Halo and Half-Life combine in wild new mod, bringing two of my favorite games together in one — here’s how to play, and how it works

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Beyond games like DOOM and Quake, it’s challenging to find first-person shooters that have had as much impact on the genre as Valve’s 1998 blockbuster Half-Life and Bungie’s highly praised Xbox launch title Halo: Combat Evolved.

Previously, it significantly transformed the narrative structure in first-person shooter games and unveiled the GoldSrc engine – an enhanced adaptation of the Quake engine, which served as the base for the Source engine employed in well-known titles such as Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress 2, and Titanfall.

Hello, Halo introduced a more tactical approach to gameplay by introducing an innovative two-gun limit, which helped propel the genre into the mass market of console gaming.

To put it simply, if these two games, known for their greatness, were combined into a single creation somehow, what characteristics or elements might this amalgamated game possess?

Frankly speaking, these games have always been among my all-time favorites, yet I’d never pondered over a comparison. Remarkably, the dedication of skillful modifiers has eliminated that necessity for me.

This is due to the fact that the team from The Phoenix Project Software, who specialize in creating games using the GoldSrc and Source engines, has just launched Halo: GoldSource.

As a dedicated researcher in the realm of gaming modifications, I am involved in an exciting project that aims to replicate the thrilling gameplay experience reminiscent of the cherished Halo franchise, all within the Half-Life engine.

You’ll find it on ModDB for download; the installation guide is included within the readme file that accompanies the mod.

Halo: GoldSource offers an extensive collection of reimagined iconic Halo maps such as Blood Gulch, Battle Creek, and Boarding Action, plus a host of completely new ones.

In this version, several of the series’ famous weapons come with their classic sounds, and the key shield regeneration feature from Halo is present too. You have the option to select a stylish Spartan costume for your character model, but if you prefer, you can opt for Gordon Freeman or other Half-Life characters instead.

This game is remarkably similar to the beloved Halo: Combat Evolved, but it incorporates Quake-style movement and aiming using GoldSrc’s engine, making it an absolute blast to play!

Remarkably, this mod offers classic Free-for-All Slayer mode along with collaborative Player versus Environment (PvE) Firefight against Half-Life adversaries. Moreover, it has an integration with Steam’s network, making it simple to join and engage in gameplay sessions with your friends.

Additionally, it’s important to mention that Halo: GoldSource has essentially been in a beta phase for almost a year now. During this period, the developers have been consistently refining and adding new features based on their tests.

This major Version 1.0 release, unveiled in September 2024, marks the first update to the project since then. It incorporates a new recharging shield feature, addresses numerous gameplay bugs, supports controller usage, and is compatible with the Linux operating system.

Although Halo: GoldSource has reached its final form, it doesn’t imply that its developers have ceased working on modifications for it.

Indeed, Sabian, our lead developer, shares that their team has grand ambitions for this project extending beyond just maps and weapons. They aim to roll out substantial content updates regularly. The initial significant update will be Version 1.1, also known as the “Winter 2025 Update,” which is set to drop later in the year 2025.

They stated in their announcement that they will continue working on the project titled HaloGS, even if there are breaks. Their objective is to consistently release updates for HaloGS, aiming for a new major update every 3-4 months. Although adherence to this schedule may not always be possible, it serves as a guideline to keep moving forward with the title.

It’s consistently exciting to witness Halo’s enthusiastic fanbase unveiling fresh creations. These can range from whimsical pirate ship mods influenced by One Piece and Sea of Thieves, to Forge maps for Helldivers 2 adorned with custom-designed strategies, or innovative projects that introduce two entirely novel game engines.

To enjoy this game, make sure you have the original Half-Life, which can be purchased from Steam at a cost of $9.99.

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2025-07-19 01:09