Black Mesa: Definitive Edition - 15b - Xen [Hard]
Chapter 15: Xen - Part Two
After a lengthy trek through the floating islands and jungles of Xen, Freeman navigates through a subterranean cave and arrives at the edge of a large precipice overlooking the tower, where a spectacular structure is connected via a system of organic root-like growths. Once inside, he discovers an elaborate teleporter system powered by the energy of an enormous cluster of Xen crystals, and long left behind by their creators. Uncertain of the portal destination, Freeman must nevertheless find a way to re-activate the teleporter in the hub if he is to have a chance at finding Nihilanth.
Playlist with all completed chapters:
• Black Mesa: Definitive Edition (Full Playt...
Notes:
The underwater barnacles (called "beneathacles" by the devs), introduced at 1:51, are a new enemy type introduced in Black Mesa. Aside from their radically different habitats, they are functionally identical to regular barnacles
Beneathacles will only grab items such as satchels if they are deposited at the tip of their appendages (6:09). However, they will grab Gordon if he touches any part of their body with no exception
The cables during the teleporter puzzle sequence (13:08) are VERY finicky and tends to re-connect to the sockets that Freeman had just pulled them out of. To avoid this, stand right in front of the plugs while disconnecting them and direct the pulled cable downwards away from the sockets during removal
Jumping into the portal before firing the final pulse of energy into it at 20:50 will instantly kill Gordon
Trivia:
LORE: According to level designer Chris Horn (Dev name: Stormseeker), the vortigaunts constructed the teleporter island/hub as a means to portal over to the island with the Tower (though I think the clusters of Xen crystals, and the island itself are natural formations). Black Mesa's survey teams had intended to get to this hub as part of their expeditions, but never made it inside, as shown by the various HEV scientists scattered around the perimeter of the structure. It can be assumed that the Vortigaunts had used this hub ages ago, due to the teleporter being shut down upon Freeman's arrival, and the state of disrepair it is in (This is what I understand the lore to be, please let me know if I have any part of that incorrect!)
Jumping into the water at 0:34 reveals that the surface disturbance is caused by a geyser. If Freeman swims over the geyser, it will propel him slowly towards the surface
A brief stinger of the soundtrack "Convergence" plays at 3:55 when Gordon first sees the hub
The enemies on the roots of the hub at 3:58 can be killed. The Bullsquid on the rock at 4:11 is not present there when Gordon reaches its location
The supply cache that teleports near Gordon at 4:20 is sent by the Lambda Team, as evident by the sticky note on its lid at 4:37. While all caches that teleport to Xen in the next few chapters have sticky notes, most of them are blank
The quote at 4:37 is from Marie Curie, who was a Polish and naturalized-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity (Thanks to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit!)
Ichthyosaurs are unaffected by barnacles, as shown at 5:20
The map starting at 7:19 is the very first and only map of HL1's Xen chapter, featuring the "teleporter island" in which Gordon had to jump down upon via floating platforms in the original game
The cave entrances at 9:45 was where Gordon first glimpsed the hub one map prior (3:48)
If Gordon noclips into the bottom cave entrance at 9:45, he will see an open box of pizza at the end of the tunnel (a reference to the Pizza ARG in the game).
The teleporter puzzle (11:31) is very reminiscent of the Citadel Core sequence in HL2:EP1's second chapter, "Direct Intervention". Both involved Freeman having to activate three sets of machinery across several levels of the structure to activate the portal/contain the core. As well, the plug puzzles in the hub are reminiscent of the one in HL2:EP2, where Freeman had to restore power to a radio station prior to encountering the Hunters for a second time