This is where Map Labs all started. Last year’s Halloween Horror, here in time for the spooky season this year.
The mappers were charged with, of course, making a scary or Halloween-themed map. The challenge recieved 7 entries and 1 bonus map. Spooky ones, creepy ones, weird ones. Have fun!
As always, if you’re interested in learning more about Map Labs and maybe even participate in their upcoming challenges, visit the Map Labs Discord!
- Title: Halloween Horror
- Filename: sdk-2013-sp-mlc-halloweenhorror.7z
- Size : 348 MB
- Author: ThatsRidonkulous, The_GuardianTM, White_Red_Dragons, Matt71490 AKA Event Horizon, David Driver-Gomm AKA Kralich, 1upD, LordDz, JanKaszanka
- Date Released: 31 October 2018
- Make sure you have the Upcoming branch of the Source SDK Base 2013 Singleplayer installed in Steam and run at least once. (Properties – Betas – select upcoming from the dropdown list).
- Copy the “halloweenhorror” folder into your SourceMods folder.
- Restart or start Steam.
- Halloween Horror should now be listed in your Library tab.
If you decide to use the Per-Map Opinion Images, feel free to use the file below as a template:
HalloweenHorror-Review-Template.txt
Listed as they are displayed in the mod itself:
The Sun Vanished by ThatsRidonkulous
Unanswered Questions by The_GuardianTM
Lab-Map by White_Red_Dragons
Gracey Manor by Matt71490 AKA Event Horizon
Terminus by David Driver-Gomm AKA Kralich
Shadow Walker 2 by 1upD
Mom and Dad by LordDz
Back on Course by JanKaszanka (bonus map)
WARNING: The screenshots contain spoilers.
Each map has 5 screenshots.
1600 x 900
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1,606Overall
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0Today
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3Last 7 days
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15Last 30 days
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260365 days
Using Gauge: Users
Manually: 3 Users
Time Taken:
Average: 1 Hours, 43 Mins
Shortest: 1 Hours by matt71490
Longest: 3 Hours by Hec
Total Time Played: 5 Hours, 8 Mins
This release is currently not in a collection
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Why is only the first entry playable? All the rest are inactive even if after I have passed the first one.
put in the developer console sv_unlockchapter 8 and will be fixed
Unknown command
Sorry! The command is sv_unlockedchapters “8”
The download is now fixed, you shouldn’t have to do this anymore. If you already have the old download, use the console command above.
No reviews yet, so I figured I would post a quick one of my own. These reviews are based off of my passing thoughts when I played these over a year ago, so they won’t be super long.
Really good visuals and sound design here, the world feels real and that adds a lot to the horror elements. I kinda wish the whole “sun vanishing” idea was explored a bit more, and I can’t say it particularly scared me, but aside from that, this entry is as good as it gets.
I honest to god remember nothing about this entry so I assume it was just “okay”
Feels unfinished, missing alot of files (this might have been fixed since I played it), but overall, pretty inconsequential.
My entry. Competition came out of nowhere so the idea was somewhat half baked at the start and developed as the map went along. Ending was really abrupt, but I ran out of time to implement the ending I wanted to use. Also a huge reference to the Disneyland Haunted Mansion attraction.
Really short, but not terrible for what it is. Pretty much straight down the middle for me.
One of the few maps that actually managed to scare me. The use of the custom code here is great (after all, the author created it), and there’s pretty much nothing bad to say about it.
Really interesting idea/story but the horror elements are somewhat cheesy and hard to take seriously. Aside from that, a really solid entry.
Kinda neat visually but boring in terms of gameplay and execution.
Manually
Easy
1 Hour
The Sun Vanished map is based entirely off of the Sun Vanished ongoing ARG, so i guess the map wanted to play more with the horrifying aspects of the ARG rather than actually anything to do with the sun actually vanishing?
Not for me.
Well, so I’m quite impressed this nice competition has so few reviews so here are some thoughts about it.
BOLD: The Sun Has Vanished
I truly like how the gameplay of this now-classic creepypasta was implemented, the whole environment was creepy and dark and also You can feel that horrid feeling of trying to escape from that unknown orb that haunts you. Also, the final escape is very satisfying when you reach it.
BOLD: Unanswered Questions
Was more environment than a coherent horror story, also the gameplay was confusing and frustrating at some points, The main horror resource was being chased by those burned men with a crowbar but they were pretty predictable, so is a bland horror resource, I guess in order to make a scary mod in HL2 you have to be more creative than using that chasing asset.
BOLD: Lab-Map
I guess it was a nice concept but sorry, it was just bad implemented, it didn’t offer any horror or mysterious context, and overall it felt more like an SCFI environment than a horror one. As I said it once and I sustain it, “HL2 Zombies are not enough to make a horror mod experience.”
BOLD: Grace Manor
This also had a strong dark environment which was cool overall. I liked the satanic rituals reference, and the evil G-Man’s sightings, despite this, it was short and the ending just came out faster and random than I expected.
BOLD: Terminus
This one was more like a proof of concept and offered really little challenge or a deeper horror experience so it was just OK.
BOLD: Shadow Walker
This one was the best and well-earned one. Offered a great horror context told inside the gameplay of the mod. The implementation was nicely done and the gameplay was entertained and challenging at the same time. I also had a pair of nice jumpscares playing this one. So it’s totally worth it.
BOLD: Mom and Dad
Let me say it, the concept in this one was just mind-blowing, and despite the gameplay was just like a story-tale one, where you just basically “walk”, it was the most impressive story, I also think it was just great the story is seen from the child of that couple perspective. I also loved how the author used the CMB as the main horror character in the story, that was a very clever touch.
BOLD: Back on Course
This was a short but OK horror delusion into the HL2 universe, so yeah It was nice, despite the very basic “walk” dynamic.
BOLD: In conclusion
This was a worthy Halloween competition, hope more and more on the way here in RTSL.com
Manually
Medium
3 Hours
This might’ve been the only map that really scared me. I don’t like being chased. I got the same feeling playing Ep2 with the antlion Guardian. Good stuff. I did get stuck near the ending because for some reason the TV screens (or whatever they are) kept instakilling me the moment I ran through the gate. I did manage to get past though. From there it was pretty anti-climatic until the final moments.
Usage of space and world brushes: 7/10
I give it a strong 70%. I was kinda impressed. There is some great brush work here. I really like the neighborhood design as well as the interior of the house.
Visuals 7/10
Good use of visual cues to guide the player. I love it when the player goes in places that they shouldn’t go into. My first reaction though is to never do that, but knowing game design, my second reaction is to go in anway. Another great cue is when the shadow beings (those TV screen things) turn red when the player spots them.
Gameplay: 7/10
I wish it wasn’t an instakill though. It would be nice to have some leeway. Other than that. This map is a solid entry from start to finish. I mentioned earlier that it was anti-climatic and here is why. After the door is locked in the final building, they can’t get in until progress is made. It made for a kind of funny moment. Why this door? They were able to just barge into the house earlier. The ending was a bit confusing, but I definitely got a feeling of dread.
Final Score: 21/30 – 70%
Final Comments: Took me about 13 minutes. You must play this one. It’s pretty solid through out the entire game.
Ok. So….. This map is pretty dire. First and fore most. I only remember this map because back when I streamed it, I had a hell’va time getting through it. I think it took me about an hour or so to get to the end. Also if you jump, you are blinded. Just let me use the flashlight. It would’ve been 10 times better with that flashlight.
Usage of space and world brushes: 2/10
I don’t know where I was, I don’t know why I’m here. All I know is that I am trapped in a maze of dark boxy hallways.
Visuals 2/10
I got blinded by the lightning and the flare. Great stuff (sarscam). I coudldn’t see a damn thing.
Gameplay: 2/10
I can’t turn the generator on until I have a key, a plug, and a gas tank. Two of which I had to lug all the way across the map to plug in. On this play through, I knew I had to find these items, but I had hella time finding it. Oh and I’m not sure what entity you used to have the shadow walker follow the player, but I managed to break their ai with a few boxes. Fun stuff.
Final Score: 6/30 – 20%
Final Comments: It took me only about 14 minutes to complete it, so any confusion I may have had did not hinder my ability to complete it in a timely manner. It sure felt like a lot more and it was the first time I played it.
Sorry RWD, but it’s pretty bad in my opinion. I really saw a lot of missing textures, bugs and alpha sorting issues. I don’t even recall playing it until I rewatched the video I recorded so everything I say is based off the video.
Usage of space and world brushes: 4/10
I really am conflicted on scoring this map, but only about 40% of the map is actually interesting to me. I really can’t say much else because there was a lot of missing textures. I guess the labratory was interesting.
Visuals 4/10
Again, only about 40% of the map I felt had propper lighting and usage of props.
Gameplay: 3/10
The gameplay was… confusing. Where am I going? What am I doing here? Why are there random missing models and texures. Why are there zombies here. Why am I in a dungeon??
Final Score: 11/30 – 36%
Final Comments: This took me only about 4 minutes to complete and I don’t even remember the ending. Sorry, but this idea could’ve been a great idea, but the missing textures really irked me.
Now this so-called half-baked idea really stood out to me. The execution, the effects, and most certainly, the overabundance of goldbars and cubemaps.
Usage of space and world brushes: 8/10
I felt like this was the kind of map that one would expect for a halloween themed map. I’m surprised that you’re the only one that did a true haunted house map. The brushwork was solid and every where I went felt.. haunted.
Visuals 8/10
It was certainly dark, but I could at least see where I was going. There was a lot of blood and bones in the mansion. Chilling if I dare say. Grainy as fuck vision with spooks and scares around every corner.
Gameplay: 8/10
That intro sequence threw me back to my old gmod days. Holy shit. I felt like I was playing a certified classic gmod map. God I miss those. There are “classic jumpscares” and then there is profesional “Nightmare House 1” gmod spin-off called Hells Hotel. About to play it again after I am done with this review because I loved this map.
Final Score: 2/30 – 60%
Only took me about 7.5 minutes to complete it. Play it now.
“Ok, so…” is not a very good way to start this review, but… well.. it’s kinda bad to be honest. Maybe it’s just me, but the mapper could definitely use some more practice creating a rich environment.
Usage of space and world brushes: 2/10
Box. That’s it. Boxy corridors, boxy vents (not like hl2 vents, but like a concrete hallway the size of a vent).
Visuals 2/10
I had a very hard time understanding what I was seeing. There wasn’t much of anything to look at.
Gameplay: 4/10
This map is fucking loud at the end. Got me real good there. I don’t even remember what I did in this map. I had to watch the video again. I guess it’s a running simulator?
Final Score: 8/30 – 26%
Probably the shortest map yet, clocking in at 1 minute and 39 secondss of gameplay. If you really want to play them all, I’d give this one a chance. It’s not that bad.
This map is loud as fuck too. I had a hell of a time actually completeing it because I got knocked away from the wheel when those shadow walkers keep killing me.
Usage of space and world brushes: 7/10
70% of this map I love. The world feels like a haunted barn. It’s kinda small though and gets old pretty quickly.
Visuals 7/10
I got that strong haunted barn feeling with the visuals too. I really don’t know what else to say.
Gameplay: 7/10
This could’ve been a perfect map. One of the best I’ve yet rated, but in my final moments of twisting the valve. I DIED. I just could not beat those damn shadow walkers. I got stuck. I quick saved at the worst moment because I didn’t notice them arriving. I thought I had it all the way to the ground. I ended up getting out of it, but that damn wheel wouldn’t turn fast enough before my health was just sucked away. Oh. It was so good though until that last moment. I really hope other players don’t do what I did and just stand there while the enemy just vaporizes me.
Final Score: 21/30 – 70%
Final Comments: You have to play this one, but be warned. It’s hard.
This map is quite buggy. I crashed a lot playing this. I ended up restarting the map and my video and luckily didn’t crash again. Very confusing and dark.
Usage of space and world brushes: 5/10
There is a lot of brushwork there, it’s just so… confusing. Where am I? Why is there a crash on the road that suddenly pulls me into a bunker? No, hospit— nevermind the citadel? Where am I?
Visuals 7/10
Ok. soo…. the visuals were pretty cool, but I got blinded a few times with those fades. I play a lot of my maps after work with the lights off and I hate sudden bright lights in a map. Just so confusing.
Gameplay: 4/10
Let me get this off my chest. Children don’t just walk that slow. They run too when scared. They also don’t just go wandering into creepy bunkers, at least not me. I was terrified of the dark. Second, these doors are incredibly slow to open. The ending was very confusing. Why am I back in the car watching the same thing again?
Final Score: 16/30 – 56%
Final Comments: Please play test your maps before you publish them. I crashed a lot.
I hate this map. It’s way too bright and I needed a motion sickness warning AND A epilepsy warning before I played this one. I got lucky I didn’t get sick.
Usage of space and world brushes: 0/10
It’s black and white spinning platforms.
Visuals 0/10
It’s black and white lights that make you dizzy at a certain spot.
Gameplay: 0/10
Let me get this off my chest. I had no fun with this map. I really didn’t know the purpose of such a design.
Final Score: 0/30 – 0%
Final Comments: I needed a motion sickness warning AND A epilepsy warning before I played this one.
Manually
Medium
1 Hour, 8 Minutes