Blue Shift is yet another stand-alone expansion for Half-Life. Unfortunately, this time with less content than Opposing Force and much, much shorter.

This time you slip into the role of a security officer Barney on Black Mesa and, driven by the same events as Gorden Freeman, fight your way through the research facility and find your way out. No really new enemy types or weapons have been integrated into this add-on, it's more or less the same experience as Half-Life. To be more precise, there are even fewer weapons, as all the alien weapons or experimental weapons are not available to Barney. That's a shame, because I would have liked to have seen some of the typical weapons that you normally see on security guards. This would be an opportunity to swap the crowbar for a baton.

Certain things are still different. Since Barney doesn't have an HEV suit, he can't use charging stations. However, for immersion reasons, these are located throughout the research facility, which is cool and feels that Black Mesa is a lively place. Also, during the course of the game you open up an old locked complex of the facility and then suddenly have older models of the health recharging stations, which adds a nice touch to the atmosphere. Like this facility is really a long forgotten part of the complex where they use old tech and such.

One point in addition to the last statement I have to make, which was already brilliantly done in Opposing Force, was the world building. Here you experience the Resoance Cascade from a different perspective and, as in the main game, you have the opportunity to explore the first passages of the game, talk to every NPC or simply listen to conversations, which is very well done. Later in the game, scenes also offer a certain insight into what the other characters are doing at the time, because the paths cross with the protagonist from time to time or certain events are mentioned by NPCs. It gives you the feeling that the incident is an event that has complex effects and it is exciting to see this from different perspectives.

In addition, an HD model pack was included at the time that provided better models for NPCs and weapons, which could also be used in the main game and Opposing Force. But now this is already integrated into the games anyway, so you wouldn't necessarily have to buy Blue Shift for it. I liked the original models more anyway.

But that doesn't mean it's bad. So basically it's more levels that offer more puzzles and more Half-Life experience, and they're well done for that. Plus, seeing the Black Mesaa incident from another perspective is a must. So if you can't get enough of Half-Life, this short game is also a good choice. And in the sale, the game only costs a few cents.

Short but solid expansion with additional story from an important side character in Half Life series.

When I played this as a kid I avoided progressing the story so I could just roam around, eat donuts, practice at the shooting range, and chill.