Half-Life: Blue Shift
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.
| 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 |
Plot
changeAs 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
changeBarney Calhoun
changeBarney 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
changeDr. 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
changeBlue 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.
