Half-Life Expansion Pack: Opposing Force

by Vivendi Universal

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00002CF96
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: November 18, 1999
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,970 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Opposing Force returns the player to the Black Mesa facility, but tells the tale from the perspective of Col. Adrian Shephard, one of the soldiers sent to clean up the scientists and their reality-altering mess. Just as in Half-Life, things quickly go badly for Colonel Shephard and his men. Ambushed by aliens, Adrian must fight his way through the ruins of the facility in an attempt to reach a helicopter extraction point.

What makes Opposing Force shine is the way it expands on the story of Half-Life. Colonel Shephard passes though areas that players of Half-Life are sure to recognize, and he occasionally runs into characters from the original game, including the infuriating Man in Suit. Opposing Force also introduces several new weapons, such as a sniper rifle (with scope), heavy machine gun, and a .357 Magnum with a laser sight. There's even a "weapon" that is actually a common alien creature from the first game; its unique features allow it to be used as a kind of grappling hook.

Several new aliens make an appearance as well, almost all of them deadly. They exhibit the same sophisticated AI (artificial intelligence) as the monsters in Half-Life, relentlessly and intelligently attacking Adrian as he makes his way through the game's impressive levels. Fortunately, Colonel Shephard's rank allows him to take command of any soldiers he encounters. Riflemen and machine gunners can be ordered to follow Adrian and provide covering fire, or assigned to guard a door or room. Engineers can cut through locked or blocked doorways, while Medics can heal the injured. Unlike Half-Life's solitary "me against the world" game play, the addition of competent friendly forces provides a feeling of camaraderie: there's nothing like leading a squad of loyal Marines against an alien horde. --Mike Fehlauer

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's not Half-Life...but it's good..., November 29, 1999

By 

Mark Reynolds (Champaign, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Half-Life Expansion Pack: Opposing Force (CD-ROM)

I purchased Half-Life shortly after it's release in 1998 and built a system just to play this one title...I was not disappointed. More recently, my anticipation had been building over the past several months as I watched and waited for Opposing Force to be released. I bought it, loaded it, played it and conquered it...all too quickly. Valve presented the gaming world with some pretty big shoes to fill, and it seems as though Gearbox has made the add-on to the 1998 Game of the Year less difficult to complete. I thrive on the complex puzzles that level designers create (i.e., System Shock II). And, while the alien AI has been enhanced, the overall game play (when compared to it's parent product) doesn't live up to my level of anticipation or the hype that normally surrounds a Sierra product. Also, I know that it is only 40% the size of the original game, but I paid as much for this as I did Half-Life. I have to admit, though, that the multiplayer aspect and additional maps are right on the money. Some of the best death-matching you can buy is right here (until Q III is released). And, overall, the visuals were excellent throughout the Black Mesa compound. I am disappointed, though, that I only caught 1 glimpse of Gordon Freeman. Bottom line: buy it and enjoy: blowing things up, cracking skulls and playing with exotic weapons...or your collection of Half-life maps and mods will go unfinished...until 2001 (Half-Life 2! ).

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worthy of the Half-Life Name, But Not the Original, December 9, 1999

By 

"[e-mail]" (Aliquippa, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Half-Life Expansion Pack: Opposing Force (CD-ROM)

Ahh....Half-Life. The best game ever created. So when I purchased the "Game of the Year's" expansion pack, I was excited for more of the same excitement. What I found was that I was not let down. Of course, there were a few flaws.

Oh, there are so many good things about this that I will only name the most impressive. Since you play one of the Marines sent in to "silence" the Black Mesa Staff, you get to see the game from a whole new perspective. So of the new areas are absolutely amazing, especially the Zoology and Aquatics Areas. Some of the new areas aren't so new, but you'll have a smile on you face when you recognize them from the original (of course, from a different perspective). The enemies surely got beefed up, as well, A whole new alien race was introduced, making your life as Cor. Adrian Shepherd even more of a living hell. And with your rank comes the ability to order around a bunch of new butt-kicking military types, in the form of a medic, engineer, and soldier. I was stunned when the engineer I was with used his torch to cut open a locked door, boot it down and blast away at the alien on the other side. The new weapons are also excellent too, with out being overly flashy and all with a drawback of some sort to balance them out. Finally, There are a ton of new multiplayer maps for both Half Life and Team Fortress Classic, with the majority of them in top form.

There are a few cons with this mission pack, though. Opposing Force is close to 40% of the size of the original. The episodes are slightly shorter, with longer (and often annoying) loading times. Though it sure is fun ordering your fellow Marines around in combat, their AI is less than perfect. Sometimes they charge into the thick of combat and end up getting cut down, no matter how many times you tell them to stay where they are. The Marines also tend to mindlessly go places they shouldn't, or to the same extent, don't follow you. The plot gets a little sketchy, too. Even though your character technically agreed to aid the folks of Black Mesa, you are never really sure as to what side you are on. And you will spend quite a lot of time trying to figure out what you're trying to accomplish. Thought the plot is advanced via fellow soldiers and radios that you can use, you are never really told WHY you are doing something (why do back into Black Mesa if I just left it?). Finally, one of the biggest flaws is the fact that there is a lot more "filler" than you would expect. A lot of the areas just don't seem right, and some of the puzzles get repetitive.

All in all, though, Half-Life: Opposing Force is excellent. I have never witnessed an expansion pack so well done, and despite it's flaws, you'll be glad you bought it.

31 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Opposing Force, November 26, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Half-Life Expansion Pack: Opposing Force (CD-ROM)

This expansion pack is awesome, it lets you play as the Army against the original character, Gordan Freeman. In the original game remember the soldiers regrouping and calling for backup? Now you can do that to! There are many new characters to interact with, and now you can finally blow away thoes stupid rent-a-cops and scientists away for fun! Not to mention the Internet play is awesome, tons of new characters, weapons, and more! The only reason I gave this game a 4 star is because of its price. A little spendy for a add-on, considering that I have seen Half-Life for only $9.99