Overview
This article focuses largerly on the major and important changes introduced in Black Mesa, since there’s a large number of changes and covering them might take forever.
Notable Differences
- Levels were remade entirely from Scratch, using new assets Making them generally better looking.
- Added Screen tilt similar to CD-Retail version of Half-Life.
- High quality models with higher poly count for every object, enemy, ally … etc
- New Weapons models.
- New First time weapon Pick-up animations.
- Higher Quality textures made entirely from Scratch.
- Improved character dialogues and all new voice acting.
- All new sound effects.
- New and original Music.
- Blood and Hazards can splatter on your viewmodel (hands and weapons) [Disabled in the latest version].
- Hazards can splatter on enemies and allies [Disabled in the latest version].
- Improved physics.
- Improved visuals and water effects.
Multiplayer changes
- Multiplayer character customizer, allowing players to modify their skin attributes
- Multiplayer hand model will change depending on the character you select (Scientist hands, HEV Gloves or H.E.C.U Gloves or G-Man Suit).
- New Multiplayer announcer system.
- Multiplayer Character-specific pain and death sounds.
- Multiplayer Top 3 Players medals.
Weapon differences
- Hand grenades now have an alternate fire mode.
- The Shotgun takes longer to reload.
- The Shotgun crosshair is bigger.
- The Shotgun has been modified to be less effective on far targets.
- Tau Cannon has no Kick back in Singleplayer.
- Unlike the original Half-Life, Tau Cannon shots cannot penetrate through walls.
- Snarks don’t jump while chasing a Player.
- Snarks don’t chase the owner in Multiplayer.
- Glock 17 Max ammo Reduced from 250 to 150.
- .357 Magnum Max ammo Reduced from 36 to 12.
- MP5 Max ammo per clip has been reduced from 50 to 30.
- MP5 Max bullets Reduced from 250 to 150.
- MP5 Max Grenades Reduced from 10 to 3.
- SPAS-12 Shotgun Max shells Reduced from 125 to 64.
- Crossbow Max ammo Reduced from 50 to 10.
- RPG Max Rockets raised from 5 to 6.
- Tripmine Max Raised from 5 to 6..
- Crossbow Reload time increased.
Gameplay changes
- Semi-automated crouching for mid-air jumps, similar to Half-Life 2.
- Semi-automated Ladder climbing, Players can only move up-down and press use or jump to dismount (Not applied to Multiplayer).
- a “Sprint Mechanic” was added, but with unlimited Stamina.
- Long jump module can now be activated by simply pressing jump button mid-air instead of crouching then pressing jump button.
AI Differences
- Headcrabs can now be killed with a single Crowbar hit.
- HECU Soldiers act more like Combine soldiers and they follow a similar Squad behavior.
- Bullsquids can no longer be distracted using meat gibs or dead Headcrabs.
- Allies don’t react to getting hit by enemies unless they’re facing them.
- Unlike the original game, Female Assassins don’t investigate noise locations.
- Tentacles no longer seem to enter their idle state when not hearing anything, and their attacks seem randomized forcing the player to throw more grenades to make sure they’re distracted.
Level design changes
- We got Hostiles indoor storage rooms and outdoor area were expanded to be larger, Forcing the player to slow down and take cover more often.
- Removed the Rotating platform / lift challenge in the power generator room of Blast pit.
- Surface Tension outdoor areas were expanded to be larger, Forcing the player to slow down and take cover more often.
- On a Rail received a major re-design, players are no longer required to shoot arrows to change the railing direction, in addition, some of the areas were cut to make the level slightly shorter.
- a new gimmick was introduced in On a Rail in the rocket section that leads to surface again, it involves disabling the lock-mechanism to prepare the Rocket for release.
- The outdoor section of On a Rail was expanded to be larger, Forcing the player to slow down and take cover more often.
Engine Improvements
- Black Mesa uses a newer version of Source engine, Unlike Half-Life 2 includes more advanced particle effects, hardware-accelerated facial animation, Cascade shadows, and support for multi-core processor rendering among other improvements.
Differences between Steam and Free version of Black Mesa.
If you want to know the differences between the Steam and the Free version of the game, Visit the Next thread to review a list of changes and new features.
Black Mesa Steam vs Free version.