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Introduction/Installation
Wow, where does Sierra know when to stop? Ever since Half-Life became successful, they have re-released the product in stores four different times. Not to mention one previous expansion pack, two other free downloadable mods, and now two Half-Life compilation packs.
The Dreamcast version of Half-Life was originally slated to include the original game with enhanced models and a small mission set, called Blue Shift, depicting the player as Barney Calhoun, a security guard. Since the Dreamcast production was cut, so was the respective version of Half-Life. As a result, the unfinished product was then ported to the PC version to be released as an expansion pack. The final product, under the name of Half-Life: Blue Shift, includes the new expansion, a full copy of Opposing Force (the first expansion), and the Half-Life high-definition package.
Since Blue Shift comes as a separate game, you don't need Half-Life to play it. It's a small and quick install so there is nothing major to it. To install the high-definition pack, just click the button and it'll ask you if you want to install it or remove it. The same goes for Opposing Force. Do yourself a favor and ignore the AT&T thing.
The total package is rather interesting so click ahead to learn what's the big deal about the game.
Installation: 10/10
Graphics/Sound
Here's one thing that may interest people in purchasing the expansion. The brand spankin' new high definition pack. To sum it up, the package is simply an update to all official Half-Life products, such as: Half-Life, Opposing Force and Blue Shift. These new models, animations and sounds are there for users who have decent systems that can easily sport something new and prettier. These models were originally intended for the Dreamcast edition but instead were ported over to a new .PAK file. The beauty of these models though is the polygon count is nearly doubled. Let me clarify that the package only updates the models (weapons and game characters) and some sounds as oppose to all new maps. In all honesty, these new updates are simply beautiful and have given me a reason to replay both the original HL and Opposing Force.
Now after playing through Blue Shift, I've come to the conclusion that there is barely anything new in terms of graphics or sounds. The expansion uses all of Half-Life's original models unless you update them with the high-definition package. The soundtrack? It's just the same music that was on the Opposing Force cd. Granted that the Opposing Force expansion is included in the package, I simply had hoped for some new music and sounds since it so heavily affects the atmosphere of the game.
Basically, the new models look rather nice and that's really the only thing new when you look at the graphics aspect. When it comes to sound, there isn't really anything new here so moving on to the gameplay.
Graphics/Sound: 8/10
>> Gameplay
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