'Orange Box' delivers in quantity, quality
Matthew Tyson
Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Game prices have risen over the past few years, but developer Valve attempts to give gamers some much-needed relief. The Orange Box features five games in one package including Half-Life 2 with both expansions, Team Fortress 2 and Portal.
Half-Life 2 is every bit as good as the original PC version, which received over 40 game of the year awards when it launched several years ago. The game features a story that is easy to understand, but deep enough to keep you interested throughout the experience.
Physics play a big role and are one of the key concepts that separate the game from other first-person shooters. With the gravity gun, you can move objects in order to proceed through many puzzles that are scattered all over City 17.
The enemy A.I. is one of the more impressive aspects of the game. You might see an enemy plunge through a window if you have barricaded the door. Unfortunately the squad A.I. is not nearly as good, and many times proves to do more harm than good.
The graphics hold up very well, but are not nearly the quality of other games in the genre. There is some visual pop-up during some of the more technical parts of the game.
Every audio aspect of the game is fantastic. The music kicks in at the right times, the sound effects for weapons are spot on and the voice dialogue is well performed.
Episode 1 and 2 provide extra story length, as well as more epic battles to tackle. Each episode is short, but both add strength to one of the best games ever made.
Team Fortress 2 was in development for nearly a decade, but the wait has been worth it.
The game features class-based multiplayer combat with stylish cartoon graphics. Each class has a different strongpoint that sets them apart from the rest of the pack. The games six maps have preset objectives, which is slightly disappointing because they quickly lose variety.
The downside is there are performance issues during online matches. Many games will run flawlessly, but there are times that the game becomes a slideshow due to lag.
Despite the lag issues, Team Fortress 2 is one of the best multiplayer games currently available. The gameplay is very strong, and the simple mechanics make it an absolute blast to play.
Portal rounds out The Orange Box in a big way.
Portal is pretty short and many of the puzzles are very easy, but the game is such a breath of fresh air that it must be experienced. The game is hilarious and extremely well made. Valve has a hit on their hands with Portal.
Verdict: The Orange Box is a special package that may never be surpassed in terms of value. All five games in the box are well made, and almost all of them would warrant a purchase as a separate product. Valve really cares about the gamer, and it shows with this package. The Orange Box is a must-have for any first-person shooter fan, and is the best value yet in gaming history.
A
An avid video game enthusiast, Chris Pittman is the web editor of The Chanticleer. He can be reached at (256) 782-8521 or at chantyweb@gmail.com. You can read his weekly gaming blog at chantygaming.blogspot.com.
Half-Life 2 is every bit as good as the original PC version, which received over 40 game of the year awards when it launched several years ago. The game features a story that is easy to understand, but deep enough to keep you interested throughout the experience.
Physics play a big role and are one of the key concepts that separate the game from other first-person shooters. With the gravity gun, you can move objects in order to proceed through many puzzles that are scattered all over City 17.
The enemy A.I. is one of the more impressive aspects of the game. You might see an enemy plunge through a window if you have barricaded the door. Unfortunately the squad A.I. is not nearly as good, and many times proves to do more harm than good.
The graphics hold up very well, but are not nearly the quality of other games in the genre. There is some visual pop-up during some of the more technical parts of the game.
Every audio aspect of the game is fantastic. The music kicks in at the right times, the sound effects for weapons are spot on and the voice dialogue is well performed.
Episode 1 and 2 provide extra story length, as well as more epic battles to tackle. Each episode is short, but both add strength to one of the best games ever made.
Team Fortress 2 was in development for nearly a decade, but the wait has been worth it.
The game features class-based multiplayer combat with stylish cartoon graphics. Each class has a different strongpoint that sets them apart from the rest of the pack. The games six maps have preset objectives, which is slightly disappointing because they quickly lose variety.
The downside is there are performance issues during online matches. Many games will run flawlessly, but there are times that the game becomes a slideshow due to lag.
Despite the lag issues, Team Fortress 2 is one of the best multiplayer games currently available. The gameplay is very strong, and the simple mechanics make it an absolute blast to play.
Portal rounds out The Orange Box in a big way.
Portal is pretty short and many of the puzzles are very easy, but the game is such a breath of fresh air that it must be experienced. The game is hilarious and extremely well made. Valve has a hit on their hands with Portal.
Verdict: The Orange Box is a special package that may never be surpassed in terms of value. All five games in the box are well made, and almost all of them would warrant a purchase as a separate product. Valve really cares about the gamer, and it shows with this package. The Orange Box is a must-have for any first-person shooter fan, and is the best value yet in gaming history.
A
An avid video game enthusiast, Chris Pittman is the web editor of The Chanticleer. He can be reached at (256) 782-8521 or at chantyweb@gmail.com. You can read his weekly gaming blog at chantygaming.blogspot.com.
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