Additionally, this pack does not alter the fundamental of gameplay or weaponry power; they remain untouched. The other item on the agenda is the first expansion pack for the series. Now, in all fairness, I had to play through this as well as I hadn't done so before. One can tell just from the opening sequence that contains the same high level of quality as the original, and the opportunity to play from the opposite side of Freeman as a solider was obviously enticing. The campaign is also a little shorter than I would have liked, but it is definitely longer than HL: BS. You get to use some real nice weaponry including the visually enhanced assault rifles and Desert Eagle with infrared sight.

As for the core piece of software itself, the effort appeared lacking. Aside from the fact that it's not too glorious to play as "Barney" the standard fare police officer, the introduction scene was virtually a repeat of the original title. I would have expected a bit more flair from Gearbox there. More disturbingly, however, the gameplay hardly differed at all from the original game. Of course, any expansion titles follows the same guide and layout, the same graphics, and the same gameplay mechanics as its older sibling. But in the case of this title, the feeling is virtually identical. Once again, you start off with a crowbar, and move up to a simple pistol that does only a quarter of the damage of the much cooler Desert Eagle. Beyond that there are no new weapons in the game, and the alien foes you encounter are of the same variety. The sound effects with EAX enabled are above and beyond the call of duty--your gunshots pulse, craters smash with authority and aliens moan and groan from every angle--but again, that's been true from the start.

 

Our furry friends have arrived