Half-Life: Blue Shift

 PC
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 739 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 508 out of 739
  2. Mixed: 186 out of 739
  3. Negative: 45 out of 739
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  1. Svenborg
    Feb 4, 2012
    9
    Yet another good expansion with Half-Life's trademark storytelling, and now constant reaction with an NPC, Blue Shift is a stable expansion with a good graphics update. My only problem was it's length, but since it's Half-Life, it's awesome.
  2. temps
    Nov 17, 2011
    10
    Granted, this one was far too short. But honestly, it was just an expansion pack... what do you expect? Bottom line, it's more Half-Life action. If you're a Half-Life fan, you have every reason to give it a chance. It's a great game, but it's just a SHORT expansion pack. Don't expect it to be what it isn't. This isn't Half-Life 2, it is Half-Life: Blue Shift ... a short little expansionGranted, this one was far too short. But honestly, it was just an expansion pack... what do you expect? Bottom line, it's more Half-Life action. If you're a Half-Life fan, you have every reason to give it a chance. It's a great game, but it's just a SHORT expansion pack. Don't expect it to be what it isn't. This isn't Half-Life 2, it is Half-Life: Blue Shift ... a short little expansion that gives you another several hours of the Half-Life universe to enjoy through the eyes of a different character. Definitely worth checking out if you are looking for more Half-Life action. If not, go play the other Half-Life games instead. They are definitely better.… Expand
  3. KonataGoTimotei
    Dec 15, 2012
    8
    You know, I really can't say what makes this game appeal to me so much. Its really just a much shorter half-life from a different point of view, but I still cant help but love it.
    I think that what might be the main appeal to me about this is the fact that you just play as a normal guy. He isn't the main character of the series, so he doesn't have the "Main Protagonist" kind of    You know, I really can't say what makes this game appeal to me so much. Its really just a much shorter half-life from a different point of view, but I still cant help but love it.
    I think that what might be the main appeal to me about this is the fact that you just play as a normal guy. He isn't the main character of the series, so he doesn't have the "Main Protagonist" kind of immortality. He isn't a trained soldier like in Half-Life: Opposing Force, hes just a kind of normal dude. He probably just woke up that morning, had his breakfast, went to work, then everything just went to **** for no reason.
    Really, this is just Half-life just shorter and from a different point of view, so there's really not much to say about it, because what you buy is what you expect.    … Expand
  4. Longtimegamer
    Nov 9, 2009
    10
    This game has to be the best of all the half-life series... I've always wanted a game where I could do exactly what I would in real life... If I were casted into this apocalyptic senario you can bet your butt that I would be doing nothing other than trying to escape... I would not go to some alien homeworld to kill their boss... I would just make a break for it.
  5. NickN.
    Dec 11, 2007
    4
    Possibly the biggest let-down in gaming history. While it may still have some of the qualities of the original half-life, the irritating and confusing levels in this short game, along with the boring ending that isn't even really a "climax" at all, ruins Blue Shift completely. Something worth mentioning is that you have LESS weapons than in the original half-life. Not having any new Possibly the biggest let-down in gaming history. While it may still have some of the qualities of the original half-life, the irritating and confusing levels in this short game, along with the boring ending that isn't even really a "climax" at all, ruins Blue Shift completely. Something worth mentioning is that you have LESS weapons than in the original half-life. Not having any new weapons is already dissapointing enough, but to actually take away weapons in an expansion pack is really disappointing, especially coming from such a great company as Valve.… Expand
  6. Dave2
    Jul 19, 2001
    1
    It was a waste of time. I want my money back.
  7. Elektordi
    Jun 1, 2006
    2
    Finished in less than a day... Not so good than all others HL mods.
  8. WilliamK.
    Oct 25, 2007
    3
    Half Life: Blueshift was just an attempt to get more money off the Half Life franchise. It's a weak attempt at creating an expansion, and it is hardly a "must have". As an FPS it's just loke good old Half Life, but storywise it is dull, boring and repeatative. In short: stay away from this game unless you're dying to get your hands on an old FPS.
  9. Desangele
    Jul 2, 2009
    4
    No new weapons,really short.Although it has some new thing i can`t rate it more than 4
  10. John
    Oct 9, 2003
    3
    Waste of time.
  11. AB
    Feb 2, 2005
    1
    Who would want to buy an expansion that actually lowers the quality of the game? "Blue Shift" is one of the biggest disappointments I've ever seen. This game is exactly what the initials are: BS.
  12. JacobN.
    May 7, 2006
    0
    a completely dissapotinting game.
  13. BigD.
    Jun 10, 2006
    10
    This is one of the best games EVER i think that all the HL games and modes RULE the gaming industries.
  14. MikeX
    Sep 16, 2001
    2
    Sure it has some excellent qual gameplay...but its way too short and there ain't much variety on enemies/weapons...oh my did we explore a lot(sarcastic)! I beat this game in less than 4 hours on the difficult difficulty...and im about ta do it again cause im bored...and in case i missed something.
  15. Sid
    May 10, 2006
    0
    I cant believe i actually played through the whole thing, thinking it would get better. dont make my mistake. this game is lame.
  16. NathanL.
    Jun 13, 2007
    4
    Good game, but too short. I finished it in about 2 hours. Should be free.
  17. Sumone!!!
    Apr 24, 2009
    0
    NO, no, no! This is all wrong! Half-life was a great game I loved it! Then, here come Opposing force! It was great. I loved killing enemies as the marines! It great to play the bad guys sometimes. Then, OH MY GOD! I bought Half-life: Blue Shift and was expecting great things! I played it straight till I beat the game. The bad part was...it took me only 40 minutes. In less then 1 hour I NO, no, no! This is all wrong! Half-life was a great game I loved it! Then, here come Opposing force! It was great. I loved killing enemies as the marines! It great to play the bad guys sometimes. Then, OH MY GOD! I bought Half-life: Blue Shift and was expecting great things! I played it straight till I beat the game. The bad part was...it took me only 40 minutes. In less then 1 hour I have played the worst game in the half life series. It was just a attempt to make more money of the original half life series. I hope they learn from this.… Expand
  18. ScottS.
    Dec 30, 2007
    6
    You can't go wrong with half-life, yet blue shift does kinda leave you hanging with a short gameplay. But it does have its advanteges, the enhance pack and opposing force+opposing force capture the flag. who know barney calhoun, such a minor roll in half life 1, could play such a big roll in half life 2?
  19. MichaelS
    Dec 20, 2009
    3
    Very poor. Short, boring, at best reminiscent of previous gameplay. No new weapons, no new enemies. No need to comment further.
  20. CRL
    Jul 25, 2011
    6
    There are several things that kill Blue Shift. There's the shortness of the game itself. There's the fact that there are less weapons than in the original game. There's no boss fight at the end. There's really no climax of any kind (even though the story is a little interesting). However it is enjoyable for the brief time you'll spend playing it, and it gives a solid third side to theThere are several things that kill Blue Shift. There's the shortness of the game itself. There's the fact that there are less weapons than in the original game. There's no boss fight at the end. There's really no climax of any kind (even though the story is a little interesting). However it is enjoyable for the brief time you'll spend playing it, and it gives a solid third side to the Half-Life storyline, which is why it still deserves a 6.… Expand
  21. TAMPjackoon
    Oct 6, 2011
    6
    Now I love all the Half-Life games, it's really my favorite game franchise, and that's really saying something. But this one didn't cut it for me, unlike HL:OF, there are no new weapons or enemies (even though this was released later) and while it is still like HL1, the puzzles are no longer fun, the gameplay hasn't changed much, but it's kind of a grind, you wanna play it just for theNow I love all the Half-Life games, it's really my favorite game franchise, and that's really saying something. But this one didn't cut it for me, unlike HL:OF, there are no new weapons or enemies (even though this was released later) and while it is still like HL1, the puzzles are no longer fun, the gameplay hasn't changed much, but it's kind of a grind, you wanna play it just for the sake of being a fan. I wouldn't say it's worth it, sorry.… Expand
  22. t0bssu
    May 14, 2012
    9
    This happens, when a game company tries to make money out of VALVe:s best game.
    If this game were made by VALVe... it would have been SO much better, but it still is a game worth playing.
    Graphics for year 2001:9/10
    gameplay:8/10
    musics:10/10 (but still they are from hl1, so....)
    sound effects: 5/10 THAT LOUD MP5!!
    overall 8,7/10, but play it still. It's a half life game after all ;)
  23. Zebunker
    Jul 14, 2015
    8
    Being a cop always seems like a fallback job. Sure, you wanted to be a doctor but studying really is not your thing. After you got out of the military your thirst for killing innocent people has no place in the modern workplace. How do you write that on a resume anyways? Come to Black Mesa, you can kill stuff and we won’t ask too many questions.

    That’s exactly what you get to in this    Being a cop always seems like a fallback job. Sure, you wanted to be a doctor but studying really is not your thing. After you got out of the military your thirst for killing innocent people has no place in the modern workplace. How do you write that on a resume anyways? Come to Black Mesa, you can kill stuff and we won’t ask too many questions.

    That’s exactly what you get to in this spin-off / sequel to the amazing Half-Life. Just how amazing Half-Life was is being lost over time but it was really the big push for modern FPS games. This spin-off is a bit more of the same that was in Half-Life. But this cop adventure preys more on nostalgia of Half-Life. It’s billed as a new adventure, when much of the game is just re-used from the original.

    You play as Barney, the loveable cop who makes an appearance later in Half-Life 2. This is his story, how he came to be. Well, not really. If you took just the action scenes from Half-Life and threw away the story and cut-scenes this is what you get. It’s a short adventure that allows you much faster to start shooting things. It’s an alternate perspective on how the start of the main games story unfolds. Seeing things from a different character and the cameos are really the highlights.

    It’s a fun romp for a few hours, but much like security guards it’s not as prestigious or exciting as the real deal. Still beats watching re-runs of Cops on late night TV. Stay safe out their gamers. And remember swatting is a serious yet hilarious crime.    … Expand
  24. eva3si0n
    Jan 16, 2021
    9
    Half-Life: Blue Shift is the shortest game in the series and does not have any gameplay changes relative to the original. But here there is a completed plot and it does not break off like a cliffhanger. And also only 1 meeting with G-Man, apparently to him in general, a joke at Barney. Half-Life: Blue Shift may seem the most boring and unnecessary part, but it is very important. It is sheHalf-Life: Blue Shift is the shortest game in the series and does not have any gameplay changes relative to the original. But here there is a completed plot and it does not break off like a cliffhanger. And also only 1 meeting with G-Man, apparently to him in general, a joke at Barney. Half-Life: Blue Shift may seem the most boring and unnecessary part, but it is very important. It is she who connects the first and second parts. It takes place in one breath in 2 hours, allowing you to enjoy the already outdated but still excellent gameplay of the original.… Expand
  25. Broyax
    Mar 29, 2020
    0
    Bizarre, contrairement à Opposing Force qui n'aime que le D3D, Blue **** préfère l'OGL ! parce que sinon, on ne voit pas le menu principal par la suite (dès qu'on veut y retourner) ce qui est un peu ballot... Mais bon ne compat' XP SP2 et en OGL, cette vieille daube consent à fonctionner (à peu près) sur Win 7-64, alleluia !

    Mais bon, faut pas rêver non plus, car on voit bien que cette    Bizarre, contrairement à Opposing Force qui n'aime que le D3D, Blue **** préfère l'OGL ! parce que sinon, on ne voit pas le menu principal par la suite (dès qu'on veut y retourner) ce qui est un peu ballot... Mais bon ne compat' XP SP2 et en OGL, cette vieille daube consent à fonctionner (à peu près) sur Win 7-64, alleluia !

    Mais bon, faut pas rêver non plus, car on voit bien que cette extension (encore bricolée par les caves de Gearbox) a l'air bien bugguée quand même... elle reprend l'espèce de mise en scène du jeu principal sans se fouler mais en dégradant l'expérience très nettement puisqu'on est soit bloqué, soit on se retrouve à pousser un baril pour monter dessus et passer une barrière trop haute... ou alors le script ne se délenche pas : les barils inflammables n'explosent pas ?

    Bon, c'est pas tout ça mais j'ai pas trop de temps à perdre sur une vieille merde récalcitrante dont le,gameplay vieillot et suranné se signale avant tout par sa lourdeur permanente... comme dans le jeu d"origine d'ailleurs ! sauf qu'il était moins buggué que ça. Quand même ! J'ouvre donc le vide-ordure et je balance la blue **** Je peux pas me torcher avec ça, donc ça sert à rien.    … Expand
  26. Onlyclassicvg1
    Jun 24, 2020
    7
    En este juego nuevamente viviremos el accidente de Gordon Freeman, pero con la diferencia de que esta vez no seremos el héroe (Half-Life) ni el villano involuntario (Opposing Force), sino que estaremos justo en el centro de ambos bandos. El juego nos convierte en Barney Calhoun, uno de los muchos guardias de seguridad de Black Mesa, quien vive al mismo tiempo que Gordon Freeman elEn este juego nuevamente viviremos el accidente de Gordon Freeman, pero con la diferencia de que esta vez no seremos el héroe (Half-Life) ni el villano involuntario (Opposing Force), sino que estaremos justo en el centro de ambos bandos. El juego nos convierte en Barney Calhoun, uno de los muchos guardias de seguridad de Black Mesa, quien vive al mismo tiempo que Gordon Freeman el incidente de Black Mesa, pero en otros momentos y lugares .… Expand
  27. Alone_Boy_
    Sep 24, 2020
    6
    Half-Life: Blue Shift is the weakest part of the Half-Life saga. Unlike Opposing Force, it has no new enemies, no new weapons, -besides a new playable character Barney- almost nothing new at all. Game also has an uninteresting and the weakest story in the series. Gameplay is still fun but that's it. Only play it if you want to complete the series.
  28. CrapFactory
    May 20, 2002
    6
    It definitely doesn't meet the HL standards but it is fun to kill stuff and the HD pack rocks!
  29. SamR.
    May 6, 2006
    9
    Good Game Was a good, but short add on to the HL series!
  30. ColinP.
    May 9, 2006
    7
    its nice that they made a game that is intergated to half life. but it so short and the story is a littal to happy for my tase. like at the end when they drive of in to the sun seat.
  31. CarlN.
    Jul 1, 2006
    9
    This is a very fun FPS game, the reason i give it a 9 is that the game contains mutch bugs.
  32. MartinF.
    Oct 16, 2006
    9
    Overall not a bad game, its short sure, but it provides some pretty cool/funny story elements to Half Life and at the same time does not leave you asking yourself what other silly task needs to be done!
  33. EliasO.
    May 14, 2006
    8
    Amazingly fun game, good story, good gameplay, it really makes me feel like i'm a elite soldier working as a lame security officer! Only bad thing is that it's too short.
  34. SteveS.
    May 19, 2006
    8
    Good addition for any hardcore Half life Fan. Its not as good as other games but if you love H.L. and the story and Barney its a diffent look at the same thing. Plus $$$ its free from steam when its bundled, No brainer. Doom 3 was not a better game.
  35. JamesF.
    May 6, 2006
    9
    This game is sweeeeeeeeat, It is a very good MOD for Half-life the integrates very will with the main game. Game play, awsome, New gats great, new places cool. Great MOD.
  36. DavidK.
    May 7, 2006
    7
    Game is good but is much shorter than the other two original Half-Life games.
  37. PeterU.
    May 7, 2006
    9
    The game rocks, but you have fewer weapons and the missions are shorten then in Opposing Force. So why is the price the same ??? I would give it a 10 if you would get the game as bonus of Opposing Force.
  38. MikeF.
    May 8, 2006
    8
    good game but not fast enough although i did play easy mode
  39. BrianL.
    May 8, 2006
    10
    nice game even though its not new. most people will like it.
  40. DonnickD.
    Jun 4, 2006
    10
    This is wonderfull game! It expierence both best games- Half-life and Opposing Force!
  41. XanderS.
    Aug 13, 2006
    9
    Excellent parralux to the origional, though it lacks a learning curve and remains a similar difficulty throughout the entire game.
  42. DanielT.
    Sep 9, 2006
    10
    The best Half Life Add-on I ever Played. Great Story, great graphics everythig is perfect!!!
  43. Critic
    Apr 5, 2007
    10
    Great game. 1st Gordons view, 2nd governments view, now you get the security view of Black Mesa. Too bad we dont have an alien version...
  44. RobR.
    Jun 10, 2007
    7
    All the half life games have a distinct feeling, Shoot em' up, solve a puzzle, stand in awe, shoot em' up, solve a puzzle, repeat, which is great, however, Blue Shift is missing it. Not only is it incredibly short, I felt it to be rather tedious and only played through it because of the connecting story line to half life. The ending also leaves MUCH to be desired. But, it is All the half life games have a distinct feeling, Shoot em' up, solve a puzzle, stand in awe, shoot em' up, solve a puzzle, repeat, which is great, however, Blue Shift is missing it. Not only is it incredibly short, I felt it to be rather tedious and only played through it because of the connecting story line to half life. The ending also leaves MUCH to be desired. But, it is somewhat enjoyable if you play this game before half life, I'm sure you'll enjoy it much more than I did. The multiplayer is also classic half life deathmatch and adds replay value.… Expand
  45. V-Man
    Jun 26, 2007
    7
    This is an average game and because of the fact that it's basically Half Life with a new story, but it's so short therefore making me minus another point. I think this had the potential to be a great game but there wasn't enough new material as all it added was a new story and better models, and if it included a bit more I would rate it better but sadly it didn't.
  46. Nocturn
    Sep 5, 2007
    10
    Well, nevertheless it was very interesting to play the game Half-Life in different point of views. So that I can say: This game rocks!
  47. Zyler
    Jan 1, 2009
    10
    Half-Life: Blueshift was, and still is, a marvelous edition to the franchise. Many may call this game weak and disappointing, but this game provided just the experience needed to complete the story. This classic First Person Shooter, as in the original Half-Life, has challenging AI and great playable levels. I do admit that many parts to this expansion can leave you helpless as you try Half-Life: Blueshift was, and still is, a marvelous edition to the franchise. Many may call this game weak and disappointing, but this game provided just the experience needed to complete the story. This classic First Person Shooter, as in the original Half-Life, has challenging AI and great playable levels. I do admit that many parts to this expansion can leave you helpless as you try for extensive amounts of time trying to figure out how to progress throughout the story, but hard puzzles and mysteries are exactly what I expect from the Half-Life series. Showing the game from just a common point of view, rather than a god-like superhero like Gordon Freeman, adds to the overall intensity that the Half-Life series. Even with minor flaws and a depressingly short storyline, this expansion proved to be a worthy edition to the Half-Life franchise.… Expand
  48. CharlieD
    Aug 31, 2009
    9
    I believe this is game is just as good as the original Half-Life, its only bad thing is that there areno new enemies in it, although there is a new character: Stanley Rosenburg.
  49. Goliath
    Aug 29, 2001
    9
    Something between the original half-life and opposing force.
  50. VladimirP.
    Feb 11, 2002
    8
    Good game, but they should let you choose more guns. MP-5, M-16, and M-4. You know, it kinda gets boring. Amazing graphics and level variety though.
  51. Jon
    Apr 9, 2003
    10
    SWEET GAME! Half-life Blue shift was one of the coolest games I've ever played. The graphics and gameplay is reason enough to buy the game. Not to mention the amazing AI. The soldiers aren't stupid, they use grenades to smoke you out, flank you, and provide cover for their force. The puzzles in the game are pretty neat to, they actually require you to think; not just waste SWEET GAME! Half-life Blue shift was one of the coolest games I've ever played. The graphics and gameplay is reason enough to buy the game. Not to mention the amazing AI. The soldiers aren't stupid, they use grenades to smoke you out, flank you, and provide cover for their force. The puzzles in the game are pretty neat to, they actually require you to think; not just waste everything. The HD pack is a nice bonous too, it enhances character models so every security guard isn't some old guy with a gun. It smoothes out the environmental graphics. And enhances the gameplay with improved weapon graphics. The new shotgun model kicks the old one's ass. I admit the game is a bit short, but it's the quality not the quantity. Gearbox and Valve squeezed every ounce of action they could into the game, considering that it was origanally created for Sega Dreamcast, I'd let that go. I think this game goes on my top 10 list. … Expand
  52. [Anonymous]
    May 22, 2003
    10
    Are you stupid its an expansion of the greatest game ever, and it is just as good as the original only shorter.
  53. VolkovM.
    Oct 8, 2006
    10
    I enjoyed this Campaign more then the original Half Life.
  54. HomerS.
    May 7, 2006
    10
    Short and sweet. Graphics slightly better than HL:1 and OpFor. Gameplay is excellent, like the first two.
  55. RichardH
    May 7, 2006
    6
    A rather lacklustre excursion compared to the much superior Opposing Force - nothing terribly exceptional in the way of gameplay. On the plus side, it was a free download thanks to registration through Steam.
  56. ChaseM.
    Jul 27, 2006
    9
    Found it funny how it was playing my old CD in my disk drive while i was playing, I didnt know any games did that. my only gripes are that now after beating the game I can never go threw the first 3 loading sequences with a gun in my hand thus making me not be able to replay the game, and therz no select chapter thing to allow me to avoid this. It ends short where I thought it had Found it funny how it was playing my old CD in my disk drive while i was playing, I didnt know any games did that. my only gripes are that now after beating the game I can never go threw the first 3 loading sequences with a gun in my hand thus making me not be able to replay the game, and therz no select chapter thing to allow me to avoid this. It ends short where I thought it had potential to have somthing ELSE go horribly wrong and prolong the game. but the ending was satisfying enough, would have liked to see more corolation with gordon freeman though. this game is TOTALLY worth the price, i think its actually under-priced now.… Expand
  57. GDe
    Sep 23, 2006
    8
    This is worth playing. The High Def pack was cool and so was seeing Freeman up close.
  58. AndrewB.
    Oct 21, 2007
    9
    A solid shooter that runs well on older machines, Blue shift was the last gasp for my dell notebook. True it runs about the same route as half life, but that's to be expected. They are after all, variations on the same story. The difference is, in blue shift you can actually escape the insidious G-man.
  59. KentH.
    Dec 16, 2007
    5
    Unfortunetly, this games reeks of "cash-in". It's way too short, and the severe lack of diversity of weapons is highly disappointing. It did, however, provide some interesting insight into the Half - life story and showed some background of Barney Calhoun. It is merely Half - life, without the weapons, length or charms. It is, in it's own right, a decent game though.
  60. BenU.
    Feb 20, 2007
    9
    Perfect if you have played the first one. You play a Security Officer During Gorden Freeman' s Barricade.
  61. 7h3w@$D
    Feb 4, 2007
    6
    Game is.... ok. Its way too short tho. I beat it in 3 hours. I was really expecting a cool boss fight, like at the end of OpFor and HL1, but no. I also wanted to see if there was a conversation with the gman at the end, like in HL1 and OpFor, but, sadly, no.
  62. BillC.
    Jun 5, 2007
    8
    Good game, but a bit easy to complete.
  63. TerryC.
    Jul 16, 2007
    8
    Good solid game in the Half-Life series, slightly short but still very enjoyable, and it gives a great perspective of a security guard's viewpoint. Also to "Critic", in response to your comment, there is a 3rd party fan made game called point of view where you use an alien, it's quite good, I recommend giving it a try.
  64. HugoS.
    Jan 6, 2008
    9
    Nice game altought .. it's not really for the graphs or anything like this but for the storyline.. its makes a different view of Gordon Freeman's Universe.
  65. AnonymousMC
    Apr 10, 2009
    9
    Like The original Half Life? Who doesn't?! Blue Shift is exactly like the middle portion of Half Life, for another hour or 2. If you inserted this game in its entirety into the original Half Life, Half Life would have been slightly longer, and that's it. These days, you can get it for 5 bucks. You can do your own cost to content math from that.
  66. T.Det.
    May 10, 2009
    7
    Half-Life: Blue Shift does kick ass, but besides the High Def. Pack and you getting to play a Barney, this game is way too short and is a weak edition to the franchise. I beat the entire game in 1 hour! If your a Half-Life fan like me, you will be pretty disappointed when you get down to it. In the beginning, you are just trying to get out of Black Mesa, and about 1/2 way through, you get Half-Life: Blue Shift does kick ass, but besides the High Def. Pack and you getting to play a Barney, this game is way too short and is a weak edition to the franchise. I beat the entire game in 1 hour! If your a Half-Life fan like me, you will be pretty disappointed when you get down to it. In the beginning, you are just trying to get out of Black Mesa, and about 1/2 way through, you get into the important plot, but it all ends right after it. Bottom line, it is a very weak expansion to the franchise, and it is way too expensive considering how short it is.… Expand
  67. HunterL.
    Aug 16, 2001
    6
    Short, nothing new, but still fun.
  68. ArnieL.
    Oct 25, 2003
    10
    Man!! This game is sweet! i dont care wat other people say, this game is awesome! Especially the graphics!
  69. MichaelR.
    Oct 25, 2003
    10
    This game is tight. but pretty short. ahhh! who cares still a tight, one of the best half life games. this game is cooooolll
  70. IgorS.
    Oct 25, 2003
    9
    i liked this game. its cool graphics makes this game sweet. what i like about this game is how the soldiers work together and the sweet graphics. the people who said this game sucks should eat their hearts out.
  71. Awesomeness
    Dec 14, 2006
    9
    Too short, but other than that a fun game. Not as good as the original or OpFor though.
  72. MikeC.
    May 19, 2006
    9
    Puzzles that you would never forget and a realism pack for OPFOR and half life.
  73. M.Peters
    May 31, 2006
    9
    Blue Shift is Half-Life from a different viewpoint. If you finished Half-Life and are thirsty for more, give this one a shot and you will not be disappointed.
  74. C.P.
    Jun 14, 2006
    10
    personally, despite its shortness and lack of bosses or new weapons, i think blue shift is every bit an essential part of the Half Life saga. this game is awesome- alright, so it might not be up there with the much longer Opposing Force or the original Half life, but the graphics, advanced AI, and storyline more than make up for it. most games out today dont have the AI the soldiers do in personally, despite its shortness and lack of bosses or new weapons, i think blue shift is every bit an essential part of the Half Life saga. this game is awesome- alright, so it might not be up there with the much longer Opposing Force or the original Half life, but the graphics, advanced AI, and storyline more than make up for it. most games out today dont have the AI the soldiers do in this 2002-ish release. when i first played, i couldn't believe how the soldiers used grenades and flanking maneuvers to hit me from every angle! in short, a good game from what is hands down the best FPS franchise ever created, bar none. Doom 3 and Halo can't touch HL. period.… Expand
  75. AnonymousMC
    Jun 11, 2008
    9
    Well... overall the game was good as soon as it got exciting it ended and i acctually thoought the marines would stop you in the teleporting part.But in return i got a big no in my eyes the game is virtually same as the others maybe less weapons and only one boss WTF.!!!
  76. LukeW
    Sep 13, 2009
    8
    The editions of better AI, graphics, some more play time of the awesomeness that is Half-Life, and background story on Barney make this game a worthy edition. Plus, its 5 dollars. On steam, anyways.
  77. patz
    Sep 17, 2009
    9
    it was not a bad game but a little short
  78. RobL.
    Dec 11, 2003
    10
    This game is awesome!!
  79. PIRANHAg.
    Dec 23, 2003
    7
    Good pack for price... NO NEW WEAPONS AND MONSTERS?????!!!!!!
  80. GordonJ.
    Dec 24, 2006
    10
    S... graphics, not quite as s... as hl1, but sweet gameplay none the less. Tho I am still kind of confused as to how we got from blueshift to hl2? At the end of hl1 and blueshift gordon and barny escape black mesa which appears to be under a military cover up aka kill everyone involved. But how do we get to the point where an alien race has occupied earth and the resitance and how the S... graphics, not quite as s... as hl1, but sweet gameplay none the less. Tho I am still kind of confused as to how we got from blueshift to hl2? At the end of hl1 and blueshift gordon and barny escape black mesa which appears to be under a military cover up aka kill everyone involved. But how do we get to the point where an alien race has occupied earth and the resitance and how the vortagons became our friends? Sounds like we need another mini episode... cheers none the less.… Expand
  81. BenW.
    Dec 31, 2007
    9
    I thought this deserved more than a 7.9 All of the half life games especially the original series are a work of art, and playing through the similar story in black mesa as different character roles really made it interesting.
  82. AlexandrRosca
    Apr 16, 2021
    9
    Half-Life: Blue Shift | 2001 | VR | Played for: 5h

    Played for the first time in 2021 (two decades late to party) and did so in VR on Oculus Quest 2. It's hard to judge graphics and sound after all these years, but the level design and overall story connection is well thought out. Absolutely recommended for any HL fans who would like some extra information on the Black Mesa incident.    Half-Life: Blue Shift | 2001 | VR | Played for: 5h

    Played for the first time in 2021 (two decades late to party) and did so in VR on Oculus Quest 2.
    It's hard to judge graphics and sound after all these years, but the level design and overall story connection is well thought out.
    Absolutely recommended for any HL fans who would like some extra information on the Black Mesa incident.

    Overall the VR experience is really good and weapons aiming works really well.

    Story: 9/10
    Gameplay: 9/10
    Graphics/Physics: 8/10
    Music/Sound: 9,5/10
    Overall: 8,8/10    … Expand
  83. SandeProElite
    Jan 5, 2012
    8
    The game follows the events of Half-Life, but you're playing as Barney instead of Gordon. Game has the same good atmosphere as the original Half-Life and you can even see the same events that happened in the original game from different perspective. The story mainly follows the original storyline but it ends before the original game. The game is not as long as the original game, making itThe game follows the events of Half-Life, but you're playing as Barney instead of Gordon. Game has the same good atmosphere as the original Half-Life and you can even see the same events that happened in the original game from different perspective. The story mainly follows the original storyline but it ends before the original game. The game is not as long as the original game, making it a bit less fun to play but the game is still worth your money. I'd also recommend installing the HD pack from Steam to improve the graphics of the game.… Expand
  84. xZippy
    Mar 28, 2013
    6
    Doesn't come remotely close to Opposing Force, but still worth buying and playing. Blue Shift gives an interesting extra viewpoint in the Half-Life 1 story, but it's not as interesting as the previous expansion. With Opposing Force, you got all these new weapons, characters and enemies that one could call it Half-Life 1.5. This isn't the case with Blue Shift, as the loads of extra contentDoesn't come remotely close to Opposing Force, but still worth buying and playing. Blue Shift gives an interesting extra viewpoint in the Half-Life 1 story, but it's not as interesting as the previous expansion. With Opposing Force, you got all these new weapons, characters and enemies that one could call it Half-Life 1.5. This isn't the case with Blue Shift, as the loads of extra content aren't there anymore. Again though, it's still the worth money and a full playthrough.… Expand
  85. dajhorn
    Nov 28, 2012
    7
    When you've gorged on the other Half-Life games, Blue Shift is like going back to the fridge for leftovers after midnight. It is a good game, but not the place to start.
  86. MexaCii
    Aug 21, 2011
    10
    Another one that fills in the story, not alot of changes but it's still a masterpiece, if you have played Half-Life, you have to play this game aswel. Enjoy!
  87. Kirase
    Jan 1, 2012
    8
    Just imagine the situation back then.
    We had this plain awesome game called half-life that pretty much everyone played. Singleplayer, Multiplayer, we made lan parties, there were hundreds of new maps and modifications every week. (You really had to see it to believe how ridiculously big the community actually was and how many downloads there were available for this game) Than on top of all    Just imagine the situation back then.
    We had this plain awesome game called half-life that pretty much everyone played. Singleplayer, Multiplayer, we made lan parties, there were hundreds of new maps and modifications every week. (You really had to see it to believe how ridiculously big the community actually was and how many downloads there were available for this game) Than on top of all this, this very good official addon was announced and released to further enhance the singleplayer. Thank you!. How could it get any better?    … Expand
  88. Mouse
    Jan 4, 2012
    8
    Some people give poor ratings to a game developer that rips off of what another has done. But when they do it seamlessly as an addition to the latter's game in question, it's tribute-worthy material. Blue Shift serves up all the awesomeness of Valve's Half-Life from another perspective and a couple of added-in dynamics. Plus, it gave us Black Mesa security guard Barney Calhoun, who wasSome people give poor ratings to a game developer that rips off of what another has done. But when they do it seamlessly as an addition to the latter's game in question, it's tribute-worthy material. Blue Shift serves up all the awesomeness of Valve's Half-Life from another perspective and a couple of added-in dynamics. Plus, it gave us Black Mesa security guard Barney Calhoun, who was made so great by this game that Valve kept him on for Half-Life 2 and Episode 1.… Expand
  89. Klewer
    Nov 15, 2012
    7
    A good expansion which puts you back in to the amazing Half-Life universe. While a little short it is a great experience to be back at Black Mesa experiencing what it has to offer.
  90. eriksonis
    Feb 23, 2013
    6
    This game does not live up to half life standards it is short and boring. No new weapons is presented in this mod. The only good thing is a HD models pack, almost all models are updated. I do recommend this only to hardcore half life fans to look at the black mesa incident from other point of view.
  91. ritardedartkid
    Aug 17, 2014
    7
    Out of the 3 games that make up Half-Life 1 this was my least favorite. It adds nothing new to the story and is easily forgettable. It's not a bad game, it's just not up to par with HL1 and Opposing Force. If you're looking for games to skip in the collection then I'd definitely vote for this one.
  92. MasteRR
    May 3, 2013
    9
    Like the first expansion, Blue Shift told the same story from the perspective of a security guard called Barney Calhoun, who's also pinned down in the facility during the incident.

    Unfortunately, unlike Opposing Force, Blue Shift only re-tells the original story through a different perspective, featuring significantly fewer new characters, but has more location, and the Xen is    Like the first expansion, Blue Shift told the same story from the perspective of a security guard called Barney Calhoun, who's also pinned down in the facility during the incident.

    Unfortunately, unlike Opposing Force, Blue Shift only re-tells the original story through a different perspective, featuring significantly fewer new characters, but has more location, and the Xen is relatively more explored than in Opposing Force, when Shephard enters the borderworld only several times, and very short, while Barney explores more places, and eventually uses some technology put by the science team from Black Mesa there, to solve puzzles.

    Also, the game unfortunately doesn't feature more guns like Opposing Force did, and it also lacks of a multiplayer, which makes Blue Shift a bit lower in quality like the first expansion.

    But like before, neither this things make the game bad, and is still enjoyable and memorable.    … Expand
  93. gracjanski
    Dec 2, 2022
    9
    a bit short, you will not need more than 4 hours. But the idea of playing a security guard was great.
  94. iddqd4
    Jan 23, 2018
    8
    Возвращение в Черную Мезу, только под углом другого персонажа. Достаточно качественная добавка.
  95. overfiend87
    Aug 7, 2013
    8
    I love this edition as it adds more to the Half-life story on the otherside as a security guard. You might not think much, but this addition has had the same TLC as the main game itself.
  96. MichMart
    Mar 1, 2014
    7
    I think this is the worst Half-Life game. It's very short and the environment has not much to offer (for example a long hallway with little variety). Nevertheless it's somehow a good game for me.
  97. debigman
    May 15, 2014
    9
    A good expansion for a good old game. This comes with the half-life complete pack, which is $10 when it goes on sale. This adds 8-10 hours to your enjoyment of half-life.
  98. tapittuco
    Nov 5, 2013
    9
    -1/10
    i expected a doughnut simulator but all i got was green-flavored aliens.
    misleading cover.

    nah, but although it was, well IS plagued with more bugs than an apartment complex in queens, it still tells an interesting story and manages to expand the half-life universe.
  99. AstiX
    Sep 3, 2017
    10
    Heaps of fun! It's a bit short, but the length suits its storyline. It's simple in a clever way and feels much more action-packed and fast-paced than the previous Half-Lifes. The plot takes a more realistic approach and we get some nice perspective on how the scientists handled themselves after the accident.
  100. Tomle1202
    Nov 28, 2022
    6
    Blue Shift felt weirdly short and constrained especially after the excellent Opposing Force.
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Awards & Rankings

96
#96 Best PC Game of 2001
3
#3 Most Discussed PC Game of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Gamer's Pulse
    80
    A nice return to a classic game scenario, but is far too short and fails to bring anything new to the series. While playing Blue Shift was fun, I would compare the experience to eating Chinese food. No sooner had I finished, than I wanted more.
    Read full review
  2. Yahoo!
    60
    As it stands, it's almost in the realm of the type of content you expect to freely download.
    Read full review
  3. Happy Puppy
    80
    Just know that you're in for a short ride that will leave you yearning for a full-fledged sequel.
    Read full review
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