Orange never looked so good
Orange Box is released to let us (the consumer) know that not all companies are just here to sap the life out of your wallet. This compilation consists of one of the greatest first person shooters ever to grace the pc, Half-Life 2. This port looks very close to its counter part and plays just as well. The loading screens match up much better than the Xbox port allowing for more smooth gameplay. The sights and sounds match up with those of the pc and thats exactly what we are looking for. Also included are the two new episodes which last about 3 hrs a piece and are a great addition to the story of Gordon Freeman.
Portal is a first person puzzle game designed around the same engine. In this you are given "trials" that are centered around you solving puzzles with the portal gun. This gun is able to emit portals that will allow to travel around the level and solve it. Watching you is a central computer that will make witty remarks and jokes as you progress to more difficult levels.
Team Fortress an online shooter filled with an in depth ranking system and a variety of character types. Many of the characters are balanced, but the shotgun is oddly used by a lot of characters. The games themselves are usually lag free and fast paced. The fact that you can't tell if you or your enemy is getting shot unless you look at your own health is bothersome. There also seems to be a very small player base considering it takes much longer to find a match than it would in Halo or COD 4
All in all this is a great package that any first person fan will enjoy. Containing excellent single player, mind opening puzzles, and solid multiplayer.