According to all accounts, Half Life: Alyx is a phenomenal gameBut since it is VR only, large groups of gamers simply cannot play it due to the high cost of VR hardware and the computers to support it. To fix this, modders have been working on No VR mods for Alyx, with varying degrees of success.
Recently, SoMNst, a modder from Argentina, posted a video on YouTube highlighting the progress of their own No VR mod.
It looks good so far. The camera does not vibrate with every movement as we have seen it other mods, and Alyx’s hands are operated with a mouse and keyboard. Her fingers move as one rather than with the disjointed one-finger movements associated with a player’s hand on a VR controller. The nearly nine-minute video mainly shows combat, while other videos on SoMNst’s channel show that Alyx works with her omni tool, which moves more naturally now that it is operated with a mouse and keyboard rather than someone’s hands.
SoMNst’s goal is to make the mod play as close to it as possible Half-life 2 if possible. Looks like no VR Half Life: Alyx looks like a typical Source Engine first-person shooter.
While players who don’t have VR might rave about these mods, others say they twist the original vision of the game’s developers. SoMNst is well aware that a no-VR mod will dilute some of what Half Life: Alyx special.
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“I played the game in VR and I think the game is a masterpiece. Valve has done a great job, ”said SoMNst Kotaku via email. But the high cost of VR hardware has created such a barrier to entry that most people will not be able to experience that magic. SoMNst wants to lower that threshold.
“In the current situation in my country (Argentina), it is almost impossible to get a VR headset, even if you try to get the cheapest one,” wrote SoMNst. “That’s why I develop this mod and because I think it’s a fun challenge to get started HLA without VR. “
Currently, only two of the game’s 11 chapters can be played with the mod. SoMNst and two other modders, Optimus97 and Nicklaus, have teamed up to not create VR-friendly versions of the game’s core features, such as crafting and main menu navigation. SoMNst says they are prioritizing that before working on making the rest of the game playable.
A no-VR mod is exactly what I’m personally waiting to experience Half-life: AlyxI like the Half-life games and was excited to see Valve covertly revive the series. But my enthusiasm faded away knowing the game was VR only. VR games interest me, but I can’t justify buying an expensive headset that will no doubt litter my closet for use with one or two games. (While the Oculus Quest is much more reasonably priced, I can’t stand the idea of the mandatory Facebook integration.) Half Life: Alyx no-VR mod is not available yet, but if it is, I’ll be first in line to try it.