The legendary Half-Life is 25 years old and just got a fresh coat of orange paint. Valve has released the 25th anniversary update, which adds a staggering amount of changes and content to Half-Life including more multiplayer maps, modernized visual options, and the once-magazine exclusive Uplink campaign.
The update is live now for owners of Half-Life, which likely counts for about 98% of all PC owners. And Valve has made sure nostalgia is set to hit you in the face like an unchecked crowbar right off the bat. The 25th anniversary update brings back the old-school Valve logo to Half-Life, along with the classic menu. This is probably the best way to relive that iconic ‘monorail’ opener.
But the update isn’t just mired in nostalgia. As mentioned, the update includes plenty of new content and fixes along with modern changes. The update also adds four new multiplayer maps: Contamination, Pool Party, Disposal, and Rocket Frenzy.
On the technical side of things, the update brings plenty. Half-Life received wide-screen FOV support, an option to disable GL Renderer texture smoothing, lighting fixes “including the long-lost GL Overbright support,” and visual support for Linux users. You also get options for controller configurations, as well as Steam Networking. But, like a breathless infomercial, you know that’s not all.
Perhaps the biggest surprise in the 25th anniversary update is the inclusion of Half-Life Uplink. For those unfamiliar, Uplink is a separate story campaign that Valve developed after the base game hit gold. It was sent out as a magazine-exclusive CD but has returned home thanks to the update.
But forget about all that; Ivan and Proto-Barney are back!
The gruesome twosome is joined by other classic goodies.
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