Gamernode: Reviews - The Orange Box

The Orange Box

Category: PC, Posted: 10/16/2007 at 09:21PM CDT by Brendon Lindsey, Editor-in-Chief

The Orange Box
PC
Valve Software
Valve Software
October 09th, 2007

Hate the series or love it, there's no denying that Valve's Orange Box is a game that will change how many look at gaming. It's rare to find a compiliation game with decent titles, let alone one with five titles in it, all of which are incredible games worthy of purchase on their own. But the Orange Box does just that, combining Half-Life 2, Episode 1 and 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2. (And Peggle Extreme, who could forget you?)

I don't care who you are, the Orange Box is just a fantastic deal. In all honesty, reviewing a game has never been easier for me, and I'm sure a lot of other people feel the same way. One of the best single-player games of all time, my favorite multiplayer game of the year, a puzzle game that bends the rules and has gotten gamers everywhere listening to Jonathan Coulton and Ellen McLain's song and love cubes, and two other games which aren't legendary, but live up to the hype? Easy 10. No question in my mind. For its value, contents, and sheer fun packaged in the tiny cardboard box, there's no other score to give this game. Like one of my buddys said in his review, the only fault with this game is that it doesn't come in a giant orange cube.

But I'm sure you knew all of that. You knew what was in this (you CAN read the cover, after all) and you know how much everyone has been talking about Valve's latest. What you probably came for is our takes on the individual games inside of Valves masterpiece. If that's the case, go ahead and look down just a little further.

This game is a triumph. I'm making a note here: huge success. It's hard to overstate our satisifaction.

Kyle shares that thought, and I know if he saw me writing that line he would have giggled and nodded his head like a preteen girl who just got introduced to Usher. Want to know how much he loves it and what he ultimately scored it? (But if you don't read the review shame on you!) And want to read through his comparison of Portal to short films? Then click the picture.

Team Fortress 2 doesn't really have a song I can steal lyrics from. What it does have, however, is what Billy calls fast-paced action, hilarious presentation, and approachable gameplay. If that doesn't get you excited, how about the fact people blow up? And you can burn things? Just forgive Billy: he's boring and likes the Medic. Typical Billy, always helping people... Know what else he liked? Team Fortress 2. Click it to find out how much.

The last of the new titles in Orange Box, Episode 2 continues the adventure of Alyx and Gordon where Episode 1 left off. Marvel at the plot twists and turns, open your mouth wide when you find out did you highlight this? and wow, that's sad, and give George Lucas back some of your well-lost respect when Jar Jar is written out of the story. Oh, right, that's the bad Episode 2. This is the good one. Forgive me. While this may be the "weak link" in terms of new content in the Orange Box, it's by no means bad. Like I said, even the "bad" parts of Orange Box are great games.

And just in case you haven't played it yet, here is a link to our old review of Episode 1. As for Half-Life 2, GamerNode wasn't around when it originally came out, but just pretend I linked to our old review and gave it a 9.8, will ya? (I didn't make the switch to .5 intervals until 2007, so it's okay.) Saves me a lot of writing, and really, at this point nothing can be said about Half-Life 2 that everyone doesn't already know.

So there you have it. If you have a gaming PC, buy Orange Box. Now. Don't even finish reading this review -- just go. if you don't, you can always opt for the Xbox 360 version. It's not quite as spectacular, but it's much, much better than not playing these games at all.

(15)

Posted by jedipoodoo547 on 10/17/2007 at 02:21AM

The best game i have ever played for the 360...................more then Halo3! Yup, that's right!!!!

Posted by Killer_Within on 10/17/2007 at 05:54AM

I agree with jedipoo....sorry you Bungie fanatics, move over there is a new band of nimerical retards moving in.
"You're an idiot not to get it."
'nuff said...

Posted by lskennedy on 10/17/2007 at 01:30PM

Is this GNs first ten?

Posted by Archem on 10/17/2007 at 02:35PM

I'm getting this on my PC. Soonish, I hope. And as much as I love Halo, anything Half-Life will always hold superiority over it (except for a "who would win in a fight" debate or possibly in multiplayer).

Posted by Not_My_Style on 10/17/2007 at 05:25PM

I think it is GN's first 10.

Posted by Brendon on 10/17/2007 at 07:24PM

It is GN's first 10. I absolutely hate giving any game a 10, but there's really no method of review you can go by to NOT give this a 10. Unless you go in some sort of Bizzarro review where 10 is bad and 0 is good, that is.

Posted by Vars on 10/17/2007 at 11:41PM

rightfully deserves the 10.

Posted by Chrispy on 10/18/2007 at 12:01AM

So Gears of War and its 9.7 have been beaten, eh? Rightly so. My God do I love Team Fortress 2.

Posted by jedipoodoo547 on 10/18/2007 at 08:29AM

UMMMMMMMMMMM, ok Killer, you've got it all figured out, but anyway, what was i saying?..........Oh yeah, Half-Life is like the bestes game ever, and ever. It rawks!!!! I'm a self proclaimed Half-Life fan-boy. It's pretty amazing how harsh people can be when you reveal just how much you actually like a product, almost like the death knell for fan-boys right? (lol)
nimerical=$.50
C'mon, seriously, the game is that spectacular, it has a great story, characters you actually care about, great graphics, endless replay value, pretty much all of the mechanisms of a legendary game.
I don't know if comparing a Half-Life game to Halo 3 is a fair comparison, but i have never played a Half-Life game on any platform before the Xbox 360 iteration, so my expectations were pretty low. I was just taken by surprise by how much i liked the game. Imho, it is superior to anything on the console right now.
Is there anything wrong with that???

Posted by 7ty714 on 10/18/2007 at 12:29PM

Absolutely not. There however is a problem with, that you haven't played the original HL games. I recommend selling your 360 copy and buying this instead: http://steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=package&SubId=478&cc=SEIt may be a lot, but you get ALL Valve games ever made, plus the Gearbox HL expansions and Peggle Extreme. And you save $169.15 on the purchase.
Or maybe you are more of a console gamer?

Posted by Chrispy on 10/18/2007 at 04:47PM

Hah, I kinda giggled at the notion of being a Half-Life fanboy when you've never played anything outside of The Orange Box.

Posted by jedipoodoo547 on 10/19/2007 at 01:34AM

Honestly, I'm not a fan-boy of any game, i was being sarcastic. If a game is looks interesting and has potential, i will buy and play it, it's that simple.
I derive more enjoyment from console games. Playing FPSs on a PC is not my style. I own The Call Of Duty collection on the PC side and i own multiple console versions, it's just a personal preference to play them with the pick-up and play style of a console.
I do not have loyalty to one system (i own all three current consoles). Nor do i only play video games based on mass appeal. There is room for Halo 3, Half-Life, Bioshock, Call Of Duty 4 in my library. It is just that when game-play , story and graphics are so prominent in a game like this, it should be recognized.
It is just my opinion that it is currently the best game on the Xbox 360 (like i did say in a prior post).

Posted by 7ty714 on 10/19/2007 at 08:34AM

Ah yes, very well then, and I agree with Chrispy ;) Have fun with the Orange Box however, and I'll hope for your sake Valve releases a Half-Life 1 Anthology for the consoles =]

Posted by jedipoodoo547 on 10/20/2007 at 03:09AM

I just found out that there was a Half-Life 1 game fore the PS2 and also a Dreamcast version with Blueshift. but was canned at the last minute before launch. I know they are probably not as good as the PC version. If Valve puts all the games together in an anthology like you said, i might buy it to properly experience Half Life.

Posted by The Hylden on 01/21/2008 at 07:35AM

The only complaint I had with Half-Life 1 was how hard it was. Once the marines show up, look out. But, it, and all of these games, are great. However, for the sheer story and character-driven greatness, that really engages at Half-Life 2 and only expounds in the next two episodes. For me, anyway. I am a true fan of great stories, broken down into great character-driven stories, as my favorite game series to this date, as well as most any story out there, is the Legacy of Kain series. Half-life 2's saga stuck gold, though. Valve really knows what they're doing and I hope they continue to do it for a long, long time. Can't wait for their finale in Episode 3.

And Portal shows the same character and story mastery, btw. Awesome.

GamePlay: With a variety of single- and multiplayer games in the Orange Box, there's something for everyone. There's even a cake recipe. How can you beat that?
Graphics: Half-Life 2 is a few years old now, but it still looks great. Portal looks good, and Team Fortress 2 has a great, unique art style to it.
Sound: The voice acting in Portal is top notch, as is the voice work in the other titles. And the song in Portal? Oh, the song! But yeah, the sound here is fantastic, if you couldn't tell.
Replay Value: Five games. One online game. One game with lots of future possibilities in terms of additions and mods. You can't go wrong, and you can play this for quite a while.
10	Final Word: Orange Box is the best deal in terms of bang-for-the-buck since Mario All Stars. Not only that, but every game in it is a winner. Three classic games and two great games for this low price? You're an idiot not to get it.