An Unspeakable Modification for Half-Life
What is Cthulhu?
Cthulhu is a single-player modification for Half-Life.It contains 65 maps, 21 new monsters and 14 new weapons.
It works with HL v1.1.1.0 (I have no idea whether it works with Steam...). It may work with earlier patch versions, but I haven't tested it.
No, really, what is Cthulhu?
Ah, well, Cthulhu is the fictional creation of H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937), a writer of weird fiction and horror stories. You can find out more about him at www.hplovecraft.com.His stories created a mythology, now referred to as the "Cthulhu Mythos", which basically says that there are alien creatures, so alien and so terrible that the very sight of them would drive a person mad.
One of his most famous stories is "The Call of Cthulhu", which revolves around the rise of Cthulhu, one of the Great Old Ones, who lies dead, yet dreaming, in his prison/temple at the bottom of the ocean in the sunken city of R'lyeh. When the stars are aligned correctly, the city shall rise, Cthulhu shall wake and walk free and mankind shall be swept aside. Happy stuff, generally.
For many years, the works of Lovecraft and those inspired by him (virtually every horror writer since) have been the source of a role-playing game called "The Call of Cthulhu". Find out more about it at www.chaosium.com and then go and buy it.
Haven't I heard something about a Call of Cthulhu game?
Yes. HeadFirst games are making Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth. The previews for it look really good. The official webpage for the game is at: www.callofcthulhu.com.Who did the voices for the mod?
The voice artist for Cthulhu is FURY-161. Many thanks to him for all of his excellent efforts.How does 'sanity' work?
On the screen, where you normally see your HEV suit energy level, you see your SAN (sanity) in Cthulhu. When you cast spells (from spellbooks) in Cthulhu, you lose sanity. If your sanity ever reaches zero, then you lose your mind and it is game over!The only way to regain sanity is by killing major Cthulhu monsters or thwarting a cultist plot. Basically there are 3 or 4 places in the mod where you will be given some sanity back after completing the level.
I don't understand what the "Dread Name of Azathoth" spell does?
Alien monsters fear the blind idiot god Azathoth so much that they will run away from even the use of his name. Casting this spell causes alien monsters to flee for a short while. But remember, it uses Sanity, and it has no effect on humans.I don't understand what the "Drain Life" spell does?
This spell only works on humans. By casting the spell (which uses sanity), you take life away from another human and add it to your own health.I don't understand what the Elder Signs do?
These devices can be stuck onto surfaces in the same way as tripmines in normal Half-Life. Once attached to a floor or wall, they will repel alien monsters. Once again, they have no effect on humans. These are useful for blocking passages (putting them in the middle of the floor) or keeping monsters with short range melee attacks at bay. A monster with a ranged attack (e.g. an energy beam) can still zap you from a safe distance!What is the music during the end credits of the mods?
That is Lisa Gerrard, formerly of the band Dead Can Dance.The track is called The Human Game and is taken from her album The Mirror Pool.
Most people will know Lisa from her work on the soundtrack for the movie Gladiator and The Insider. She is one of the most talented vocal artists in the world. Buy her albums!
Find out more about Lisa at www.lisagerrard.com.
Did you make the models in the mod yourself?
Some of the models I did myself, however many of them were taken from elsewhere.The mod contains a credits file (CREDITS.TXT) which gives all details where available.
Most of the models which were taken from elsewhere are from:
Wizard Wars (cultists, priests & a couple of others)
Outlaws (weapons)
They Hunger (civilians)
Contact me: philg@xs4all.nl
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