Good Half Life 2 Mods

[holyknight]

There are lots of good HL2 mods, and I've been playing some of them, and I want to see how many of you guys play it too.
Tell me the mods you play, and what it is about, and if it is worth downloading.
I'll start.
I have a lot of mods, but I play only some of them, so I'll just say what I play:

Age of Chivalry (http://www.moddb.com/mods/age-of-chivalry) - a medieval type game, its new update made the game even more enjoyable.

Battle Grounds 2 (http://www.moddb.com/mods/battle-grounds-2) - American Revolution game, it may look empty, but beneath the shell, you can see there are lots of people playing it.

Empires (http://www.moddb.com/mods/empires) - started playing this mod again, excellent game where one person becomes a commander (rts) while others shoot each other with tanks and guns.

Hidden:Source (http://www.moddb.com/mods/hidden-source) - Think of it as Predator killing humans with guns. Very fun.

Insurgency (http://www.moddb.com/mods/insurgency) - realistic modern warfare. doesn't even show your ammo/health/radar, and can die really easily. Very intense.

Zombie Master (http://www.moddb.com/mods/zombie-master) - one team commands zombies (rts) while other team try to finish the objectives in the map

Source Forts (http://www.moddb.com/mods/sourceforts) - build your base with gravity gun and walls, and when timer goes to 0, fight your way to your enemies' fort and capture the flag.

Resistance and Liberation (http://www.moddb.com/mods/resistance-liberation): Pretty neat game. They tired to make it as realistic as they can. Don't know if they succeeded or not (some mechanics is kinda weird), but it's still pretty fun. It's teamwork-oriented, and everything is good except the mouse movement. I don't know how to explain it, but it is somewhat confusing.

Goldeneye Source (http://www.moddb.com/mods/goldeneye-source): It's somewhat old, but it was pretty fun. Just think goldeneye the game in source.

Suicide Survival (http://www.moddb.com/mods/suicide-survival): One of the best mods I've ever tried. It's gameplay is simple, unrealistic (haha), but addictive and fun. You can be a survivor (some fat man) or a suicider (shrubbery). Each map has a lot of shrubberies and the suiciders disguise, and have to run to the survivors and explode. Very exciting and what I love most about this mod is its design and such. I don't know why but I'm tired of games that try to be realistic. Lets get me some interesting and funny games :D
---
Mods I wish people would start playing (because it is empty)

Decimation (http://www.moddb.com/mods/revolt-the-decimation): realistic shooting game that looks fun.

Iron Grip Oppression (http://www.moddb.com/mods/iron-grip-the-oppression): one team is rts commander building infantry/tanks while other team has rebels (fps). great fun, except it's empty now :(

Ballmen (http://www.moddb.com/mods/ballmen): you can go around any wall and shoot weird guns. I think it's dead now :(
---------
New mods I found (some of them are not out yet)
Decadence (http://www.moddb.com/mods/decadence)
Obsidian Conflict (http://www.moddb.com/mods/obsidian-conflict)
Pirates Vikings and Knights 2 (http://www.moddb.com/mods/pirates-vikings-and-knights-ii)
Bisounours Party (http://www.moddb.com/mods/bisounours-party/)
A new warhammer 40k mod (http://www.moddb.com/mods/warhammer-40000-there-is-only-war)
The curious case of clive and his chrysanthemum (http://www.moddb.com/mods/the-curious-case-of-clive-and-his-chrysanthemum)

[Robert Frazer]

The single-player custom campaign Minerva: Metastasis is perhaps one of the most obvious of those that you haven't mentioned - the designer earned a position at Valve itself on the back of it!

[holyknight]

well I've never really liked singleplayer... it made me lonley :(
but I guess I should check on it.

[Paladin]

Natural Selection 2 will by definition own everything, since Natural Selection is still the best FPS there is, period.

[CyberSargent]

Is Natural Selection 2 even ever going to come out?

[Afoxi]

Anyone interested in trying out Hidden? :D

[Starfisher]

This is better suited to the CGN forum.

[holyknight]

Afoxi: Great game, you should try it out.

Hidden:Source - Think of it as Predator killing humans with guns. Very fun.

[sporty]

Natural Selection 2 won't be a HL2 mod, and doesn't even use Source anymore. Still going to be awesome, of course :)

Hit-detection/netcode of Source being rather ill-suited for multiplayer shooters (and I thought HL1 was bad in this regard :/) means I'll usually avoid those, but Zombie Master is just brilliant, a definite recommendation.

[Ra owa]

Natural Selection 2 will by definition own everything, since Natural Selection is still the best FPS there is, period.


I was about to mention Natural Selection. Very good indeed, but it is a HL1 mod. Elements of both FPS and RTS involved, and its Marines vs. Aliens :)

What is the news on Natural Selection 2? I am sure that will be worth keeping an eye out for.

[BmB]

How is Dystopia (http://www.dystopia-game.com/) not on that list?

And Pirates, Vikings and Knights II (http://www.pvkii.com/) is good fun too.

[Mokino]

SMOD?

Adds new weapons, enemies and bullet time to the original campaign. It's a lot of fun even if only for the Stuff Launcher. Nothing like killing Combine with watermelons.

[Ra owa]

Does Gary's Mod count?

[BmB]

It requires Source SDK Base, so I guess it does, but it costs money.

[holyknight]

Dystopia was good, but didn't really suit me. Like I said, those lists were my opinions, you can put your list in your posts :)
As for PVK2, I did play it, but it got boring, I don't know why, since I usually like cartoonish games, but hmm...

For Natural Selection... I don't know... I tried it and I didn't really like it...
you know what's better than Natural Selection? Tremulous (http://www.tremulous.com)
Free game that is similar to NS except better imo.
This game made me like free games and that's how I found all these mods :)

[BmB]

If you want to know what we play, why don't you just join the Relic Steam group? There's a sticky.

[holyknight]

I did join, but theres so many people I cant find them all at once.
Also, for some reason steam doesnt say what mods people play in the games section, its not like Ill be on computer 24 7 trying to figure out what you guys are playing :/

[Ira Aduro]

I loved Minerva. But haven't been able to find any other good SP mods.

[LawrenceofArabi]

Eternal Silence (http://www.eternal-silence.net/)

Amazingly polished Space FPS, Supportive and very serious devteam, the most solid space combat i've seen since Freespace 2 (yes space pew pew in addition to the shooter aspect), and wonderful team play synergies. Those guys have play-tested their mod to hell and back, and in my opinion they've really created a gem.

Dystopia (http://www.dystopia-game.com/)

Cyberpunk FPS. If you've read Neuromancer or are a Ghost in the Shell fan, its full of little allusions to its genre. Gameplay is solid, three player classes (each with unique roles) with three weapons each and a whole array of implants lets you do whatever you want to do and dosen't force you into any corners with regards to playstyle. Theres also an entier hacking subgame parallel to the 'real world' and necessary for your team's sucess. It also had possibly the largest active community of any HL2 mod i've played, though that was a while ago.

Zombie Panic (http://www.zombiepanic.org/site/index.php)

One zombie vs human team, humans become zombies, pretty basic. Where this outshines the rest is the variety in weapons and smooth/intuitive gameplay compared to other zombie mods, its easy to get immersed. This mod has taken a while to mature. Until recently, while the gameplay was well established, the mod was severely hampered by a lack of maps. But just last month the team announced 3 new objective maps, which look to be the savior of this mod. Check this one out if your a fan of zombie mods, its one of the best.

Pirates, Vikings, and Knights (http://www.pvkii.com/)

The title best explains this one, three sides in a three way brawl, sometimes for treasure, sometimes just because. While its primarily melee based (swords, axes, cutlass', etc) theres plenty of bows and flintlocks for the ranged playstyles. PVK also has one of the most active and ambitious dev teams i've seen, they've got they're sights set on 6(!) unique classes for each side (its currently at 2 each) and a while load of gametypes. In fact they're releasing a balance patch this friday. All in all its simple, dirty fun thats easy to pick up and play.

[holyknight]

LawrenceofArabi: I tried all those games, and they were fun, but never made me go "wow" and play overnight (unlike other games :P)
Out of those four, Dystopia has to be my favorite, since it's main focus is shooting, even though it also has that weird hacking thing which I have no idea what to do with...
Eternal Silence... the space battle was really boring for me. I'm pretty sure that if I gave more time on it, I would get better, but I have other games that are good.
Zombie Panic. I got bored playing as zombie.
PVK2. It's a good game, but like I said before, didn't make me go "wow"
I tried two new games (SP), SMOD Outbreak and SMOD Tactical. Outbreak is only in beta right now and has only hl2 maps. The thing is that in each map, cool looking zombies are out and you get these cool new weapons. Great fun.
Tactical is more realistic, which means is more difficult. You die too fast, and you can choose some maps, including HL2 maps, or some cs maps. The guns look very nice and good, and it's also very weird how when you get shot, your vision goes blurry with redness, which makes it even more difficult to fight...
also, when you go in water and come out, the screen goes VERY blurry, which means that if you are in a level with water, don't go there, since you are likely going to die by enemies you won't be able to see well.

[Rafta]

I'm going to download zombiepanic, contact me in steam if you want to play :)

[Dot]

Dys hacking is incredibly easy.

Don cyber implant-> hit E on the JIP (Jack-In-Point) -> go pew pew at any baddies inside -> crack the thing easy peasy -> press E on whatever you have to.

[LawrenceofArabi]

"Eternal Silence... the space battle was really boring for me. I'm pretty sure that if I gave more time on it, I would get better, but I have other games that are good."

When did you actually play ES? Because its been seriously updated several times. I also might add that with both ES and Dystopia, they get exbonentially more fun and engaging with a lot of people (8 on 8 is my minimum for an ES game), since both games are objective based so you don't get stuck trying to do one pain in the ass objective for the whole time. The trick here is finding a good server and/or some people to play with.

[holyknight]

The thing about Eternal Silence is that... I never liked airplane games. Both simulation and shooting... I guess I'm just not a type that likes flying.
I guess I'll try Dystopia (again), since it does look interesting.
I admit, shooting is fun in Dystopia, but there are other games I liked more.

[LawrenceofArabi]

Well if your just looking to shoot stuff, while Dystopia can accomodate you (play heavy), there are much better mods to play. (Though ES does now have boarding only maps, so no space stuff)

[holyknight]

Yea Eternal Silence was fun when all I had to do was shooting people :P
Never liked heavy in Dystopia, give me medium class with rifle please.
Maybe I should play Dystopia with you? :)

[Dot]

RIP TSG Dystopia

[holyknight]

Well I'm pretty making a living dead here... but...
Got any new HL2 mods this year? I for one, got some:

Resistance and Liberation (http://www.moddb.com/mods/resistance-liberation): Pretty neat game. They tired to make it as realistic as they can. Don't know if they succeeded or not (some mechanics is kinda weird), but it's still pretty fun. It's teamwork-oriented, and everything is good except the mouse movement. I don't know how to explain it, but it is somewhat confusing.

Goldeneye Source (http://www.moddb.com/mods/goldeneye-source): It's somewhat old, but it was pretty fun. Just think goldeneye the game in source.

Suicide Survival (http://www.moddb.com/mods/suicide-survival): One of the best mods I've ever tried. It's gameplay is simple, unrealistic (haha), but addictive and fun. You can be a survivor (some fat man) or a suicider (shrubbery). Each map has a lot of shrubberies and the suiciders disguise, and have to run to the survivors and explode. Very exciting and what I love most about this mod is its design and such. I don't know why but I'm tired of games that try to be realistic. Lets get me some interesting and funny games :D

Any other mods you guys got?

Also, why is this thread in Community Games Network section? We aren't really talking about what we want to play together, we are just discussing what good mods there are.

[Dot]

SS is a ripoff of the garrys mod suicide barrels gamemode.

[Whodunnit]

gmod + wiremod best combo ever.

[holyknight]

SS is a ripoff of the garrys mod suicide barrels gamemode.
Eh. I never liked Garry's Mod. Besides, SS design is so cool XD "ANOTHER... SHRUBBERY! *DUUUN*"

[BmB]

Many sourcemods originated as gmod gamemodes.

[Ira Aduro]

Dear Esther isn't really a game but an experience and an experiment.
http://www.moddb.com/mods/dear-esther

Here's a list of all the HL2 mods on Moddb.
http://www.moddb.com/games/half-life-2/mods

[YurdleTheTurtle]

@People wondering about Natural Selection 2:

It's not going to be a Source game. The modders have become an independent 'company' (More like a team of very few people) and they have made their engines and stuff. They have their own website, are currently hiring, and they update frequently. They have video-casts, podcasts, articles, and an interview.

They also CONSTANTLY use Twitter updates - you can literally see everything they do on the job. One day I read they were talking to a lawyer and sorting out legal stuff. Other days it's this guy doing this job for the game, etc.
-----------------------------------------

Now, the ONE mod you HAVE to look out for:
Black Mesa Source (http://www.blackmesasource.com/). Check out the trailer here. (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/43237.html).

1) Watch trailer in High Definition.
2) Get mind blown away, then get it blown away even more when you realize this is a free mod.
3) Say "Screw buying Half-Life, I'm waiting for this!".

It's amazing what a team of dedicated (although they seem like professionals) modders can do. That trailer had amazing choreography and effects.

I have not played any mods yet for HL2, though HL1 mods were fun back then. Do you require Half Life 2 installed or just any Source game (Like TF2)? I don't want to take up more hard drive space by installing HL2.

[BmB]

Many mods require the Source SDK Base or Orange Box version of it. As long as you have a game (in profile, not installed) which gives SDK access you also have this. It will automatically install when a mod is detected that requires it. Takes some space, but not as much as HL2.

[holyknight]

Ah yes, Black Mesa Source... I think Valve will buy it like they did with all sorts of other mods.

Dear Esther... what's it about? I saw the gameplay and such, but I still have no clue what it's about. Is it a puzzle game?

[YurdleTheTurtle]

I'm trying Eclipse and Minerva: Metastasis right now, both of which are single player mods that have received nothing but positive reviews/buzz.

Minerva is AMAZING so far, even though I've only played a bit of the beginning. It's no wonder that Adam Foster guy got hired by Valve. I read a bit about his thoughts on the game and his whole philosophy of 'I want environments to look like environments, not linear halls' really shows in this mod. Even the first level you'll see a lot of great environmental work, seeing a lot of stuff that is reachable and doesn't feel like a linear hall. It's well polished and feels like a professional mod.

As for Eclipse...I have not played more than like 20 minutes of it. It's a bit clunky, but I can forgive that since it's a 3rd person physics-based game. I like the concept of having no weapons except telekinesis - I've heard good buzz about the puzzles in that game so I'll reserve judgment till I've played much more of it.

I'm interested in multiplayer mods but unsure. Maybe Dystopia and Eternal Silence? Argh too many choices really. Gotta finish these other games first.

Edit: Okay, Eclipse is like the shortest mod I've ever played. It's pretty good, but it's way too short. You can finish it in less than an hour; the only replaybility is this endless survival mini game. It seems more like an experiment than a real mod.

[Rednova88]

Since nobody has mentioned it yet, I'll go ahead and post this-> http://www.diprip.com/about.php5

D.I.P.R.I.P. is a multiplayer Half-life 2 modification that's a lot like Vigilante 8 (those of you that remember it). It's a driving game in which you drive around, playing a couple of fun game modes which are basically just CTF and plant the bomb. The community was really active for a while, but I don't know if it still is. There are only 3 vehicles, each with their own distinct advantages. Not a lot of variety in the weapons, but enough to keep things interesting.

There's also Zombie Master. I'm not sure if it's alive anymore, but damn that game was fun! One side is trying to survive an onslaught of zombies, limited ammunition and such. The other side plays RTS style, saving up resources to spawn more zombies, trying to ambush enemies at vital locations so they can't escape.

YurdleTheTurtle is also absolutely correct about keeping an eye on Black Mesa. Never, and I mean NEVER in my life have I seen such relentless effort to put a mod of such a caliber together and have it be FREE. It's a WHOLE effing remake of Half-Life 1! Keep your eyes on that folks!

[holyknight]

Diprip... didn't like it. I understand that it's an amazing game (first time I thought it was cool) but then, games with cars (even if it is fighting with cars) isn't my style.

Zombie Masters. I loved it. I tried to play it again and it seems like all the servers have this random mod that makes the game pointless and boring (you can revive yourself after you die... wtf?)

Ah yes, Black Mesa. Gonna wait for it :D

Didn't find any new good mods that came out yet :(
Found some good unfinished mods though.

[Akranadas]

I have to ask, is there any mods out there that revamp the single player of HL2?

[BmB]

Well there's Fakefactory.

But you might get a little more Alyx than you bargained for. :-\

[deepspace]

Try going to fps banana. They have a lot of new skins, sounds and models.
Makes it look a lot nicer.

[TeaSeeOh]

http://halflife2.filefront.com/file/Fakefactorys_Cinematic_Mod_V80_Part_16;89942

This is one I've been playing around with. It changes a lot of models, adds little things such as music(even has certain characters humming when they're doing tasks), and more importantly, it uses the Orange Box engine(IIRC) for HL2 and Ep 1(which means awesome flashlight effects).

It's quite a big download, though.

[Rednova88]

Have another one I forgot to mention earlier. I didn't play much of it, but the parts I did it's pretty easy to tell someone worked hard on this. It's really well put together, and it was quite interesting.

http://www.moddb.com/mods/get-a-life

[Moleman]

I am rather looking forward to Black Mesa mod, it completely recreates HL1 and puts it into HL2 form, very nice looking so farbut ahs yet to be released

[Ammon Ra]

If it hasn't been mentioned already: Dystopia.

Cyberpunk, meatspace, cyberspace, hacking, thermal vision, cloak, legit wall-hacking, all combined in an objective-based game mode that vastly differs from anything i've ever played. Available directly through steam, just go to the mods section and download. :D Multiplayer, with friendly fire. you've been warned.

I've been told that Eternal Silence (ES) (space combat + inside ship combat) is another rather incredible sourcemod, and i've played earlier versions, but i can't get my head around the design and flow of the game for some reason.

I also strongly recommend metastasis, very good SP mod.

edit: yeah, read thread now. :p

I'd be interested in somehow getting some of you relicdolts together for some cyber-warfare in dystopia, but the steam group thing doesn't lend itself well to knowing who has the mod.

[BmB]

I'd have to DL it, but I'm game.

[Ira Aduro]

Not a mod, but part 1 of an indie film based in the HL2 universe has been released.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1UPMEmCqZo

The great thing about Valve is their active support of the mod/indie community. I found out about this video because Valve re-tweated on Twitter.

[BmB]

OMFG!

Win!

EDIT: Rather laggy, supposed to be that way?

[Ira Aduro]

uh, no. It's your intertubes. :P

[YurdleTheTurtle]

Yeah even Steam update told me about that video. It looks crazy good for an amateur movie-like series. It also shows that you can make a movie about Half-Life..as long as make it a story about someone else and avoid Gordon Freeman.

But, let's keep this thread related to good mods for HL2, eh.

[BmB]

Eh, someone should probably tell those guys that 24fps only works with lots of motion blur.

[Ira Aduro]

A new SP mod was just released on the 8th of Feb.
http://www.moddb.com/mods/eye-of-the-storm

Mod name is 'Eye of the Storm.'


Picking up the story after John's escape from Ravenholm, you will visit new locations and meet new characters as you are taken prisoner by the Combine in City 24 and are reunited with an old friend from your resistance fighter days in City 17. Now he appears to be the key to unlocking the next chapter of your forgotten past.

Does it not seem there is a greater power behind the curtains?

[holyknight]

Found some new good mods recently

Decadence (http://www.moddb.com/mods/decadence): A very professional mod where in the future there is no more water.
It's a 2v2 team-oriented game. The only bad thing about this game is that it's only 2v2, but I think the team is trying to create more classes.

Obsidian Conflict (http://www.moddb.com/mods/obsidian-conflict): I don't exactly know what this is... but it's still pretty cool. It's created by the Synergy team and I think it's basically a same thing.

I've also started playing Pirates, Vikings, and Knights 2 (http://www.moddb.com/mods/pirates-vikings-and-knights-ii). It's freaking awesome and fun. I love smashing people with my heavy knight's heavy sword.

Also check out these mods that are not out yet:
Bisounours Party (http://www.moddb.com/mods/bisounours-party/): Basically it's Carebears gone wrong.

everything was alright in the Rainbow realms until the aggressive king Pedobear, ruling over Lulzhell, decided to spread drugs everywhere across the realm in order to own Carebear's world.

Carebears were immediately lured when they saw the first drug cargo, composed of crack pipes and steroids bottles, turning them into utter killing machines only thinking of one thing: shooting everything moving!

Take control of a drug addicted Carebear and do a crusade against Lulzhell you suspect of hiding more drug cargos! Armed with vicious and aggressive weapons, fight beside other addicted Carebears in order to own territorial zones or defend critical data, or blow everything that moves in an incredibely nervous and fast deathmatch mode!

A new warhammer 40k mod (http://www.moddb.com/mods/warhammer-40000-there-is-only-war)

The curious case of clive and his chrysanthemum (http://www.moddb.com/mods/the-curious-case-of-clive-and-his-chrysanthemum): A very interesting and unique looking game.