster capable of mass destruction. Your mission is to sneak into the compund and destroy this monster - a gargantua to be exact. For a start, level design is absolutely better than Sepulcher and generally well thought out. The author created good looking visuals including both indoor and outdoor areas, while sticking to a certain theme and keeping the r_speeds under control. There are nice touches here and there - such as off the path areas which contain extra weapons and ammunition. The design is not without its errors though. Michael used point-based lighting from time to time without including light sources around - obviously, they don't look that good. He also used the env_glow entity way too many times. While this sprite gives a nice effect to the lights, using it all around just distracts the player. I also noticed a certain texture used as a liquid brush, although it's not meant to be. The game starts very good indeed: you'll see a grunt patrolling around your truck as the screen fades in - a cd track is also used here to set the mood. Even though you have to beat up this grunt with your crowbar, he's not looking straight at you (a la Ground Zero), so he won't be much of a problem. Parallel to the storyline, most of the combats are against grunts - though it seems that the situation is not under control yet, cause there are also some aliens roaming the corridors of Black Mesa. However, Aggregate Pain lacks some of the elements which make Half-Life levels differ from the others, namely - scripted sequences and puzzles. The combats could be much more enjoyable if only the author had included some interesting setups. Fortunately, it's still challenging thanks to the balanced item placement. As for the puzzles... Well, if you see pushing some buttons as puzzles to be solved, then there is a few included. Conclusion: Although it's already four years old and lacks some of the features most of the recent releases offer, it's still enjoyable with decent visuals and a few highlights. Recommended for a short but sweet experience, but not hope to find something fantastic. - 62% Here’s my AMC review, which was published back in 2003…

Michael Sisk was one of the most productive authors of 1999. His first project; Sepulcher, which only consists of one level, was on the net just two months after the game’s initial release. Although it was clearly a learning map for him, it gave us a promise for his upcoming episode. With Aggregate Pain, he shows his real talent.

According to the author’s alternate storyline; you, as Gordon Freeman, has just made it out alive while military was taking over the Black Mesa compound. Now you’re a member of a newly founded organization and military is engineering a monster capable of mass destruction. Your mission is to sneak into the compund and destroy this monster – a gargantua to be exact.

For a start, level design is absolutely better than Sepulcher and generally well thought out. The author created good looking visuals including both indoor and outdoor areas, while sticking to a certain theme and keeping the r_speeds under control. There are nice touches here and there – such as off the path areas which contain extra weapons and ammunition. The design is not without its errors though. Michael used point-based lighting from time to time without including light sources around – obviously, they don’t look that good. He also used the env_glow entity way too many times. While this sprite gives a nice effect to the lights, using it all around just distracts the player. I also noticed a certain texture used as a liquid brush, although it’s not meant to be.

The game starts very good indeed: you’ll see a grunt patrolling around your truck as the screen fades in – a cd track is also used here to set the mood. Even though you have to beat up this grunt with your crowbar, he’s not looking straight at you (a la Ground Zero), so he won’t be much of a problem. Parallel to the storyline, most of the combats are against grunts – though it seems that the situation is not under control yet, cause there are also some aliens roaming the corridors of Black Mesa. However, Aggregate Pain lacks some of the elements which make Half-Life levels differ from the others, namely – scripted sequences and puzzles. The combats could be much more enjoyable if only the author had included some interesting setups. Fortunately, it’s still challenging thanks to the balanced item placement. As for the puzzles… Well, if you see pushing some buttons as puzzles to be solved, then there is a few included.

Conclusion: Although it’s already four years old and lacks some of the features most of the recent releases offer, it’s still enjoyable with decent visuals and a few highlights. Recommended for a short but sweet experience, but not hope to find something fantastic. – 62%

]]> By: MacPhisto http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/comment-page-1/#comment-178528 MacPhisto Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:09:41 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/#comment-178528 Nice little map! Very good level design, quite challenging (save your explosives - you gonna need them!) and some nice ideas (I liked the beginning where you can do a little bit of stealth work to get past the guard). Very short - 15 to 30 minutes playtime, but worth the download! Nice little map! Very good level design, quite challenging (save your explosives – you gonna need them!) and some nice ideas (I liked the beginning where you can do a little bit of stealth work to get past the guard). Very short – 15 to 30 minutes playtime, but worth the download!
]]> By: Moonsorrow http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/comment-page-1/#comment-163346 Moonsorrow Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:11:49 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/#comment-163346 I couldn't play this mod cause it was impossible to see my health, ammo...Why???? I couldn’t play this mod cause it was impossible to see my health, ammo…Why????
]]> By: Michael Sisk http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/comment-page-1/#comment-153745 Michael Sisk Sun, 06 Apr 2008 05:48:30 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/#comment-153745 Holy Smokes! I can't believe people are still playing these few maps that I made. Man, looking back now, some of the shots look really silly. What's with the boxes hanging from poles, LOL! Holy Smokes! I can’t believe people are still playing these few maps that I made. Man, looking back now, some of the shots look really silly. What’s with the boxes hanging from poles, LOL!
]]> By: andrej http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/comment-page-1/#comment-150724 andrej Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:18:57 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/#comment-150724 wow this was short (whole game is in the screenshots :) ) but fun and enjoyable lol :) :) :) :) :) wow this was short (whole game is in the screenshots :) ) but fun and enjoyable

lol :) :) :) :) :)

]]> By: HL Masta http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/comment-page-1/#comment-126537 HL Masta Fri, 23 Nov 2007 15:53:09 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/#comment-126537 I started on Reconnaissance, but i wondered how this looks like... And not to forget: Add this to your blog, Stef! (If you like it) I started on Reconnaissance, but i wondered how this looks like…
And not to forget: Add this to your blog, Stef! (If you like it)
]]> By: Gilfrarry http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/comment-page-1/#comment-106307 Gilfrarry Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:11:49 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/#comment-106307 <blockquote> What is its sequel?</blockquote> I found it - it's <a href="/posts/reconnaissance-half-life/">Reconnaissance</a>.

What is its sequel?

I found it – it’s Reconnaissance.

]]> By: Gilfrarry http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/comment-page-1/#comment-100167 Gilfrarry Sun, 16 Sep 2007 06:19:58 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/#comment-100167 <blockquote> I'll be playing and updating it's sequel tomorrrow. </blockquote> What is its sequel?

I’ll be playing and updating it’s sequel tomorrrow.

What is its sequel?

]]> By: bkadar http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/comment-page-1/#comment-98657 bkadar Tue, 11 Sep 2007 01:35:23 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/#comment-98657 another fun one. good for the lunch break.don't for get the save button. another fun one. good for the lunch break.don’t for get the save button.
]]> By: AI http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/comment-page-1/#comment-98445 AI Sun, 09 Sep 2007 23:10:23 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/#comment-98445 When I DL'd this one, I'd forgotten I already had it in my collection! But anyway, second time around it played very well, all ya had to do is get the H suit and everything worked fine and the music was well done! I like these older maps (99). All in all, When I DL’d this one, I’d forgotten I already had it in my collection! But anyway, second time around it played very well, all ya had to do is get the H suit and everything worked fine and the music was well done! I like these older maps (99).
All in all,
]]> By: planetphillip http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/comment-page-1/#comment-98414 planetphillip Sun, 09 Sep 2007 19:31:16 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/#comment-98414 I've updated this post with all the details and plenty of screenshots. More importantly the file is now Steam compatible.It's the first time I played this small set of maps and I really enjoyed, nice variety of environments and some interesting routing. For such a small file size it packs a nice punch! I'll be playing and updating it's sequel tomorrrow. My Recommendation I’ve updated this post with all the details and plenty of screenshots. More importantly the file is now Steam compatible.It’s the first time I played this small set of maps and I really enjoyed, nice variety of environments and some interesting routing.

For such a small file size it packs a nice punch!

I’ll be playing and updating it’s sequel tomorrrow.

My Recommendation

]]> By: shawn http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/comment-page-1/#comment-77384 shawn Mon, 04 Jun 2007 05:54:19 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/aggregate-pain-half-life/#comment-77384 Why make a mod available for download when you haven't even gotten the weapon changes right? Please don't waste our time with these kinds of unplayable mods. Why make a mod available for download when you haven’t even gotten the weapon changes right? Please don’t waste our time with these kinds of unplayable mods.
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