Half-Life Legacy arrives December 12 but you'll need Proton on Linux due to Native Linux issues

I don't really get how this is different from Black Mesa?

If you're confident with vague debugger errors and complicated issues, feel free to reach out to us via our Discord or a comment on this post, but I do warn you - it's not easy.

Icculus, where art thou?

With all the hype, I won't lie my heart stuttered seeing "Half Life" and "arrives December 12" thanks to my selective reading.

Some day, some day...

Let me take this opportunity...

I never played HL. Any.
I ran HL 1 when it was brand new. It was said to have great physics. The first box got stuck in the first wall. Stopped playing it.

Now, I want to get a Steam Frame next year, and I want to play HL Alyx.

What would be the best way to get into HL nowadays?
I do appreciate some half modern graphics...
Would that be Black Mesa then?

Quoting: EikeWould that be Black Mesa then?

There are arguments to be made for both the original and Black Mesa, so if graphics are appreciated then Black Mesa is definitely a good choice. HL2 still holds up by itself. I'd definitely recommend doing those before HL:Alyx though.

Quoting: EikeLet me take this opportunity...
What would be the best way to get into HL nowadays?

First, you need to possess the ability to count.
Afterwards, you play Half-Life, then Half-Life 2.

Quoting: EikeWould that be Black Mesa then?

Absolutely not. Black Mesa is a terrible choice for a first time player. Playing Black Mesa ruins at least half of the experience of Half-Life 2 when you get to it, since it uses the same engine to remake the first game. It breaks the fundamental ways Half-Life and Half-Life 2 were meant to be played.

Black Mesa is for fans who have already experienced the games for what they are.

Quoting: EikeWould that be Black Mesa then?

Quoting: EhvisBlack Mesa is definitely a good choice.

Quoting: PyrateBlack Mesa is a terrible choice for a first time player.

Thanks for clearing that up! ;)

No, seriously: Thanks both for your opinions!

We will add native Linux support as soon as we can but this issue is not easy to solve. If you're confident with vague debugger errors and complicated issues, feel free to reach out to us via our Discord or a comment on this post, but I do warn you - it's not easy.

How about you bug Valve about their engine?

Quoting: EikeLet me take this opportunity...
Now, I want to get a Steam Frame next year, and I want to play HL Alyx.

Might I suggest the NoVR mod for HL Alyx. So, no VR equipment necessary. I used it to play thru the entire game, and it was fantastic!
https://github.com/HLANoVR/HLA-NoVR

Quoting: StellaI don't really get how this is different from Black Mesa?

It seems Legacy is way closer to the original (be that good or bad...).

Thanks for clearing that up! ;)

No, seriously: Thanks both for your opinions!

It honestly comes down to how you view these things, if you consider them as a work of art or as mass produced fastfood-tier entertainment.

I started with HL2, I found it easy to get into, the narrative is excellent, supports the action well and keeps things moving along. After that you have the two episodes that give you more of that world.

HL1 was harder for me to get immersed in, I haven't gone back and finished it yet. Technically there are no issues, Valve is still maintaining it well.

But you could also start with the original, and skip ahead to HL2 if the original doesn't work for you.


Last edited by Mambo on 3 Dec 2025 at 4:04 pm UTC

I'm dubious about HL Legacy, I'm not sure what it's value prop is. From what I can see the biggest benefits are workshop support and achievements. Workshop support is a relatively minor benefit [since RTSL exists](https://www.runthinkshootlive.com/hl/) and installing mods is so easy.

If it used Xash3D-fwgs and was kept up to date then it would be much more interesting to me. In any case, I'll check it out when it drops and see what's up.

p.s: HL1 first -> HL1 expansions if you really dug the original -> HL2 -> Episodes -> Alyx -> Black Mesa

Quoting: vertigop.s: HL1 first -> HL1 expansions if you really dug the original -> HL2 -> Episodes -> Alyx -> Black Mesa

How do OpFor and Blue Sphere work into this?

Quoting: RetroGamerCA

Quoting: EikeLet me take this opportunity...
Now, I want to get a Steam Frame next year, and I want to play HL Alyx.

Might I suggest the NoVR mod for HL Alyx. So, no VR equipment necessary. I used it to play thru the entire game, and it was fantastic!
https://github.com/HLANoVR/HLA-NoVR

That's the opposite of what I'm looking for TBH.

I want the best possible VR experience possible. I heared that's HL Alyx.
So I want to understand what's happening there.
If I would be looking just for Half-Life, I would have begun some years earlier. :)

Thanks nevertheless thank you of course!


Last edited by Eike on 3 Dec 2025 at 8:07 pm UTC

@Pyrate

Black Mesa is for fans who have already experienced the games for what they are.

Yes and no. I agree Black Mesa is definitely for fans of the series and IMO the superior way to play the OG campaign. I'd argue if someone had a mild interest in playing HL1 (they want to experience the story because they've always heard so much about it or they're new to gaming), advise they play Black Mesa. If they're the type of gamer who enjoys or tolerates older games, play HL1.