Black Mesa (2019) - 18/19 - Nihilanth/Endgame [Hard]
Chapter 18: Nihilanth & Chapter 19: Endgame
With the fate of Earth in the balance, Freeman finally confronts the mastermind behind the alien invasion, Nihilanth, in the penultimate chapter of Black Mesa. Meanwhile, an enigmatic being that has followed Freeman for his entire journey lurks in the shadows...
Playlist of completed chapters: • Black Mesa (2019) - Full Playthrough [Hard]
Brief thank-you note before the notes/trivia:
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who watched any of my videos for this playthrough, and especially those who stuck with me for the entire ride. Your comments, feedback and encouragement were very much appreciated and definitely kept me going through this lengthy and at times frustrating journey (it's safe to say that any major battle with music took me close to 15-20 tries to record a perfectly synced run).
My goal with this playthrough was to showcase all the hard work that went into the making of this game, and present it in a cinematic and engrossing way to viewers, as if I was Freeman himself. From the feedback, it seems as if I've accomplished that, and I'm very happy to hear that. Half-Life has always been my favorite series of games because, with the proper pacing and gameplay style, you really do feel as if you're part of a world that's bigger than you can ever understand, but at the same time participating in a big budget action movie where you are the badass hero.
Thanks again. While I don't have any immediate plans for videos in the future, I do want to eventually do a Half-Life 2 playthrough, as well as the episodes. Of course I will also be playing Half-Life: Alyx when it comes out, although I probably won't do a playthrough for that anytime soon.
Notes:
NIhilanth is a much different boss battle compared to HL1. Key differences include:
A distinct three phase battle, with the Nihilanth's attacks growing increasingly desperate
Lack of a green ball attack that sends the players to various side-rooms from which they must escape. Consequently, there are also no side-rooms in this fight. The developers have stated that they think that attack was a detriment to the fight as it took the player away from Nihilanth
Addition of a mortar attack that carpet bombs a considerable area
Addition of a set of lasers that are emitted from NIhilanth's hands and cuts a wide arc across Freeman's path
Nihilanth can bring objects in from Earth and throw them at the player. Objects include forklifts, Humvees, Black Mesa security vehicles and even shipping containers
During Phase III, Nihilanth will charge up a devastating blue energy blast that tracks Freeman's movement, as well as utilize a more deadly laser attack, and conjure up walls of flames that advance towards Freeman
Nihilanth can make the ground erupt upwards, blocking Freeman's path
Parts of the Black Mesa facility are teleported in during Phase II
The G-man voice (starts at 6:28) might sound jarring for players if they have only heard the HL2 G-man voice. Black Mesa's voice is based off of HL1, which sounds markedly different
If the player refuses G-man's offer, he will say the same lines as he does in HL1 ("Well, it looks like we WON'T be working together...no regrets, Mr. Freeman"), then disappear into the portal. Afterwards, the tram will rip apart and deposit Freeman right at the feet of the Xenian army, who are mobilizing out of a huge tunnel. Several alien grunts take notice, and roar at Freeman. It is implied that he dies in this ending (or that the G-man gave him the illusion of free choice)
Trivia:
Freeman enters the battle with Nihilanth free-falling. In HL1, Freeman starts off on a platform that crumbles and sends him to the floor after Nihilanth's "FREEEEEEEEEMAAAAAAN"
There are no jumppads in Black Mesa's fight. In HL1, Freeman takes the jumppads to launch himself up and attack Nihilanth's "brain" once his head opens up
Many players have compared the boss fight to those in Doom (2016). The developers have stated that game as inspiration when designing the bosses
In HL1, vortigaunts would spawn into the lair if the green teleporter ball hits a wall as opposed to the player. In BM, no other enemies are present in the map
Nihilanth often belly laughs during the initial stages of the fight, which is a behavior not seen in HL1
Freeman getting teleported far away from the tower and watching it explode is not in HL1
The final appearance of G-man and the only time he speaks in the entire game (6:28)
In Black Mesa, Kevin Sisk voices both the security guards and G-man. In Half-Life, the guards and G-man are also voiced by the same actor, Micheal Shapiro
During G-man's speech, a nighttime (and utterly destroyed) version of the multiplayer map Crossfire is shown at 6:50
The black hole behind G-man at 7:15 is suggested to have been caused by the tower explosion, though that is certainly up to debate