Unofficial sequel mod for Half-Life 2
Opposing Force 2 Mod is the demo version of a mod created for the 2004 action game Half-Life 2. Taking place before the Seven Hour War, you play as a US Marine officer tasked with neutralizing the Combine, the alien species in the hit sci-fi franchise. You rejoin brothers in the Phoenix Command as you try to stop the aliens’ advance.
In terms of flow and content—boasting original story and remastered graphics—Opposing Force 2 Mod acts as the unofficial sequel for Half-Life: Opposing Force, itself an expansion of the original Half-Life game. There are minor non-disruptive bugs though.
An immersive prequel for HL
Opposing Force 2 Mod puts you in control of Adrian Shephard, the protagonist of the original Opposing Force game. The game it was based on was a hit with fans, offering an alternative perspective on the events of the original Half-Life timeline. The Seven Hour War refers to the brief encounter between humans and aliens, to which the Earth fell to the Combine.
In this mod, however, you get to experience entirely new locations that extend from an industrial zone down to the return of a familiar location. The set design, paired with the story progression, makes the game fit perfectly into the larger Half-Life timeline, despite being a fan-made game. It also uses updated textures on the HL2 engine, making it look like a remastered entry in the franchise.
Of course, as a mod, it requires a legitimate copy of Half-Life 2 in order to work. Additionally, it still suffers from a few minor restrictions. The first is that it has a shorter playthrough than its expansion prequel. It leaves players wanting more, especially after being immersed in its fast-paced gameplay. Additionally, there are minor texture and collision bugs across the game, although none of them are particularly game-breaking.
Top-tier among fanmade stories
There are a lot of custom add-ons for Half-Life, but Opposing Force 2 Mod is certainly one of the best there is. It explores the attempted defense of humans before the events of the official HL titles unfolded. More importantly, it has an original map and the signature fast-paced gameplay that ultimately ties into the main storyline. It has minor flaws, but a must-have nonetheless.
