- Mod Title: Mission Improbable
- Game: Half-Life 2: Episode Two
- Number of Maps: 1
- Mod Author: Magnar Jenssen
- Author's Website: www.magnarj.net
- Reviewer: Ioann Andreev
When I test different mods, I spend most of my time dealing with junk. However, sometimes I stumble upon some real gems among the piles of crap that more than compensate for the time spent on junk. Mission Improbable is a shining example of one such gem.
The backstory is simple and rather hackneyed. The rebel movement has lost contact with one of the outposts located in a lighthouse on the coast. We, on a motorboat, are sent to find out what's going on. Upon arrival, we come to the disappointing conclusion - the lighthouse has suffered the fate of many rebel outposts. Several missiles with brain-sucking missiles on board have fallen here...
I won't say much. Just look at the screenshots to understand what's what. The mod is superbly done! The pier-grotto with stalactites, the high cliff, the houses by the lighthouse, and the lighthouse itself—everything is top-notch and impresses with its quality and detail. Just like in Half-Life 2 itself, you don't just want to advance through the level and admire the surroundings; you really want to explore every nook and cranny of this world. When I first played Half-Life 2, there were times when I thought, "What would it be like to live here?" This mod is one of the few that makes you think about how wonderful it would be to live here.
As I mentioned above, the mod's plot is simple. We arrive at the station. We explore the houses, make sure there's no one but zombies, and then head to the lighthouse itself. We press a button there, and our Combine "friends" appear. Now we need to fight our way back to shore.
It's all rather primitive, and it's missing, for example, Alyx, who would run alongside us, press buttons, or contact someone. However, even without that, the mod is quite good!
I'd compare Mission Improbable to the official Lost Coast level. The similarities are very clear. In both, you start the game on the shore, climb to the top, and then descend. However, it's safe to say that Mission Improbable easily outclasses Lost Coast in every respect. And as a mapper, Magnar Jenssen is in no way inferior to Valve's mappers.
The game's downsides: there are practically none. The only downsides are the lack of variety in the gunplay, and, of course, the short playtime—15-20 minutes at most.
Bottom line: An excellent and beautiful mod. Download it without hesitation—it's worth it. Plus, it's ridiculously lightweight.
PS: The mod requires Episode 2 to be installed.
Source: hl.loess.ru.