Quick Links
It wouldn’t be an outlandish statement to say thatHalf-Lifeis one of the most iconic series in gaming. However, beingmore than two decades oldhas certainly pushed the title out of many players’ minds. There is an entire generation of gamers who have never played any of the games in the series.
With thelatest update toHalf-Life 2, many of you might be considering diving into the series but are unsure about the originalHalf-Lifeand the supposed remake,Black Mesa. The guide below will clarify the differences and help you decide which game you should play.
What Is Half-Life 1?
When fans mentionHalf-Life 1, they’re referring to the original game released in 1998. Despite being over 25 years old, the game hasreceived multiple updatesthat brought new features, fixed bugs, and much more. The original game also has two single-player expansions:Opposing Force and Blue Shift. These were not developed by Valve but by Gearbox Software. While both expansions are considered canon, they aren’t necessarily preludes to the sequel, though many hardcore fans will recommend playing them.
PurchasingHalf-Life 1doesn’t grant access to these expansions;they must be bought separately. They’re usually quite affordable, with current sales offering them for less than a dollar, so it’s worth picking them up if you’re interested.
There’s alsoHalf-Life: Source, a remastered version released in 2004. However, it has numerous issues and was eventually delisted from Steam. It’s better to stick with the original game rather than playingHalf-Life: Source.
What Is Black Mesa?
Black Mesais a fan-made remake developed by Crowbar Collective and released in 2020. While it wasn’t made by Valve, the remake received Valve’s approval for release as a commercial product, meaning you can safely purchase it without worrying about it being delisted or losing access to it.
The fan-made remake has received critical acclaim from fans and is considered a major improvement over the original game. Developed using the Source Engine, it features superior graphics, a working multiplayer mode, new missions, and much more. However, there is one significant limitation: the remake only includes the base game and not the two expansions. That said, there are ways to experience portions of those expansions.
HECU Collective
The HECU Collective is working on afree mod forBlack Mesathat remakes Blue Shift, with Chapter 5 of the DLC recently released and the final three levels currently in development
Tripmine Studios
Another developer, Tripmine Studios (not to be confused with Tripwire Interactive, the creators of theKilling Floorseries), is working on a separate project calledOperation: Black Mesa, which is a remake of both Opposing Force and Blue Shift. Unfortunately, there is no release date yet, so you may be waiting for a while before that becomes available.
Should You Play Black Mesa or Half-Life 1?
Which version you choose to play depends entirely on the type of gamer you are. If you prefer the original, developer-intended experience, then the OGHalf-Lifeis the way to go. However, if you want the best visuals and don’t mind some changes from the original game,Black Mesais the better choice.
Community Recommendation
TheHalf-Lifecommunitygenerally recommendsBlack Mesafor new players due to its modern enhancements. However, keep in mind that playing the expansions withBlack Mesacan be a bit tricky due to their limited availability in the remake.
What To Play After Half-Life 1/Black Mesa?
More Half-Life Games
Once you’re finished withBlack Mesa(orHalf-Life 1), it’s time to explore the two expansions. IfBlack Mesafans prefer to skip them, thenext step is Half-Life 2. After completing it, you’re able to dive into the twoHalf-Life 2expansions:Episode 1 and Episode 2.
But your journey through theHalf-Lifeseries doesn’t end there. Once you’ve completed all the classic games, it’s time to experienceHalf-Life: Alyx. Keep in mind that this is a VR-only game, so you’ll need acompatible VR setupto play it.
Additionally, you can explore thecountless incredible modscreated forHalf-Life 1,Half-Life 2, andBlack Mesa, giving you even more ways to enjoy these iconic games and sink extra hours into the series.
More Valve Games
If you’re hungry for even more Valve goodness, there’s plenty to explore. The twoPortalgames, theTeam Fortressseries,Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, andDOTA 2are all waiting to capture your attention. There’s also a game calledArtifact, butnobody talks about that one.
