Black Mesa

Black Mesa

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Black Mesa: Improved Xen v1.0
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2.119 GB
Mar 29, 2017 @ 6:01pm
Apr 24, 2020 @ 8:52am
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Black Mesa: Improved Xen v1.0

Description
Improved Xen is a modification for Black Mesa game. It gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself into original locations of Xen world from Half-Life, but with improved graphics and optimized geometry. At the moment Improved Xen is supported by me - Vladislav Lisovichenko (zloikot)

I am very pleased to tell you the news that I have prepared a new Improved Xen update specially for Black Mesa 1.0 release.

You can try the fixes for version 1.5 (Black Mesa Definitive Edition) suggested by XRGM1267:
https://www.moddb.com/mods/black-mesa-xen-improved-maps-from-half-life/downloads/improved-xen-fixes

Release date: April 23
(available on Steam Workshop and Moddb)
Moddb: https://www.moddb.com/mods/black-mesa-xen-improved-maps-from-half-life

How to install the mod, if you downloaded the mod from the Workshop:

1. Subscribe (if you were previously subscribed to it, then unsubscribe and subscribe again).

2. Open the Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\362890\894282258\ folder.
You will see the "XEN" folder and the "Improved Xen - Run.bat" startup file

3. Transfer this folder and file to the Black Mesa directory: Steam\steamapps\common\Black Mesa\

4. Run the mod through the file "Improved Xen - Run.bat",
or go to Steam and add the following parameters to the Black Mesa launch parameters: -game xen
and run Black mesa

Improved Xen 1.0 is compatible with Black Mesa (2020) Steam version.
Before installing the modification, check your version of Black Mesa, it should be update:
Go to Steam and Black Mesa properties, go to the BETAS tab and select the "NONE - Opt out of all beta programs".
If you have not selected it before, the game should be updated.

Currently, I’m the only one supporting this modification and this work has taken more than one year of my life. In any case, I am pleased with the support and interest of the players in my work.
I hope that the modification will not be broken after the next Black Mesa update.

At this moment I can tell you what is already done in my mod.

- Thanks to Black Mesa Xen release I could use its new G-man and Nihilanth voices, particles and scenes.
- The soundtrack is also updated, so you can enjoy the new Xen OST and feel its atmosphere.
- Minor cosmetic improvements have touched all locations. Some other things have been updated too, because they worked better in the official Xen.
- Cascading Shadow Maps are more optimized now.
- The corpses of Hev-scientists give you an energy cell. Moreover, I added a new sound and visual effects to the healing water.
- Vortigaunts became absolutely friendly and they attack only when they are affected by the controllers.
- The new “Xog” fog is graphically better than the old one and gives a different feeling of depth and volume. I still want to polish it in the next updates, but even now it looks impressing.
- I left falling damage, because it is an important gameplay element of initial Xen, in order to keep the player in suspense.

More details about the chapters:

Xen: more details on the islands, the old turrets are replaced with the new ones.

Gonarch’s lair: yes, now fully functional NPC Gonarch is engaged and all my previous work with him is removed. But despite this fact, it feels like it was created for this location, it fits perfect. More shallow vegetation. You could also notice it in Xen location in Azure Sheep Remake, because I worked on that mod too.

Interloper: Finally, an option for passing with a stealth is added to the c4a1b map. It is similar to the way it was implemented in HL1. Some scripts are changed due to the adding of friendly vortigaunts, and also you will meet less controllers than before, for the balance. Because they use new attacks now, they became a real powerful enemy.

Nihilanth: I did not implement the NPC of the main boss, because I wasn’t sure that this would work here. On the contrary, I spent a lot of time replacing the model and adapting the environment for it.

Endgame: The main change is a different lighting and dark skybox.

I also announce that for the first time in all my content maker career, I need your support. If you want to give life to this mod, and my further projects, I will be glad for your donations. In addition, I have several unreleased projects, but the difficult financial situation forces me to do other work. If you donate, I will write your name in thanks-giving credits for sure and you will receive a personal greetings letter from me. I wrote my WebMoney requisites. Also you can donate in the PayPal or Patreon (HECU Collective account is indicated there, because PayPal doesn’t work in my country and I can't upload much content on Patreon personally), so leave a comment to let me know about your support.

DONATE

https://funding.wmtransfer.com/improved-xen/donate

Webmoney:
Z803063819541 or R818041974971
Popular Discussions View All (17)
13
Mar 25, 2019 @ 6:49am
the games crashes when i load the new chapter
SHUG0CH4N
11
Dec 11, 2020 @ 5:49am
make this compatable with the new update plz
SPONGEDOG001
7
Nov 20, 2018 @ 9:15pm
Does the mod add all the missing chapters on the black mesa?
Schmchr
< >
675 Comments
Fabler Feb 25 @ 11:03pm 
Странно, у меня Нихилант в конце перестал атаковать, а я не могу его прикончить. Все патроны потратил на него, а ему всё равно.
YeahkyframPowelleythrage Feb 5 @ 12:01pm 
В общем мод отличный, также заметил изменения: В начале 1-ой локации главы "Нарушитель" портал в переход на 2-ю локацию подняли выше. Во 2-ой локации изменен еще один секрет, когда входим в большой тоннель перед встречей Гарга вверху мертвый как мы в HEV и его плюшки, теперь слева подъемного крутого в виде горки нет, а чтоб добраться - придется искать! Что касается Нихиланта - мое почтение автор довел до ума, теперь он пуляет снаряды прямой наводкой + порталы с его комнатами, а укрытия за которым прячемся могут ломаться все как я желал доработку!
YeahkyframPowelleythrage Feb 5 @ 11:50am 
Прошел недавно и выскажу - это тот же старый добрый Зен из Half-Life в более обновленной обертке и да я писал ниже, недосток есть и только один - местами на уровнях довольно тесно сделаны локации чего в оригинале такого нет, может автор не смог до конца реализовать локации как было в H-L, особенно выбесило на 2-ой локации во главе "Нарушитель", где мы проходим до портала и на пути эти Тентакли а за ними есть уступ с секретом, сколько бы аккуратно не подымался обратно и я падал и, пришлось кое-как фичами с помощью модуля длин. прыжков подняться
House™ Jan 16 @ 9:36pm 
Старый ксен тоже сойдёт
YeahkyframPowelleythrage Jan 8 @ 1:49pm 
Не знаю почему - это лучше релизного из-за глав "Нарушитель" и особенно финального "Нихилант", ибо в официальном Зене Нихилант - полное г*****е! Я в фанатское творение еще играл на пиратке точно не помню до выхода 2017 или после, разве что помню до 2020-го и выглядело очень сыро, ныне выглядит очень круто и обновлено благодаря релизному Зену оттуда Блэшковые Гонарх и Нихилант тоже а + чуть не забыл фауна оттуда, просто H-L1 Зен он более роднее и ближе, а BM не сильно цепляет, только ради от 1-го главы до начала "Нарушитель"
This really should've been renamed to classic xen
TCMOREIRA Oct 8, 2023 @ 6:32pm 
Is this still being worked on?
Crash_Trooper Jul 31, 2023 @ 8:38am 
pretty good classic xen remake had alot of fun
UAL747 Jul 6, 2023 @ 4:51pm 
I'd recommend changing the name of this to "Classic Xen" or something like that, just to that the brainlets in the comments stop whining.
Lady Alcina Dimitrescu May 1, 2023 @ 3:08am 
OMG this comment section is soo retarded i actually felt bad for the devoloper.
People need to use their brain more.