BTW, I love your site, haven’t been there in a while.

Edited by andyb.-watch the language

The gameplay is enjoyable, with well balanced difficulty and pacing. The ending is very unique. I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say that the… ‘unique equipment’ you’re able to procure suddenly makes Striders a lot less fearsome.

Overall not a bad mod…but I can’t put it up there with City7: Toronto Conflict, Combine Destiny, or MINERVA: Metastasis, to name a few. Outside of those, not a bad mod.

Just my two cents

Anyway, I love this mod because it’s just the kind of mod I like. Mostly indoors, with a Black Mesa feel. Plenty of action and lots of twists and turns. There’s just the right amount of enemies in each section adn also the right amount of “Find a button to open this door” type gameplay.

The ending is very cool too. I just wish there was one really thoughtful puzzle involved.

YOU MUST PLAY THIS MOD!

On this occasion, I played through the game on easy mode. I don’t think it matters much between easy and normal mode, as I remember getting through it when it was first released on normal level without too much trouble combat wise. That’s not to say you won’t encounter a number of other difficulties along the way. I had no technical issues with it and the display was very smooth.

If, like me, you enjoy exploring and wandering down alternative routes, then you will find the first two levels of Das Roboss have plenty to offer the wandering soul.

These first two maps have a fairly complex layout which must have involved a lot of pre-planning and hand mapping before entering the world of software. We are faced with seemingly alternative routes at every junction. They all lead somewhere with the player finishing up where he should be. The worst that can happen is finishing up where you started, so this is an interesting layout which offers the player alternative paths that enrich both content and gameplay.

The whole game consists of 3 maps and is contained solely within industrial layouts. Some may say that this restricts the gameplay giving the player only a grey and drab environment, but this must be seen against the storyline, and where would any one expect the Combine to build their future terror weapons? In the middle of a sports arena! You will face mostly Combine troops including the elite core plus a scattering of headcrabs, zombies and scanners, with antilion supplying cannon fodder. One memorable encounter takes place against the ‘Antilion Guard’, this being an extremely well thought out sequence which played better than the original HL2 encounter. I played the chase sequence through a couple of times just for both the hell of it, and also to see what was the most effective way of killing it. However, you need to find that out yourself.

The 3 maps are well linked although the gameplay in each is different, with the first map being the journey, the second is the search and the third is the kill. The second map gave me the most problems, being difficult at first to find your way around not knowing what the objective was. You will get lost and circle around a few times but the essence of this level is to both work out and find, what makes that generator work, and thats the only hint I am giving away, ever. The third and last map is without doubt the most unique piece of HL2 custom design so far seen, and that is all I am going to say on that subject

Overall the set design is good if not that varied, being mostly industrial areas and building complexes with much of the action taking place in corridors, stair wells and open rooms. The player is afforded plenty of space and the action is never cramped or squeezed in any way.

As previously mentioned much planning must have gone into the layout to create a complex pattern of paths through maps 1 and 2 and the authors deserve lots of credit. The texture and attention to detail is good throughout, without noticing much in the way of new stuff. The architecture does not open up and come alive until the final map with unique settings and gameplay on a grand scale. Plenty of new stuff here but you may not get the chance to admire the scenery.

Negatives:
None that matter.

Positives:
Just one – the whole game from beginning to end

Conclusion:
One of the best HL2 custom games to date. Whether you are talking mods or mappacks, it’s nice to have a release that gives the player a complete story and game. There are too many bits of games and non-complete HL2 stuff around these days. This game is a great example of how to mix plenty of action with a story line that has lots of navigating, exploring, searching and task solving. For me that means great balance of gameplay.

Thanks to the author, Please give us more.

Only after finishing (on god mode, since by map 3, I’d had enough), I discovered that the map author has his own walkthrough!

Indeed, the author’s description says that it is “difficult.” But it goes on to say “If you don’t want to be frustrated you will probably like Easy mode.” Easy mode is no solution when you’ve no idea what to do, and you’ve been around the entire map 300 times.

Too easy is bad, but too hard is equally undesirable. Actually, AFAIC, it’s worse. If a game is too easy, at worst you’ll be bored. Too hard, though, and you’ll be bored and frustrated.

Gameplay:
he map series is very action packed in a smooth, controlled way without there being too many enemies, which is balanced well. Ammo is very balanced with enough around. Health can be sparse in some areas, but there is plenty when you get further. Theres a lot of fun throughout the series with some nice ideas and gameplay elements, like the batteries for the generator or driving the mech that “makes striders look like daddy long legs” which is indeed true.

Design:
Top quality with a lot of brushwork details. This map doesn’t over use props which is really good. Rooms are not flat and have very good texturing, and well picked textures. Lighting is really good too. Outside locations are really good too, displacements are well made and look realistic. Coloured lighting works well and don’t go over the top either.

Conclusion:
One of the best map series for Half Life 2, really recommend you play this one.