A mod which has finally entered Alpha status after two years turnsHalf-Lifeinto aSpyro the Dragontitle. The mod, called “Year of the Dragon,” won ModDB’s “Mod of the Year” awards in 2018 and 2019. According to the mod page, an Uplink Demo Release is scheduled for November.
PlayingHalf-LifeasSpyromay not seem like the most natural thing in the world, but videos of the demo show very naturalSpyro-esque gameplay. Gordan Freeman’s glock has been replaced bySpyro’s flame, which can roast head-crabs and otherterrifyingHalf-Lifecreatures, no problem. He can head-butt vortigaunts and scientists alike, then collect the gems they drop.
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Note, this mod is for the originalHalf-Life,nottheBlack Mesaremake. The developer has confirmed thatSpyrowill be able to squeeze into an HEV suit eventually, but right now most of the work is focused on making the fullHalf-Lifecampaign available in the new play style and refiningSpyro’s controls. Right now,Spyropays gems to use the healing and HEV charging stations, but the developer has indicated that this will most likely change to something involving Sparx instead.
Some may enjoy the minor detail that, due to the fact thatSpyrohas none of Freeman’s weapons, trip mines have been removed from the game in this mod. This is because the trip mines placed by soldiers inHalf-Lifeare, as far as the game code is concerned, the same as the ones Freeman can pick up and use.
The mod also comes with a “SpyroDevelopment Toolkit” which will allow map creators to make their ownSpyrolevels in theHalf-Lifeengine. That opens the door for newcampaigns forSpyro the Dragon.
He may not ever reachGordan Freeman’s impressive kill count, but brave youngSpyrois certainly willing and able to help the scientists at Black Mesa.
Half-Lifeis now available for PC and PlayStation 2.
