The player has made a mistake in the past and has to face the consequences now (suffering).
The punishment comes to the player in 4 parts and one additional final part.
This is like nothing you have ever played before.
Basic Details
- Title: Half-Quake
- File Name: hl1-sp-half-quake.7z
- Size : 11.2MB
- Author: Muddasheep
- Date Released: 19 April 2001
PlanetPhillip Download Servers
Installation Instructions
- Copy the half-quake folder into your Half-Life folder.
- Restart or start Steam.
- Half-Quake should now be listed in your Library tab.
If you require more help, please visit the Technical Help page.
Screenshots
Click on the thumbnails below to open a 1024 pixel wide image.
WARNING: The screenshots contain spoilers.
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Reader Recommendations
Total Downloads
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3,849Overall
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3Today
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10Last 7 days
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Meta Review Data
Statistics based on 4 comment(s) with meta review data.
Installed:
Using Gauge: Users
Manually: 4 Users
Time Taken:
Average: 2 Hours, 38 Mins
Shortest: 2 Hours by Thechugg
Longest: 4 Hours by Diclonius Limeony
Total Time Played: 10 Hours, 30 Mins
Using Gauge: Users
Manually: 4 Users
Time Taken:
Average: 2 Hours, 38 Mins
Shortest: 2 Hours by Thechugg
Longest: 4 Hours by Diclonius Limeony
Total Time Played: 10 Hours, 30 Mins
If you believe this release is missing important tags, please suggest them in a comment?
Special Events
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Gameplay:
Half-Quake can be quite frustrating here and there at times, but it’s nothing impossible to beat. This one has an interesting amount of puzzles and action giving you only a certain amount of weapons and ammo depending on the section, most of the time you have no firearms. Most of the puzzles are pretty much simple as they’re mainly button hunting, while others require you to jump around. Longer puzzles are made more interesting by making it harder each time you get further on. The only enemies that you fight against are headcrabs and alien slaves which aren’t too difficult to face, except the areas where there is a horde of them.
A lot of the time you replay certain chapters, or do a similar style of gameplay that you previously did, only that it is different that time round adding excitement preventing it to feel very repetitive. The flow of the gameplay is pretty much linear as there isn’t much choice on how to complete an objective or puzzle, most of the time its very obvious stuff. The ending boss “fight” – Somos, was quite interest yet simple. It was mainly a lot of button pushing without too much of a challenging. Dodging his swinging blade was also really easy. However I did die quite a lot for the trap doors opening and closing which is a good distraction, especially with that blade swinging around.
Design:
Rather average throughout with a few interesting looking levels and a few bad looking ones. The structure for each level reminds me of Quake more than anything with large brushes to construct the detail in most areas and simple texturing, especially those spikes in the architecture that are used quite a lot in the modification. The level with the floating block platforms with brown metal spikes coming off is my favourite from Half-Quake as it looks very interesting and original. Some of the badly designed levels are more or less basic throughout, with horrible lighting and structure. There isn’t many of these levels however which was a good thing. Lighting on a whole is average, nothing too special or too bad but could have used a bit of work, because they looked rather unrealistic due to the light source in the area. The modification also has a lot of variety from different styles and themes for levels, each that have been textured fairly well but nothing too special in either remaining average.
Conclusion:
Quite frustrating but possible. Lots of interesting elements and average design throughout.
Rating: 72%
Not very entertaining mod no point to it
I can’t figure out the end. I don’t really care that much but I’d still like to beat it. I am only playing it because I loved the second one. This one is not as good, but I am so close to finishing…What do you do on Somos when there is one more door to open? There are no more buttons to push and you can’t kill him with weapons…
Unless you’re a HUGE fan of the Xen levels of Half Life, don’t waste your time downloading this.
It sounds like an interesting concept, Quake with a Half Life vibe, and it works quite well for the first level.
However, by level 2, “The Buttons”, it becomes clear this game was purely designed to annoy and frustrate Half Life players. You have to jump across a tiny row of lights along the side of a wall. Because of the size of the lights and their position on the wall, this is harder than any Xen jumps from Half Life. It took me half an hour to jump between two lights – and then it was luck that I managed it.
Once you make it to the end of these lights you have to push a button…..and then you have to go all the way back to where you started, to push another button. Thee you have to leap the lights again to push another button….then go back to where you started to push another button….then leap the lights again…..I’m sure you get the picture by now.
There’s a difference between making a game difficult, and making it frustratingly unplayable. Someone needs to explain that to the writers of Half Quake.
I soon realized the lights are intangible. Meaning they look like they occupy space but actually don’t.
And you really must have missed the message about the sadism bit. The game let’s you know in multiple ways that it WILL be very, very, very vicious to you.
How did you miss that bit? Did you think they were kidding? It’s like playing IWBTG and complaining it’s too difficult when that is it’s intent. Most of this is really just old-school gameplay.
short/easy/good textures/pointless ending/massages don’t work.
Gamer, don’t get wrong: This mod was designed with you in mind.
Problem about these reviews, is that, although from that perspective, the game may really seen to lack a lot of architecture/gameplay.
As you can see, the story is simple: the character made a mistake in the past, and now he will simply pay for it (the fact is that the level in some specie of mind-created institute by:muddasheep and his friends).
The architecture is quite good, although what counts here is the story. This mod will probably amuse you for half an hour or so, but the interesting thing is not this one alone, but some kind of trap-room this mod is, were you escape the institute (in the end, well …) trying to survive those traps. its kind of a survival-mod, without the horror part as is Silent hill and such.
perhaps you could try the later one, Half-Quake Amen, that has a veeeeeeeeeery different signifcate, and surely will amuse, although you might think twice, because it’s heavier and gorier.
Terribly sadistic !!!
I LIKE IT !
Half-Quake is a sadistic amalgamation of traps, abstract ideas, platforming, eerie djà vu moments, and more traps.
However, I do not recommend this mod for those that are looking for an easy time; Half-Quake will kill you, and enjoy doing so.
I loved every second of it.
This mod was challenging but fun… I liked the idea of combat infused with heavy puzzle solving…
My name is Phillip and I am a sissie! There I’ve said it. I played on the EASY setting. I approached this, just like most people approach visiting the dentist: with the nagging feeling that no matter how many drugs they give me, it’s still going to hurt. And you know what? I was wrong.
This release was actually quite painless. Up to a point. Yes, yes, I know that I have been lulled into a false sense of security and my happy little bubble will be burst very soon – but hey, I can dream, can’t I?
I semi-cheated once: I got stuck and read the walkthrough (yes, I think of that as cheating).
and
I proper cheated once: I couldn’t get out after pressing the buttons above the larva, with the ramps either side.
Another thing that surprised me was the amount of colour. From having posted Sunrise, which is coming next weekend, I expected only black and white, so it was nice to see more.
The mod was fun to play with more shooting than I expected too, and I certainly didn’t expect to fight grunts.
So, all in all, a fun little mod, with less sadism than a campus guard with pepper spray.
If this is the first Muddasheep mod you will play, it’s certainly a gentle (ish) introduction.
Worth playing, even if you have to cheat.
That said, the style of this and his other mods is unique, although it has been copied since the original release, and there is a chance you won’t like or enjoy it. It’s not set in the HL universe, but neither is it a total conversion either.
If the screenshots don’t help you decide either way, just try. What’s the worst that can happen?
Unlike Phillip, I thought this was the most sadistic of the Halfquake mods.
If I had reviewed this mod when I had first played it, I wouldn’t have given it any more than a Maybe. After playing it again, I realised how much I liked it. This mod is quite difficult, there are many situations where you will be quick loading and you are often outnumbered.
This mod is a mix of combat and puzzles. Usually the mod gives you a few battles and then gives you a puzzle or two, usually with a few enemies spawning while doing it. The puzzles can be quite frustrating at times, but if it wasn’t then it wouldn’t be Halfquake. As I have stated earlier, you are often outnumbered in combat. Because of this you will often find yourself running instead of actually fighting enemies, and the game loves to surprise you which adds to the difficulty.
This mod has a story, not a big one or interesting one, but a story nevertheless. This mod also has a final boss, which is a very rare occurrence in HL modding. I enjoyed the final boss myself. It takes a while to figure out what you are meant to be doing however.
Finally, Halfquake has an interesting part (seen in main screenshot) where you are taking part in a side scroller. If you die and load you will go back to first person, but at each part the side scrolling camera will reactivate.
This game is pretty fun, but quite challenging.
After playing this a while back and getting bored quite quickly, I’ve come back to this only because it’s a PP event (curse you Phillip)!!!!!
Almost from the start I thought this was like the film ” Cube” which I also disliked and indeed ” Cube” is mentioned in the end credits.
So what did I like about it? Apart from it’s looks and the heavy metal music at the end, not much!!
Please bear in mind that this is a personal opinion, because I realise others will like this style of gameplay, but I don’t.
One of the aspects I really hated was the “Repeats”, being transported back to an area you’ve already played with even more enemies than before. Another is the side scrolling part, I want to play a FPS not Sonic the F”$*^%g Hedgehog! To avoid it Hit F6 and then F7 each time (hey! where’s spoiler tag gone?) To go to FPS view.
I have to disagree with Phillip’s comment ” Worth playing, even if you have to cheat.” (yup! The blockqote tags gone too?). In my mind having to cheat is a serious flaw on the part of the author.
Here’s my notes:
-Using The HQ Trilogy version, if it makes any difference
-Full of little easter eggs
-I’m a dragon … wait. Not till Amen
Part 0
-The retextured models have a distinct feel
Part 1: The beginning
-Not much to say
Part 2: The buttons
-My weapons!
-My god the backtracking puzzle.
-Also Maralyin Manson
Part 2.5: repeat
-The turret room. That is all.
Part 3: The heavan
-There is this one part the requires you to exploit one of the engines weaknesses
Part 3.5 : Jump and run
-Save and load for first person
Part 4: The hell
-You meet a rat eating guy. It’s hilarious what happens to him.
Backstage
-reminds me of portal
House
-Grunts!
Part 4.5: repeat 2
-Again?
Jump and run 2
-I have a confession: I liked the Xen areas in HL1.
Final Part: Somos
-One word : EPIC.
So far I think this is the best deliver of the Half quake saga, why?, because it’s in 100% thecnicolor and u have weapons, so this is the one who most feel like an average HL mod, altough is clever in some parts and just sadistic in others.
This one also have the main lack I see in all the HL quakes, that lack is that the sadistic puzzles are so demanding in a way that u almost have to do it perfectly, if not forget it. If u mess up the puzzle u have to start the level all over again and that’s bullshit.
Maybe that’s why another tricky point when u play this HLQakes is that be aware that most posible u are goingg to need some walktrough in order to not get stuck or basically ruin the sadistic traps that are going to start all the path again.
By now im playing the sunrise one, and let me tell u that’s another story, the black and withe ones mods of muddasheep are totally different than this first classic one. Talking about classics??, yeah, let me also tell u this is a classic, definitely changed and revolutionate the way alternative psychodellic mods should be, (Maybe this saga would have influent the very Portal Glados sadistic concept, and in modding universe there’s alot of influences arround there, I could think in the Great Forever Tomorrow, strong hlquake elements in there). i’d say mudasheep is a perfect mod artist and his stuff has an unique concept very few moders could ever achieve.
Oh also i’d love mudasheep would launch some hlquake project IN SOURCE, that would be really cool, but I don’t know if he really preffer to work in GOLDSCR engeine.
Replayed it for at least the 5th time and still get the same pleasure. HQ series is one the most original and one of my favorite. Not because I like to suffer.
Half-Quake will disappointe you if you are a pure Black Mesa like player. The idea is simple: torture the player physically and sadistically, in a barbarous way. You will have to combat several enemies, fall in trapps, endure pain, escape for the institute, suffer, take a breath with Marylin Manson, beat Somos and have a painful death.
Your punishment will take take place on 12 maps with some new models and texture. No real novelty and a bit short but very pleasant.
Die it now, you wont regret .
Half-Quake. I’m always surprised at the following it has.
Although I am often loath to deconstruct art at the risk of losing the overall effect, if you do so, quality art still holds up. When you break down Half-Quake, you’re left with jumping puzzles, simple combat, and pushing buttons to open doors. It’s just not fun mechanics. Taken as a whole the poor gameplay fits with the sadism theme, but it’s almost an excuse.
There are clever parts here and there. I liked the idea of the backstage section, even if it wasn’t really backstage in the Portal sense. The settings are unique for the most part and somehow interesting to look at even though the texturing is plain as fits the theme. HQ can be amusing but it is ultimately terribly frustrating.
I get it. I just don’t recommend it.
Hum.. Half-Quake isn’t it? Don’t make me laugh..
I have to admit this is the only part I played and ever will play, and therefore I don’t much about this “series”, but naming it Half-Quake ?? Confusing..
There are some features that are nice and good but after all it’s nothing worth playing in my eyes..
Pro’s:
-Cheeky new option menu
-Some nice puzzles and ideas (Jump & Run parts)
Con’s:
-Frustrating and boring after short time
-Less detailed levels
-Has nothing do to with the game “Quake”, nor with quakes
-Only 2 enemy types and 4 weapons
Yeah, think twice before downloading..
Half-Quake, a new pack by Austrian authors muddasheep and blackjack, is, for lack of a better word, unique. The premise is that you’ve been sent to an ‘institution’ to be punished for past mistakes. Indeed, many of the tasks you must perform to survive Half-Quake are sadistic, others are just plain frustrating. But overall it’s a fair episode that is maybe worth grabbing if you are longing for more single player Half-Life.
Why exactly is it called Half-Quake? Well, it is composed primarily of indoor, dungeon-type areas that have ‘earthy’ textures (as opposed to HL’s lab/tech environments). So it is fair to say that much of it visually resembles the Quake games. But with no new monsters or weapons, the link to Quake is a stretch at best.
Your objective here is basically to survive the trials of the institution. There are a bunch of puzzles along the way – unfortunately, most of them are of the push-the-button-that-opens-an-unseen-door variety. Tedium incarnate. Combine that with a couple of instant death traps without warning and it feels like we’ve taken a huge step backward in puzzle design. I must say, however, that there are flashes of real cleverness in a few parts in Half-Quake, one of the reasons this map was upgraded to ‘fair’ in my book.
The maps overall are pretty well designed, with only a couple of areas sporting high r_speeds. Though the progression is fairly linear, the levels are planned out well and you’ll find yourself in familiar areas now and then – well, at least they may look familiar >). But for me there is one thing really lacking here: combat. Your main enemies are merely headcrabs and slaves, with only a handful of grunts and turrets thrown in. And you only get to play with about 4 or 5 total weapons throughout this sizable pack. In several sections you are relegated to crowbar bashing – to make things worse, I found the ammo to be very limited in a lot of sections, so make sure your crowbar skills are polished.
That’s not to say that Half-Quake is not challenging. The mappers certainly keep you on your toes with teleporting slaves, and be wary when revisiting areas you’ve already passed. But most of the challenge comes in the form of jumping puzzles. Keep your hand on that quicksave button and you may do just fine; I found these parts to be thoroughly annoying, and I’m one of ‘those people’ who didn’t really mind the Xen areas in the original Half-Life!
The verdict? Solidly mediocre. Half-Quake has decent design, an interesting setting, pretty good new sounds and music, and the oddest-looking final ‘boss’ I can remember, but most of the gameplay is just tedious jumping, crowbar-whacking, and button-finding. Not bad, but not really recommended.
Notes
This review is republished here by permission and was originally published Tuesday, 8th May, 2001 by Unquenque.
This review was originally posted on the Ten Four Website, which is now offline. Permission has been granted to republish the full review and more details can be found on the About page.
Hey, does anyone know how to fix this glitch I’m getting? When I get to the weapons, I can fire them and they work technically correctly, but they don’t have any sounds or animations. The reload animations seem to be okay but they just stay still and silent when I shoot.
The original half quake is really short and really cute, it’s basically a mario troll romhack but in half life, even using twice twice as a big part of the trolls.
It’s really short so you won’t lose anything playing it because it’s a good time.
Manually
Hard
2 Hours
Out of all the mods in the Half-Quake trilogy, I feel like may be the best of the bunch. While the graphical style is a bit underdeveloped (At least in comparison to the sequels) it still has a sort of unique flavor to it. The difficulty, probably the second most notorious aspect of the whole trilogy is also pretty tame here. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a very frustrating experience, but it’s kinda cute in comparison with what will come in the future.
It’s hard to say how I feel about this, I both liked it and hated it. In some way it kinda feels like an “I Wanna Be the Guy but in Half-Life”, in that most of the experience is about dying to a sudden trap and trying again knowing how to avoid it… only to die to the next trap, repeat ad-nauseam. But aside from some bs moments, this is somewhat straightforward. Give it a shot if you’re interested in a piece of Half-life modding history.
Manually
Medium
2 Hours
Very Good puzzle inside Half-Life engine
Manually
Medium
4 Hours
Well I had fun with this one. It wasn’t as frustrating as I thought it would be, although I must warn you that developer was quite lazy and reused a couple of levels multiple times. There are a lot of mods that are more interesting than this one, although I do recommend playing it for more experienced players (I don’t want to spoil anything, be warned, but I also recommend trying it for 3rd person segments that I must say were quite unique and fun 😉 ). It’s around 2 hours long, it won’t take too much of your time and it’s quite okay for an afternoon of shooting after a long day at work.
Manually
Medium
2 Hours, 30 Minutes