First, and most dangerous, issue Opposing Forces had to deal with was the fact that it had an extremely high bar to leap over. Not only was Half Life Game of the Year, but it also set a new standard for First Person Shooters. You could probably call it blind faith, but I somehow knew that Half Life Opposing Force was going to deliver.

The expansion pack is an entirely new episode which like Half Life is split up into several smaller missions. The player takes control of a soldier ordered to infiltrate Black Mesa, and silence its occupants. As the title progresses there are many plot twists and even a few plot convergences with the hunted scientist, Gordon Freeman.

Half Life was a visual treat, and logic demands that a simple expansion pack would provide the same visual impact. Yet somehow there are a few noticeable improvements in the visual quality of the title. The first thing I noticed was that the detail found on the new character models were actually a little better than those found on the earlier models in Half Life. Another neat little graphic tart is the laser sight located at the end of the .357 desert eagle, or the little hop the missle from a launcher does before its propulsion system kicks in.

With the increased threat faced in Opposing Forces courtosey of a few bigger creatures, the player is offered some new weaponry. Even the lowliest weapon that can be posesssed which is a pipe wrench found in a toolbox, packs a bigger wallop than the crowbar used by Gordon. The guard pistol has been replaced with the lovely .357 Desert Eagle, which in my opinion is the coolest new weapon. Although ammo for this weapon can at times be short in supply, it packs a real punch. The guard pistol still becomes part of the player's arsenal as the ammo for this gun is still more plentiful. A new alien weapon was added as well, which can be taken from the corpse of a new and deadly creature.

The mission structure as I said earlier is primarily the same. The puzzles/obstacles fall between the fine line of easy, and average difficulty. Most of the time hints from enviromental cues tip off the player as to what needs to be done. Not really a bad thing as I doubt some puzzle master would be running around Black Mesa trying to make things difficult for people. These puzzles/obstacles are realistic, and that was probably the most important point for Gearbox to touch on.

The new option of commanding a squad is also made available in this expansion pack. Although it works off the same principles as the one used to get help from people in Half Life, the extra help and abilities of squad members is much appreciated. The Medic and the Engineer are the two low combat types. The medic has the ability to heal anyone in your squad. The Medic's ability to heal is finite however, and should not be squandered. Then Engineer has the ability to get the player past certain locked doors. Using his trusty blow torch he cuts through the door, and is the pointman during entry.

The more combat intesive Grunt can carry the large M-249 SAW Light Machine Gun. This gun literally mows through the enemy, but the ammo it uses is cosumed so quickly, the option to use it must be carefully decided. The grunts can do some serious damage, and like all the new NPCs, have some extraordinary aim. The only downside of these NPC is that they have more similarities to the guys who wore red shirts on Classic Star Trek Episodes, than say, Rambo. My meaning is that when you find a grunt, medic, or an engineer, you know there is no way they are going to stick it out with you. They are usually the first to die, or get lost. With this sad inevitability, I often found myself not really caring how well they did, it was obvious most of the title I still had to fight through on my own.

The EAX (enviromental audio) and 3D audio was again used very well. I think this was/is one of Half Life's strongest points. The total sense of immersion can only be completed if the sound is allowed to lend a hand. Sounds also plays a huge role in overall survival by letting the player hear their enemy even before they can actually see them.

Some have said the game is too short, or it was too easy. Admittedly the expansion is a little easier than Half Life was. I wouldn't say it is too short though. The episode contained on the cd is easily long enough, and while the challenge may be a little lower, just crank the difficulty up to "Hard" and I think most gamers will get what they desire.

Other things contained within Opposing Force's files include the winning map entries from the contest Sierra Studios held a little while back. Other multiplayer maps are included as well as the latest patch. Even with the rich amount of new multiplayer content, and the fact that the new episode provides a pretty solid experience, a lot of people will be turned away by the price tag. It stands to sell for 39.99 (40 dollars in marketing talk), and that is simply too much for some.