These short 2 maps came second in TWHL’s Test Chamber Mapping Competition back in November 2005.
You play no part in the introduction of the sample at the beginning but once the shit hits the fan, it’s up to you to find a way out.
I accept that there is no combat in these maps and therefore technically they shouldn’t be listed on the site, but I felt there was enough puzzle elements ad the fact that it’s set in Black Mesa was justification to include it.
Here is the original brief: “For this competition, you must build a functioning and original test chamber, similar to the one in HL where everything goes wrong. There should be a specimen of some description being tested, and then everything should go horribly wrong (again). You can include other sections in the map if you wish, but you shouldn’t let that detract you from making a detailed and original test chamber.”
- Title: Energy Testing Chamber
- Filename: hl1-sp-energy-testing-chamber.7z
- Original Filename: 017_alexb911.zip
- Size : 0.98MB
- Author: alexb911
- Date Released: 04 November 2005
You can still use it with MapTap once you have downloaded it.
- Copy the energy_testchamber1.bsp and energy_testchamber1.bsp files into your C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Half-Life\valve\maps folder.
- Launch Half-Life 1.
- Open the console and type map energy_testchamber1 and press enter.
If you require more help, including how to enable the console, please visit the Technical Help page.
Click on the thumbnails below to open a 1024 pixel wide image.
WARNING: The screenshots contain spoilers.
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Using Gauge: Users
Manually: 4 Users
Time Taken:
Average: 0 Hours, 17 Mins
Shortest: 0 Hours, 12 Mins by PlanetPhillip
Longest: 0 Hours, 20 Mins by Hec
Total Time Played: 1 Hours, 6 Mins
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There’s no combat in these maps, but you can die, so be careful.
The map allows you a few moments to walk around and collect your suit and long-jump module, but once you enter the correct area you just have to follow the flow.
I quite liked the exit route idea from the main chamber but once you get into the room with crates it’s actually possible to get stuck without the crowbar – more testing needed there.
After that there is a jumping puzzle, but not in the way you think and finally you need to find an exit and climb the stairs.
I gave it a MAYBE because of the lack of combat and its shortness.
This is more for BM lovers than regular HL players.
Manually
Easy
12 Minutes
Well, I think is worthy because is a clever map where the goal is just to escape.
Your better ally on this map is the crowbar actually. Overall it feels like a quick map where there’s no combat as have been said, and maybe a magnum or a shotgun and some controllers in the chamber after the start up sequence would have been perfect.
In conclusion we have a nice and short escape map, there’s no much more science about it…
I think also this was going to be pretty difficult but actually the skill is perfect you can beat it fair.
Manually
Medium
20 Minutes
OK gave these little maps a go.
Sizes are odd and the water on the floor looks weird.
For a test chamber, these maps haven’t really been tested. After the cube started flying, I didn’t know what to do, I went down the train hole even tho for any player this looked dangerous as it would mean passing through some beams of energy, and of course I got killed by electricity, because pressing use on the track glass did not do anything.
In my next attempt, I pressed that more times and from diff angles, only to get pushed by the huge glass in that corner and get stuck in there!
Next let’s push another button that apparently does nothing, and after running around and getting killed by the moving door a couple of times I finally discover the not so obvious ladders that could be placed a whole lot better, I mean anywhere else but there. And those are simple water towers to me, not silos.
And finally, after almost drowning I find 3 vent holes that apparently only 1 is breakable, and a glass that seems bulletproof at the first hits, but running out of options I gave it MORE whacks and finally broke it, which for no good reason made the scientists explode?.. yea… and the game doesn’t even end, it’s just FTB.
I say don’t bother, apart from picking a long jump module, nothing’s fun about this mod.
Playtime: 18m
Manually
Medium
18 Minutes
This is a great exploration map.
The story is that you’re some guy that needs to… make the Energy Testing Chamber work? I guess so… But then, everything goes wrong and you need to get out of there. As you can see, it’s very BM-ish.
There is no combat in this map, but that doesn’t matter because it’s still great.
The textures were great and I loved the small adventure I went through.
I know this was a part of a mapping competition, and I don’t really mind, because I think it’s great.
Another short episode from the TWHL contests. This is a 2-map pack that doesn’t have any combat, though you do get the crowbar and it’s necessary for a couple of breakable obstacles near the end.
This is ostensibly set in Black Mesa, although it doesn’t capture the look and feel of the Black Mesa we’re used to. It’s not terrible looking, just very basic and fairly blocky. There aren’t really any standout sections – even the energy test chamber is pretty starkly designed.
What sinks this map in my opinion is the lack of polish. Not only can you get stuck in a few places, but you can actually skip to the water silo part early on and you can get permanently stuck since you don’t yet have the crowbar. And I had a problem with the glass cover on the Track Power switch, it’s very wonky and it’s quite difficult to open, you just have to be persistent and try from every angle. I think more testing would have exposed these issues. It’s not terrible, just not really worth your time either.
Manually
Medium
16 Minutes