Dark Edges: The House

for Half-Life 2: Episode One

1st June 2008

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Here’s a mod based off the Call of Cthulhu mythos. Work you way through the gardens and into the house. Can you follow the clues and reach the attic?

Basic Details
  • Title: Dark Edges: The House
  • File Name: hl2-ep1-sp-dark-edges-the-house.rar
  • Size : 157.18Mb
  • Author: Merlin THP
  • Date Released: 01 June 2008
PlanetPhillip Download Servers
Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Installation Instructions
  • Copy the DarkEdges_TheHouse folder into your SourceMods folder.
  • Restart or start Steam.
  • Dark Edges: The House should now be listed in your Library tab.
  • Launch as you would any other game or mod.
Panoramic View

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
With your cursor on the image, press and hold your left mouse button and move around the image. Use your mouse wheel to scroll in and out of the panoramic.
Sorry about the tree, I had a gap and had to fill it in!

Screenshots

Click on the thumbnails below to open a 1024 pixel wide image.
WARNING: The screenshots may contain spoilers.

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Reader Recommendations
Avoid It!
Think Twice
Maybe
Play It Later
Play It Now!

21 recommendations, average score: 2.9 (out of 5), standard deviation: 1.8 (what's that?)
Total Downloads

Please note: These statistics are valid from December 2010

  • 3,095
    Overall
  • 0
    Today
  • 1
    Last 7 days
  • 5
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  • 88
    365 days
Meta Review Data
Statistics based on 2 comment(s) with meta review data.

Installed:
Using Gauge: Users
Manually: 2 Users

Time Taken:
Average: 1 Hours, 28 Mins
Shortest: 0 Hours, 10 Mins by Daken50
Longest: 2 Hours, 45 Mins by BrEEn's_Executioner 12-0-3
Total Time Played: 2 Hours, 55 Mins
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83 Comments

  1. Hoyy
    Play It Later

    I think this is pretty cool. The author is MerlinTHP, but I never heard of him.The maps in the beginning are well detailed. As you get inside the estate, you’ll have to deal with some monsters and discover the truth about it. The premisse to be there is to investigate a probable crime, were a girl went missing and her father contracts your detective services. I’m now close to the attic, and by far, i’m expecting a huge surprise then. This mod is kinda creepy, so if you like “dark” experiences, go on and give it a try.

  2. Hoyy

    I’m stuck in the map sdk_thehouse_house1. Can’t seen to do anything from here. The only thing I didn’t saw is a book, but it is because it has a key to unlock it. MMaybe the author could help me or someone else? I don’t know what to do from there… The map is the one after you kill a lot of zombies in a room that has a clock a big table and when a child laugh in the darkness..

  3. Hoyy

    I seen to have found the exit. There is a door, that leads to a corridor in this same map. The problem is, it is locked, and I had to noclip throu it. I don’t know if I need to look for a key, but I guess this is a design error. From there, we seen to go from a area from a previous map (kitchen, laundry room and sleeping rooms part, one previous to this map) and then enter a ball room. Then, a vortigaunt-like voice starts talking somerthing with “UN!!” and from there, my game crashes and nothing else seens to happen… Maybe this mod is incomplete??

  4. 4lyx

    Confirmed. Game consistantly crashes at the Vort for me. I used “notarget” to enter the room and the vort speaks and the ballroom music plays. As soon as I turn off notarget the game instantly loops and locks. Whadda shame.

  5. Senator33
    Play It Now!

    Agree a lot with the previous posters, but am giving it an extra point for creativity. The highlight for me was the battle against fast zombies in the chapel. Absolutely jumped outta my chair when the music began; “Dies Irie”, from Verdi’s “Requiem”. To some, the music describes God’s dispatch of the demons to hell; and reign of fire and terror just preceding Judgement Day – I couldn’t think of a better background for the battle scene……Am also pleased at the permanent batteries in the flashlight….

  6. Yup, crashes for me as well at the Vortigaunt.

  7. AI
    Maybe?

    Same thing here, enter room, nice music, Vort starts to speek, “CRASH” 4 time in a row!! Hope we can get a fix for this I for one would like to finnish it, not give up!! 🙁 Phillip, can you get in contact with the author??

  8. MerlinTHP

    Greetings all,

    Thanks for your reviews. I am glad you like what you have seen. 🙂
    Love the chapel myself…one of my playtesters fell out his chair at that bit. 8)

    The dining room door with all the zombies and clock in should be open when you “zone” after killing every last one. Was it locked on HouseMain spawn?

    Not sure what could be causing the Vort crash. He should say “Undeserving of consciousness!” as he spawns. As he gets part way into speech file, I assume it is not that. There may be issues perhaps with him attacking for some people (not had that issue myself nor reported in playtesting). I shall give that some thought.

  9. MerlinTHP

    It could of course be random Steam Data Wappy….where part of the mod changes without being changed by me for absolutely no logical reason whatsoever….and then several days changes back. Had one or two of those random acts of wierdness at least.

  10. Hoyy

    Oh, so there is the need to “zone” the room. Nice to hear from you, Merlin. Good job you did there. But that book in the library… There is one of them that the player can’t open without a probable key … ? It is one in the corner, a black questbook for instance. As for the crashes, isn’t there a missing file in the mod and then someone other than dev who downloads the mod may miss it and the game crashes? 4lyx found a good thing there and using notarget can help a little bit, altough that’s kind of provisory. And then, if you’re open to oppinion from a fellow player, a simple player point of view, you might consider making the height of the rooms a little lesser. As for the enemies, I think it got handled way through out the mod, so there aren’t much left to fix, but add a little more props and it could look more real-life. The effects and darkness in the first few maps were the best parts, IMHO, and if there were more of those, probable it could be even nicer to play the mod.

    Again, good job and congratz in your mod.

  11. MerlinTHP

    Hi Hoyy

    Thanks 🙂

    None of the books are locked. There is a book in the library that is holds a key (Gives brief description: This book is hollowed out and contains a key). That is the only one I can think of related to keys. The key in the book allows you to access a further part of the house.

    Since the Vort starts to use the WAV file (It is part of HL2, not one I designed) and you hear him say UN.. before it crashes; I assume that is not it. When I have had a missing WAV file before it just did not play anything rather than crash. As soon as he spots you he attacks, so I wonder if that is the problem. Those getting this problem have Ep2?

  12. AI

    I used to have a memory read error and crash with E2, but Steam added a bunch of updates to E2 and now NO more error!! But that only happened when I would be playing a mod/map with E2 only! This error/crash didn’t give me that message and I’ve never had this with E1. I’m going to try the “noclip” and see what happens! 😉

  13. 4lyx

    As soon as he spots you he attacks….

    I “notargeted” and ran up the stairs and hid from the Vort. (the WAV file has already played through) Turned off notarget. No crash. I eased up to the balcony rail and as soon as I had line of sight, the game looped and crashed.

    Those getting this problem have Ep2?

    Aye

  14. AI

    Ahh, pardon an old man who needs new glasses, it was “notarget” not “noclip” I keep seeing NO NO! brings me back to my childhood!! I’ll give that a try, unless Merlin has some tricks!!

  15. AI

    Just got thru the crash, and on to map 7!! I know “spoiler/cheat” but anyway when ya get to the ballroom (map6) don’t go in yet do a quick save then use “notarget” this is the only way to get past the Vort, when ya enter the room shoot all the globes in the light above, that kills the Vort, you don’t die! Be sure and print out the walkthru and follow it for the rest of map 6! Seems to work fine after that, also don’t forget to turn off “notarget” when ya get thru the secret door or the rest of the triggers won’t work!!! 🙂 Hope that settels some frustration?

  16. 4lyx

    Im already frustrated. Thanks for the tip on getting past the crash but now, ….NOW! I have been dancing all alone in that ballroom for hours! The door at the top of the steps is still locked and my Indiana Jones-like efforts at leaping for the chandelier have proven fruitless! 😛

    Can I get a clue as to what to do next? ( I prefer clues b/c walkthroughs break the fun for me)

  17. AI

    Now Now, we must not dance alone!! After you have removed the Vort form existance, you circle around the room toe the statues, go to the right hand corner, and hit your use key, that opens a secret door and ends the ballroom escapades!! Now read the walkthru for the rest!! I’m going to have a cup of warm milk and watch the 10 O’clock news!! You will get thru it!!! After strenuouse thinking old people have to rest!!

  18. 4lyx

    Don’t hate me!

    Man…I never had a clue. Yo, Merlin…Whatup!

    Just a quick note. I beta tested for mektek mekpaks and am still on the team since the beginning. I ask that you dont confuse me with a random n00b. The bugbait joke pic was just that…a joke. 😛

  19. Yochanan

    What, pray tell, is a “connector”?

  20. Count_de_Monet
    Maybe?

    Yeah, right, what is a connector, howsa look like, where is it and where am I supposed to shove it to see the sun shine and the bloody gate open?

    Still, a nice map.

  21. moonyman
    Think Twice

    It crashes far too often in my opinion. Can’t get past sparking door without it crashing so gave up. Starting to think the newest MODs are getting weaker and weaker and not tested enough. Some original content but not enough to sustain interest. Think back to Minerva etc when these MODs were comparable to HL2 itself.

  22. count_de_monet

    I concur with Mooneyman : things are going down fast. Time for a real modder to show up. Can we have a Minerva 4 or a Roboss 2 or else?

  23. MerlinTHP

    Sorry to hear you are still having issues. Tested this thing on my PC, my other PC and four playtesters. No one reported crashes. I would not have released otherwise.

    I am not sure why the sparking door would give a crash. All pretty basic.
    Ballroom crash: When the Vort engages Attack Mode seems to be the issue from the descriptions. Not sure why that would screw it up as I have been toasted many a time by it.

    I have a feeling Steam are doing various updates and it is messing it all up. Since release there have been attacks of random weirdness striking including on my version. No change at all and something bizarre happens like certain mobs start acting as my squad rather than trying to tear me a new one. I am aware that someone else had an issue beyond the sparking gate which decided to fix itself in a manner as unexplained as its arrival.

    I did test this thing to death before release.

  24. Tahuyeh

    I, too, am experiencing the crashing when trying to get past the sparking cable dangling in front of the door – just before getting to Map 4. The chapel attack was pretty scary. Up to this crashing point, I was really enjoying the map, with no problems. Hope there is a way past this point.

  25. MerlinTHP

    FFS. I hate Steam sometimes.

    It appears that something has changed with the Vortigaunt model and he cannot attack the player without crashing. That is that level screwed. ><

    As for the door with the sparking wire, if a door with a mob behind it is opened while the other door is open the game crashes. To progress just close the double doors before opening the small one.

    Apologies all. These worked fine before. I can fix the tunnels bug easily enough but the Vortigaunt(Crystal Traveller) level will need a complete overhaul to remove him.

  26. MerlinTHP

    OK. Just tried a test map with a malignant Vort and I. Works fine. No problem attacking/killing me or being killed.

    Worked fine on the ballroom map previously.

    Definitely his attack/animosity to the player causing the issue.

    Answers on a postcard to “WTF” o.O

  27. count_de_monet

    right, all very fine. But can anyone tell me where to put the freaking connector?

  28. Nick

    I gave up after the game crashed on me a second time. Both after opening a room with a poisoned zombie Too bad tough because I liked what I’ve seen so far. The fight in the church was great and so was the music. The warped vision in some parts was a nice touch. Props could be a bit better and more diverse. I agree with some of the posters: it’s high time for a mod similar to Minerva or CtA.

  29. Nick

    right, all very fine. But can anyone tell me where to put the .. Freaking connector?

    Go to the attic above the garage, all the way in the back there’s a electrical ‘thingie” on the wall. Jump on a crate and hit “use’. That’ll do the trick.

  30. Hoyy

    Coud be very remote, but maybe the map trigger, as I saw a user speaking that you need to shot the lights above the vort, may be preventing it from working properly? Anyway, why don’t you remove the vort and let the ball room be as it is??

  31. andyb

    Nick. I would of responded sooner but a few bottles pushed me to bed.I really didn’t know thats where it went as I just clicked the switch.

    As for the ballroom I just notarget”d throu it till I opened the wall.After that clear sailing.Only crash I had was the live wire till I read a post here.I like this mod and wish there were more thinking games but because of a few bugs I have to give it the

  32. count_de_monet

    thanks Nick

  33. MerlinTHP

    “I gave up after the game crashed on me a second time. Both after opening a room with a poisoned zombie”

    Apologies Nick. Which map was this and whereabouts was the room? I shall see if I can find out has gone wrong.

  34. Apologies Nick. Which map was this and whereabouts was the room? I shall see if I can find out has gone wrong.

    Apologies not needed, Merlin.
    It was at the map “House” but that was solved after I restarted my computer, strangely enough. From there on I encountered no problems. Until the dreaded Vortigaun! Luckily I read the posts so I notargeted through the whole scene. Then went on to the top of the stairs (had no idea what to do) went back down, shot 3 fast zombies, saw a fourth hiding near a door and…..the game froze on me, and again and again! Such a shame, for this mod is full of great surprises and events I never saw before. Try downloading the mod from this site and see if you encounter any problems, because with so many players experiencing the same things it can’t be hardware related.

  35. MerlinTHP

    “with so many players experiencing the same things it can’t be hardware related.”

    Aye. I have another developer friend who is also playing this and he only got to the Vort yesterday and it did exactly what it should, no problems. This is so damn depressing as it all seems completely random. o.O

    I am also getting the Vort issue now whereas I had no issue at all when playtesting it.

  36. Crispy

    Merlin, if you think they changed the Vort assets in an update but it worls fine in a testmap, try re-compiling the level of your mod with the Vort in it to seee if it works fine after that.

    It might fix it.

  37. MerlinTHP

    I have fixed the two bugs mentioned. Hopefully I will have a bug free version for you soon. WIth any luck, one that will not suffer from random acts of wierdness.

  38. AI

    Great!! I would like to give it another go. 😉

  39. Nick

    It’s good to see that the author is responding so well on the comments, without hesitation. I shall definitely try the improved version when it is posted! Great job, Merlin. I hope to see more work from you.

  40. MerlinTHP

    Still ironing out some issues (not bugs so to speak) and getting distracted by Red Orchestra. 🙂
    Hopefully will have something for you soon.

  41. denizen42
    Think Twice

    After a GREAT start and some great ideas, the rest of this MOD kicks in: bad proportions, overly simplistic, repetitive and square-ish level design.

  42. MerlinTHP

    Thanks for feedback.

    Glad you enjoyed the first part. The proportions in the house were supposed to be off/too large. I wanted the place to have an “odd” feel to it and the player to feel rather small. Also the cellar is supposed to feel rather cold and empty. I have revamped some parts of the mod (adding detail to certain areas) for the second release but as this is my first mapping experience I do not want to dwell too long on it. Were the puzzles too simple for you or were you referring to something else? Was repetitive in reference to the bad guys?

  43. MerlinTHP

    Apparently the Vort problem is with the AIN file. If it has to redo it then the Vort works fine, otherwise it just crashes. Not sure what the issue could be.

  44. DeadMeat
    Think Twice

    Creepy? Yes. Boring? absolutely. Almost quit after fixing that electric thingie to open gate… Dark rooms and hallways…zombies.. and some running and waiting and more zombies… then it crashed and I deleted the folder.

    I’ll give thumbs up for trying anyways. Good idea but not too well executed.

  45. MerlinTHP

    Job done. Hopefully we will have the new version posted here shortly (http://files.filefront.com/DarkEdges+TheHousezip/;11189077;/fileinfo.html).

    Apologies for the Vort issue.

  46. Play It Now!

    New file worked fine for me.No crashes anywhere.Good job.

  47. MerlinTHP

    Cheers Andyb. 🙂

    Hopefully everyone else will have a bug free game from now on. 🙂

  48. I added your link to the secondary download section.Phillip can change things when he’s back from holiday.

  49. MerlinTHP

    Thanks 🙂

  50. Endi
    Play It Now!

    Good job with this mod, I really enjoy it… waiting for the espisode 2 xD

    if you want translate to other language, I can translate to spanish.

    My congratulation!!

    BB

  51. MerlinTHP

    Thanks Endi. 🙂

    Not started on Episode 2 yet however it is certainly taking shape in my head.
    May do a normal HL2 mod first for the traditionalists. 🙂

  52. I’ve marked all the links as old except for the one you had for the new file.Phillip probably missed this once he returned from holidays so he will probably see this in the morning and can do his thing.I’d do it except I cant upload to his account.

  53. The link doesn’t work for me. Strange because this is the second time this has happened recently, other FileFront links still work.

  54. Jason

    Hey, I downloaded this from ModDB and all I can do is stare at the letter the game begins with. Is there some way to fix this?

  55. Hey, I downloaded this from ModDB

    I don’t know which version of the file they have listed. This:
    http://files.filefront.com/DarkEdges+TheHousezip/;11189077;/fileinfo.html
    Is the latest one I know about. You could try that.

  56. MerlinTHP

    Hi Jason,

    Not had that mentioned as yet as a bug. Sounds like the camera control is refusing to deactivate. Did you have more luck with the one from Phillip’s link?

  57. Walker

    The link to the newest version doesn’t work. Can anyone provide a working link?

  58. Walker

    Just downloaded it. I’ll play as soon as I can. Thanks.

    The link in the secondary downloads should be updated.

  59. Timusius
    Avoid It!

    Sorry but this did not hold my attention for more than 15 mins.

    The maps aren’t good looking, they are clearly rushed through.
    You need the flashlight all the time, but it needs to recharge all the time. So you need to take a break every few mins. looking at a black screen. Its simply annoying.

    I got to the first area with zombies… and even those are not fun… a few might be ok.. but killing 20 or so with a crowbar… come on.

    I know this is supposed to be a puzzle mod of some sort… but its more frustrating than its fun.

  60. Bobby

    Yeah… not impressed. Im not a modder, so im not saying I can do better… But a few pointers…

    1. Total, constant darkness and a diminishing flashlight battery is NOT an entertaining way to flesh out gameplay! Sure it forces for me to play longer, but with 25% of my time spent waiting for auxillary power to recharge in total blackness (which is also silent and completely uninteresting), it’s not my idea of pulse-pounding, pant’s wetting-horror.

    2. Making fights hard by blinding the player with unnecessary visual effects is called being cheap, NOT being atmospheric. I feel like my character is having a stroke, or his glaucoma is playing up, everytime the pinched visual effect comes in. The part where it occurs as a fast zombie runs towards me was annoying, especially coupled with afformentioned lack of auxillary power to allow sprinting. Its like I have to take a timeout from gameplay to let it go… which sort of runs along familiar lines with the afforementioned torch-recharge-periods.

    3. Spamming enemies is never a good idea. Stop doing it. A dozen zombies in the loft was a needlessly long trial in ammunition conservation. Crowbar fencing with 3 zombies is not fun… but when there is 12 of them… in a confined space, with no light, and no torch or sprint (refer to point 1) it’s neither fun nor scary, and definitely not scarily-fun. And as for the chapel (which I will return to on another point) I counted at least ANOTHER 12 fast zombies in one confined, dark room (seeing a pattern here?) Take note… Half Life 2 never uses more than 2 or 3 of those guys at a time… thats for a reason. AND when they do use them, they give the player a chance at manuveuring, sidestepping and dodging, it made it feel like I was fighting them, being smart and anticipating their leaps and pounces. Not being hemmed in a crypt with them lining up to chew on my nipples. Or continually getting stuck in the pews which where so close together I began to think the entire parish were obviously double-leg amputees and had no need for foot-room.

    4. Having enemies appear almost out of nowhere to score a cheap-kinghit on you as you open a door is not horror. Its startling. And thats only when it happens the first time. After that its obnoxious. If you want to make the player scared, use ambient sounds, some of the original half life 2 music score, especially that from Ravenholm was good for setting mood. Ensure there is always something that is moving out of our vision or just out of our reach, like behind a vent, or behind a closed window in a darkened room, or on the skyline in the distance. Something we cant quite see, but know is there, as if its watching us, hunting us. Mystery is good horror, as soon as you show us the enemy, we know what we are fighting, and the known is not as scary as the unknown.

    5. Running around a level with a crowbar tapping on every wall, door, floor, item, corpse and what-ever else, in the hope of finding your cunningly camoflaged destructable panel is boring. It takes me back to the days of the Story-Telling point and click RPG games, where all I used to do was click on every item on the screen in turn hoping for stumble on the logic train of the level designer. We have moved past that phase, we dont revisit it, take note of that. Look at Half Life 2… they highlight “hidden secrets” with lights, sounds, interesting items, or health and ammo. Why? So the player doesnt stumble into a box-room with 4 box walls that look exactly the same as the box-ceiling, with no doors or windows (why would anybody build a room like that?) and have to systematically start digging themsevles out with a crowbar while the flashlight power drains down (see point 1)

    6. Ok specifics… I need a “Connector” to fix the gate… What the hell is a connector?! I had connectors as a 5 year old, they were little blocks like lego that I made houses out of, they didnt fix electric gates. My back garden hose has a connector too for that matter, and its not very useful for anything except making water flow from the tap onto my plants (and onto my shorts when it break or busts off without warning). When u give us a task, be specific, descriptive… and for the love of god when you put it (the “Connector’) in a room highlight it with something so we know what to look for (see point 4)! I didnt know connectors looked like white jars with old paper labels.

    7. What was in that mod to point to Cthulhu? I saw some bland textures, illogical layout of someone’s very LARGE backyard, numerous Halflife 2 zombies and a whole lot of black-screen and a slowly recharging Aux’Power meter. There was nothing there to make me think of any Lovecraftian mythos. The chapel would have been the perfect place to insert SOMETHING cthuhluh, surely.

    The game kept crashing after I got into the house, past the chapel, and opened the door with the sparking cable in front of it. I got one glance at half a zombie and bam. End game. I never got a chance to finish it, and have since deleted its root files and written this angry post. Which I grant will likely not be read by anyone. And if they do they will give the text-book answers of “Well you make a better one then lol” or “Its for free what did you expect?” and possibly a ‘shut up fool” Thats if it doesnt get moderated and binned due to some other reason, maybe because its too long, or possibly because im actually saying something useful. READ THAT ADMIN?! GO ON SCRATCH THIS I DARE YOU! OPPRESS THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH BABY!!!!

    Lots of love. Bobby.

    1. Leon

      My my…you’ve seemed to cover all the problems I’ve face in this mod.

      Thanks for the lovely rant there, it’s a bit eye opening to me. I’m guessing you review most mods you play? Because that would certainly provide A LOT of good feedback for them.

  61. Thats if it doesnt get moderated and binned due to some other reason

    It looks like it’s your first comment here. Whilst I have an iron grip regarding moderating comments, as long as you are not too rude or offensive I won’t edit your comments. You made your points in a forthright manner but that’s clearly your “style”.

    Whether the author of the mod reads, replies and acts upon them is another matter.

    BTW, please call me Phillip.

  62. Bobby

    Heh heh, cheers Phillip, both for the heads up and prompt reply.

    Bob.

  63. Chris Harvey
    Avoid It!

    [Most of the comment removed for breaking the house rules – Phillip]

    Don’t quit your day job. Give up now!

  64. Sirb00b
    Think Twice

    well I wouldve liked to believe that the people who were talking about the negitive aspects of this game were just too picky. but they are not. there are many things just in the frist few minutes that could have been changed to make this mod so much better. if the creater of the mod wants my opinion on how to change it to make it better, ill be more than happy to help. but until things get fixed, I would definately reconsider the download.

  65. Black Dog

    Well, I’m stuck where you first see and kill the headcrabs, I can’t seam to open that door! I think I killed all the head crabs, even the one in the center of the high box. Any help?

  66. john

    here I can help you, jump into the room which the door wont open.
    i am a bit further then you I am in the garden shed and not shure if I will keep playing. I like call of cathulu and the half life 1 mod was great. this just seems to be a zombie fest lost in darkness. but for now I shall keep playing.

  67. I’ll try again. I’ve done so much jumping I feel like a freaking cricket! lol I am in the barn just kill all them zombies and just acquired the shotgun.

  68. Avoid It!

    I quit! If I wanted to go around in circles,I would have gotten on a merry-go-round.
    Then you have the hallucinations while you are being attack. You run out of ammo, then you got to fight poison zombies and regular zombies with only your crowbar. Hordes of zombies!

  69. john
    Maybe?

    i normally dont give up on mod’s. but here I had to. the garden was the end for me. to get past the barn and fire barrels. I spent a long time moving medkits and ammo to the next part, the plastic crate seemed like a great idea, but nothing would stay in it. if I could have carried supply’s around in this zombie fest with no ammo mod it might have made it more fun. sorry.
    the call of cathulu name really made me think it was from the half life 1 call of cathullu mod that was great.
    oh well you win some loose some. maybe the next one will be improved.

  70. MerlinTHP

    Thanks for constructive feedback all.

    The lack of ammo was a bit of a surprise. I thought there might have been a bit too much. 🙂
    Thoughts and opinions taken on board.

    JOHN: There is HL2 version of the Call of Cthulhu HL1 mod in production ny the same chap (Doing some modelling for it now). Moddb has a page on Cthulhu2.

  71. tim
    Think Twice

    Playing DARK EDGES / THE HOUSE Part1 and so I got as far as the ballroom, as I entered the game froze with a voice that was stuck forever repeting itself, I tried starting the game over and over but the same -loody thing keeps happening, I WAS enjoying this but this crashing of games is so crap, all I ever seem to do is end up with games that dont work, it is putting me right off.

    Can anybody help?

    so looking forward to a constructive, nay, helpful reply…..!

  72. MerlinTHP

    Apologies Tim. This happened before with a dodgy AIN file for that level. Works fine when it rebuilds but crashes when it had it already. :/

    I thought this version was OK for that level but it seems not. Just delete the AIN file for that level (sdk_thehouse_house2.ain I believe)

  73. Think Twice

    Man,I was so annoyed within 12 minutes that I dumped this mod and went looking again.

  74. datguykirt

    Running Vista 64 bit on an Acer Aspire 6920G dual core and running the game through Steam. The game kept crashing after I got past the chapel, into the room with the two large tanks and opened the door with the sparking cable in front of it (behind it? hard to tell). I got one glance at half a zombie and bam. End game. I tried several times and even tried no-clipping my way into the room from several different angles. No luck. I never got a chance to finish it.

  75. Hec
    Play It Later

    Lovecraft classic Cthulu, allways is going to be worthy to play in any video game, or mod form.

    So I recomend this, actually is very HL2 and u won’t find any costume model or something “new” but is a cool short entretaiment worthy enough to be played.

    If u want longer try the HL1 mod. I played this quite a long ago and I arrive here since I recall the few Cthulu mods for HL available.

  76. Unknown

    It’s hard to tell which direction this modification is going in. Is this modification meant to be scary or action based? I felt like I was trying to kill as many N.P.C.’s as possible and rush through the modification.

    This modification I am sad to say gives off the impression to me that it was made to be more difficult to cover up some of the negative aspects about it. I have noticed a lot of mod developers seem to follow this trend and I have seen it in a lot of other modifications.

    It tries to give off the appearance that it’s better than what it actually is.

    Some mod developers seem to think a more difficult modification will get more publicity. That’s not true at all, and people can see right pass that.

    If a modification is lacking “You can’t cover it up the flaws it already has by making it appear redundant”. That’s what distinguishes a good mod from a bad one in my opinion.

    Regards:My apologizes to the developer of this modification if my words seem harsh, and perhaps you did not intend for the mod to give off that impression.

    Pros:

    1.Change Of Atmosphere:You do get the chance to fight inside or outdoors.

    2.Plenty Of N.P.C.’s To Fight:Personally, I felt there was too many N.P.C.’s in some areas there were, so many I could barely open some of the doors.

    Cons:

    1.Props:I spent more time destroying props that I constantly was tripping over then playing the actual modification. You will find an unnecessary amount of props through the entire modification.

    2.The Flash-Light:This was probably the single most annoying thing with this modification. Constantly waiting for the flash-light to charge, so you could see anything or have it flicker every 5 seconds.

    3.The Story-Line:There wasn’t really a story-line or if there was it wasn’t a custom story-line nor did it fit into the modification. The story-line isn’t essential in anyway to this modification which completely takes away any dynamic elements this mod could have had.

  77. Running Win7x64 ATI Radeon HD Gigabyte Mod is good alas the crash at the vort but notarget works to bypass that.

  78. Play It Now!

    My bad for double posting.

    I played Dark Edges once before and of course it crashed and I never truley finished it to the end, but this time when I re-downloaded it and just assumed it would crash again forcing me to use notarget so I posted that unnecessary comment, perhaps if somebody could remove it at my consent thanks Phil if you could that would be cool with me.

    Now, I was able to play it all the way through after all the painstaking zombie filled darkness with flickering flashlight recharge nonsense, despite the very large areas and rooms that could just barely be found like the hidden one in the chapel after the battle with the Vortiguant (Crystal Traveler), this mod is not so bad and has many fantastic set points such as the first chapel with the fast zombies going berserk on your tail however the music plays very long and I probably waited like 5 minutes since it is a lengthy tune in order to initiate battle against the fast dead guys lol. I must have been lucky or something because I didn’t experience a single error or crash and I played it all the way through after dying about a hundred times due to limited ammo but at the very end it’s kind of a combination lock of buttons I needed to press in a single order to get things a-rocking. The only cthulhu element in this mod seemed to be the reading material and the books throughout the game and the
    [spoiler] mental patient in a room surrounded by screaming lunatics as was in H.P. Lovecraft Cthulhu Lore. [/spoiler] MerlinTHC this is an alright I give probably 8 credits out of ten for this mod. There’s a sequel I believe but It’s unavailable on ModDB because It’s not released, I think, or something, I do not know yet.
    Cheers and enjoy and if above links are still down go to ModDB website or google Dark Edges The House for fresh links.

  79. Think Twice

    Forgettable.

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