Imagine combining the gameplay of Half-Life with that of Lemmings. The result is strange but spot-on!

We were always annoyed that we couldn’t save the scientists in Half-Life. There we were, stumbling through a gray corridor deep within Black Mesa with one, two, or three scientists in white lab coats trailing behind us when, suddenly and for no apparent reason, they stopped and said they weren’t going any further. With an alien invasion underway, it’s probably not a good idea to stay just because their rarely used legs are getting tired. No matter how careful we were or how hard we tried not to throw a grenade at their feet and run away, there always came a point when we had to leave them behind.

But a new mod finally broke this mechanical loop, allowing us to permanently rescue the scientists and guards trapped in Black Mesa’s concrete labyrinth. Created by TeamClown, Half-Life: Lemmings reimagines Valve’s shooter, allowing us to rescue the 45 NPCs scattered throughout the Black Mesa facility. When we find a scientist in trouble, we can send them to rescue points located throughout the facility. Alternatively, we can lead the NPCs deep into the facility and pick up more along the way, forming a conga line of Kleiner and Barney characters.

Though it looks simple, it’s clear that a tremendous amount of work went into making it functional. The video below showcases the unique animations that save scientists who would otherwise be doomed to gruesome, predetermined deaths. The NPCs’ navigation abilities have improved as well. They can now climb ladders, crawl through ventilation shafts, and jump over chasms. Additionally, the guards have become much more effective fighters. They can use rifles and MP5 submachine guns and throw grenades. Even the scientists can fight back if they pick up the pistols lying on the ground.

TeamClown describes the mod as both version 1.0 and a demo. It works from the beginning of Unforeseen Consequences – where Half-Life really gets going – up to Apprehension. This covers about half of the game. The Half-Life: Lemmings mod is available on ModDB. However, it’s important to note that the mod was made for Half-Life: Source, not the original version.

Half-Life: Source is no longer listed in the Steam store, so it won’t show up in searches. However, it can still be purchased for €9.75/$10.

Source: PCGamer, ModDB, Steam