QUICK JUMP
'The Orange Box' is a set of five games not to be missed
by Rob Ebert
The first thing you should know is that "The Orange Box" is five games in one. And yes, the box they all come in is orange. For the price of one game, you get developer Valve's "Half-Life 2," "Half-Life Episode 1," "Half-Life Episode 2," "Portal" and "Team Fortress 2."
Anticipation among gamers for "The Orange Box" has been sky high. In fact, one faithful reader even sent me a message on Xbox LIVE when he saw I was playing "The Orange Box" and complained about the fact that he was not enjoying the game at that exact moment.
That's what something this good does to people.
If you've been gaming for the last few years, you're sure to remember that the PC release of "Half-Life 2" was widely regarded as a testament to video games as an art form. The story takes more than a few cues from the short story and film "Minority Report," and integrates the player seamlessly into a fully-realized world of paranoia and oppression. Plus you get to kill aliens, sometimes with a crowbar. Really, is there anything better?
"Half-Life 2" is nearly three years old, and it's beginning to show its age. That's not to say it's not worth replaying – the story and gameplay mechanics are as exciting and smooth as many titles out there today.
"Episode 1" thickens the plot and includes marginally improved graphics, while "Episode 2" combines everything people love about "Half-Life" into a five-hour tour de force of gaming.
"Team Fortress 2" is an online multiplayer game where players compete against each other in classic scenarios like Capture the Flag, Territories, etc. But what sets it apart are the different character classes. Snipers, spies, medics and others all have unique abilities and players must work together as a team to achieve victory, or any enjoyment from the title.
"Portal" is an interesting puzzle game, and something much different than what "Half-Life" is generally associated with. It's easy to play but difficult to explain. Basically, you're stuck in different rooms and you have to find a way out. You have two different guns that open up portals to different rooms. It sounds like a geometrical nightmare, but it's fun, addicting and different.
Add all five of these games up and it would be next to impossible to find a better deal for your money than what's found in "The Orange Box."