Half-Quake Amen

for Half-Life

4th December 2011

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3

You live your everyday life. Work, family, house, children – whatever.

But one day you get caught in an absolutely dark, surrealistic and sadistic world called Halfquake. Is it an institution?

Is it on earth? No-one seems to care about you, your pain and your life. Forget your past, it’s gone forever. Just pray it won’t be too sadistic.

Amen.

This was September 2017’s Classic of the Month mod.

Basic Details
  • Title: Half-Quake Amen
  • File Name: hl1-sp-half-quake-amen-and-the-present.7z
  • Size : 45.7MB
  • Author: Muddasheep
  • Date Released: 01 September 2002
Important Note

This file contains an addon for Amen called “The Present”. It has its own post but is unavailable as a separate download.

RunThinkShootLive Download Servers
Installation Instructions
  • Copy the hquake2 folder into your Half-Life folder.
  • Restart or start Steam.
  • Half-Quake: Amen should now be listed in your Library tab.

If you require more help, please visit the Technical Help page.

Playthrough Videos

The playthrough below is part of the Classic of the Month Event, run by Don AKA Unq.

Screenshots

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

14 recommendations, average score: 4.14 (out of 5), standard deviation: 1.55 (what's that?)
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Meta Review Data
Statistics based on 3 comment(s) with meta review data.

Installed:
Using Gauge: Users
Manually: 3 Users

Time Taken:
Average: 2 Hours, 50 Mins
Shortest: 2 Hours by Diclonius Limeony
Longest: 4 Hours by Thechugg
Total Time Played: 8 Hours, 30 Mins
If you believe this release is missing important tags, please suggest them in a comment?
Special Events
Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Jump to a review
Maybe?Play It Now!Maybe?Play It Now!Play It Now!Phillip says MaybePersonal FavouritePlay It Now!Personal FavouritePersonal FavouriteAvoid It!Maybe?Personal FavouritePersonal Favourite

50 Comments

  1. heyzors

    Wow this looks very challenging. I think Im gunna try it!

  2. heyzors

    I’m at the level “sapience” and I did everything. I checked the walkthrough and it makes it seem like I have to wait 20 minutes! Does anyone know how to do this or do I actually have to wait 20 minutes?

    PP Note: Please don’t swear in your comments, it only wastes my time editing them out.

  3. heyzors

    Maybe I didnt do everything! Do you actually have to open the chest with you “on fire arm”? If you do, how do you open it?

  4. Darth Marsden

    Heyzors – If you’re at the train station, then yes, you really do have to wait 20 minutes.

  5. heyzors

    How do you get to the train? I can’t figure it out. I can’t get the dynamite lit nor can I do anything with that box. The box starts with an ‘s” and you have to insert a coin. It is also striped. How do I open it?

  6. The Abandoned Workshops

    Gameplay:
    Very similar to the previous instalment but of course must better and more improved with a lot more interesting moments throughout the whole modification. Puzzles are a lot more difficult but a lot of variety between them keeping each chapter very tension building and fun. There are plenty of puzzles that tend to get frustrating but they require some thinking to successfully get through. The modification still has a lot of action throughout which creates more tension for survival, but again it’s limited to headcrabs which when attacking says “I’m a dragon!” which was quite funny. Some changes to the weapons this time round with a sword like melee that kills instantly and gives its user infinite health. There are also times where you get all sorts of different scenarios from mini quests to jump puzzles or funny moments. Another feature that was added in was the diary entries which added to the story, making the place feel the way it really is like.

    Also included are some music tracks that really fit the whole theme and work well where they’ve been used. The new sound effects are also quite good, making the world around feel much more alive. I quite liked the village section of the mod where it feels like a role playing game, more precisely like Zelda. A lot of the speech throughout also keeps everything entertaining, sometimes the tone is boring but that adds to the gloomy grey feeling the whole thing gives off. There is also another boss battle in this one with Somos again, but this time round a lot harder and exciting. The team actually made him look and feel a lot of stronger and creepier and the music used in this fight seriously fits.

    Design:
    A lot better than the first Half-Quake using new textures and style all together which works very well with the actual theme. Each location has been constructed fairly good for the style they wanted to achieve, most of it is basic looking yet very good at the same time. Each chapter has its own style and look to the place, and much later into the mod there are more solid designs with more textures used to make actual locations still within that set world theme, very good job there.

    Every location has its own weird tone to it which creates a lot of atmosphere to create a dull mood yet adventurous one at that. A lot of other interesting details also worth mentioning such as that face that is seen everywhere on buttons and such can also be seen on enemies and in the skybox. Even trees and bushes have a weird style to them with a drawn look. There’s a lot in this modification worth mentioning about but It’s best left up to the player to find them all.

    Conclusion:
    EA fantastic theme, with very fitting design. style and an interesting gameplay throughout.

    Rating: 90%

  7. ????

    Damn, I thought it was gonna be a remake of quake! 🙁 Oh well, nice job anyway.

  8. Uplonk Meister

    You have to wait for 20 minutes I remember I got really pissed. LOL this is by far the most artistically interesting mod for HL. Only for the sadistic 😀

  9. muh

    This is the best mod ever made! 8)

  10. Ade
    Maybe?

    It’s only sadistic in the first part. It’s original and should have it’s own category lol, it’s like another game. That’s why some things were so damn hard to figure out and thank God for the walkthrough. But that didn’t help me with the jumping from one ledge to another quickly, avoiding slaves and, oh, the huge hand which pets you the second you’re on the ledge.. So I used noclip on that plus at the end, where I was supposed to kill somos and the elevators were already up and I couldn’t get them down (I can’t quit an unfinished mod).
    The game was quite boring at some points. I didn’t enjoy all the music and was pissed off by the fact that you weren’t hinted at the start of every task whether you should complete it fast (like the corridor with the boxes) or dead slow, or just wait for something to appear. What made me swear louder was when I quick saved right after a sudden death. Get used to those 😐
    I don’t think it was a waste of time, but I don’t think I’ve learned anything from it either. It is enjoyable from time to time and interesting all the way.
    If you want something completely different, try it.
    I would have given it a 5 word review like “never seen anything like it”, for it’s simple drawings, but since I did (in Ispitatel 4, I think), I’ve switched to
    “not for epileptics; sudden deaths”

  11. HL Masta
    Play It Now!

    Maybe I didnt do everything! Do you actually have to open the chest with you “on fire arm”? If you do, how do you open it?

    Not a gun. noclip to the grave on the hill and walk into the fire. It should say “Your right arm is on fire now.”.Walk to that NPC with the chest and use the dynamite.

  12. poisonheadcrab
    Maybe?

    THe author for this mod thinks he’s funny but he’s not. And everythint being black and white got rely old after a wile

    PS i’m a dragon

  13. wreade1872
    Play It Now!

    I never figured out how to open the chest in the village area but the game continued anyway 🙂 so obviously you only have to do a few tasks in this area not all of them.
    I never used a walkthrough and didn’t find it that hard to figure out what to do my only problem with the mod is the amount of times I got killed by moving platforms and lifts but thats the half-life engine at work not the authors.

  14. poisonheadcrab

    I wasn’t talking about the puzzles it’s the headcrabs saying I’m a dragon, the talking skeleton and the end boss said some stupid things as well.

  15. Play It Now!

    Ok, this was probably one of the best mods I have ever played. I loved the puzzles, the traps, the enviroment, and the general mood that it gave me. I enjoyed it so much mainly because it is different from the average Half life shooter mod.

  16. Phillip says Maybe

    I have never saved and loaded so much in all my life. OMG, if I didn’t have to finish it for the site I probably wouldn’t have continued.

    Now, it’s quite difficult to workout what to do sometimes, but just try everything.

    To be fair I actually enjoyed large sections of it but the overall experience was one of frustration.

    The twenty minute wait was a cool touch, as was the read the text file. Can’t be negative about the creativity involved in this release, but you really have to love it to carry on.

    Hopefully, you approach each level as a challenge rather than a chore.

    My advice is to not rush it. Take your time and get pleasure from your deaths. If not the sadistic author has won.

    My 5 Word Review
    This mod killed Bambi’s mother

  17. Personal Favourite

    I’m going to go with Personal Favourite, but I could have given it a Play it Now.

    This mod was very inspirational, and you can see similarities in other HL mods, such as AoM, Sven Co-op, Vlokam1, Ispatatel3 and 4. I have played this mod four times before, which shows how much I enjoyed the originality of it. The mod is very unlike anything you would have played before and it oozes creativity. It is very frustrating in parts however, such as the final boss, although the infamous HL lift glitch was the main cause of that.

    The mod is full of dark and sadistic comedy, which will appeal to some but not to others. There were some parts that even had me laughing, such as the “I’m a dragon” part and the possessed Christmas tree. Like the first one, this was a mix of both combat and puzzles, which I felt worked very well together. In the second half of the game, you get a reskinned crowbar which makes you virtually invincible, but it is still fun to smash the Vortigaunts to pieces. The puzzles can be tough at times but with a little bit of thought, you will get them in the end.

    This mod has a much better story than the first one, and you will find 7 or 8 diaries that explain a side story of another “victim”. Nothing that important, but it adds to the feel of the game. We also have a final boss, just like the last HQ game. Also there is some original music in this mod, which I actually enjoyed, such as the final boss music and some in the 20 minute wait map.

    Another thing worth mentioning is “Patience” which is a part near the end of the mod. You wait around for 20 minutes doing nothing at a train station. While it is original I hated it. You can play some music, watch a telly and answer a phone but that’s about it, and it gets boring quickly.

    I’m expecting many Avoid It and Play it Now recommendations here.

    1. I’m expecting many Avoid It and Play it Now recommendations here.

      Me too. And now that you say that, it’s really like the mods colours; black and white. Even though I am a grey, you are right it’s mostly a Love or Hate situation.

  18. OOOOOOkayyyyyyy. I’ve tried playing this before and didn’t get very far before getting bored (not frustrated, BORED).

    I’m seriously going to try to get through this, BUT, if the 2006 posts of heyzors and Darth Marsden are correct, then the enforced 20 min wait at the train station will be an automatic AI from me!!!!!

    Also this could have done without the screenshots because they are reinforcing my dislike already!!

    1. Also this could have done without the screenshots because they are reinforcing my dislike already!!

      That’s why the download link is always above the screenshots, so you don’t have to see them before playing.

  19. Hec
    Play It Now!

    This one was still a good HQ deliver and you have the felling u won’t regret of playing it, I have to stress the “STILL” word, because almost all the good points HQ series have been harvesting as a revolutionary mod got wasted and just ruined in the last HQ deliver, but I will talk about that when the propper time for reviewing sunrise comes.

    Here we have a solid mod story argument, a really main and strong pshyco environment and atmosphere of that persists till the last second oof the mod which is great. We still have a WEAPON!!!, and some ennemys to beat whit that weapon!!

    The main lack in here is the traps that could get ruined and just make u start all the tortuous part again!!, but here I think mudda” still have the sadistic element more stick to the mod and not just in the freakin traps!!

    Anyway this is a won’t regret it for sure.

    P.D. Oh by the way that Fat’s dommino great voice in the lines of: I FOUND MY THRILL and then u got smashed was a just sweet classic moment in hq for sure!!

  20. Personal Favourite

    Pestilence
    -The diarys you keep finding are genuinely unnerving
    -HA HA HA HA! Stayin Alive. Stayin Alive.
    -Try doing the piano part while walking then do it while running
    existence
    -Epileptics probably shouldn’t play this mod ( I’m not though)
    Silence
    -Don’t say I didn’t warn you epileptics
    -You spin me right round baby right round…
    essence
    -So this is what reality TV will be like in the future
    -The new einstein model reminds me of Sloth from The Goonies
    Offence
    -1 bad thing: No suit = No Hud = No ammo counter
    Absence
    -Tennis? In my Half-Quake?
    Audience
    -Nice HQ1 Reference
    ambience
    -Yay the Sword of Sadism!
    Sapience
    -funny parody of side quests
    Patience

    Violence
    -This place is Half-Quake and I’m here to die…
    Somos
    Again: EPIC
    Overall:
    My Favorite of the Half-Quake series
    Awesome soundtrack! Here’s a sample : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ObEwo1fDcY
    Also there’s a cool comic for it here : http://farm.muddasheep.com/cgi-bin/hqa_comics.cgi?page=1
    Lastly:
    I’m a dragon

  21. Oh yeah The present is pretty Cool.

    1. It’s coming next Saturday.

  22. Personal Favourite

    This my favorite from the Half-Quake series. Compare to HQ 1 it is longer, darker and more artistic. Does the sadism could be artistic ? Muddasheep prove yes.

    In this opus you will endure some painful activities which will make you suffer psychologically. Walk across huge grounds, climb a stairs with too hight steps, resolve useless quest, beat Somos again and choose your death.

    Of course HQA is not required for conformist but if your are a Gothic person (or not) or looking for originality you will enjoy it (or endure it).

    The Presents a little Add-on with same characteristic with a “The Cake is a Lie” taste.

    Die on it at own risk.

  23. inkblot42

    Does anyone want to try multiplayer?

    1. Maybe. No one is ever on sadly.

  24. I’m not joking when I say I dreamt about this mod last night. And not just once, but a few times. I have a sleeping disorder that means I wake up multiple times per night, which in turn means I generally remember all my dreams.

    A few times I was even writing this comment in my dream. Geez, these mods really do affect me.

    One thing I forget to mention is that when I was trying to pass the hammers with the lava, I tried for about 15 minutes and gave up. The next day, I cam back to it and passed it on the first go.

    It’s amazing how the brain assimilates the technique. Shows that to improve you actually NEED to take breaks.

    I may even replay these mods because when you know what to do, you can focus more on the experience, rather than just getting past the level.

    1. inkblot42

      Didn’t Muddasheep have nightmares about Somos while he was making the mod?
      probably just a coincidence…
      Or maybe, just maybe… Somos has become a thought-form through the collective pain of the players?

  25. Avoid It!

    I tried, I really tried to give this a chance, I really did! But I hated it. I got bored really quickly!

    This is not the type of gameplay I enjoy. I like Half Life but if it weren’t for the use of some Vorts and Barney’s I would have thought it a totally separate entity. I’d like to have finished this just to say ” I did it” but I can only take so much, I got about half way judging by the screen-shots but I have to say enough’s enough. I play for fun and for me there was no fun at all right from the start.

    Ok, at least the author did something original, but he must of realised this would be for a small audience. I can appreciate the hard work and skill that went into it but that alone doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it. Black and white doesn’t make it boring the gameplay (for me at least) does.

    I considered giving this a maybe because I didn’t finish it, but to use the Marmite analogy I used in a previous post, one taste and I know I’m not going to finish the jar!

    1. Barnz

      I don’t want to sound rude, but are you crazy? You clearly don’t like the original mod, is that right? Then why on earth do you download, and play the sequel? It’s like buying an expansion pack for a game that you hate, or forcing someone to play a game that he or she does not like. It’s pointless. You don’t like the mod, that’s fine, but please don’t post the same thing on every page.

      1. As I said in my comment on Hazardous Half-Quake Quatridual page: “I’ll try to play them through again (and try to finish them) just to be in the spirit of the event.”

        Events that are on PP should, in my mind at least be supported by the community that visit the site. No one is forcing me to play any of the HQ series, but no one is going to tell me what think. Yes I’ve already indicated these are not the style of gameplay I like more than once, but as part of the event I am trying to give my point of view even if that goes against the flow.

        My recommendation is based on WHAT I LIKE and enjoy, not on a consensus of opinion, at the time of writing this reply you have not posted a recommendation or opinion on the mod.

        The HQ series as I already have said is not my preferred game style, but what? You want me to sit back and not say what I think or do you want me to cowtow to the opinion of others even if I disagree.

      2. Then why on earth do you download, and play the sequel?

        Because in the spirit of the event, he has chosen to try each mod. That’s actually an admirable characteristic.

        it’s like buying an expansion pack for a game that you hate, or forcing someone to play a game that he or she does not like. it’s pointless.

        Not really, these are free. But again, at least he is open to trying and I respect that.

        You don’t like the mod, that’s fine, but please don’t post the same thing on every page.

        He can post whatever he wants, as long as it’s his honest opinion and it’s not rude. IF he doesn’t like everything Muddasheep released he has just as much right to post as you.

    2. Like the above poster, I’m not trying to sound rude but:

      Ok, at least the author did something original, but he must of realised this would be for a small audience.

      Out of all the comments on this page, your recommendation is the only one below a “Maybe”. You said it is only for a small audience, but considering there are 11 recommendations, that would say that it is for more than just a small audience. I’m not saying that the majority would enjoy this mod, but I’m not saying that the minority would either. Maybe half way?

      1. You said it is only for a small audience, but considering there are 11 recommendations, that would say that it is for more than just a small audience.

        It’s natural that his is the only Avoid It!. Most people who hate mods never post anything, they just stop playing. Bolx has decided to continue in the spirit of the event.

        I actually agree with him, I bet out of 100 who start the mod, only a few will actually enjoy it. The recommendations or ratings of any site never full represent the feelings of all who play something.

        1. Hec

          HEY since when do we as reviewers have to be agree with people who loved the mods??, this is a free site and I think the mate Bolx has all the right in the world to post what he loves in a mod or just destroy a mod in a review because he didn’t like it.

          For my part I just say that HQ is a relevant piece in modding stuff but is not the freakin” holly grial or anything like that, stop being so appasionated and accept that point, u can certainly love or just hate that mod, and for me, I liked the first 2 but I just don’t love them because as bolx said, is not my very kind of mod to play, but I like to play the loveley variety of things PP post.

          The last HQ well dont get mad mr. Barnz, but I HATE IT!!!, and even though i’m going to post my review based ond what I liked, and is not going to be good, so sorry if I offend you mr. Barnz, but I have the right to write that even if u disagree.

    3. I can respect that you aren’t backing down from you opinion.

  26. Thank you Phillip.

    After yesterday I am seriously thinking of discontinuing participation in the HQ event (I haven’t decided yet) as it appears I’ve upset some people unintentionally.

    Despite pre-conceptions based on trying to play these in the past, I have replayed with an open mind and in fact wanted to prove myself wrong. What I didn’t realise however, is that being honest would offend.

    Phillip, you didn’t need to change the word Barnz used in the first line of his reply, I wasn’t offended, as if that’s his honest opinion then so be it.

    1. Phillip, you didn’t need to change the word Barnz used in the first line of his reply, I wasn’t offended

      I did, because I was.

    2. I don’t think you have upset anyone. While Barnz came off a bit aggressive, I think both of us were just asking questions about certain things said in your recommendation.

      I hope my comment hasn’t been taken the wrong way, because I was just asking a simple question, not trying to offend you. I hope that you don’t stop participating because it would probably make the rest of the competition too one sided. Also it is clear you are trying to give the mod series a chance, which is something many people don’t do.

      The best recommendations are the honest ones, remember.

      1. Hi Whatever You Want.

        Thank you for your follow up, it is appreciated and no, neither you or Barnz offended me.

        Looking back over you and Barnz’s comments I will attempt to answer your questions

        Barnz

        You clearly don’t like the original mod, is that right? Then why on earth do you download, and play the sequel?

        I am participating in a PP event, had this been just a mod posted on PP, I would never have downloaded it. I’m treating this in the same way I treated the 100 SDON, there were maps and mods I hated and a number I liked, the ones I hated I played only because it was part of the event.

        Whatever You Want

        You said it is only for a small audience, but considering there are 11 recommendations

        So far only 6 recommendations since the start of the event from 160 downloads in the last 7 days (at the time of writing)! That’s a lot of people who have potentially played this but not commented, I wish they would comment because that is what to me PP is about.

        Because of your follow up I will probably continue, BUT I will still say as I see.

        1. Unq

          I say keep fighting the good fight, Bolx. I think all opinions are welcome, as long as they are well-explained and with reason. I personally value all reviews/criticism and at the very least it promotes discussion.

          1. Thanks Unq.

            I appreciate your comment a lot, as far as I know you are a Mapper/Modder and I’m just a player! But I do respect the efforts of anyone who makes a Map/Mod no matter if I enjoy it or not.

  27. s.anchev

    Many people play mods without rating.
    Generally it’s about 25% of people who play and rate. The 75% left don’t want to post reviews.
    But if you’re a regular reviewer, at least we can have some “profile”…

    1. I think it’s more like 90/10.

  28. Unq
    Maybe?

    I can’t say I really enjoyed HQ:A, but at the same time it wasn’t as painful as I remember it. And that’s probably only because I have played it before and kind of knew what to expect. In short, expect really creative areas but terrible gameplay. And expect to die. A lot.

    One of the aspects that I paid much more attention to this time around was the technical workings of the maps. Many are simply built and textured, but there are quite a few effects in the maps that were interesting from a mod maker’s perspective. It gave me some more respect for mudda and the team, beyond respecting them for sticking to their creative vision.

    There are still ultra-frustrating parts here, beyond what you get in the original HQ. In particular, the room where you have to find the right 2 buttons out of dozens (in a given time), the area full of white blocks you have to jump between, and the final Somos area. Just so many jumping puzzles, with instant death as a penalty, mixed in with pressing buttons. As in HQ, when you boil things down the substance just isn’t there. And don’t even get me started on Patience, which is literally 20 minutes of waiting.

    Although the pain lasts much longer in this sprawling mod, it gets a slightly higher rating than HQ. I like the creativity, the vision, the funky music, and the humor. The actual experience of playing HQ:A leaves a lot to be desired, though.

  29. Ten Four Reviews

    When I read through the review of the original Half-Quake from last year, I think the clever reviewer summed up that pack nicely in two words in the third paragraph: Tedium incarnate. I can simply not come up with two more appropriate words for the sequel, Half-Quake: Amen. The authors muddasheep, blackjack (the two mappers from the original HQ), and jazzymike actually set out to create a sadistic map pack that would make players writhe in agony, and make the first HQ seem like a gentle massage from a decidedly gentle and non-sadistic masseuse.

    I have to admit, if a sadistic map pack was their goal, they succeeded. Never have I come across such a large map pack with so many inane puzzles and such deplorable gameplay. If you download this one, be prepared for a lot of button-pushing, tricky jumping, and quicksaving. I need to replace my F6 key, by the way.

    The simple premise, as in the original Half-Quake, is that you’re caught in this sadistic place (a mere “institution” in the first, but in Amen it’s regrettably expanded to a “world”). At least in the original the authors hope you “have fun.” Alas, no such warm sendoff with Amen. All you get is: “Just pray it won’t be too sadistic.” Of course, it will be extremely sadistic no matter to which God(s) you pray. Oh, and the virgin sacrifices won’t work either, trust me.

    Let’s start with what I liked about this mod. I did appreciate the originality of the levels, but for the most part ‘original’ does not mean ‘enjoyable’ by any sense of either word. The authors have taken a rather minimalist approach in the map design. Essentially, the maps are in black and white. There are occasional hues of other colors, but I don’t think I quite counted the authors’ claim of 6 colors, unless gray is broken down into light, medium, and dark. Let’s just say that the scenery gets old really quickly and you’ll likely be bored of the monotony within a couple maps.

    Wait, I was supposed to be talking about things I liked. Hard to do, with this pack. First, there is a lot of cool music used as a soundtrack while you play through. Unfortunately, Half-Life limits you to hearing 8-bit wavs, but nonetheless the music sets the mood nicely most of the time. Also, there is a really cool musical tunnel that I just had to run (and walk, and crawl) though dozens of times. As in the original, there is some clever humor mixed in with the sadistic tasks you undertake. There are tons of custom sounds, and most of the voice acting, while not of superb quality, is decent. There are some instructions and comments that are hard to understand because of the authors’ accents, but for the most part they are clear. I also appreciated the diary entries that are scattered through the pack, which chronicle a previous “victim” and his suffering through the world of Half-Quake: Amen. They provide some semblance of a plot, and are actually a nice distraction from all the instant-death jumping puzzles that abound.

    That’s about it for the good news. The bulk of this map pack is filled with annoying and often random puzzles that typically consist of pressing a button that opens a door that leads to another button, and so on. Instant death is usually the penalty for missing a jump or pressing the wrong button, so be sure you keep a finger on the quicksave key. The combat consists of shooting alien slaves with the crossbow, or hitting them with some type of instagib sword that heals you as you use it. That’s it. Wait, there are 2 other monsters thrown in near the end (keep an eye out for those “dragons”), plus an end boss encounter that is reminiscent of the final encounter in Half-Quake. Oh, did I mention that you never get a suit, so you can never see your health or ammo?

    The architecture is typically very plain, and many of the areas are just cubes filled with . . . more cubes. The texturing all fits within the setting, but the majority of the custom textures are simple lines which make for boring visuals. All part of the sadistic theme, I suppose. A number of the maps (mostly the later outdoor ones) suffer from a technical mistake on the mapper’s part: the scenery disappears at a certain distance, and only comes into view as you move closer. This is a simple mapping fix that apparently none of the 14 beta testers even caught.

    There were a couple of exceptionally irritating areas in this mod. See that first screenshot? Those symbols on the walls are all buttons (they’re on all four walls, mind you), and you have to find the right 2 to press before time runs out and you are killed. What fun! But the kicker comes in much later in the pack, in a section named “patience.” You are notified in an early level that you need 20 minutes of patience to get though this part. Yes, 20 minutes of waiting. I wish I could say I were kidding. There is a walkthough included in the download, and you’re going to need it, believe me.

    I can only recommend this pack if you’re looking for an alternative to a virus to unleash on your archenemy’s computer. There are some semi-interesting areas, and as I said above there is some clever humor thrown in. But overall this was painful to play through, no matter how original the setting is. It would have been better off as a small novelty map pack, rather than a sprawling 30-map mod. People have commented that it’s a shame that such mapping talent is being wasted making a sadistic mod like Half-Quake: Amen, but I’m fairly convinced there isn’t much talent here going to waste.

    Notes
    This review is republished here by permission and was originally published Monday, 7th October, 2002 by Unquenque.

    This review was originally posted on the Ten Four Website, which is now offline. Permission has been granted to republish the full review and more details can be found on the About page.

  30. original doesn’t = good. Unless your a puzzle freak skip this big time.

  31. Personal Favourite

    What a masterpiece, it’s a visual treat of audio-design, and a complete fever dream.
    If you want a visually interesting game like something you’ve never played before, and an insane soundtrack elevating the crazyness of everything that’s happening. This mod is a masterpiece.

  32. Personal Favourite

    Very Good continuation to a puzzle game

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