Unholy - Dunkelschwamm
Don't let the fancy title screen that looks like the X-Files fool you, this is a Black Mesa adventure. Players take on the role of scientists trying to escape the disaster, unsuccessfully.
Original map author:LetKyx Team
Conversion author: Outerbeast
Date of original mod release:2004
Date of final Sven Map release: 2019
Maps in package:4
Map review of Unholy
(originally posted on SCMapDB)
by dunkelschwamm | February 11, 2023 | 3117 charactersUnholy is a Half-Life mod converted to Sven Co-op. The mod is a short 4-map walkthrough starring two scientists discussing the story of their daring escapades through the Black Mesa complex as the resonance cascade wreaks havoc.
Throughout the story, players can expect to very slowly gain weaponry, only ever achieving as much as a basic boilerplate loadout of an MP5, pistol, revolver, and shotgun, with some hand grenades to round out the very final encounters. Most of the map involves battling xen creatures like headcrabs, houndeyes, and bullsquids. Here and there you'll find vortigaunts, and by the end you'll be facing off with some HECU grunts as well. Heavier enemies like a heavy weapons grunt or an alien grunt are treated like minibosses, and the player's low equipment supports this.
However, I will say that as far as conversions go this feels like there is still little consideration for Sven Co-op gameplay. Maps are very short and would have been far better stitched together with updating spawns. As it is, there are unmarked map transitions that blindside the player a bit. Additionally, the low equipment balancing is dropped significantly when there's more than one player. The first two maps are basically completely forgettable because with two people and the lowered tension of Sven Co-op the enemies were a pushover. Also, while there's little a conversion team could do about this, a majority of this mod takes place within ventilation shafts, which are just about the worst thing to deal with in co-op.
There's some interesting bits in between: a decent looking toxic waste dump area that players must scramble to navigate, a (frankly annoying) gargantua battle, and a bit where we teamed up with Barney and Otis to take down a gaggle of zombies stand out. The map itself also looks decent, being a somewhat darker and grimier Black Mesa environment with destruction and rubble that adds just an iota of its own character. That said, much of it really is just dark and hard to see in, and bigger open chambers feel liminal and empty.
This mod also begins and ends on cutscenes which I think add exactly as much character as the fact that this mod has cutscenes can add without having anything else to say about them.
Overall, I think this is worth giving a go, but maybe just try the original mod. This doesn't work great in co-op, but if you're looking to pad out a server rotation this can definitely work. There's nothing objectively wrong with it, but poor balance makes it a mostly boring affair.
Pros:
- Some good looking Black Mesa environments
- Interesting perspective as a scientist
- Doesn't overstay its welcome with 4 maps
- Has cutscenes
Cons:
- Boring, vent-based navigation
- Imbalanced for co-op
- Very low threat level until the late game
- Gargantua battle is annoying, especially before you find the grenades
- Cutscenes only played for one player
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