"Blue Shift" puts the player in the position of Barney Calhoun, a security guard working at Black Mesa. The game takes place within the early parts of "Half-Life", with Calhoun attempting to escape the facility with a small group of scientists. "Blue Shift" also includes a High Definition pack, which upgrades the quality of the models and textures in both "Blue Shift" and the preceding games in the series. Critics praised the atmosphere and new graphics, but criticized the lack of new content and short length.