Half-Life Blue Shift

Final Score 79%

The Good: Its more of the same from a different perspective. But who doesn't want more Half-Life??

The Bad: No real multiplayer addition and dispite the improvments the graphics are looking dated.

Reviewers Tilt: Well it isn't a second coming of Half-Life, but it is good fun!

Avid Gamer Recommended System: 800 MHz processor or higher, with 256 MB RAM and a video card with 32mb of more of VRAM.

Gearbox has added another chapter to the opus that is Half-Life. The new version features tweaked graphics, improved AI, and the uber cool ability to see the world of Black Mesa from a different perspective. However, the question remains... Are the new features enough to justify plunking down 20 to 30 of your hard earned green ones on Blue Strife?

Half-Life Blue Streak is the latest, and probably the last, installment to the Half-Life series that will run on the original Half-Life engine. Thinking realistically, it is now 2001. The game Half-Life was released 3 years ago in 1998 and was built using Quake engine technology that dates back to 1996. The game is getting dated by any standards. While the great game play that has been a hallmark of Half-Life titles is still holding out, eventually its fan base will fade away to newer titles which have great game play and new graphics/features. Bottom line: In order to remain competitive the Half-Life engine needed a makeover. The game gurus at Gearbox realized this and after hours of endless toil they have the Half-Life HD pack. The HD pack is the meat and potatoes of Blue Shift and is almost worth the price of the pack by itself. It features new models and textures for all the Half-Life titles: Half-Life, Opposing Force, and obviously Blue Shift. Don't get me wrong - these are just minor improvements. Your Black Mesa sessions aren't going to be mistaken for Unreal Tournament or Quake III matches by anyone, but the improvements are noticeable and welcome. The weapons and environments look much better and the player models are drastically improved.

On the bad side Half-Life Blue Shift doesn't include much in the way of new features. In fact, other than what is included in Opposing Force, their are not any new features. Nothing, not even for multi-player (which is a real shame). The voices also sound a little on the 'gritty' side to me. While none of these problems are killers they don't help Blue Shift's case.

So now you are thinking, "Wow, a $20 graphics upgrade. So basically the suits are just trying to milk the last drops of the Half-Life franchise." Well, not entirely. Their is a little more to Blue Shift. The AI and the level design are noticeably improved. Also, those of you who don't own the excellent Opposing Force will no longer be forced to suffer as it is included. Then their is the fact that you get to 'play Barney' and see what little you missed of Black Mesa in the first packs. In fact, the single player campaign is probably the strongest part of Blue Shift. Though you are still doing the same old stuff that you did in the last two HL titles it remains fun. I mean, who does not want to play more Half-Life? Blue Shift contains the same time tried set of weapons and perfect blend of monsters that made Half-Life a classic - aged to perfection in some of the finest levels ever conceived. What more would you want?

All things considered Half-Life Blue Streak may not bee the most revolutionary packs around but it is well worth the asking price for true Half-Life junkies and for anyone who hasn't picked up Opposing Force. When this bad boy is released on the 12th I highly recommend picking it up!