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The Orange Box Review
The Orange Box is not just a prettier version of Half-Life 2. This game contains Half-Life 2: Episode 1, Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Portal, and Team Fortress. Half-Life 2 (the original) is the weakest game in the "graphics" department. Over the other two episodes, the graphics have made a step forward. Half-Life 2: Episode 2 is the best looking game, graphically, in the whole collection, or the 360. Portal and Team Fortress 2 are no slouches either.
Each of Team Fortress 2's character class has its own look and personality. That really differentiates them from one and another. The Spy looks completely different the Heavy Gunner. There animations convey their different personality types as well. That is a welcomed surprise. On a side note, it is nice to see that Valve went for more whimsical look as opposed to the ultra-realistic look.
Portal is the game that goes for the futuristic look. There is nothing wrong with that. It actually fits the story that the creators are trying to tell. Valve had to create a futuristic world that would have a machine, which creates "portals" for a person to transverse from one side of the room to another.
Overall, my hat is off to the designers of the graphics and animations in this game. Thank you for creating something that can really stress how videogames are a form of (commercialized) art.
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