{{Short description|2000 video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = Chemical Existence | image = | developer = Red Genesis<ref name="XPC31">{{cite magazine |last1=Nallar |first1=Durgan A. |title=La Zona 3D - Total Conversion - Chemical Existence |journal={{ill|Xtreme PC|es|Xtreme PC revista}} |date=May 2000 |volume=3 |issue=31 |page=77 |url=https://archive.org/details/xtreme-pc-31-mayo-2000/page/n77/mode/2up |publisher=Grupo 4 Editorial |language=Spanish |issn=0329-5222}}</ref> | publisher = | producer = | designer = | programmer = | artist = | writer = | composer = | engine = GoldSrc | series = | platforms = Windows | released = 14 October 2000<ref name="releasedate">{{cite web |title=Friday, October 13 2000 |url=http://www.witentertainment.com/oldnews/oldnews/10132000.shtml |website=WIT Entertainment |access-date=3 May 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020128191915/http://www.witentertainment.com/oldnews/oldnews/10132000.shtml |archive-date=28 January 2002 |url-status=dead |quote=Only one day to go!!}}</ref> | genre = First-person shooter | modes = Single-player, multiplayer<ref name="PCAction">{{cite magazine |last1=Schmidt |first1=Michael |title=Spielerforum - Half-Life |journal={{ill|PC Action|de|PC Action}} |date=2000 |issue=12/2000 |page=143 |url=https://archive.org/details/pc-action-2000-12/page/142/mode/2up |publisher=Computec Media |language=German |issn=0946-6290}}</ref> }} '''''Chemical Existence''''' is a single-player mod for the computer game ''Half-Life'', developed by Sweden-based Red Genesis.<ref name="GameLive">{{cite magazine |title=Noticias - Larga Vida Al Rey |journal=GameLive PC |date=December 2000 |issue=2 |page=20 |url=https://archive.org/details/gamelive-pc-epoca0/GameLive%20PC%20002/page/20/mode/2up |publisher=Freeway Ediciones |language=Spanish}}</ref> It is primarily a single-player mod but includes a multiplayer deathmatch mode.<ref name="PCAction"/>
==Plot and gameplay== {{seealso|Half-Life (video game)#Gameplay}} thumb|Stamina meter after health injection (bottom middle of the screen) In the story, the player character Reese Max, tries to stop an evil corporation from taking over the world with mutants.<ref name="GameSpot">{{cite web |last1=Mullen |first1=Micheal |title=Half-Life MOD Heaven |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/half-life-mod-heaven/1100-2450791/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |access-date=21 April 2026 |archive-url=https://megalodon.jp/2026-0421-2030-20/https://www.gamespot.com:443/articles/half-life-mod-heaven/1100-2450791/ |archive-date=21 April 2026 |date=27 April 2000 |url-status=live}}</ref> The game takes place in the city of Motashe where Max is visiting his sister. The city has devolved into a warzone between mutated creatures, gang members, and the military.<ref name="PHL"/><ref name="iDNES">{{cite web |last1=Kiriloviczová |first1=Alena |title=Chemical Existence - totální Half-life |url=https://www.idnes.cz/hry/novinky/chemical-existence-totalni-half-life.A001012_chemicalnov001013_bw |website={{ill|iDNES.cz|cs|iDNES.cz}} |publisher=Mafra |access-date=17 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260306083857/https://www.idnes.cz/hry/novinky/chemical-existence-totalni-half-life.A001012_chemicalnov001013_bw |archive-date=6 March 2026 |language=Czech |date=13 October 2000 |url-status=live}}</ref>
All weapons have been newly created for the mod, which include standard and futuristic firearms. The game features a stamina system in which a meter fills when the player jumps and administers health injections. The player begins to incur damage once the meter reaches its capacity.<ref name="PHL"/>
==Development== ''Chemical Existence'' was developed originally as a ''Quake II'' mod and it was in production for three years before eventually released as a ''Half-Life'' mod.<ref name="GamesTM">{{cite magazine |title=Game Changers: The Best of Modnation |journal=GamesTM |issue=Trigger Happy |page=43 |url=https://archive.org/details/GamesTMTriggerHappyTheFPSBible/page/n41/mode/2up}}</ref> At the 1999 Half-Life Mod Expo, Chemical Existence was chosen as one of seven mods to be showcased at the event.<ref name="GameSpot"/><ref name="Edge">{{cite magazine |title=Half-Life collects extra lives |journal=Edge |date=October 1999 |page=145 |url=https://archive.org/details/edge-issue-76-october-1999/page/144/mode/2up |publisher=Future plc}}</ref><ref name="PCAccelerator">{{cite magazine |title=Online Arena - Half-Life Mod Expo '99 |journal=PC Accelerator |date=October 1999 |issue=14 |page=115 |url=https://archive.org/details/PCXL14Oct1999/page/n113/mode/2up |publisher=Imagine Media}}</ref>
==Critical reception== ''PC Zone'' gave a rating of four out of five, calling the mod excellent and deeply involving.<ref name="PCZ113">{{cite magazine |last1=Lamb |first1=Tony |title=Reviews - Mods - Chemical Existence |journal=PC Zone |date=March 2002 |issue=113 |page=97 |url=https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_113_March_2002/page/96/mode/2up |publisher=Dennis Publishing}}</ref> ''{{ill|Super Play (Sweden)|lt=Konsolipelaaja|fi|Super Power}}'' said the graphics and sound are not top quality but the game is still captivating.<ref name="Konsolipelaaja">{{cite magazine |title=Modit - Chemical Existence (Half-Life) |journal={{ill|Super Play (Sweden)|lt=Konsolipelaaja|fi|Super Power}} |date=October 2001 |issue=10/01 |page=35 |url=https://archive.org/details/konsolipelaaja-2001.10-finnish/page/n33/mode/2up |publisher={{ill|Egmont Group|lt=Egmont Kustannus|fi|Egmont Kustannus}} |language=Finnish |issn=1458-0454}}</ref> Both ''PC Zone'' and ''Konsolipelaaja'' criticized the brightness of the levels as too dark. ''Level'' criticized the enemy AI and the excessive amount of scripted sequences which were said to result in the game feeling like an interactive film. The multiplayer maps were noted as decently made but the mode overall were said to be nowhere close to the quality of ''Counter-Strike'' or ''Half-Life''{{'}}s multiplayer mode.<ref name="Level">{{cite magazine |last1=Stegaru |first1=Mihail |title=Mod's - Chemical Existence |journal=Level |date=August 2001 |issue=8/2001 |pages=58-59 |url=https://archive.org/details/Level47aug-2001/page/n57/mode/2up |language=Romanian |issn=1582-1498}}</ref> ''{{ill|Xtreme PC|es|Xtreme PC revista}}'' called it a very good total conversion, better than some commercial products.<ref name="XPC37">{{cite magazine |last1=Nallar |first1=Durgan A. |title=La Zona 3D - La Conversión de Magnus |journal={{ill|Xtreme PC|es|Xtreme PC revista}} |date=November 2000 |volume=4 |issue=37 |pages=74-75 |url=https://archive.org/details/xtreme-pc-37-noviembre-2000/page/74/mode/2up |publisher=Grupo 4 Editorial |language=Spanish |issn=0329-5222}}</ref> ''GamesTM'' called it an atmospheric, slick, and satisfying shooter with a substantial campaign.<ref name="GamesTM"/> ''Giga.de'' said the mod has a gripping story and is a must-have for all ''Half-Life'' owners.<ref name="Giga.de">{{cite web |title=Chemical Existance - Half Life |url=http://www.giga.de/dbout/reporter4/fullstories/nr19911.html |website=Giga.de |access-date=3 May 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001210212800/http://www.giga.de/dbout/reporter4/fullstories/nr19911.html |archive-date=10 December 2000 |language=German |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Planet Half-Life'' considered it "a single-player experience that's high quality and that feels gritty and gloomy".<ref name="PHL">{{cite web |author1=Jabberwocky |title=Community - Mod of The Week - Chemical Existence |url=http://www.planethalflife.com/community/motw/ce.shtm |website=Planet Half-Life |publisher=GameSpy |access-date=3 May 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001216230500/http://www.planethalflife.com/community/motw/ce.shtm |archive-date=16 December 2000 |date=16 October 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==See also== *List of GoldSrc mods
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20020202215130/http://www.redgenesis.com/ce/}} (archived)
{{GoldSrc modifications}}
Category:2000 video games Category:First-person shooters Category:GoldSrc mods Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:Video games developed in Sweden Category:Windows games Category:Windows-only games