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[Bebpo]

So after seeing the really cool Stalker 2009 mode that remakes the entire game in modern Crysis-like graphics, I'm curious about what user-created content has been made over the last 20 years. It seems (at least these days) that almost every PC game has at least a few mods made for it and many make the core game experience better. For example, I recently played Fallout 1 and something as simple as an interface mod that let you change equipped weapon a mouse wheel click made the game infinitely more enjoyable. So what are some great mods for games? I'm especially interested in offline Single Player mods (since I don't online game much), and mods that improve the core game either graphically or gameplay-wise or completely rehaul to be a whole new experience.

 

[pgtl_10]

Counterstrike

 

[Grayman]

graphically you can get the first quake up to modern standards with newer clients and models/textures.

When I think of mod most of what comes to mind is gameplay changes which are up another tree than you were barking at. Almost anything ever done as a new idea in a shooter for example was first done in a free mod.

Fallout 1/2 have window mode and some other features like changing the encounter rate or traveling faster on the map.

 

[Cat in the Hat]

Deadly reflexes for oblivion was really awesome to use.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_TZWe8t4b8

I hated the game on the PS3 but when i played it on the PC modded it was amazing.

 

[rollingstart]

http://www.moddb.com/mods/the-delta-sector

It's a mod for Far Cry I tried back when I bought that ubi pack on steam. It's a totally different yet familiar total conversion to Far Cry. Most impressive part is how good they were able to make the graphics look.

and even though you didn't ask for multiplayer, I will just say that The Specialist for Half-Life is the best mod.

 

[Cat in the Hat]

http://www.moddb.com/mods/the-delta-sector

It's a mod for Far Cry I tried back when I bought that ubi pack on steam. It's a totally different yet familiar total conversion to Far Cry. Most impressive part is how good they were able to make the graphics look.

and even though you didn't ask for multiplayer, I will just say that The Specialist for Half-Life is the best mod.

Wow, best snow I've ever seen.

 

[Kabouter]

Not exactly a mod, but so awesome

Also, wow @ that Far Cry mod.

And for Oblivion, Qarl's Texture Pack 3 is great (pic is an animated GIF):

 

[dragonflys545]

DOTA!

 

[firehawk12]

I think Battle of the Sexes might be my favourite mod... at the very least, my favourite Q2 mod:
http://botsmod.ning.com/

It was one of the first games that I could remember that had leveling up within a match, complete with perks that are granted when you level up... something we just take for granted in multiplayer FPSes now. Now, it wasn't persistent - you lose your rank after the match ends, but that worked because half the fun was trying to get kills early on to level up.

What was also interesting was the balance. Rather than have both teams be completely equal, the two sides have their own abilities. The "girls" team could move faster while the "boys" team could take more damage. It was an interesting trade off.

It's just a shame more people haven't played it.

 

[Bebpo]

http://www.moddb.com/mods/the-delta-sector

It's a mod for Far Cry I tried back when I bought that ubi pack on steam. It's a totally different yet familiar total conversion to Far Cry. Most impressive part is how good they were able to make the graphics look.

Wow, that looks great. Far Cry vanilla looks really really dated, so it's amazing what they did with the engine.

 

[Bebpo]

Yeah, I actually downloaded the Qarl's texture mod a week or so ago in preperation for playing Oblivion PC someday with the FCOM mod.

I played through Fallout 3 with like 20 mods running at all times, but most didn't change that much. The Fallout 1 mod I mentioned where you can click the mouse wheel did more for me than any of the Fallout 3 mods save the Motorcycle mod but that's just because I hate walking around Bethseda world maps at a snail's pace.

 

[ZealousD]

Strangelove mod in Unreal Tournament.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GflAdGmMjtQ

Any other answer is incorrect.

 

[Defuser]

Still waiting for Blackmesa mod.

 

[Bebpo]

Strangelove mod in Unreal Tournament.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GflAdGmMjtQ

Any other answer is incorrect.

hahaha

 

[Chris R]

Desert Combat and Counterstrike

 

[Waikis]

The Nameless Mod
It has been said that the mod itself is better than the original game- Deus Ex.
The mod has been in development for 7 years and was released on march 15th 2009.

Story:

In Forum City, the Internet is serious business. As its name implies, the city is the physical embodiment of Internet forums and bulletin boards. It's more like The Matrix or Tron than Second Life, however, as the troubles of the city are no laughing matter. Embracing the style of Deus Ex, Forum City has as much crime and conspiracy as the world of JC Denton — but most citizens would have it no other way.

The lust for power seems to come easily to those who call the city their home; everywhere there are factions scheming to increase their reach, or even wrest control of the city itself. Were it not for a peacekeeping triumvirate of invulnerable Moderators the city would quickly plunge into chaos.

This has been the way of things for as long as most care to remember.

But now, the balance of power has been upset. Unthinkably, a Moderator has disappeared, and panic is gripping the city. With the remaining Moderators spread far too thin, the lawless have found themselves with the freedom to prey upon others, and formerly suppressed rivalries threaten to explode into open conflict.

You are called upon to silence the discord.

Throughout the course of the game, you take on the avatar of Trestkon, a former intelligence agent whose reasons for leaving the city are mysterious, at best. Negotiating for his return was an act of desperation, but having known him personally, the remaining Moderators trust that he can find their missing colleague before it is too late.

Two years can change a man, however, and Trestkon's loyalty is not set in stone. Now imbued with legal authority, he could tip the balance of power in virtually anyone's favour, and the multitude of factions are well aware. Corrupt corporations, religious fanatics, cyber-terrorists, and even deadly computer programs will stop at nothing to gain Trestkon's allegiance.

Your task is simple: Save the world. The rest is up to you.

Features:

• An imaginative new setting unlike any game you've played before (yet very familiar to any netizen).
• 59 levels of gameplay plus a new training mission, 6 intro and endgame cinematics, and three secret bonus maps!
• 20 original new weapons, many of which are unique and may only be acquired once through the game.
• Several unique pre-modded versions of original Deus Ex weaponry to be stolen from particular characters upon defeating them.
• The ability to fight with your bare hands, or to make use of several different gloves to augment your furious blows.
• A weapon shop where you can buy original DX weapons, equipment, and ammunition.
• Hundreds of emails, books, newspapers, notepads, and datacubes.
• Multipage info-devices allow for many pages per book or datacube for the really inquisitive player.
• Over 100 entirely new character skins and many more combinations of old skins!
• Actual nanoaugmented enemies. You can view their augmentations with the Targetting aug and disable them with EMP attacks.
• More customization: Choose between two different character models, 5 different faces for each, and eyewear!
• A ton of new decorations and items.
• Two parallel story arcs, that branch early in the game, and plenty of side-missions.
• An almost ridiculously responsive story with a detailed denouement at the end.
• Choice and consequence: Major characters will remember if you knock them out.
• A script of 200,000 words of dialogue, monologue, infolink messages, and AI barks.
• More than 13,000 fully recorded lines of very high quality.
• Eye-pleasing graphical detail with HDTP support!
• New high-quality ogg music for every level (over 100 tracks!).
• A myriad of secrets, easter eggs, and little details to encourage replaying.
• Goals will be updated as you progress through the missions.
• Greater implementation of difficulty levels: Enemies and pickups will depend on your chosen difficulty.

Gamasutra interviews the developer.

 

[AlternativeUlster]

There is a shit ton of awesome mods for Max Payne 2 that I will eventually get around to playing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIhjtSY-nxg

 

[BeeDog]

Even though it went the retail route, I still say Red Orchestra was/is the best PC mod that I've played to date. I was completely addicted to it when it was still active as a UT2004 mod.

 

[vanty]

Desert Combat for BF1942 was great. Was just as popular as vanilla BF here in Australia, and I'm pretty sure the team was all bought/hired/whatever by EA to help make BF2.

 

[PetriP-TNT]

Enemy Territory, baby! Best online FPS ever.

 

[MrNyarlathotep]

Enemy Territory, baby! Best online FPS ever.

Its a great game, but its really not a mod...

My pick would be Natural Selection for HL1. Can't wait for the sequel.

 

[Bebpo]

That Nameless mod sounds neat. Would like to check it out one day.

 

[abstract alien]

Macho Man L4D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMqPG4S80bo

I hate the the game with a passion, but I wish this were official, Id buy it immediately.

 

[zon]

Counter-Strike

 

[Sibylus]

Some excellent single-player offline mods for the Half-Life 2 games, they're very well done.

Half-Life 2

"Numbness and rage. Fright and anger. I open my eyes. Oh, well. My cell is pitch dark anyhow. "Block E1". I heard their inhuman voices. Lying on this cold metal bed, I stretch my arms along my sides. This must be the right posture to fit in a pod. I do not tolerate the idea of not being ready.

Yes, but ready for what? No, I won't give way to grief.

A squeaky sound... No, no way. It can't be true. The door opens, light replaces darkness. I will ask for a reason later. Now I have a choice to take. An easy one. I will run the hell out of here, whatever it takes. It's time to get a little revenge.

It's time to start my own riot act. "

http://www.moddb.com/mods/riot-act

A single player Nova Prospekt mod, and a very good one at that. Only one chapter available, but it's long and satisfying.

----

This game is not related to the story of the Half-life2.
Something goes mad because the human race failed in the
experiment, and it connects with another world.
The resident in the another world is crazy due to the mistake.
We should restore the situation.

http://www.moddb.com/mods/mistake-of-pythagoras

Sound/look zany? That's because it is, and it's one the most bizarre and entertaining Source mods out there.

----







Half-Life 2: Episode One

The true method of knowledge is experiment. So, strapped to the underside of a stolen Combine helicopter, you're part of my latest scientific investigation.

Objective: To infiltrate and observe this peculiar little island a few miles off shore, its heart burrowed out by our ever-loving benefactors...

Direct Download (exe)

Probably the best of the Source singleplayer mods, highly recommended. Also, the creator now works for Valve, so that should tell you something about the talent behind this.

----





Half-Life 2: Episode Two

UNION is a short single-player map pack for HALF-LIFE 2: EPISODE TWO set in the aftermath of Freeman's blow at Nova Prospekt. ANTLIONS have broken in and run amok, the Combine forces lay decimated, but an unlikely alliance is forged between a lone surviving PRISONER and an escaped VORTIGAUNT. If they are to break free they will have to rely on one another for help.

This is the first part of a possible mini-series and focuses on combat, exploration and AI teamwork. Enemies are primarily antlions and zombies, though future installments would feature Combine forces. Future chapters are not confirmed, and this part does have its own full story arc.

http://www.moddb.com/mods/union

You'll be able to finish this in a half hour, but it's a pretty well polished half hour of gameplay, it's a small download, and it's set in Nova Prospekt.

----

What is No Escape?
No Escape is Half-Life 2 Single player modification that uses the Orange Box engine including Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One and Half-Life 2 Episode Two.
What is No Escape about?
After many wars between the humans and the combine most of the technology is destroyed so people and combine join forces against the only unaffected enemy - the undead.
Of course not everyone is so happy about having the combine as a friends and you are one of those people.Your goal is to escape the prison you are thrown in and make your way to the freedom.

What features does it have?
-New locations - each level is designed different - you will never get -bored by repetitive levels
-Special Effects - hdr lighting, color correction and new particle effects
-Custom textures - high-res 1024x1024 textures with normal maps including new hdr skyboxes
-Custom sound/music - new ambient sounds and soundtrack music
-Custom props/skins - many new static props and weapon skins

http://www.moddb.com/mods/no-escape

Pretty and enjoyable, definitely one of the more playable mods out there.



Mods to Watch

For the stuff that looks really promising and is coming soon.

Black Mesa is the Half-Life 2 total conversion of the original Half-Life game. Utilizing the Source engine and its endless array of possibilities and powers, Black Mesa will throw you into the world that started the Half-Life continuum and introduced Gordon Freeman to the world as a gun-toting, bullet-dodging Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics.

Black Mesa was built and founded on the principle that Half-Life: Source did not do the original title enough credit, regardless of the true intentions laid out with the release of Half-Life: Source by Valve Software. Subsequently in November 2004, Black Mesa was founded and set out to reconstruct the original title, giving it the new environments, models, and abilities it deserved on the Source engine. This total conversion will not require Half-Life: Source installed on your system to play, only a legitimate and working version of Half-Life 2. At the present time, Valve Software is not associated or involved with the development of this project.

Moddb Page

Watch the video. Watch the video. Watch the video.

----

City17 aims to bring the player a Rebel perspective of the Half Life 2 Universe. From the City Streets to the Canals, City17 Ventures through the Episode 1 timeline.

Along with that, City17 Brings a list of graphical Features towards the Source Engine Including:

* A featured in-built LUA engine. Allows for flexibility and HUD implementations.

* Volumetric Lighting with smaller features included:

Media

1. God Rays for sun effects against Geometry.
2. Light shafts generated by any light source when casted into a dark exterior or Interior.
3. Planned features to work without the need of DX10, much like other games require. Play without the worry of any needed hardware upgrades or software.

* Dynamic Lighting, including scalable lighting at realtime, with proper occlusion, and realtime shadowing.
* SSAO (Screen Space Ambient Occlusion) Creating softer shadows at 'real' and 'compile' Times.
* Improved AI, resulting in more realistic battles, and smarter Opponents.
* All features capable of running on a Mid-Range PC and beyond.

http://www.moddb.com/mods/city-17-episode-1

----

Opposing Force 2 is an ambitious Half-Life 2 modification that focuses on making an unnofficial sequel to Gearbox Software's award winning game: Opposing Force. As many gamers think of Opposing Force as one of the greatest FPS games ever, modders making a sequel is an obvious possibility. Although many have tried and failed this project has come further than anyone else's and seems to have a bright future.

http://www.moddb.com/mods/opposing-force-2

Raindrop

an upcoming Half-Life 2 singleplayer modification

Features

* FPS gameplay with fast-paced action sequences and horror parts
* lots of new maps with completely new textures and models (everything on the screenshots that proves the opposite is a placeholder)
* a bunch of new code features never seen before in a Source game / mod
* new weapons
* intensive and thrilling storyline

Backstory

Early 1920s: Russian scientists want to investigate whether a community of humans, with the necessary ressources, can supply itself and exists on its own. The gained results shall be used to develop emergency plans for a possible Second World War. This study is part of a series of tests which also includes the creation of super soldiers and paramilitary warfare. Everything happens in the utmost secrecy. The Thule Society in Germany carries out similar research.

http://www.moddb.com/mods/raindrop

----

DownFall is a Half-Life 2 singleplayer mini mod. You 're again taking up the role of Dr. Gordon Freeman. Your mission is to infiltrate a rebel compound, now taken over by the combine, to recover a computer virus known as the "citadel buster".

http://www.moddb.com/mods/downfall1

 

[JavaMava]

Some excellent single-player offline mods for the Half-Life 2 games, they're very well done.

~~~snip~~~

This is a really excellent post.

 

[Bernbaum]

Holy fuck, just downloaded and started playing Minerva: Metastasis. Fucking brilliant set-pieces and atmosphere, and throws the player into some interesting combat scenarios.

Good to see the guy got work at Valve.

 

[PetriP-TNT]

Its a great game, but its really not a mod...

Well, okay, I should have been more specific: ETpro is the best mod around.

 

[Cat in the Hat]

Awesomeness

Thank you for this post, I'm gonna play these today. Downloading now.

Your the man

 

[speedpop]

Valve are a company who really embrace the mod community, and in turn sometimes hiring special talent i.e. Counterstrike and Team Fortress designers.

Desert Combat was absolutely incredible for BF1942, and the ideas eventuated into what is BF2. Forgotten Hope was also brilliant for both games due to the painstaking reality in regards to warfare and weapons in a WWII setting.

Ultimately mods are really dependent on your own tastes. They can range from completely revolutionizing a game's engine and creating an entirely new game, to just enhancing a game's appeal. The easiest choice is to try to find where a game's fanbase is located and dig around in there, asking in forums and such.

 

[itsgreen]

Quake 2 Lithium

 

[Chinner]

bookmarking this thread

 

[BlazeHedgehog]

I barely remember Riot Act but I don't think I remember enjoying it. I got stuck somewhere, or something.

Minerva, though. Damn. Great stuff.

As for my recommendations, let's see what's in my Moddb Modwatch...

Pirates, Vikings and Knights II - Half-Life 2 multiplayer mod. Name says it all. Class-based, three teams, intricate melee combat system. I haven't given it enough love lately.

Curse - Not actually out yet, but close. Half-Life 2 singleplayer campaign set in an egyptian pyramid. Looks delightfully oldschool and previews from various mod sites are super, super positive.

Fistful of Frags - Western-themed Half-Life 2 multiplayer mod. Has an experience points system that you can use to buy guns and perks. I'm not really digging the latest update so much, though...

Nightmare House (and Nightmare House 2) - Not the greatest HL2 Singleplayer mod in the world but I don't regret the download. A few cheap scares, a few things that are a bit more creepy... Worth checking out.

Afraid of Monsters: Director's Cut - If you like Silent Hill, difficult puzzles, low lighting conditions, and can cope with the dated Half-Life 1 engine, this is for you. Scary as hell with atmosphere so thick you can cut it with a knife. These same dudes are making another HL1 horror mod called Cry of Fear.

 

[Truant]

MODs are incredible. Usually I only go with the ones that fix and add stuff I feel is missing from the game. I almost never download texture packs and whatnot, as they usually just look like a bunch of Photshop filter orgies.

 

[szhred]

ALL HAIL

Botolf

THANKS!

 

[alba]

Adrenaline Gamer, Counter-Strike, no contest there

 

[smik]

Gears PC Custom Maps with bot play & Horde

http://www.moddb.com/members/ismik/downloads

just some pics

this is my ModDB profile

 

[Cat in the Hat]

Does anyone have ideas about Mods for Baldur's Gate 2? I'm gonna start a playthrough soon and I want to try it with mods. I'd like a mod that adds tons of new weapons and gear. Balance isn't important for me.

 

[Chinner]

http://www.moddb.com/mods/the-delta-sector

It's a mod for Far Cry I tried back when I bought that ubi pack on steam. It's a totally different yet familiar total conversion to Far Cry. Most impressive part is how good they were able to make the graphics look.

and even though you didn't ask for multiplayer, I will just say that The Specialist for Half-Life is the best mod.

is there any stuff like this that will bump up the graphics for vanillia farcry?

 

[delirium]

Does anyone have ideas about Mods for Baldur's Gate 2? I'm gonna start a playthrough soon and I want to try it with mods. I'd like a mod that adds tons of new weapons and gear. Balance isn't important for me.

Ascension. It was basically what Throne of Bhaal was suppose to be. It was made by one of the designers that worked on the game.

 

[Cat in the Hat]

Ascension. It was basically what Throne of Bhaal was suppose to be. It was made by one of the designers that worked on the game.

Ahh ok cool, so is it a add on quest/area or is it a conversion of ToB.

 

[bee]

half life 2: riot act, rock 24, minerva metastasis, fakefactory 9.51, the hidden, portal prelude

far cry: matto 3, matto 4, delta sector

oblivion: collection of mods, poop mod or fcom:convergence

gtr2: power and the glory 2.1

rfactor: historx, touring car legends 1.1, fs one 08

crysis: intel map pack, advanced ai

 

[Harteex]

Haven't been looking into mods for a while now but some of these screens makes me want to

But I remember all those awesome Battlefield 1942 mods:
* Desert Combat
* Eve of Destruction
* Pirates
* Interstate 1982
+ many more

 

[Arcipello]

Project Reality

the official ModDB "mod of the year"

it's basically i much more realistic and teamplay heavy game than BF2 ever was, the maps are HUGE and games can last hours depending on how good the teams are.

some random clip i pulled from youtube of some sqaud http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmQp_rbrrpY&feature=related

http://www.realitymod.com/

 

[Raide]

Action Half Life: Stunts like dives, back-flips, guns and mêlée/karate combat, awesome kills, awesome levels.

Quake Rally: Quake engine =Rally driving with machine guns and rocket-launchers. Showed how versatile the Quake engine really was, not just remaking a shooter in a shooter.

 

[830920]

Defense of the Ancients, if that counts.

 

[NIN90]

PAM MOD baby!

 

[Cat in the Hat]

Some details in your answers would be productive

 

[Draft]

Natural Selection is the best.

This is my personal favorite, and the game that turned me down the dark path of sacrificing money to the PC Gaming.

It was absolutely imperative that I played that at 1280x960/60fps/details ULTRA HIGH.

 

[Pikelet]

Natural Selection is the best.

Agreed. No other game has come close to merging rts aspects with a team based shooter. I still play today on one of the very few australian servers that still run it