Half-Life: Blue Shift - Fixes, Tweaks, and Improvements (Add-on List)

Half-Life: Blue Shift★ 4 · 35 ratings1.9k views113 favorites7 min readby Not for SaleUpdated Jan 4View on Steam ↗

Introduction

I'm assuming you're most likely here from my other Half-Life guides (links at the conclusion.) If so, thank you for reading even further!

This is yet another compilation of add-ons that fix up and improve the game in small but meaningful ways, this time for Half-Life: Blue Shift. Blue Shift has a lot of little problems, so this one's a bit longer.

Links and credits are included!

I've tested all add-ons myself and ensured that they work together. If an add-on doesn't work with another add-on, it will be made clear on the list.

All add-ons were sourced from either ModDB or GameBanana.

By no means am I trying to take credit for these modders' work. I'm simply attempting to put their work more out there so that others can enjoy it too :)

No MMod compatibility indicator this time, since MMod does not support Blue Shift (yet!)

If you don't know how to install add-ons, there's a section in my Half-Life guide attempting to explain the process. Just know that instead of "valve_addon", Blue Shift add-ons should be installed to a seperate "bshift_addon" folder.

An Important Disclaimer

This could just be a "me issue" but I felt that I should share this.

When loading into a level, the game will get extremely choppy for me. Restarting the game (often multiple times) is the one way I know how to fix it. There's a chance you will experience this too. If anyone does get this problem, and figures out a permanent fix, please let me know.

Engine Fixes

(No demonstration available.)

HLFixes by Intriguing Tiles

[github.com]
Fixes many small engine problems, like menu music playing over gameplay / intros, music not playing over loading screens, etc.

Note: If you installed this once before, you don't need to install it again. One install affects all GoldSrc games.

Main Menu

Sierra/Gearbox/VALVe Intros by goanimate crazy dave

[gamebanana.com]
Re-implements both the Sierra startup MOV and Gearbox startup MOV, as well as bringing the Valve MOV over to Blue Shift, all of which were present in the original release of the game.

Note: For Blue Shift, you extract only the "bshift" folder from the add-on's zip file. You also need to install the contents of this add-on into the bshift folder, not your bshift_addon folder, otherwise the video will not play.

Blue Shift WON Menu Restored! (Kinda) by Aperture Mesa

[gamebanana.com]
Restores the original menu style almost exactly, with the exception of the animated background, which can't be replicated in the Steam version.

Low Definition Models

Blue Shift: Low Definition Civilian Scientists by Evy Houstuvk

Low definition versions of the coatless scientists. There is also a downloadable low definition Rosenberg, which I recommend as well.

(Image from the ModDB page.)

Civilian Barney LD Model Fixed by BrussTrigger and LeonelC

Fixes the low definition civilian Barney model. The original is a little weird looking.

(Image from the GameBanana page.)

Classic Mouths for LD Scientists and Security Gaurds by Gulliblepikmin

[gamebanana.com]
Swaps the textured mouths of the vanilla scientists with the original plain mouths from Half-Life.

Note: This mod conflicts with the other two low definition add-ons above.

Unique Head for Harold by BrussTrigger, VitorHunter, and UGLIES

[gamebanana.com]
Gives Harold a custom vanilla-styled head, like Rosenberg.

Unique Head for Simmons by /TheWolf, BrussTrigger, CamKablam, amok-R, Half-Life: Extended Team

[gamebanana.com]
Gives Simmons a custom vanilla-styled head, like Rosenberg.

Fixed LD Propoganda for Blue Shift by Dienor and VitorHunter

[gamebanana.com]
Adds LD versions of the Black Mesa advertisements, which originally had HD models in them, even with HD models disabled.

Low Definition Helmet and Vest + Sprites by Dienor and Seiya Core

[gamebanana.com]
Adds low definition versions of the helmet and vest world models. Also includes new HUD decals for armor, but I prefer New HUD for Blue Shift (seen in the "Extras" section.)

LD Props by Evy Houstuvk

[gamebanana.com]

Adds low definition versions of props like the tool box, flashlight, etc.

Fixes

(See GameBanana page for preview.)

H.E.C.U. UV and Shape Fixes by explorer1911

[gamebanana.com]
Subtly updates the H.E.C.U. models, fixing the numerous issues present. Their models were made early in Half-Life's development, and are therefore not to the same quality as other models.

Note: Will not work with add-ons that replace the H.E.C.U. grunt model (See "Consistency" section).

(See GameBanana page for preview.)

Human Grunt Victory Dance Fix by explorer1911

[gamebanana.com]
Fixes a broken animation with the H.E.C.U. where they walk up, and put one last bullet in whatever they've just killed (including Barney Calhoun.)

Note: Will not work with add-ons that replace the H.E.C.U. grunt model (See "Consistency" section). There is a download that lets you put the fix for the animation on custom models, as long as you are able to decompile and recompile models. But if you're going to use custom models, it's probably not worth the effort, since the animation is pretty rare to witness in normal gameplay.

(See GameBanana page for preview.)

Better MP5 Draw Animation by HL1 X

[gamebanana.com]
Supposedly fixes the MP5 pick-up animation. I didn't even know it was broken. Still, a fix is a fix.

Consistency

Opposing Force Grunts for Half-Life by monster_urby

Replaces the vanilla H.E.C.U. models with the Opposing Force models.

Note: You can not install this if you have the H.E.C.U. Grunt Victory Dance Fix or UV / Shape Fixes add-ons installed!

Opposing Force HECU Voices! by explorer1911

[gamebanana.com]
Goes with the add-on above it. Replaces the vanilla H.E.C.U. voices with the Opposing Force voices.

Note: To install correctly with Blue Shift, copy the contents of this Google doc[docs.google.com] over the sentences.txt file that comes with the download (sentences.txt found in bshift_addon/sound)

Blue Shift Fixed / Timeline Accurate Skyboxes by Bloxed

[gamebanana.com]
This mod is meant to fix the time of day that certain maps are set in, in order to align with the original Half-Life.

However, I only recommend extracting ba_tram1, ba_tram2, and ba_canal2, since these maps definitely should take place in the morning. Bloxed also made Captive Freight set in the morning, which I disagree with.

Focal Point is parallel to On a Rail (Half-Life) and Rift (Half-Life: Decay) chronologically. Rift and On a Rail are both set at night, meaning if Captive Freight (which is right before Focal Point) was in the morning, it would be an incredibly short afternoon between it and Focal Point.

(Ignore the broken scanlines, it's just a FOV / widescreen thing.)

Accurate Gina Cross by Evy Houstuvk

[gamebanana.com]
Makes Gina's H.E.V. suit beige like how it is in Decay.