By all accounts, Half Life: Alyx it is a phenomenal game. But because it’s just VR, large areas of gamers just can’t play it because of the high costs of VR hardware and the equipment that supports it. To fix this, modders have been working on no VR modifications Alyx, with different levels of success.
Recently, SoMNst, a modern from Argentina, posted a video on YouTube highlighting the progress of his own No VR mod.
So far it looks good. The camera does not work with all the movements as we have seen other modifications, and Alyx’s hands are controlled with a mouse and keyboard. His fingers move like one, rather than with the movements of a finger that are not associated with a player’s hand on a virtual reality controller. The nearly nine-minute video mostly shows fighting, while other videos on the SoMNst channel show Alyx working with his omni tool, which moves more naturally now that it is controlled with a mouse and keyboard instead of the hands of someone.
The goal of SoMNst is to make the modification play so close Half-Life 2 as possible. For its looks, non-VR Half Life: Alyx it looks like a typical first-person shooter from the Source engine.
While gamers who don’t own VR may want these modifications, others say they pervert the original vision of the game’s developers. SoMNst is well aware that a modification without VR dilutes part of what Half Life: Alyx special.
G / O Media may receive a commission
“I played the game in virtual reality and I think the game is a masterpiece. Valve did an amazing job, ”SoMNst said Kotaku by email. But the high cost of virtual reality hardware has created such a large entry barrier that most people will not be able to experience this magic. SoMNst wants to lower that barrier.
“In the current situation in my country (Argentina) it is almost impossible to get a VR headset, even if you try to get the cheapest one,” SoMNst wrote. “Therefore, I am developing this modification because of this and because I think it is a beautiful challenge to work HLA without VR “.
Currently, only two of the 11 chapters of the game can be played with the modification. SoMNst and two other modders, Optimus97 and Nicklaus, are working together to create non-VR-enabled versions of the game’s basic features, such as crafts and navigation in the main menu. SoMNst says they are prioritizing it before working to make the rest of the game playable.
A VR-free mod is precisely what I personally hope to experience Half-Life: Alyx. I love the Half life games and was thrilled to see that Valve had stolen the series back. But my enthusiasm dried up a lot knowing that the game was just VR. I’m interested in virtual reality games, but I can’t justify buying an expensive headset that will no doubt end up being modeled in my closet for use with one or two games. (While Oculus Quest is much more reasonably priced, I can’t stand the idea of its mandatory integration into Facebook). SoMNst’s Half Life: Alyx the non-VR mod is not yet available, but when it is, I will be the first to try it.