Half Life - 25(ish) Single Player Mods

Mods I've not covered in this video (and why): - Absolute Redemption (which has some great and unique locations but also has some VERY questionable level design in others – looking at you, Geusetelli's) - Afraid of Monsters and its Director's Cut (which lean heavily into horror but suffer from poor combat, frustrating enemies and WAY too much backtracking – not to mention the DC has one ending split over three different paths, basically making you replay the game 3 times to see the whole thing) - Azure Sheep (which is NOT better than Blue Shift, largely due to the absurd story, overly padded and confusing level design and the fact the second half is a bloomin' escort quest) - Brutal Half-Life (which is impressive but feels VERY out of place with Half-Life's original design) - Cry of Fear (which is stand-alone on Steam and a pretty impressive horror game, but also suffers from confusing level design and the old “multiple endings” thing I'm not a big fan of) - Heart of Evil (shocking impressive, but has confusing level design, fiddly puzzles and is another mod that's mostly an escort quest... along with the author deliberately asking ModDB to remove the mod, so if he doesn't want it there, I won't advertise it) - HL: Zombie Edition (which is unique and interesting, but also ends before you really get a chance to properly explore everything it does) - Peaces Like Us (weird and unique but also frequently confusing and awkward to play) - Point of View (fun for a bit but the repetitiveness of the charge attack gets old REAL quick, and the level design issues and silly plot of Azure Sheep return with a vengeance) - Sweet Half-Life (ambitious but overlong, with bizarre design choices and pretty unbalanced combat... especially if you choose to go on the alien ship) - The Timeline trilogy (hugely ambitious and long mods, but the level design can be confusing and clunky, the combat can be a bit too challenging, and they're almost TOO long) - Todesangst 1 & 2 (the first isn't actually all that great mapping wise, the second is very unfocused and has some hilariously bad voice acting, and both have utterly ridiculous plots that don't make a lick of sense) - USS Darkstar (basically throws everything but the kitchen sink in, resulting in a fun but tonally inconsistent mod that lacks any real sense of flow) - Wanted! The Western Mod for Half-Life (a technically impressive total conversion that suffers from extremely difficult combat and way too many maze-like levels that are super easy to get lost in).

Hey, I'm the creator behind HL: Sum. Great video! Just wanted to say I appreciate the kind words and the fact that you included Sum and not the individual mods since I made a bunch of improvements for all three mods since their original release. So essentially Sum is the superior one if you want to play through the trilogy.

Thank you very much for the praise for Echoes, I am still floored that people are still enjoying it. :) It feels like I released it a life time ago and I cannot believe it has been 25 years since Half-Life came out! Here's hoping mods will work with the new update again soon without needing to revert to an older version branch!

this video is a goldmine for anyone looking to explore tha amazing world of HL mods. make more single player mods lists for other games too.

My thoughts on each Mod: Back-Life: Never played this one but heard of it, seems like a good challenge Decay Singularity: Currently been playing this one as I’ve never played Decay before, it’s a pretty solid experience and Lymphoid did a good job porting it. I’m not too keen on the way the levels are set out as “missions” where you lose your weapons at the end of each level and then are given them back, doesn’t seem very Half-Like (ba dum tss) although I get why it was a thing, given that it was made for two players initially. Gunman Chronicles: A shameful secret of mine as a HL Mod obsessive is that I have never actually finished this classic! What I played of it was quite a lot though and it was amazing! One of the best TCs by far! Induction: Never played this one, doesn’t interest me but the Maps are very nicely made. Uplinked: Another great Mod I started but didn’t finish, very good though. Black Ops: A personal favourite of mine. I’m a sucker for Mods based in urban/city locations and this one is a masterclass. Caged: Great TC, made even better with the Re-Caged addon which makes the weapons even more fun to use! Chemical Existence: One of the first TCs ever made and one of the most underrated Mods. Has aged a bit poorly but it is still a very fun, unique and impressive Mod especially for being one of the first. A personal favourite of mine. Cleaner’s Adventures: I played this one a long time ago but I didn’t really like it, it’s quite forgettable although I did like some aspects of it. I also struggled with that elevator and just cheated with sv_gravity to get past it. Collins Trilogy: I never finished Operation Rosenberg because of the crappy level design. I haven’t finished Operation Rift either but what I played of it was very good, especially the level design and pretty looking maps, nearly a TC. I have however finished Dark Future and it was great, a very solid HL1 based TC! Delta: Amazing TC, great level designs and I especially love the weapons and their satisfying sounds. Echoes: One of the best Mods ever made, need I say more? Field Intensity: Haven’t finished this one yet, but it is simply amazing. Focalpoint: Some of the most impressive mapping and brushwork I’ve ever seen in a Mod. I really loved this Mod, great puzzles and combat. The final set piece is especially awesome. Halfquake Trilogy: Only played the first Halfquake and it’s an awesome TC, the sequels look even cooler, will definitely try ‘em some day. Half-Rats: Never finished the first Mod; wasn’t particularly keen on the gameplay. Parasomnia looks much better though. Both Mods have very good Map design and they do feel like TCs. However I have also completed the demo of this dude’s other Mod, Redridge, and I found that to be a bit frustrating despite the fact it was well made. And yes, Cthulhu is a simply terrible Mod. Invasion: Mod I have not finished playing yet, however it is a very impressive and fun Mod. Nearly a TC! Night at the Office: I almost never finished this one as on my first time playing it, I got softlocked pretty far into the Mod. Overall, it’s okay. Operation Black Thunder: Completed this one ages ago, a very interesting and lengthy Mod which did feel like a proper adventure. However, the ending was by far one of the weirdest endings I’ve ever seen in a Mod. Paranoia: Completed the first one ages ago and it was very good, one of the most high quality TCs ever made that it could be its own standalone game (which you could argue it is given that it has a standalone Xash3D port). Never played the sequel but it looks amazing. Poke646: These two Mods are by far some of my favourites of all time! I definitely prefer the first Mod to the second, but they are both simply amazing. Project Quantum Leap/Issues/Reissues: I have never played Issues however I have played (but not finished) PQL and Reissues. Very good Mods so far with a lot of interesting variety. I love the collaborative premise too. White Force/Residual Point/Residual Life: Residual Point is very great, certainly one of my favourites. As for Residual Life, I’ve completed most of its endings and found the secrets, aside from the “Tiny Dwarf” one that is which is the longest route. I will probably never finish it because it is bloody stressful! Slimy Situation: Never played but it looks amazing! Sum: Forsete is by far one of the best mappers in the HL community, beautiful brushwork and use of textures and scale. Their other Mod, Urbicide, is by far one of my biggest personal favourites! The Gate: Never finished this Mod as it broke on me! Not only that, but the level design was incredibly stressful and unfair which is a shame because the maps are really impressive. I appreciate the ambition though. Also, the drill sergeant who appears at your house at the start is the same voice actor who played Barney from Heart of Evil. “I had to, he said he wouldn’t be my friend if I didn’t. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.” The Trap: Not finished this Mod yet but it is a great TC. Also, I think that Hazardous Course Mod is boring. They Hunger: BEST. MOD. EVER… Okay, maybe not, but certainly my personal favourite. TWHL Tower: Started but never finished the first Mod, I need to though as I enjoyed what I played, and the sequel seems even better! Xen Warrior: I’ve played both this and the HL Chronicles Mod. I personally dislike this Mod, as I didn’t really feel like an Alien Grunt when playing this Mod as the Maps were not made with the intention that the player would be one. I think Point of View and Zombie Edition did it better. Overall, give yourself a pat on the back; this is a great, comprehensive video! However, I have a question: have you ever played Riot In Progress? It’s a very old TC and by far the hardest Mod I have ever played. I’ve beaten it 4 times and I have a love/hate relationship with it, so I was wondering what you would think about it if you have ever played it.

Hello CMadisun, you made a very good video with excellent explanation... It's very crazy how 25 years can change how gldsrc mods advance...

That's a beautiful video. I've been loving the half life community for years and playing the content. And didn't know some of these mods up until now, thank you.

Wow, this is top-notch quality content right here! Congratulations! And I hope that the YouTube algorithm blesses your video's reach!

Excellent video, after having played the three mainline games it's nice to see that I was recommended this video. Was glad to see a good amount of mods I have already played and enjoyed and plenty more that I'd like to play in the future. I also enjoyed how you included brief history surrounding a mods development which was a great addition.

Thank you for mentioning Halfquake!

Thanks for the video! I just finished playing through Back-Life today and I can't wait to play other Half-Life mods!

So many memories and new MODS I didn't know ! thanks

Great showcase, thanks. I'll definitely be checking a few of these out. Only one I've played is the They Hunger trilogy. Played it back in the day when it was put on the PC Gamer coverdisks. Yeah I'm that old. I remember PC Gamer making a big deal promoting it, pretty wild for a mod back then.

Loved this video. I remember Absolute Redemption and Wanted coming on my retail Counter-Strike CD back in the day and I remember installing them way back when but I don't remember actually playing them. Well I have been on a Half-Life kick and I played them over the past couple of weeks and let me tell you I agree that they don't belong on any lists of "good" Half-Life mods, lol. I mean absolute credit to Maverick Developments for doing their thing back in the day but Redemption feels like a showcase of things the team wanted to try, and while it is fun in a lot of parts, it just isn't a polished gameplay experience. And Wanted! - yes reading your other comment - Wanted has waaaaaaaay too many sections that are just long and mazelike and ammo is WAY too scarce, I mean the NPCs who use guns dont even drop ammo for gods sake! Plus the depiction of Native Americans... even for 2000/2001 was probably a bit "dated" even then. That said I think another video of more mods, especially a list early mods including others you named like Azure Sheep and Point of View and USS Darkstar deserve a video not because they are good but to talk about how they paved the way for bigger and better mods

I love to Uriel, Echoes, Delta, and Sum alot.

Mods like Echoes and Field intensity are my favourites. Generally mods that take place in Black Mesa are the most fun for me. Can you guys recommend me some more?

And how 'bout the "Dark Star" mod? As for me, it's one of the best as well.

Hey I just wanted to ask if you had interest in taking another franchise and their copycats like you did with Indiana Jones or do you have any plans to release a sixth part?

Wondering what your views are of MMod?

Sadly didn't have any fun with CAGED, it leans way to much on having to corner and cheese the already bulletsponge soldeirs from HL, which forced me to savescum a lot in frustration. However, Echos is awesome and it does push the engine further, a gem.