Half-Life 2: The Orange Box

1st of all, lets clear up whats in the box because this had me slightly confused until I bought the game.

1) Half Life 2

2) Half Life 2 Episode 1

3) Half life 2 Episode 2

4) Portal

5) Team Fortress 2

I got confused because you would think that half life 2 was episode 1 but its not.

Im new to the half life series so altho i know half life 2 is an original xbox release im not sure about the other two.. i do think half life 2 episode 2 is a new xbox 360 game (hopefully someone can clear this up in a review?)

ok so the games..

Half life 2 is a 1st person shooter, it reminds me of a cross between F.E.A.R. and Far Cry Instincts.. I was hoping for a more RPG style of shooter, where you interact more with other people, the 1st level of the game seemed to be heading in that direction but sadly it turned out to be a straight FPS but this is by no means a bad thing, its still a pretty good FPS altho i have played better shooters even on the original xbox..

I have only taken a quick look at the other Half Life games in this package and they look like they are the same kinda thing as the 1st only improved graphics, again this doesnt mean its a bad thing.

I had a sneaky look at portal, this game looks interesting but slightly confusing (i really should read the manual) what you seem to get is a game thats quite original and could be fun and entertaining to play.. not really my kind of game but im too busy withHalf life at the moment to give it a proper try.

now Team Fortress.. Please note this is an online/ system link game only. there's no single player game.. I logged onto xbox live and had a quick game, i have to say im very impressed with what I saw, this game is as funny as hell, the characters, the taunts, the weapons.. everything is beautifully drawn in a cartoon style and works very well indeed, this is a game i will be playing more of in the near future.

How many times have we paid 40 quid for a game thats lasted maybe 4-6 hours? even some of the best next gen games have a short single player life.. what you get with this pack is hours and hours of gameplay with the half life games alone, then add portal too and then the online play with team fortess 2 and you have a package that leaves you wondering how the hell did they get all this onto one disk? and why dont other software houses give us such a good deal?

5 good quality games for the price of 1? GO BUY IT NOW!

Half Life Two received over 40 GOTY rewards, and its not hard to see why. It has the best story mode of any game on any platform that I have ever seen. The characters have an amazingly human feel to them, and you immediately find yourself immersed as Gordon Freeman, beating zombies with his crowbar.

But thats not all the gameplay. Oh no. You find yourself driving a converted Mustang through mountain regions to help with a rocket launch, commanding squads through the streets of City 17, stopping law enforcement with heated crossbow bolts and taking down helicopter gunships with a hovercraft.

And the story, although based around the FPS gameplay, has mini-puzzles within it, using Steam's amazing physics engine. The gravity gun can be used to hurl razor sharp disks at foes, but it can also be used to clear the road of cars and occasionally, disintegrate your enemies.

This box set contains Half Life 2, Half Life 2 Episode 1, Half Life 2 Episode 2 [Episode 3 is due out but there has been no release date yet]. But the box also contains Portal, with a fun- puzzle based story [the cake is a lie], and Team Fortress 2, one of the most surreal, yet one of the most fun online FPS around. Hearing Heavy Weapons Guy ranting on about his beloved chaingun makes me chortle every time.

So in short- no part of they story feels repetitive, or tedious, or boring. You will become addicted immediately, wanting more, wanting to discover how the game ends. At 15 pounds, for what is undoubtedly the best game of the century, AND two other games, its a steal. A must have for anyone who owns a console.

This package is probably the best value bundle in the history of video games, and will keep you busy for a long time. Half Life 2 is critically acclaimed as being one of the best games of all time, and after playing what is a very well ported version it's easy to see why. The two expansions, Episode 1 and Episode 2, not only continue the story but also maintain the sheer quality of the first game.

Then you have the two extra games, Portal and Team Fortress 2. Portal is not quite like anything you will have played before, and is an entirely new concept. Luckily, being Valve, not only is the concept done very well, but the entire game is wrapped in its own immersive story. You'll want to play the game through again just to listen to the character who guides you. Team Fortress 2 is the long awaited sequel to Team Fortress Classic, and doesn't disappoint. With a graphical overhaul, some new maps, well balance classes, and some general tweaking it is without doubt the best class based multiplayer game out there. Definitely one to check out.

Overall, I cannot recommend this highly enough. One of these games for that price would be worth the money, but all five for that price is simply something special that cannot be passed up. Do yourself a favour and invest in this as soon as possible. You will not regret it.

Half-Life 2 - The best game of all time

Episode One - Great

Episode Two - Fantastic

Portal - Amazing

Team Fortress 2 - Brilliant

You just can't get better shooters than this! and its an absolute bargain.

Buy this game!

Half life 2 was a great game on PC 3 years ago(ok,i concede that Far Cry was better,but only just!),easy then,to think that the 360 version is just a rehash,and youd be right,but on another level,oh so wrong!The game was great,is great and will always be,the 360 version,while almost exactly the same as the pc version,just feels so damn "right" its untrue,this is still one of the best fps out there,bar none,and if you havent played it,you really should treat yourself!
Added to that you have two add on adventures for half life 2,and both are great,nice and challenging with improved graphics,you also have portal,which is truly class,a great laugh and highly original,and finally...the peice de resistance,you have team fortress 2,what a masterpiece this is,easily the best team shooter out there,hilarious graphical style and frenetic action,and you can swear at yanks on live too,(i know you can do it on any game,but its just so much more fun on tf2).
So in conclusion,buy it,whatever else you may think you need,it pales in importance,do you really need to eat for instance??