Recreating HL2 Beta: Dark Interval (2020 | Part 1)

Recreating HL2 Beta: Dark Interval
PART 1 of 3
EDIT: hl2-beta.ru has this mod listed as 2010-present. So the development for the mod didn't start in 2016, it started in 2010. A decade ago. Wow...
A look at a great recreation mod for Half Life 2. It takes place from the start to the teleportation scene, and packs quite a punch. Extremely happy to have played this.
Moddb Page: www.moddb.com/mods/dark-interval
Music: Silent Hill 2 Soundtrack - Alone in the Town / Bowling Alley Theme
My previous video on HL2 Beta:
• Half Life 2 Beta: Cut ...
0:00 Intro
01:55 Prologue/Borealis
05:21 The Docks of City 17
6:48 City 17
16:34 Outro
****SOCIAL MEDIA****
Twitter: / radhaz_
Instagram: / radiationhazard
#HL2 #Beta #DarkInterval

[@fauxtistic298]

So interesting to see the city that never was

[@Omega-jg4oq]

Pretty creepy and empty and depressing and lonely, that's what I feel about it

[@Logan_935]

The city on the edge of never

[@TacBans]

dark interval, also known as "how to make beta fans cream their pants" funny how it's named after an eiree ep2 song, which can be traced back to the beta. (the airex song in the files)

[@lionocyborg6030]

I personally know Dark Interval the song as the Episode 2 trailer theme at the end of Episode 1. (Valve later removed that video from the game) It played as Alyx fell off the broken bridge at the start and showed the destroyed citadel, before changing to Hard Fought after the Victory Mine Vortigaunt sets her down to begin healing her. It also plays in Lost Coast when you destroy the headcrab shell launcher just before the hunter chopper shows up.

[@dsg3012]

Oh my god... this is literally what I imagined from the beta to this mod. If raising the bar redux is better than this, it'll be perfection.

[@leojwolfhouse8746]

Dark Interval atmosphere and level design is definitively better than RTBR, but RTBR models, particles, assets, and gameplay are better than Dark Interval. Perhaps it's blasphemous, but I like to copy some models, sounds, and things from RTBR into Dark Interval to get the best of both worlds.

[@newlandpencilnut4754]

@@leojwolfhouse8746 I personally find the RTBR stuff quite plastic, it's weird. I actually think the Dark Interval models suit the beta much more. All of the models from RTBR look very generic sc-fi

[@leojwolfhouse8746]

@@newlandpencilnut4754 fair point. I think I've played so much Half Life over the years that I may confuse "different" for "good," just for the change of pace that it offers

[@PETRIXXXX]

Dark Interval is the 1999 story, Raising the bar redux is the 2002 story

[@FlyboyHelosim]

Plot twist: RTBR was not better than this.

[@leojwolfhouse8746]

Dark Interval is my favorite HL2 mod ever...I'm dying to play the wasteland levels that they've been cooking up. Dark Interval Part 1 does a better job than the retail (or any beta mod) at establishing the world of HL2 prior to Kleiner's lab. They aren't afraid to deviate from the OG beta and mix in some retail elements into the mod.

[@Albert_C]

Wasteland pre alpha demo was just released in the discord last week. It's amazing.

[@leojwolfhouse8746]

@@Albert_C THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP...I was checking nearly obsessively for months, but have been rather busy lately and missed it!

[@lionocyborg6030]

I hope people work more on the Old Build mod for DI too: the only things about retail DI that I hate are that we start on the Borealis, similar to the earliest story draft instead of the wasteland train (which never made any sense even back then as the sea closest to City 17 is supposed to be all dried up) and the stenographer’s chasm in the factory is missing the titular workers & their stenographs, in favour of having more catwalks and some people welding. Old Build does have some things that are bad unlike the main DI though such as I think not using the main DI version of the manhack arcade and Kleiner actually dying in the teleporter malfunction instead of simply getting injured. Old Build also seems to have more levels in it but quite a lot are missing such as the wasteland: try to load those missing levels and it does nothing, merely returning to the title screen.

[@fauxtistic298]

A THREE PART SPECIAL?!? we are absolutely spoiled!

[@YASSERXM]

Dark Interval is one of the most atmospherics mods I've ever played. After this video I'll have to it play again, keep up the good work! :)

[@endoskellyfilms137]

isn't it suspicious that a lot of half-life projects have gone silent? like project borealis and dark interval? hopefully the silence is because they are working hard, and not dead or something.

[@willnottell6350]

this is sad to read after boreal alyph’s cancellation

[@sekarmaltum1695]

did valve go nintendo on those devs?

[@willnottell6350]

Sekar Maltum No, the development team was just having a lot of issues getting things done.

[@Lakarak]

@@sekarmaltum1695 Valve doesn't do that. Unlike Disney or Nintendo, they like fan art

[@sekarmaltum1695]

@@Lakarak i remember the VTMB (NON PROFIT FAN REMAKE) within actual, up-to-date source engine, which was shut down by activision. Only for the "rights-holders" to start developing a shitty sequel. Seriously, copy"right" is just bullshit. It should be like a patend, to protect small artists, not big corps whos focus is economics instead of quality.

[@wonjstuff]

Never heard about this mod before, but now I'll absolutely try it

[@bikerfrommiami]

I think the intro sequence and where you touch the cryochamber and then wake up inside of it, is gman waking Gordon up inside a cryochamber that he had teleported you inside of when Gordon leaves stasis.

[@loztwalker5068]

I remember the first time i played this mod, it was incredible how they managed to preserve the beta feeling while taking a few liberties.

[@Drebin416]

I haven't had an opportunity to play Dark Interval yet, but it's really shaping up to be the recreation the community deserves. Watching the streams that the developers do on occasion really shows their dedication and passion for it. A lot of early recreation attempts were kneecapped by big beta recreation teams like Team GabeN (I think) hoarding content for themselves. I'm glad to see we're shifting away from that.

[@Matthew-di4lv]

i cant wait for the complete dark interval part 2

[@a_cats]

If you really can't, you can download an early version of it on the dark interval discord

[@Matthew-di4lv]

@@a_cats i know i meant the complete part 2

[@HandelsAreDumb]

I love the dark and depressing setting of the beta. Sells the whole "controlled by the combine" theme really well

[@dabogabo]

Dark Interval for the atmosphere, Raising the Bar for the gameplay. I think both are beautiful competing mods, can't wait to see them finished.

[@ratboyOwO]

this feels like the timelines shifted and we got hl2 from an alternate universe.

[@warriorcast8567]

I was about to comment that.

[@cyrid1038]

I really like Dark Interval, it’s almost like a re-creational mod of the beta but keeps a mix with retail and beta aspects. On the topic of beta, this, RTBR, and build2001 will become the successful beta mods out there, afaik anyway. Can’t wait for Part 2! Nice video too

[@aSkyclad]

Beta City 17 has such a cyberpunk vibe to it, I love it

[@nickie115]

If later in the mod we return to the borealis the time jump bits is probably what it's gonna look like.

[@anormalstreetlamp6878]

Man this track you used in the background is simply amazing and fitting

[@olzhas1one755]

I like this beta mod more out of the others. Taking certain concepts from beta, which were actually good, and combining them with retail. This really does feel like the Beta if it were to actually release

[@leojwolfhouse8746]

BTW, you can play the Alpha Part 2 of Dark Interval if you join their discord server. There are a few more chapters. The refinery is particularly good. In Part 2, the maps are more "open" and less linear. There are several different ways to progress through the levels - which is genius. You may discover more shortcuts after several playthroughs. The CP gameplay is a little weak, but it's still in Alpha.

[@RadiationHazardYT]

That's cool. I think I'll wait for the next public release. It'll be good to show in a video on the channel, when they've "fine-tuned" the Part 2 maps.

[@leojwolfhouse8746]

@@RadiationHazardYT I can't wait. I'm most excited to see what they do with the air exchange! There was nothing very "combine" about the beta air exchange, so I'm sure Cvoxalury and A-Shift will give it a fresh take.

[@mrjuan2597]

Hi! I just wanna say first that i've been actually watching your videos for a while now, and I love how you inform on everything hl2 beta related! This video in particular was something that I was looking forward to, as I played both RTB:R and Dark Interval. In my opinion Dark Interval nails the artistic part of the beta universe, its representation of the ambience, scenarios, sounds and characters is on point and it was exactly what I was looking for in a HL2 Beta related mod. While i'm on it, I also wanna say that you absolutely spoke perfectly what I thought originally of the mod, I could've not said it better! Keep up the good work man! And I would share my thoughts about RTB:R too but i'd let you do the work in the next part ;)

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Hey there! Thank you :) I appreciate that! I haven't checked much of RTBR, but we'll see soon what that's like, compared to Dark Interval.

[@nickie115]

@@RadiationHazardYT RTBR is almost it's own game with how much most things look different.

[@crabs0ncrack436]

I think i never told you this but your voice is perfect for these kind of videoes

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Haha thanks man! :)

[@sipeb587]

Man thanks for your videos, your channel really makes me happy, I just had one of the most traumatic Christmas and I don’t know if I will make it to the next year, the only thing I want to say is that tank you for giving me countless hours of entertainment in my life. I wish you a good day or night or whatever and thank you man for this content.

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Hey man I'm sorry to hear that. Hope things turn out ok soon for you.

[@Carbonated404]

The atmosphere is exactly why I love dark interval. For me the atmosphere can make everything in a game, and the dark, hopeless feel of Dark Interval is exactly what I imagined the hl2 beta to be like. Raising the Bar Redux is amazing, but it doesn't quite nail the atmosphere as well as Dark Interval does.

[@oocreeperloveoo4269]

The combine March with the crab synths is my favorite

[@industriastroll3177]

The voice acting is absolutely phenomenal in this mod.

[@TandHBurkett]

Imagine Valve just uploads their finished hl2 beta to steam and not say a word about it until someone notices

[@CuzCuzBoy69]

Dark Interval if released is going to be the second best fan-made game *ever* (just behind Black Mesa) There are only seven things i wish they did but they didn't. *1-* G-Man monologue (They made no monologue at all) *2-* Zipper Train passing through the "old city" and then to City-17 Intro (They used the Borealis Intro) *3-* Citizens with gas masks (They didn't want it) *4-* American style buildings (They opted for Eastern European buildings because it would take too much time to entirely remodel all buildings into another style) *5-* The Airexchange (They chose to replace it with the Depot) *6-* The beta Combine outfit (They kept the release combine outfit) *7-* Beta UI (They kept the release UI)

[@thiccjerry5232]

Air exchange will happen in Part 3

[@a_cats]

I found another beta mod called Build2001, it only has Vertigo and Get Your Free TVs, but the atmosphere in both is amazing, especially the towering skyscrapers in the background of Vertigo

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Yes I've heard great things about Build2001. Seen some screenshots as well. If I can, I'll try to cover it on the channel.

[@a_cats]

@@RadiationHazardYT Nice

[@medman7527]

This is one of your darkest and grittiest videos brewski tbh

[@DawnOfWarFan22]

Thank you so much for all your work, seeing people still passionate about the HL2 Beta is great to see.

[@sanctumscream372]

What a lovely Christmas gift! Love your videos man, I'm a new subscriber but I've been addicted to your stuff, it's nice to have someone so passionate and knowledgeable about the Half-Life 2 Beta.

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Ayy welcome! Glad to have you as part of the Hazard Squad :) Thank you!

[@mountainpepsi9991]

City 17 really looks stunning in this mod! I kinda wish there was an entirely new game made out of this. I mean really entirely new. Nothing that connects it to the Half-Life franchise. New Story, new characters, a new world, and conflicts. I think the scenery would make for an awesome story! My brain keeps on spinning ideas around while watching your Half-Life 2 beta videos :D

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Same! I think it was my first Beta video where I said that this type of aesthetic would have been amazing in any other, non-valve, non half life game. Who knows, with the tools available in this day and age, someone from our midst might rise to the occasion and create a gritty game with a city like Beta City 17.

[@gachimuchienjoyer8083]

Already made. It's called Dishonored.

[@crabs0ncrack436]

Oh yeah Merry Christmas to everyone

[@wadmodderschalton5763]

That train map was actually the intro map used in an earlier build of Dark Interval before they switched the starting chapter to the Borealis. (16:40)

[@HaliOnRepeat]

This mod is a dream come true. Absolutely glorious.

[@mbnnn3447]

Man your channel is so goddamn cool i can binge your channel 5 times and i would still have fun

[@Barisxoxo]

Nice video! I love your content and how you explain the things.

[@mbnnn3447]

Your content is peak quality please keep it up i 100% love this channel

[@HL2Parovoz]

I love this style of video so informative yet so entertaining bravo

[@megafro6999]

I'm so glad that I randomly stumbled across this video it's very well made, It's amazing to think that the HL2 Beta aeshtetic was so appealing to so many people that many literally decided to recreate it, like what other games are there where fans recreate the beta for its atmosphere?? I wanted to make my own mod but due to lack of knowledge with source I didn't go through with it, but this video is very inspiring and I'll make sure to check out the mod and one day create something myself, maybe I can learn a thing or two about level design from these types of mods, because they seem to do it very well

[@hapciz2422]

I'm so happy your channel is growing, You'll get to 1k in no time!

[@ImNotFine44]

Tbh the world feels a bit more dark like dishonored. Half life 2 is still a really dark game but subtly

[@JangoF12b]

This Borealis with Dark Interval, definitely looks to be the size of what the one we saw in HL2:E2 looks like in it's size. I feel that if the Borealis would've been kept in some way for HL2, it still could've been kept for the plot point of Portal 2 and HL2:E2 in some way. Also, to see the way the city was shown off; I love it. I can say and I think anyone can say, that this is what Valve envisioned at the time due to their Concept Art fitting it. Plus, I wouldn't have minded to play this kind of looking HL2 at all. It seems to really fit the tone of the time too. It does remind me a lot of the dingy, cold, eerie, yet off vibes of the Matrix movies. Which I love.

[@Tycitron6000]

Love this mod, i cant wait for it to be finished!

[@w4llst3r37]

Really interesting video, your content is amazing bro. So weird to see this version of City 17, it feels like something completely new. Love your content, keep it up!

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Thank you my dude :)

[@thatdudemetro6271]

The mod seems amazing, especially the atmosphere, il try the mod alongside the redux mod since i actually came here after seeing that one first. Both mods look good, each with their own details. Thanks for this video as well.

[@stackalloc7741]

Excellent video quality and topic choice once again. A close look at different versions of the beta storyline being compared against each other would be quite interesting tho.

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Thank you! And yes, that idea is on the to-do list. Will work on it soon.

[@obamaprism3528]

The reason the sky cahnged to a dingy orange is probably because that area is the industrial part.

[@spartains5493]

I've said it so many times, to so many different people, but I'll say it again: I really wish this was the version of HL2 that we got.

[@NeonNovaFilms]

Holy shit! These guys really nailed the atmosphere. Hope this gets finished.

[@MCHH-ml2qq]

Love how Silent Hill ost being used in your video for what could have been one of the most dark and disturbing video games of all time, HL2 still is a pretty dark game but sounds like the beta would have been on another level entirely

[@P3ZzzZzz]

The effort you put in this video is amazing!

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Thank you :)

[@NexusLore]

Loving the silent hill music! Can't wait to see the other parts aswell

[@RadiationHazardYT]

SH music and HL2's Beta A E S T H E T I C S go hand in hand imho And thanks!

[@NexusLore]

@@RadiationHazardYT they definitely do! The 2001 era texture quality and the overall low-poly style reminds me of the first Silent Hills

[@TotalNoSkill]

Cool video as always Maybe after Part 3 you would do a video about recreations of Episode 3?

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Thanks! I haven't seen any interesting ones, I only know about Boreal Alyph and Project Borealis. Feel free to share any good suggestions. I'll take a look.

[@FVMods]

Love this video. Really like something from my dreams.

[@ElmeriThePig]

This is probably the best mod that recreates the Half Life 2 Beta. I am actually working on my own hl2 beta mod, because I am intrested about beta, and I want to make my own one.

[@RadiationHazardYT]

That's cool my dude. Let me know if you ever want to showcase it here on the channel in the future 👀

[@ElmeriThePig]

@@RadiationHazardYT Sure! Well see about that, if I even finish the the first version, but I hope.

[@gabrielohim154]

chilling how this city looks, and feels cooler than retail. I rarely say that about the beta, but man... now Kleiners lab even makes actual sense!

[@spaghettimkay5795]

merry christmas my man, your content is consistently amazing and if you keep it up you'll go really far. I'm actually shocked you have so little subs, proud to be a part of this small community and one day when you make it big I'll be the boomer in the comments saying "I was here before 1k subs!"

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Haha thank you my man :)

[@gaming-98]

merry Chirstmas or Hankkah, Mr Radiation

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Thank you Mr Funny Man. Hope you had a great one! and happy new year!

[@demogaming8895]

Just got to know this mod, it's seriously impressive, like this s no joke! Whoever made these maps should get hired by valve right now.

[@coastalvan1978]

I wonder how the people who play tested the beta is feeling right now walking and get more popular than the retail game.

[@petar.milenkovic]

Dude why do you have such good content, but not much subscribers?! You deserve more!

[@denifnaf5874]

Perfact

[@jon9719]

Nice video.

[@bowman5753]

One of the mod creators on their moddb page said to expect an update some time before this summer

[@itsgeegra]

I've been wondering if you'd do a rundown of some of these - I didn't know much of them, apart from Missing Info, that feels like it's been going since before HL2 was announced hah - nollaig shona duit mo chara!

[@APERTUREAEC]

the borealis part just made me stare in awe with what it was going through and the final destination it just makes me freeze and stare. Absolutely breathtaking everything I would imagine the borealis to me I just want to know more.

[@PrimusPicklebal]

I have long wanted to see, to play what half life 2 would’ve been. Seeing this makes me satisfied. Yet still sad that it isn’t ready/ finished. The only criticism I have is that they sometimes use the retail skins like the citizens

[@FlyboyHelosim]

This mod does look stunning. A while back I took a screenshot from the docks looking towards the city on full resolution and detail, uploaded it as my Facebook cover pic, and one guy got in touch totally blown away thinking it was from HL3. 😂

[@beef9785]

this makes Retail HL2 be a happy world

[@thisisnothere14]

I hope that the entire game could be modded to be like the beta! I love hl2 but to experience it like this would be amazing!

[@quartzmech5661]

The aesthetic of this mod really reminds me of Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines and E.Y.E.

[@randomdude_12335]

11:16 cyberpunk but good

[@MauricioJara]

Great video, I’ve been here since the beginning and it’s awesome to see how close you are to 1K subs! What’s the music in the background?

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Thank you for the support, my dude. The music is "Alone in the bowling alley" from Silent Hill 2's OST. Link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYW5oaN4rLumhaM

[@MauricioJara]

@@RadiationHazardYT Thanks man, I’ll definitely use it in a future video. And, would you like to do a collab or something in the future?

[@RadiationHazardYT]

@@MauricioJara Sure thing man! I'm open to the idea! I got some videos in the making for this month, but we can do a collab some time in January. DM me on Twitter and we'll discuss further :)

[@hexbugmuse]

I love the grittier art style the beta carried with it! I believe that if the leak never took place, then we'd have probably gotten this grungier tone of a story and atmosphere.

[@RadiationHazardYT]

I agree. But when the leak happened, HL2 already had shifted into what we know as the European aesthetic. Even if the leaked didn't happen, and HL2 had gotten released in 2003, we still wouldn't have had the grungier version :(

[@hexbugmuse]

Aw, man. At least we have these mods to bring the beta story and atmosphere to life. It'd be so cool if Valve were to recreate and/or revamp the beta story into a spinoff of sorts. I'd definitely buy that!

[@Clone3A7]

I want a scene in dark interval where when you're running from the combine, one of the lights on the citidel passes over you, almost blinding you.

[@Johna-cv9gu]

I actually quite liked the Killing headcrabs with cinderblocks part Always thought I should be able to do that

[@karenstahl6007]

my fav mod so good

[@JBarG22]

Merry Christmas!

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Ayy you too! And a happy new year!

[@motyd]

This version of City 17 reminds me of post collapse Stark at night from The Longest Journey / Dreamfall. Especially the city from Dreamfall Chapters.

[@bonpari_koshmariki]

Good mod and good video! But I'm still miss ArkSynix...

[@emotibread]

Join their Discord server, there's a public alpha of the next levels. The level design is even better and it also has some gameplay improvements. Kick Metropolice ass in the light industry district, blow bullsquids to bits in the canals, and experience the hellish paradise of City 17's underworld as you make a run for the city wall. And... remember to keep it clean, or *he* will. discord.gg/7Ybk5Ubr Some parts may be slightly unfinished, but there's more than enough content to make it worth your while. Shockingly polished for an alpha.

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Yeah, another viewer did tell me about the Part 2 alpha. But I'll wait till they release it publicly, once it's fully polished and fine tuned. It'll be good for a video on the channel :) Thank you.

[@enntire]

i absolutely loved dark interval, wish it had more shooting tho.

[@brianthomas7688]

Silent Hill 2. Nice.

[@MikeIce4SG]

The scenery in City 17 reminds me much of Deus Ex

[@gregorylumentut435]

In my opinion the Ep2 song 'nectarium' (possibly in beta) fits the best in the mod, rain in the beggining of the song represents the gritty city and the oppression the people are experiencing and the synths, by god, they are wonderful (I wish Keily Bailey was still at Valve making music) they represent (for me) aboit the Combine and their dominace of the Earth and what has changed since the Black Mesa Incident

[@aminoshift1158]

my favorite half-life mod of all time

[@armitx9]

under a different engine this mod would look like a whole new game

[@ellis2553]

:) the cremator is back yay but idk if its a mod if it is i love it :D

[@willhooker9567]

Awesome, but I wish they put American vehicles instead of the out of place iron curtain ones

[@kennymccormick9193]

Hey man merry Christmas

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Merry Christmas to you!

[@Feasco]

13:05 *It looks like you're playing a game but if you look closer you'll see that you're actually controlling a drone that's killing actual people* Man, Valve really were ahead of the curve here weren't they

[@FalconRS]

I think they were concerned about it being too grimdark and depressing. It was misplaced concern. There can never be anything too grimdark.

[@iDqWerty9176]

I wish in Dark Interval were trench coat metrocops instead of retail metrocops.

[@Phantom_Aspekt]

This entire mods atmosphere reminds me of Hitman Contracts to be honest

[@chalkymalky]

Look Ma! Im on TV!

[@RadiationHazardYT]

Haha hope you enjoyed the video!

[@mixle3099]

Old build of dark intervar looked just like beta in 2001, we don't want those visual improvements, we want it to be original !

[@mortemetmortes8652]

It's the 4th video in which I hear silent hill music.