QUICK JUMP
Nothing rhymes with orange
James Francis explains why Valve's latest box set of games is simply beyond compare.
The Orange Box (PC)
It's not every day a deal like this game comes along. For the price of one game, you get five. Technically you only get three, but that all depends on how you enter this deal. Orange Box is the retail version of Valve's latest release. It contains Team Fortress 2, the eccentric puzzler, Portal and the long-awaited Half-Life 2: Episode 2. On top of that, the box gives players the original Half-Life 2 as well as Episode 1. In other words, unless you've already played the latter two, you get five.
Story
Being destined for multiplay, Team Fortress 2 has no real story, but more than enough charm. Episode 2, as you can expect, leads on from Episode 1's explosive ending. It won't disappoint and is one of the best Half- Life tales yet spun. But the real gem here is Portal. What started as an experiment for game design students evolved into an entertaining puzzle game. But a few writers were brought in to spice things up. The result? One of the best games you'll play this year.
Gameplay
All are essentially FPSs. In other words, you have a first-person vantage that you control with the mouse. But each game resonates a very different style and atmosphere.
Team Fortress 2 fuses its cartoon antics with extreme multiplayer fun – you choose a class on a side (infantry, engineer, heavy weapons ) and proceed to blow the other team to kingdom come.
Episode 2 is an intense and intelligent action game, with a deep plot that continues the Half-Life story. Since HL is one of the best games of all time and Orange Box includes the complete second-game experience, this is a good jump-in package.
Portal is just something new altogether and instead of explaining how it works, let's just settle with PLAY PORTAL!
Graphics
Very nice. Not as mind-blowing as Bioshock, but anyone who calls what Orange Box delivers "ugly" should be avoided . Once again, the three games have three distinct visual designs : Team Fortress 2 looks like a cartoon, Portal delivers eye candy that is eerily Spartan, while Episode 2 rolls up some of the best Half-Life graphics yet seen . Best of all, you don't need a DirectX 10 card to get the most mileage out of Orange Box's "pretty factor".
Overall
If you've happened upon Orange Box before and wondered if five games in one box is ripping you off, have no fear. This is the best game bundle you can get.
If you already own Half-Life 2 and its first episode, give those to someone else – or you can just get the extra games off Valve's online service, Steam.
If you want to buy a PC gamer as a gift, buy Orange Box. One thing before you get this, though: Orange Box's games need to be authenticated online before you can play them. This needs to be done only once, but make sure you have access to a decent internet connection.
Trivia
Gordon Freeman, the protagonist of the Half-Life games, has never uttered a word of dialogue in this story-driven series.