Project Borealis is finally coming to Steam, to give you a taste of what Half-Life 3 or Half-Life 2: Episode 3 could have been. A good time to do so, since we're coming up on the 20th anniversary of Half-Life 2.
Created by a bunch of passionate fans they aim to give you a proper conclusion to Valve's popular FPS series. Built with Unreal Engine 5 they aim to create a faithful recreation of iconic Half-Life 2, although with plenty of upgrades. This is only a Prologue though, which is basically a demo.
I missed it but they did release a teaser trailer back in September:
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Direct Link
Direct Link
More about it:
The Legacy Continues
Inspired by the epic cliffhanger from Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Project Borealis represents a fan-made effort to realize a cohesive story conclusion to the episodic series. This prologue chapter invites players back into the HEV suit of Gordon Freeman, offering a glimpse into the next chapter of his journey.
A Familiar Yet Different World
Step into a Ravenholm transformed by time and the elements. The once-familiar town now lies buried under a blanket of snow, hiding the past and new present dangers beneath its pristine surface. As you navigate through this hauntingly beautiful landscape, you'll encounter some classic enemies reimagined and completely new secrets hidden within.
The developers say it will be a "condensed, standalone game experience showcasing an early look and feel of the upcoming full Project Borealis game" with an original score to accompany it.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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15 comments
Unreal Engine 5
Instantly turned off. I mean I know this is a fangame, but anyhthing Half-Life not on Source feels so wrong.
8 Likes, Who?
I don't care what engine you use for a game, but I really don't see that it needs to be advertised in the way that it is.
It's like they are not confident in themselves, and then say: Hey look at this cool toy!
It's like they are not confident in themselves, and then say: Hey look at this cool toy!
0 Likes
Valve is usually nicer than the average game developer (see Black Mesa), but maybe this is a bit too much. Would not surprise me if they get a C&D soon.
0 Likes
Mohandevir Nov 4
Unreal Engine 5
Instantly turned off. I mean I know this is a fangame, but anyhthing Half-Life not on Source feels so wrong.
Yep! Built with the engine from the company that vowed (and failed) to destroy Steam perceived "monopoly".
Thank you, but no thank you.
2 Likes, Who?
I understand all the negative feelings around EU5 but my understanding is that development started on PB before source engine 2 was available. It's have been in the making for a while now and I honestly wrote it off as a project that would not be released.
I'm personally still excited that PB is coming out and look forward to it! HL is one of my all time faves.... I'll take what I can get lol.
I'm personally still excited that PB is coming out and look forward to it! HL is one of my all time faves.... I'll take what I can get lol.
0 Likes
Mohandevir Nov 4
I understand all the negative feelings around EU5 but my understanding is that development started on PB before source engine 2 was available. It's have been in the making for a while now and I honestly wrote it off as a project that would not be released.
I'm personally still excited that PB is coming out and look forward to it! HL is one of my all time faves.... I'll take what I can get lol.
For any random project, I don't really care for UE5 (which as not been available that long). My first choice would be Source 2 or Godot, but for a Half Life game, considering the feud Epic Games is trying to create, using UE5 for an Half Life game is a huge misstep, for my part.
Edit: Giving money for such a game would make me feel like scoring in my own net.
Last edited by Mohandevir on 4 November 2024 at 2:53 pm UTC
0 Likes
The UE5 means bad performance overall and potentially lots of bugs on Linux. Too bad they chose that path. Source 2 is quite capable and could have been a much better choice, although I feel they go to the UE road because of developer familiarity with it.
4 Likes, Who?
Interesting, I didn't realize they were that far along. Though the trailer is about ravenholm, not about the Borealis that is supposedly stuck in ice at one if the poles.
There are also rumors that Valve is hard at work on the next opus themselves, so I wonder where how this project wants to integrate in the universe. As a non-canon fanfict, perhaps?
Now, for the real question: have they implemented real-time moss growth?
There are also rumors that Valve is hard at work on the next opus themselves, so I wonder where how this project wants to integrate in the universe. As a non-canon fanfict, perhaps?
Now, for the real question: have they implemented real-time moss growth?
0 Likes
The UE5 means bad performance overall and potentially lots of bugs on Linux. Too bad they chose that path. Source 2 is quite capable and could have been a much better choice, although I feel they go to the UE road because of developer familiarity with it.
not to mention everything will look like sweaty plastic.
1 Likes, Who?
Are we going to hunt down someone in this game? Maybe Adrian Shepard for example?
Because who else we can hunt down?
Maybe Barney Calhoun?
If not them, then I'm out of ideas...
Because who else we can hunt down?
Maybe Barney Calhoun?
If not them, then I'm out of ideas...
0 Likes
ElectricPrism Nov 4
Unreal Engine 5
Instantly turned off. I mean I know this is a fangame, but anyhthing Half-Life not on Source feels so wrong.
Yep! Built with the engine from the company that vowed (and failed) to destroy Steam perceived "monopoly".
Thank you, but no thank you.
!I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
I Can't Believe It's Not ~~Butter~~ Source Engine.
Yeah No. Unreal Engine is a deal breaker because Source Games have details that are mathematically authentically Valve suchas the lighting flicker interval and variations, mathematical interval variations of electrical shocks, sounds, and other content.
Without this DNA deep down this might as well just be a Fan Fiction novel or Fan Art.
I wish them well but I think they have a long way to go to right the ship.
Edit: To clarify, as I understand it these mathematical flickers are patented by Valve, therefore it's not legal for anyone to implement them outside of Source engine. So therefore by design it will never feel authentic.
Engine's really matter. If they suddenly changed the physics of the Warthog in Halo, or the mechanics of Super Mario Bros 1 it would completely annihilate player expectations on a subconscious level. This isn't just some kind of AAA cash grab either where your favorite franchises are ruined and the point was for the publisher to extract money from your wallet -- I just can't see anything that has the Mechanics wrong from the get-go having a chance. I get that they probably just like Unreal, and it has value in the work force -- but without the patented attention to details I think the whole thing will feel unauthentic and unsettling.
Last edited by ElectricPrism on 5 November 2024 at 3:43 am UTC
0 Likes
Guys, Source 2 wasn't even released when Project Borealis started development. UE4 and Unity were the only engines you could really use at the time. Godot had only just released, so nobody had any experience with it.
They're only switching to UE5 now, just so that they can stay ahead on engine updates and stability.
Game development takes a long time. I know people here have issues with Unreal Engine, but at least don't immediately shut them down the moment you hear about it
They're only switching to UE5 now, just so that they can stay ahead on engine updates and stability.
Game development takes a long time. I know people here have issues with Unreal Engine, but at least don't immediately shut them down the moment you hear about it
1 Likes, Who?
They're only switching to UE5 now, just so that they can stay ahead on engine updates and stability.Switching to point release messing thing up, not to mention major jumps. IMHO, switched to UE5, because everyone on internet can't shut f-up about it. Should gone with UE4, it is more stable and better performer, just look how over the place UE5 games are, especially if lost setup lottery or hardware dated a bit.
Because how long development take, switching tech around not good too. One of many reason why so called AAA release are so borked and in development hells.
0 Likes
Yeah No. Unreal Engine is a deal breaker because Source Games have details that are mathematically authentically Valve suchas the lighting flicker interval and variations, mathematical interval variations of electrical shocks, sounds, and other content."While the code was indeed used in many Valve games, it actually predates the company. The flickering light effect was likely written by none other than John Carmack for “Quake” in 1996. That was part of a library of flickering presets compiled by John Romero in 1993 while working on “DoomED”:"
https://www.alanzucconi.com/2021/06/15/valve-flickering-lights/
1 Likes, Who?
Piejacker875 Nov 9
Engines really matter. If they suddenly changed the physics of the Warthog in Halo, or the mechanics of Super Mario Bros 1 it would completely annihilate player expectations on a subconscious level.Nintendo literally did this in Super Mario Maker lol
Last edited by Piejacker875 on 9 November 2024 at 7:31 pm UTC
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