Do i need this?

[Vex Hilarius]

The only reason i am buying half life is so i can basically rush through it so i can play half life 2. do i need this and blue shift to understand the story?

[sombrez]

No you don't have to have this and blue shift to understand it, but it kinda helps you learn more about half life I guess, I don't know.

[Propaganda!]

Blue Shift doesn't tell very important story. You'll just better know Barneys history. Opposing Force story may be important in the future, but for now it's completly ignored. If you want to know just the main story you should play HL1->HL2->HL2Ep1->HL2Ep2 and wait for HL3/HL2Ep3(which maybe will have premiere before word end). Sorry for my terrible English, I hope that I helped you.

[Lexatox]

Just like the post above, there's something in this that could be important in the future, but right now there's only theories. Other than that, this add-on explains what happened to Black Mesa after the events of HL1, (and a bit during the events), but if you don't really care to know what happens after Gordon leaves, then that's fine.

It's still a fun game though, you could give it a try if you ever feel like it.

Oh, and about Blue Shift, the only story it tells is how Barney made it out of there. Nothing about G-man, nothing important about Black Mesa, nothing important to the overall story. There's not even any new weapons and enemies, in fact, this game includes LESS weapons and enemies.

[Sparkle]

If anything, Opposing Force is the better one of the two expansion packs because it has new weapons, a longer gameplay time (Blue Shift was VERY short. Shorter then Portal) and is more fun IMO. Plus you get to play as the Marines!

[scorpion by Jake]

no

[jeffy]

yep opposing force is important to storyline, blue shift you can skip

[Arch-Tau]

It would certainly make your experience a lot better. You know, you can just read the storyline if you don't bother with hl1, though it's still a good game and I recommend playing it. Though don't play Blue Shift, It does not introduce anything new, but I recommend Opposing Force too.

[Mishez]

i say play them all there all good games just blue shift is really short.

[Gorditacrunc]

Play the Half-Life Series in this order (Recomended by me) HL1->HL:BS->HL:OF->HL2->HL2:EP1->HL2:EP2 (You can also play Portal and Portal 2 if you want since they're in the same universe.)