I thought that most of the environments were very nicely detailed, though some of the areas did look fairly generic. I really liked the way the buildings were snowed in and how the snow had fallen through the broken windows. The small details like that were what held my attention throughout the mod.

However, I found that the mod was generally too dark and I spent too much time waiting for the flash light to recharge. There was also the problem with the layout being too maze-like. I spent a lot of time wandering around lost not really knowing what I was meant to be doing. I also had the feeling that I may have passed a whole bunch of areas because of random path choices I made but the numerous diversions made it really hard to check everything out. Though, that’s probably more of a personal problem.

The combat was what disappointed me the most. I felt like it was tacked on as an after thought. Every corner felt like it had a headcrab around it and it just annoyed me by the end because it was so predictable and repetitive. Add to that the darkness, lack of ammo and health and it just became frustrating.

Overall, the visuals are nice, the puzzled were engaging but the combat was repetitive and annoying. If you don’t mind feeling lost or handling copious amounts of headcrab with the crowbar, then this mod has plenty of interesting things to see.

It’s unfortunate that the other parts of Boreality weren’t completed by the author, since this is a decent (albeit slow) start to what would be a larger mod. You only get 3 weapons throughout this pack, and the toughest enemies you face besides large fans are alien slaves. However it might be appealing to you to play though this pack with a survival horror mindset, since you’re barely armed and the enemies are sparse but will surprise you (damn screaming headcrabs!). So your best bet is the crowbar, which lets those little buggers too close sometimes since you’ll often be in tight areas.

The layout and mapping are pretty good, and the outside snowbound setting is well done, but the sewers are boring boring boring. The puzzles are fairly well done as well, especially the 2-fan area (although I also liked the ice barrier).

The maps aren’t really detailed, and overall they’re terribly dark and you’ll likely be relying on your flashlight for much of the time. There are also places you can get stuck, and one spot where I could jump to a place that wasn’t intended (in the outside portion about 3/4 of the way through the map pack, you can jump to the roof and bypass the entire map instead of solving the elevator puzzle).

So, overall? Some good, some bad. The technical quality of the mapping is high but the game flow and experience is ultimately a bit of a letdown.

P.S. As for puzzles, fan section was ok. But my favorite is elevator ‘puzzle’. That was fun!

The first part is a lot of exploring which seemed random with the impression that there where multiple routes. If you want weapons, ammo and health you really need to explore everywhere but don’t expect too many clues as where to go next in some parts of the game. As has happened a number of times in the 100 this could have been a good if not great game.

The look and feel for some of it was not too bad, but I nearly gave up at the hall of mirrors. I stopped at that level and wouldn’t have gone back to the game, until I read Phillips review, because I thought it was my set-up that was the problem. What action there was, was mainly headcrabs with some Vort’s and Bull squids but nothing really inspiring.

As the game stands I would have given it a PIL if the hall of mirrors effect hadn’t occurred but it did provide some fun.

There’s an office with a computer showing Half Life on the screen – press your ‘use’ key it should at least bring a smirk to your face.

Cold, snowy environments and house are good, but they are too dark, so exploring them is not fun. Constantly spawning headcrabs are annoying. The puzzle with fans is nice.

The design is average. I didn’t have enough health for swimming under the ice, so I had to cheat. Later there weren’t enough health and ammo.

The idea of cold place with snow avalanche and ice is nice, but annoying darkness and headcrabs spoil it.

It also has a bonus map which is not possible to complete without cheats. Looks like it’s some recondite puzzle, like Glitcherground map for Mirror’s Edge.

I wouldn’t be surprised if players top because they can’t find where they need to go.

In one of those levels I got serious Hall Of Mirrors effect and had to noclip (really, I couldn’t see more than one metre in front of me) to get to the next level.

There was a large fan area that could have been a a true WOW moment but it was pretty much wasted – just a few vortigaunts.

There was a great section with exploding containers that needed some planning, but that was pretty much the highlight.

There’s a bonus map if you choose to take it.

All in all, it was fun but too dark and maze-like.

Its really hard with the scarcity of everything and i like.

Howerver i do have a hard time figuring out where to go :/

If you are searching for a different experience (but very good one) I recommend you to check it out.

Review:
This map pack (10) was finished more than 6 years ago (only got released at the end of 2002).What is strange is that the author is really self-critical about is work (strange considering it’s good). OK, It fell perhaps through a good storyline but it shows us a really good mix between set pieces, design and gameplay (especially because I have the feeling that Erik really prepared every section before attempting to put his idea into Worldcraft).

The action takes place in a forgotten town that was cut off the world by a huge snow storm (some new experiment of the G-man?) You are there to clean up the first house (which is a replica of Erik’s house) from the alien invasion. The snow area with its special ambience sometimes reminds me of the movie “The Thing” a little frightening. You will find the classic alien enemies of Half-Life with a predilection for headcrab and alien slaves. They are always well placed and due to the fact that ammunition and health are limited you will need a lot of care to progress.

According to the design, it is for me above average. You don’t encounter a lot of hallways that usually make you go from a section to another. There is always a good organisation of rooms with, here and there, some personal touch from the author that really fits the ambience.. Puzzles are not complicated but are there to remind us that half-life is really a great game thanks to them.

Is there anything that could turn this add-on down? Perhaps: some areas are really confusing. Especially all the “lost passages” in the sewer maze section. Also most of the indoor sections really need the flashlight There is also a lack of health and ammo , not a huge diversity in weapons

But all this together really helps give us a good time of playing and add an other way of thinking to Gordon’s progression (think and look around before you attempt to do anything).

Conclusion:
Boreality part one is a good surprise and due to its good overall quality really needs to be played through. This pack’s gonna make you remember how Half-life is a great game. Hope part two will perhaps be digged out.