The Games fans have been waiting for, wrapped up and cheaper than anyone would expect it to be.
First thing I want to put out there...
The Orange Box is not a "Game" it is a "Bundle" meaning more than one game put together. This one in particular being like the all stars or the source engine.
The Box includes old releases such as
Half Life 2
Half Life 2: Episode 1
And with them releases
Half Life 2: Episode 2
Team Fortress 2
Portal
Im going to start with the Half Life games, which mostly came out a few years ago. Half Life 2 was a long awaited game in where you continue the adventures of Gordon Freeman against the Combine. Your standard FPS is here with surprisingly dynamic scenes that play out different every time you play. Physics are the reason for this, and half of the enemies you subdue may fall victim to them. The machine gun, shotgun, rocket launcher are all here, but the real fun lies in the "gravity gun". This little device is picked up at Eli's junkyard, a few hours into the game, and from there on is greatly depended upon. Used for puzzles, making areas passable, or throwing saw blades at zombies, the gravity gun is one fun tool.
Half Life 2: Episode 1 is basically the same game as the last. No new enemies or guns, but the story continues from where the last left off. Not overly too long, or as long as the previous title, but Episode 1 is still worth checking out since it's included in the box.
Now the three new games. You have an innovative game, (Portal), the continuing game, (Half Life 2: Episode 2), and the multiplayer game, (Team Fortress 2).
Portal is witty way to play an FPS with out shooting a single bullet. You are woken up in a test chamber inside the Apeture Science Center, and put through a series of puzzles as a robot guides you through them. Smart humor, and challenging tests accompany the great graphics put out by the 360. In all, Portal will take you about maybe 5 hours to complete everything there is in the game. After beating the main run around, you are awarded to play advanced maps, which are test from before, just harder.
Half Life 2: Episode 2 is another stunning example of what valve is cabable of doing. Huge battles, great physics, and new enemies are all here, and it's more exciting the Episode 1. "Finishing" the story of Gordon Freeman, (but most likely, not really), the Episode ends with a satisfied gamer.
Team Fortress 2 is my favorite part of the bundle. It's all multiplayer here, and I haven't seen competition this good since Halo 2 or Counter Strike. The characters are incredibly balanced for how diffrent they are, and are set up into diffrent types.
You have Offensive
Scouts
Pyros
Soldiers
You have support
Snipers
Medics
Spys
And you have Defense
Heavy Weapon Guys
Demomen
Engineers
They all have very different abilities, and although you might have your favorite, you'll enjoy something about every character. It's red Vs. blue and the games can get very intense. Great graphics here too. Cartoony style meets slick animation to make one of the best looking games this year.
The box is definitely a steal so pick it up when you have the chance and you won't be disapointed.
~BillyD.