Half-Life: Blue Shift

Half-Life: Blue Shift
Developer(s)	Gearbox Software
Publisher(s)	Valve Corporation (Steam) Sierra Entertainment (CD-ROM)
Designer(s)	Randy Pitchford
Series	Half-Life
Engine	GoldSrc (GoldSource, Previously named Half-Life Engine)
Platform(s)	Linux macOS Microsoft Windows
Genre(s)	First-person shooter science fiction video game
Mode(s)	Single-player

Half-Life: Blue Shift is an expansion pack for the game Half-Life. It was made by Gearbox Software with Valve and published by Sierra Entertainment. Blue Shift was the second expansion for Half-Life, originally intended as part of a port of Half-Life. Although the port was cancelled, the Windows version was published as a standalone product in 2001 for Windows. It was published on Steam on August 24, 2005. The name is a pun on blue shift, a science term, and the fact that the player is on duty as a blue-wearing security guard. Blue Shift also includes a pack that upgrades the Half-Life models and textures.

Plot

As with Gearbox's previous expansion pack, Opposing Force, Blue Shift returns to the events of Half-Life, but portrays the story through the perspective of someone else. You play as security guard Barney Calhoun, hired by the Black Mesa Research Facility and helped Gordon get out of certain situations, who must fight his way to safety during an incident. Barney Calhoun later meets Dr. Rosenberg who leads the player to a older facility located under Black Mesa, in Which a Portal is located which helps Barney get to Xen and to the Surface to Escape in the Endgame.

Characters

Barney Calhoun

Barney Calhoun is the Protagonist of Half-Life: Blue Shift and the Main character who tries to escape through the resonance cascade and later reaches the surface with the help of Dr. Rosenberg.

Dr. Rosenberg

Dr. Rosenberg is a Scientist trapped in a storage crate, later freed by the player who assists Barney and leads him to a old facility Under Black Mesa to Help Himself, other scientists and Barney Teleport to the Surface.

Reviews

Blue Shift received both good and bad reviews. Many reviewers were critical of the short length and lack of new content, although the new graphics were praised.