Right after playing the original HL and HL: Opposing Force (OF), I started Blue Shift.

Simply put, of course...I LOVED it. Understatement!

Definitely loved it much much more than OF! And BS tags behind original HL very closely, just because HL was the original and lasted much longer.

(Although OF admittedly was fun, the experience can get too rough and ridiculous for my liking...such as that nest level!)

What Blue Shift did better than its predecessors:

Blue Shift, however, was an indeed a much cleaner, enjoyable experience as many say. The game and puzzles at times felt more brilliant than even the original itself. The levels felt organized and even better designed. It was as if they kept only what we loved from the older games and put them into Blue Shift.

- Fights/Combat

Gunfights and enemies was so much MORE FUN! The action packed moments I craved in the original were frequent but not repetitive like OF.

One memorable moment was when you had to fight through an army of soliders to get to Dr. Rosenberg. Now THAT was amazing. It was a level of mayhem, just fire away :D

- CHARACTERS (...or at least one)

Speaking of Dr. Rosenberg, I was super excited when it sounded as if HL was finally going to have an unique character that would stay with you and talk for a nice portion of the game. The way they introduced him was very nice as well, instead of having him simply being found in some random ass corridor like the past scientists and security guards of the older games.

So wonderful for a change that he would lead me at times, instead of always having to lead NPCs myself to places...half of the time not realizing I moved to a different room and such.

There were also a few more characters that were named, such as Dr. Simmons I believe, but they had old character models.

Wish they would include more unique character models, but it was a start.

- Story

First off, the beginning started off strong. The accident with the aliens appearing for the first time felt more chaotic and dangerous than the first two games. Like some rollercoaster, except you’re on a dark elevator. That cart crashing... Wow :D

Reasons for why you progress and move to different areas was of course more interesting in this game. It wasn't necessarily like the other games:

1. Aliens appear 2. Escape for the next 20 hours without any change of plan or talking much to anyone

Just quite refreshing

That last chapter was solid, amazing, and finished off the game satisfyingly. The uneasiness and how you are prompted to act quick throughout the chapter brought a smile to my face. Personally, it was so perfect how a random enemy grenade was about to explode for me as I rush to jump in the last portal. WOOO

- Last but not least: Cameos, references, easter eggs!!

Firstly, I immediately had a wide smile on my face when I was on the tram and saw the upcoming door, realizing I would be the guard, from the first game, that knocks while Gordon passes by.

I was also so happy I wandered and explored! :D I stumbled upon a camera room before the appearance of aliens, and unexpectedly from randomly clicking on buttons I thought wouldn't work...It turned on cameras showing me Gordon in the laboratory! I could imagine myself missing that easter egg and would be very upset haha

You can also see Gina Cross, from HL: Decay, in a different camera. Pretty neat

Of course, later on you get to see G Man as well eventually. At a point you hear about Shepard from the soldiers that are disposing bodies.

Finally, at the end I was surprised with the final Gordon cameo from when he got captured (loved that part in original HL as well!).

Upon looking up a video while writing this, I learned another easter egg, which I did not discover myself in game! Barney Calhoun, the character you play, owns a baby alien in a box stored back in his locker. That was unexpected. Woah :D

What Blue Shift should have done better:

Honestly, I don't have much to say here, as I thought the game was the sweetest cherry on top and as an expansion the time needed to play was just perfect.

Just a little thing I wished was having the crowbar replaced with something related to a guard, such as Shepard having an army knife. That's it really.

Conclusion

The Half Life games were right up my alley! Happy that I experienced them, sad that the first games are over! I am stoked and eager to venture onto Half Life 2 now!! :D Can't wait to see what awaits me. Of course I will also be excited to play Half Life Thre- oh

Thank you for reading!

If you are interested in my HL and OF reviews, then feel free to check my profile as I pin my reviews :)