Half-Life 2: Aftermath is a mod which combines content from Episode 3 leaks and prototypes
A project which combines content from the cancelled Half-Life 2: Episode 3 has been released in the wake of Marc Laidlaw's "Epistle 3" posted last week.
Created by Lever Softworks and called Half-Life 2: Aftermath, the project made up of leaked maps and prototypes. It's basically a "playable archive" according to PCgamesN.
In the works for some time, after Laidlaw's post, production was sped up, with release one arriving yesterday.
According to the notes posted on moddb, it contains 11 experimental levels created by Valve during 2012 and 2013. These were apparently created for Half-Life 3, which is sadly vaporware at this point or only existed in our deepest dreams.
It also includes four demonstration levels featuring various functions and NPCs not seen in the levels.
Here's more:
- weapon_proto1, a Combine laser-gun that shoot through walls, intended for Episode 3.
- hl2eb_weapon_proto1_debug, a command which toggles the Developer Console spam created by weapon_proto1.
- npc_combine_armored, an Armored Combine Soldier, intended for Episode 3.
- npc_wpnscanner, a City Scanner with a laser gun, intended for Episode 3.
The notes state npc_surface aren't included as the team lacked the sufficient source code.
If the title sounds familiar, it should; especially if you are a Half-Life fan. This was the working title for Half-Life 2 in 2005 before it was changed to Half-Life 2: Episode One and released in 2006.
Future releases for Half-Life 2: Aftermath are said to be in the works. To get yourself up to speed on everything, be sure to give the video from Valve News Network above a watch.
Lever Softworks also recommends playing Half-Life 2: Aftermath in conjunction with watching the video.