Review: The Orange Box

This one is a bit of a toughy: not only are their five games included in one, but most reviewers took overall value into consideration when the reviewed this a year ago. My reviews aren't based on value: it's all about prioritization and which games you should make the most effort to play. I'll break down each game and give an overall impression and score.

Half Life 2: This one starts slow, but I can definitely tell why this is considered to be one of the best games of all time. The lack of uncontrolled cinematics (the story telling is entirely done in game with you moving around and interacting as you wish) and the overall pacing are things that Valve has absolutely perfected. The gravity gun is one of the most innovated weapons in gaming history, and the last level more than makes up for the slow start in the beginning.

Score: 9.0/10

Half Life 2: Episode 1

This improves on some things a bit-there's more of an emphasis on action and the control feels a bit tighter. I think the shorter game makes for a more focused emphasis on action. It's not necessarily a better game than it's predecessor, but it moves much more quickly.

Score: 9.0/10

Half Life 2: Episode 2

Valve really starts to hit it's stride here. This one's a bit longer than Episode 1, but it keeps the action moving right along, and the story stays strong the whole way through. The kicker though is that the ending will have you really looking forward to Episode 3.

Score: 9.0/10

Portal

Portal was everyone's darling last year. A couple sites even had this as their Game of the Year. It shouldn't have been. Valve does some pretty cool things here: fun first person puzzle game, mind-bending puzzles, cool use of two portal guns, funny antogonist, and the interesting application of in-game physics. It's just not a must-play level of game for me.

Score 8.5/10

Team Fortress 2

I can see the appeal for this for some as it goes in a much different direction than most multiplayer games: cartoonish look, goofy animations, etc. Most of the different character classes are fun, but there just isn't enough here to make me want to play this more than a few times. This is the weak link of the bunch.

Score 7.5/10

Overall-The Orange Box

The Orange Box is really about getting console gamers up to speed with the Half Life 2 games and the overall universe, and it successfully converted me to a fan. All three games are must-plays in my opinion. Portal will provide a week of etertainment value, but there really isn't a reason to want more than that (either additional gameplay or a sequel). It comes across as exactly what it is: a well designed and innovative extra for a pack of Half Life 2 games. Finally, Team Fortress 2 is decent multiplayer game thrown in for just that: a multiplayer experience. The other games have no multiplayer or co-op option at all. The overall package is one that PC and 360 owners shouldn't miss, mostly on the strength of the Half Life 2 games, but the others to fill in the gaps nicely.

Overall Score: 9.0/10