Prospekt

49%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,647 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Prospekt Game Cover
A few good ideas, but Prospekt is hurt by uninspired design and infuriating combat encounters.
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"Prospekt" is a single-player shooter game with stunning graphics and delightful music, set in the Half-Life 2 universe. It offers extended gameplay, refined gameplay mechanics, and improved visuals, including real-time dynamic lighting and environments. As a standalone game built using the Source engine, "Prospekt" provides a substantial new addition to the Half-Life 2 story, continuing the narrative of Opposing Force, with official Valve approval for Half-Life 2 license and assets.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

49%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,647 reviews
story168 positive mentions
stability24 negative mentions
  • Visually stunning with impressive graphics and lighting effects.
  • Decent voice acting and soundtrack that fits the atmosphere.
  • Interesting premise of continuing Adrian Shephard's story.
  • Poor level design with repetitive environments and lack of direction.
  • Combat encounters are frustrating due to bullet sponge enemies and overwhelming numbers.
  • Very short gameplay length, often feeling like a paid mod rather than a full game.
  • story864 mentions

    The story in "Prospekt" is largely criticized for being vague and poorly executed, with many players finding it confusing and lacking coherence. While it attempts to expand on Adrian Shephard's narrative through flashbacks, these often feel irrelevant and fail to connect meaningfully to the main plot, leaving players feeling disconnected from the overarching Half-Life storyline. Overall, the game is seen as a missed opportunity to deliver a compelling narrative, with many reviewers expressing disappointment in its storytelling approach.

    • “The plot was amazing where you control Adrian Shepherd in Half-Life: Opposing Force.”
    • “I appreciate the developer's attempt to continue Shepard's story; Opposing Force was my favorite part of the HL1 saga.”
    • “It was really fun, it was a great sequel to Opposing Force, it fits well into the story, and it continues the story of Adrian Shepard in an amazing way!”
    • “Honestly, I couldn't understand the story of this mode at all.”
    • “The storytelling is awful, as it just consists of 'flashbacks' during the game in which the screen gets a little bit darker and you hear dialogues from Adrian Shephard's past, before he and the other members of his HECU troop were sent to Black Mesa.”
    • “The story is mostly told through audio flashbacks but they aren't explained overly well, you don't have a lot of context as to where you are and why you are 'escaping'.”
  • gameplay284 mentions

    The gameplay of "Prospekt," a mod for Half-Life 2, is largely described as repetitive and lacking in variety, with many reviewers noting that it feels like a less polished version of the original game. While some players enjoyed the familiar run-and-gun mechanics and combat against Combine soldiers, others criticized the level design, unclear directives, and the absence of new gameplay mechanics, leading to a generally mixed reception. Overall, the game is seen as a short experience with around 2-4 hours of playtime, which may appeal primarily to dedicated fans of the Half-Life series.

    • “The atmosphere and music are fantastic, the voice acting is on point, the gameplay is fun, and the aesthetic is very well done.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, the level design stands out as most people have said; the combat is very reminiscent of Half-Life combat but with challenging (though not unbeatable) pacing.”
    • “Just like every other Half-Life game, for the first 15 minutes or so of playing, you have nothing, and are required to get from A to B by using the surrounding environment, which I personally think is a great game mechanic, as it allows you to take in this game's amazing atmosphere.”
    • “For a longer campaign, the gameplay is not varied enough.”
    • “The gameplay is just generic Half-Life 2 combat, human vs. Combine, nothing new.”
    • “Do not buy this game, it is only about 2 hours long and its gameplay is very, very repetitive.”
  • music186 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the gameplay experience, particularly during action sequences. While some players find the music fitting and immersive, others criticize it as inconsistent or lacking compared to the original Half-Life soundtracks. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for its effort and creativity, with several users expressing a desire for a standalone music release.

    • “The soundtrack is excellent, one of the closest things that could absolutely fit in an original Half-Life game, as much as the actual sound design.”
    • “The atmosphere and music are fantastic, the voice acting is on point, the gameplay is fun, and the aesthetic is very well done.”
    • “So go ahead, buy this game, because hearing adrenaline-inducing music while gunning down combine soldiers whilst playing as a badass marine put into stasis and taken out of stasis to help Gordon Freeman, another badass at Nova Prospekt is fun.”
    • “The soundtrack was super lame and just poorly designed.”
    • “It’s buggy, the music kinda sucks, the storyline is not interesting, the subtitles are broken and its biggest issue is the gameplay is boring.”
    • “The level design sucks, the gameplay sucks due to poorly placed NPCs and taking away most of the things that make Half-Life fun, lore sucks, story is absent, music sucks, voice acting is meh and just everything else sucks.”
  • graphics180 mentions

    The graphics in this game receive a generally positive reception, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals, improved lighting, and effective use of the Half-Life aesthetic. While some players noted that the graphics are impressive for a Source engine game, others pointed out issues with level design and a lack of narrative depth, suggesting that the visuals sometimes overshadow gameplay quality. Overall, the game is recognized for its beautiful textures and effects, though opinions vary on how well these elements integrate with the overall experience.

    • “The visuals were a treat to look at, the environments retain their sense of atmosphere, the levels themselves never really feel too repetitive, each one offering its own set of challenges, the puzzles were so fun that I'd argue the game could have used more of them, and the combat itself was both challenging and satisfying.”
    • “The graphics were a surprising improvement from that of the ordinary Half-Life 2, and the soldiers near the middle of the game had a very interesting remodel.”
    • “The visuals and effects were breathtaking, the new soundtrack was glorious, the new voice acting made it feel more tactical, everything about it was amazing.”
    • “The level design, and by that I don't mean the graphics itself, seems unimaginative and usually ends in long and empty corridors or rooms that also seem sterile and clumsy.”
    • “It has such severe problems with its gameplay, level design, and visuals that I'd recommend just replaying Half-Life 2 instead.”
    • “The game graphically looks fine other than the lighting issues, but that's mostly because it's using the stock Half-Life 2 textures with a filter that greatly increases the color saturation, which looks odd.”
  • atmosphere74 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively capturing a moody, apocalyptic feel reminiscent of the Half-Life series. While many reviewers commend the detailed environments, sound design, and overall aesthetic, some note that certain areas can feel repetitive or lack originality. Overall, the game successfully creates a compelling atmosphere that enhances gameplay, despite occasional criticisms regarding pacing and level design.

    • “Brilliant puzzles, good storytelling, eerie atmosphere, and just enough fight scenes that it's not repetitive.”
    • “The atmosphere is pretty solid if you ask me, as both the prison and combine bunkers and sprawling megastructures feel oppressive and wonderfully immersive.”
    • “Just like every other half-life game, for the first 15 minutes or so of playing, you have nothing, and are required to get from A to B by using the surrounding environment, which I personally think is a great game mechanic, as it allows you to take in this game's amazing atmosphere.”
    • “No atmosphere.”
    • “The opening of the game could use a little polish with the Vortigaunts talking to you; I don't feel like it really sets the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “A bit adds to the atmosphere, but the dev has gone a little overboard to the point where the last level is virtually unplayable.”
  • stability30 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, including glitches that hinder gameplay and prevent progression. While some users experienced minimal issues and praised the game's optimization, others found the overall experience frustrating due to frequent visual glitches and unresponsive NPCs. Overall, the consensus leans towards the game being quite buggy, impacting enjoyment and playability.

    • “But I will say the game is optimized well, no freezes or crashes and constant 60fps on my setup at maxed out settings.”
    • “Very disappointing in many aspects, but as I said, well made with almost no glitches.”
    • “The level design is remarkable and the game isn't buggy (I encountered zero bugs), the only issues that I had were some frustrating puzzles (not really puzzles, more like physical obstacles that are difficult to pass) and the insane degree of health the overwatch soldiers have.”
    • “I wanted to like this game even though I found it very buggy (kept getting stuck walking through doors and entering air ducts), but I reached a point where I could go no further.”
    • “This game is super buggy; the game glitched at the end so I didn't even get to finish. That is how poorly developed this game is.”
    • “I'm afraid it gets rather irritating, like trying to watch a movie as your TV screen glitches and the audio turns to another channel.”
  • optimization26 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report smooth performance with no crashes and consistent 60fps on high settings, others experience significant performance drops attributed to insufficient use of optimization techniques like areaportals and hint brushes. Overall, the game's optimization is seen as lacking compared to other titles in the Half-Life series, leading to disappointment for some players.

    • “Pro's: well optimized, looks and controls like hl2, backstory of Shepherd and his squad from Black Mesa.”
    • “I will say the game is optimized well, no freezes or crashes and constant 60fps on my setup at maxed out settings.”
    • “Never ran into any bugs and the game itself seems well done and runs smoothly.”
    • “So all in all, Prospekt is rather a disappointing performance for me, unfortunately.”
    • “As for any issues, unfortunately the performance in relation to other HL games is not as good.”
    • “I don't think the performance drops are due to the engine additions; rather, the insufficient use of areaportals, hint brushes, and nodraw which drags down the performance substantially.”
  • replayability20 mentions

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting that it offers little incentive to play again after the initial experience. While the environments and combat encounters are engaging, the short gameplay length and lack of achievements diminish its replay value. Some players find limited enjoyment in replaying with different approaches or developer commentary, but this does not significantly enhance the overall experience.

    • “I really don't have a problem with that, as it does open the door for replay value, because you know it won't take long to do; the game could also be replayed while listening to the developer commentary from Mr. Richard Seabrook himself.”
    • “The way I see it, yes, the game is short and looks a little lazy due to it being a reusage of assets and being simple, but like I said, it's fun to figure out the puzzles the first time and has some replay value.”
    • “If and when this game sees some available achievements, the replay value of Prospekt will grow.”
    • “There's really no replay value, but what you do get is interesting enough environments and combat encounters that no doubt feel like Half-Life 2 levels.”
    • “Little to no replay value; however, if you ever wanted to run through HL2 only using the pulse rifle, you can do that here.”
    • “-$10 for 2-3 hours of gameplay with no replay value.”
  • grinding20 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with slow-paced navigation through maps and repetitive enemy encounters that drain resources faster than they can be replenished. This leads to a frustrating experience where players often resort to cheats or lower difficulty settings to bypass monotonous battles, ultimately detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. The initial creativity in level design is overshadowed by a relentless cycle of combat that feels more like a chore than a challenge.

    • “To make matters worse, these encounters are usually in areas where there isn't enough health to help the player survive if they are not at 100% health already, grinding the pacing to a halt as you retreat to a previous room to gather more supplies.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game... but I honestly had to 'impulse 101' and godmode my way through the last 25% of it, just to see the end, because it became so goddamn tedious and repetitive.”
    • “The battles with the Combine start to become less of a challenge and more of a chore after a while, and in a couple of instances, I even reduced the game down to easy mode, just to get past some pretty tedious battles.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game, noting its satisfying challenge and fresh feel, but also highlighting a lack of a compelling emotional narrative typically associated with Half-Life titles. While the visuals evoke nostalgia, the absence of a clear emotional story is seen as a significant shortcoming, leaving some players feeling heartbroken. Overall, the emotional impact is varied, with some moments resonating deeply while others fall flat.

    • “This is the most heartbreaking part of the game.”
    • “The game made me feel fresh, and even though it was needlessly challenging sometimes, I walked away satisfied as hell.”
    • “While I think the visuals are really nice, and it was a fun challenge, it lacked a clear emotional story that Half-Life games are expected to have.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of intentional and unintentional comedic moments, such as the absurd placement of rechargers and amusing AI glitches that turn challenging encounters into laughable scenarios. Players also find humor in the quirky sounds of enemies and certain set pieces, though some aspects, like the G-Man's antics, are noted as ironically funny rather than genuinely comedic. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.

    • “I mean, the placement of rechargers is just hilarious - it felt as if there was a pair around every corner.”
    • “In the second fight in particular, I had to rely on an AI glitch to get through: the AI wouldn't follow me under a small ramp, which allowed me to pick them off one by one using the pistol (which, with the wholly predictable enemy AI, turned the previously hard battle into a hilarious 'shoot the dumb ducks' game).”
    • “+ combines sound funny, like Cybermen from Doctor Who.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many users labeling it a cash grab, particularly given its $10 price tag for what they perceive as a lack of substantial content. While some acknowledge the effort of a solo developer, the overall sentiment suggests disappointment in the value offered, especially for dedicated fans of the franchise.

    • “The fact that I paid for it just adds insult to injury.”
    • “Cash grab, nothing more, nothing less.”
    • “This game is not worth $10... it's made by one person and it shows... the only reason this is backed by Valve is it's an easy cash grab for them.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the game offers minimal story and character development, leaving players wanting more depth and engagement with the characters.

    • “Very little in the way of real story or character development”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

41% average critic score

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Play time

3hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 28 analyzed playthroughs

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