Some help with level designing ( I just mean what you do and dont like)

[Jay9475]

Ok I'm in the process of mapping and writing up design documents for my single player mod and I have been playing through HL 1 again to see why I loved it so much, with the aim of incorperating some of this greatness into my own game.

SO what I ask you folks is to tell me, what in HL1/HL2 scared you, moved you, made your heart beat faster, put a big smile on your face, etc.
Anything that affected you in some way like that, please tell me so I can try and make the gameplay as good as possible,

I'll start us off

In Half life 1, whenever I heard the 'charging up' noise of the vortigaunt slaves I would start shitting myself if I couldnt to find cover in time and almost flinch as the bolt actually zapped, now THAT is immersion

In almost every marine battle I was very tightly-strung and when I found a place during these battles to just crouch and wait I would feel much safer, I believe this was due in part to the fact that you were often attacked from all sides which led to a fear of being surrounded,

Thanks for any replies,

-J

P.S. In England it's 2:06am so I'ma go to sleep now and hopefully read all your wonderful replies in the morning

 

[Pauly]

The realistic animations of characters really immersed me. I liked that. The music makes the game. the music is timed and perfect for the situation. The voice acting is something that is very real and adds more immersion. Get a good voice actor - then you will have a immersive mod.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

bleak situations that are solved by an unexpected twist! yeah i know everything has that, but it works e.g. ALyx saving your ass at the start, and losing your weapons at the citadel...and well ya know what happens Perhaps the returning of our favourite npcs. oh and things that make people laugh, and npcs actually helping you out, so you feel you are part of a team. Thats all i can think of now.