Black Mesa

Black Mesa is a project made out of passion and that can easily be seen throughout the entire playthrough, being çovingly crafted to keep the core and the spirit of the original game alive while also fixing some of its shortcomings. Being fans of Half-Life, The Crowbar Collective knew exactly what needed to be done to improve on the original. Not only is this a great game for fans of the original, but this is a perfect new entry point into the franchise.

Whether you played Half-Life back in the day or not, Black Mesa is definitely the best way to experience one of the crown jewels of first-person shooter history. It doesn’t look like a 2020 remake – because it’s not, really – but it still makes great use of the distinctively creepy atmosphere and excellent combat that left such a mark on this genre. And what better way to get ready for Valve finally returning to the Half-Life universe?

Now is the best time to jump into Half Life if you haven’t before, and if you’ve formally walked in Gordan Freeman’s boots then Black Mesa will set your heart a-thrumming in anticipation for Half Life: Alyx and whatever is to follow. Black Mesa may show its age in some areas, but that doesn’t detract from what is an otherwise stunning achievement. It’s not only Half Life at its best – it’s one of the finest shooters available today.