On a Rail
From Black Mesa: Wiki
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Chapter Summary
In this chapter, Gordon learns that a satellite has been equipped to reverse the effects of the resonance cascade by the science team, and is ready to be launched into space. However, before the science team could launch the rocket, the HECU Marines arrived and killed them. It is up to Gordon to traverse the rail system and reach the satellite control room to initiate the launch. As Gordon finally emerges from the tunnels at the end of his quest, he finds that night has fallen: it has been a full day since the Resonance Cascade.
On a Rail is the eighth chapter of Black Mesa.
Gameplay
The player will have to use a tram to traverse certain sections of the level.
The abandoned railway tunnels are labyrinthine, and difficult to traverse on foot due to the hazard posed by the electrified rail. In the first section of the rail system, Gordon finds himself alone with hoards of Xenian aliens; a lone HECU Marine attempts to keep dozens of headcrabs at bay, and Gordon needn't confront him.
After Gordon has activated and traversed a tram lift, he finds that the upper level has been occupied by the HECU. Gordon spends the remainder of the chapter engaged in fast firefights in the cramped tunnels, dodging their rockets, and avoiding the traps they've set, occasionally fighting the odd Xenian alien that teleports into the tunnels.
Media
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Redesign History
On A Rail was examined by the team, and a design document was drafted by level designer David Gillen which offered various possibilities to the length of the chapter, and the areas which would remain or be cut. The end result involved removing a lot of unnecessary tunnel segments and reducing the amount of looping back on oneself to avoid player confusion and frustration. This also resulted in the chapter being significantly shorter in terms of total maps; this can mostly be attributed to the additional size for levels that the Source engine offers [1].
As a part of this redesign the silo section of the chapter was enlarged. Reference was drawn from Titan I missile silos and an additional puzzle was created in which the player has to raise the missile from the silo. [2] According to lead mapper Daniel Junek, the On A Rail chapter, among others, has been shortened to about half the original length of the level to prevent the level from becoming tedious [3].
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