Half-Life: Residual Life

The Half-Life: Residual Life single-player campaign offers more than one might expect: it's massive, lengthy, packed with content, and sometimes deviously challenging.

It all begins with a spectacular and cozy introduction: you're in your room surrounded by personal belongings, then a tram ride through a living, functioning Black Mesa. Everything looks as if they're waiting for you, and everything is in place as before — but with a new atmosphere that you feel from the first minutes.

The maps are diverse, featuring unconventional locations: a convenience store, library, crystal laboratory — places you won't find in the original chapters.

The combat balance between calm and tense moments is excellently maintained. Enemies are unpredictable, resources are scarce — everything is calculated to maintain constant tension. Besides zombies and soldiers, new monsters appear, large headcrabs, black operatives, and unexpected appearances of Barney, who can accompany you almost to the finale.

Combat difficulty is noticeably higher than in the original game: you take more damage, resources are catastrophically low, and battles force you to seek unconventional approaches — sometimes leaving traps or retreating.

The atmosphere makes a special impression. Alarm signals sound, light fills vast spaces, creating a sense of emptiness and vulnerability. When everything around seems merciless, the mod helps you feel the scale of Black Mesa, yet makes it clear — you're not powerless, you just need to adapt.

The ending might seem unexpected or too rushed, but on the other hand, this adds realism and authenticity.

Some moments can be irritating. Maps are sometimes large and confusing, with few hints — you often have to backtrack searching for hidden paths. The visual aspect is also inconsistent: models of varying quality are used, from simple to super-high-poly, which sometimes creates dissonance.

The mod offers branching paths: different routes, alternative chapters, and many secrets, though it lacks traditional game puzzles. This is valuable for those who like to return and try different playthroughs, but may tire those who just want to "relax and reach the end."

Overall, this is a convincing and ambitious project that, despite all its richness and demands on the player, impresses—the content, difficulty, and detail make it memorable. If you're looking for something more than just "another map" and are ready for a challenge — Residual Life definitely deserves attention.