Half-Life Alyx (opens in new tab) may be one of the best VR games in existence, but that doesn't mean much to those still out of reach of virtual reality Since Valve's VR masterpiece launched in March 2020, this middle chapter of Half-Life without VR There is no shortage of people eager to experience it without VR.

One step forward: the Alyx No VR (opens in new tab) is a project to convert Alyx into a more traditional flat screen experience. The mod was launched in Early Access in late March and has been in development for some time. However, the creators, the GB_2 development team, reached an important milestone over the Easter weekend. The mod allowed the entire game to be played without VR.

"This is our biggest update to date and we have no plans to slow down," the development team announced in a post to ModDB (opens in new tab)." As the title says [omitted], the Gravity Glove is now fully implemented, along with the Combine Fabricator, which provides weapon upgrades, allowing you to play the entire game from start to finish."

Note that this does not mean that the mod itself is complete. Rather, the game can be completed on a conventional PC without players having to implement cheats or noclips to get around impassable sections; in the mod's changelog, GB_2 states that "Bugs may still be present, but will be fixed with a save reload."

The changelog also provides insight into how GB_2 worked on converting Alyx to flat screen. The main hurdle was Half-Life: How to control Alyx. The sharp simulation of hand movements and interactions is a world away from a traditional keyboard and mouse setup. Therefore, much of the work on this mod has been in reducing these interactions to simple button operations. This latest version comes with an "updated gravity glove" that allows flat screen players to grab objects at a distance by pressing the E button, and "all cranks, doors, cabinets, etc. now open by pressing the E button once or twice."

This is an impressive technological feat, but it ignores all the questions about whether one should play Half-Life: Alix can be played without VR. Without a doubt, VR is the best way to play this game; Alyx not only introduces a whole new way of seeing City 17, but also adds a new way to interact with Valve's world. However, it's not just the VR capabilities that make Alyx so appealing; Alyx has all the elements that make Valve's games so unique and engaging. Great storytelling, imaginative set pieces, very authentic environments that flow seamlessly from one scene to the next, and the uncanny ability to switch from comedy to action to horror without feeling out of place: Alyx is a great VR game, but it is also a Valve game Alyx is a great VR game, but it's also a Valve game that's worth experiencing even in less than optimal conditions.

Whether you're excited for the chance to finally play Alyx or simply want to see what it's like without VR, you can download the mod here. Keep in mind, this is not the final version of the mod. Upcoming updates include the addition of the Half-Life Alyx HUD (the mod currently uses the Half-Life 2 HUD), hand animations to interact with weapons and environments, and more general balancing and bug fixes.

If you own a VR headset and have played Half-Life, you may want to check out Alyx: Levitation is a 4-5 hour unofficial expansion that takes place after the dramatic conclusion of the base game, while Incursion is a turn into a frantic survival wave shooter.