this post was submitted on 05 Oct 2026

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169

Half-Life remake Black Mesa has a Beta for a big update with a new UI and controller support (www.gamingonlinux.com)

submitted 1 day ago by alessandro@lemmy.ca to c/pcgaming@lemmy.ca

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[–] Grandwolf319@sh.itjust.works 5 points 18 hours ago

Omg, I’ve just been playing this on my steam deck thinking it’s such a shit experience. Please give me controller support!!!

[–] QuinnyCoded@sh.itjust.works 34 points 1 day ago (1 children)

new half life 1 just dropped

[–] ergonomic_importer@piefed.ca 11 points 22 hours ago

That's the third half-life 1. Half-life 3 confirmed

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 4 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

I couldn't finish Black Mesa, as an update in the past made the safe files incompatible (it was noted in update notes, so this was not a bug, but expected). 20 hours gone. :-( It's been years. Since then I'm arguing with myself if I should play the original or start Black Mesa from scratch to finally finish it.

[–] chris@l.roofo.cc 3 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

I think it's a game worth finishing. You couldn't have been very far from the end anyways. I spent 17h on my playthrough.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 2 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

You just remembered me that this was my second start from start. I don't remember what happened to first save file to be honest. That's probably why I was so frustrated when the save file was gone and not compatible anymore, there was not even an older version to fallback to. Sorry I get a bit emotional.

I just wonder, if the original Half-Life (which got an update to be modernized a little bit) is worth it or should I play Black Mesa again? At some point, I have to, because of unfinished business.

[–] Thadden@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

Yeah as the other guy said, Black Mesa is so much better. It still has the essence of the original, but much more polished. Specially Xen, the last part. It's so much more lively and detailed. If I remember correctly the original was rushed at that point so it was kind of unfinished. Also, I'm pretty sure you can use cheats to advance to any specific level if you don't want to start from the beginning. Enjoy! I wish I could play it for the first time again haha

[–] chris@l.roofo.cc 4 points 9 hours ago

I have played both and black mesa is so much better.

[–] nutcase2690@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 11 hours ago

If anything, it is worth playing the Blue Shift mod, imo! You play as Barney, and it is very high quality.

I was going to wait for the Steam Frame (if I ever get out of the wait list) to do another Black Mesa playthrough, though.

[–] jinwk00@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

Game already runs great on Steam Deck, improving doesn't hurt I guess

[–] tuckerm@feddit.online 2 points 23 hours ago

Article mentions it's also 40% off right now too, FYI.

Good timing on controller support with people (kind of) being able to get a new Steam controller now.

I played Black Mesa with my original Steam controller, and it already worked well just by using the controller to emulate a mouse. But actual controller support is nice.

[+] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip -18 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

Controller? Why? That sounds awful.

I guess bug fixes and new lighting are alright. Wouldn't make me bother playing it again though.

Half Life original is worth going back to every now and again, it is so much better and a maasterpeice, but the Black Mesa version should be commended. They changed quite a lot, not just "remastering" the original. It too is a good game.

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 7 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Some day when you’re older you’ll get a tendon or back injury that prevents comfortable MKB gaming, but you will still want to play. Then you will understand why accessibility improvements are always good.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 8 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Controller? Why? That sounds awful.

Why is it awful? Half-Life was also playable on console, so its not something out of the ordinary. Many play on handhelds too. And nobody has to play with a controller, if you don't want to. What makes this awful?

[–] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip 2 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Just robs the fun right out of it. Quick action and sharp focus make it a fun game.

When they put it on the console they dumbed it down, added aiming and lock, and even changed the levels to make them easier. It was much harder to do some of the moves with a controller.

You can turn around or aim instantly with a mouse. Cant do it with a controller.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 6 points 21 hours ago

You can have quick action and turn around with gamepad too, its called flick stick. And for gamepads with gyro there are possibilities too. I don't mind playing single player FPS with a gamepad, sometimes prefer it. But off course this is not for everyone, that's why its an option.

[–] Gerudo@lemmy.zip 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Awful? Why?

I recently played it on my handheld and had to go through a few extra steps to get the built in controller to work.

[–] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip -2 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I can't stand FPS on controllers. It completely ruins the game by making quick actions slow and cumbersome.

For example: Half Life and Half Life Decay for the PS2. They had to dumb it down for the controller, adding target lock and auto aiming. Once that happens, whats the point of playing at all.

The haptics on the steam controllers help somewhat, but nothing beats mouse and keyboard for these games.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 8 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Just don't use the controller then. Everyone is aware that not everyone wants to play first person shooters with a controller. That's why its an option. This is a single player gamer where you can play as you wish, without affecting others. So what's the problem? Developers give more option, that is the opposite of awful.

I personally play some FPS with game controller, especially single player ones. And since the Steam Deck and Steam Controller playing around with gyro and trackpads is super fun.

[–] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip 0 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Again, Awful. I find it awful. Horrible way to play FPS games. Especially half life. When it was converted to controller they even changed the levels to make it easier to do several things.

But that is just like, my opinion, which is why I wrote it. Do whatever you like.

Ever played it in VR? That section at the beginning is quite the sea sickness! Even though it too is horrible in its own way, its fun.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 6 points 21 hours ago

But that is just like, my opinion, which is why I wrote it.

And that's fine. I'm not saying your opinion is wrong. We just discuss. But saying its awful because they add a function others enjoy is not right in my opinion either. I mean I do not agree that playing FPS games with controller is horrible or awful, but it depends on the game and if its a campaign single or competitive multi player game. I actually want to try Half-Life with a gamepad out; it got native gamepad support for Steam Deck.

[–] Whostosay@sh.itjust.works 4 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j95kNwZw8YY

[–] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip -3 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

funny, thats what I just replied to someone before I saw this.

Cool thing is I am right. Controllers suck in FPS, particularity half life. You cant shoot fast, or shoot and move, or aim really. Thats why they dumbed the game down on the console releases.

[–] Waryle@jlai.lu 3 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Controllers suck in FPS, particularity half life. You cant shoot fast, or shoot and move, or aim really. T

That's a you problem

[–] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip 1 points 12 hours ago

Not really a problem just a fact. There is a reason they dumbed the game down on the controller release.

But yes if you enjoy lumbering through a game I guess that's your choice.

[–] Whostosay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Different strokes situation, I grew up on sticks, I use both. For this it's KBM, but this is going to enable people that wouldn't have experienced the game otherwise. More choice is good.

[–] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip 1 points 17 hours ago

Gotta love steams haptic touch pad controllers, best of both worlds. Gives everyone a chance to play all the games.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 18 hours ago

I'm generally the same, however, the gyro + touch pads on Steam Deck and Steam Controller have made fps with controller viable for me.