2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
Orange Box review
Paul Scurria
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
"The Orange Box" (out now for PC, X360; PS3 version due in 11/2007) is an interesting offering, especially when compared against the other big first-person shooter of 2007, Halo 3. The main part of "Orange Box" is "Half-Life 2: Episode 2," the middle installment of Gordon Freeman's three post-"Half-Life 2" adventures. This approximately eight-hour addition to the Half-Life story brings about some major changes in the cast and opens up the world, both in terms of the story and available game-world. The episode picks up from the very end of Episode 1, with the player still never leaving the shoes of Freeman. Also of note is the inclusion of "Half-Life 2" and "Half-Life 2: Episode 1," especially since this is the first time Episode 1 has been available for home consoles, and since this is the first decent port of HL2. Each version receives a bonus in these two levels: the PC version can "gift" HL2 and HL2E1 to a friend if they already own the game, and the console versions bring HDR (High Dynamic Range) lighting to HL2.
The second part of the "Orange Box" is "Portal," a completely mind-bending puzzle game that, if not for HL2E2's spectacular ending, almost steals the show. The approximately four hour game requires a totally different approach to its puzzles since the player's main tool is a portal gun, which bends space to make impossible tasks easy. "Portal" also features some of the funniest writing in any game, with a robotic overlord, GLaDOS, taunting Chell as she makes her way through the puzzles. One of the most recognizable elements of Portal outside the game is the "Weighted Companion Cube," a simple cube with a pink heart on it, which when paired with GLaDOS' commentary becomes a high point of the game.
Finally, "Orange Box" includes the long-awaited "Team Fortress 2" as its multiplayer component. TF2 was originally due out in 1999, but suddenly all news went dark only days before its release. The eight-year lapse brought many significant changes to its predecessor, "Team Fortress Classic." Most obvious is the art style, based off of works by J. C. Leyendecker and films by Disney/Pixar. The cartoonish environments and distinctive class models help significantly to fix the biggest problems with TFC. TF2 requires significant collaboration among a team, and the nine different available classes must work together to accomplish their goals. To make things simpler, the classes are divided into three general sections: offense (Scout, Soldier, and Demoman), defense (Pyro, Heavy, and Engineer), and support (Sniper, Medic, and Spy). Each has distinct abilities, such as the Pyro's ability to set enemies on fire and the Spy's capability to disguise as an opponent, that help to foster the required teamwork.
However, when pricing is discussed, "Orange Box" raises interesting questions. Any of these three titles would be worth $30, except maybe "Portal," which is too short to justify such a price. Since the five games are bundled together, a full price is definitely acceptable. The single-player content, including the three HL2 games and "Portal," is worth about 25 hours, and with the ability to replay many sections in either harder difficulty or with some kind of developer commentary this count may be even higher. TF2, however, tips the scales into the more ludicrous areas, since its easy to spend 20 hours playing this title alone. As such, the $50 (PC) or $60 (X360, PS3) asking price is well worth it.
"Halo 3" and "BioShock" may have already set the bar very high in terms of quality, but "Orange Box" brings both quality and quantity, and as such is worth its purchase, even at full price.
The second part of the "Orange Box" is "Portal," a completely mind-bending puzzle game that, if not for HL2E2's spectacular ending, almost steals the show. The approximately four hour game requires a totally different approach to its puzzles since the player's main tool is a portal gun, which bends space to make impossible tasks easy. "Portal" also features some of the funniest writing in any game, with a robotic overlord, GLaDOS, taunting Chell as she makes her way through the puzzles. One of the most recognizable elements of Portal outside the game is the "Weighted Companion Cube," a simple cube with a pink heart on it, which when paired with GLaDOS' commentary becomes a high point of the game.
Finally, "Orange Box" includes the long-awaited "Team Fortress 2" as its multiplayer component. TF2 was originally due out in 1999, but suddenly all news went dark only days before its release. The eight-year lapse brought many significant changes to its predecessor, "Team Fortress Classic." Most obvious is the art style, based off of works by J. C. Leyendecker and films by Disney/Pixar. The cartoonish environments and distinctive class models help significantly to fix the biggest problems with TFC. TF2 requires significant collaboration among a team, and the nine different available classes must work together to accomplish their goals. To make things simpler, the classes are divided into three general sections: offense (Scout, Soldier, and Demoman), defense (Pyro, Heavy, and Engineer), and support (Sniper, Medic, and Spy). Each has distinct abilities, such as the Pyro's ability to set enemies on fire and the Spy's capability to disguise as an opponent, that help to foster the required teamwork.
However, when pricing is discussed, "Orange Box" raises interesting questions. Any of these three titles would be worth $30, except maybe "Portal," which is too short to justify such a price. Since the five games are bundled together, a full price is definitely acceptable. The single-player content, including the three HL2 games and "Portal," is worth about 25 hours, and with the ability to replay many sections in either harder difficulty or with some kind of developer commentary this count may be even higher. TF2, however, tips the scales into the more ludicrous areas, since its easy to spend 20 hours playing this title alone. As such, the $50 (PC) or $60 (X360, PS3) asking price is well worth it.
"Halo 3" and "BioShock" may have already set the bar very high in terms of quality, but "Orange Box" brings both quality and quantity, and as such is worth its purchase, even at full price.