Half-Life is starting to feel like its own, dedicated art scene. From the original Valve Half-Life Loop remakes the sci-fi shooter as a top-down, twin-stick-style shooter with roguelike elements. It's been approved for Steam by Valve itself, and you can play it right now. If Gordon Freeman ever said a word, he'd be looking at this and screaming 'heck yeah.'
Developed by modder 'PinkyDev,' Half-Life Loop (renamed to 'Codename Loop' for its release on Steam, to avoid clashing) is an isometric twin-stick shooter set within an alternative Black Mesa. G-Man has locked Gordon Freeman in an infinite loop (get it?) of recurring combat challenges. PinkyDev says that their focus currently is on completing the linear campaign for Loop while integrating some roguelike elements – a full, dedicated roguelike experience will arrive later.
"A few months ago I asked Valve for permission to publish my Half-Life fan game on Steam," PinkyDev says, "and guess what? Codename: Loop is coming to Steam." Loop now has a full demo, based on the Half-Life level Questionable Ethics. Imagine Enter the Gungeon, Geometry Wars, or Beat Hazard, except you're Gordon Freeman and it's Black Mesa. Yeah. It's good.
You can also create your own maps, based on the classics from Half-Life, and import all the iconic guns and enemies that you want. You can get Half-Life Loop right Gordon Freeman to carry a cardboard box from the beginning of Half-Life right to the end, so check that out, too.
It makes you wonder – old games on PC.