A Great Value (But where is the PC version?)

Before you ask, I tried to look for the PC version of the game to post my review under, but unfortunately, it is either not listed or I can't find it. Either way, I will post my review here for the time being and will move it over to the PC version when it is available.

A Great Value
Rarely do a game ever been called "a great value", but with Valve's "The Orange Box", that's what it is. It comes with 5 (count them - FIVE) full games in one box that cost as much as a single game! What do you get for $50 MSRP?


Why a Great Vaule? - The Games
First, you get all of the Half-Life 2 games up to Episode 2. This means Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode 1, and Half-Life 2: Episode 2. That's 3 games already, but admittingly only one (Episode 2) is new and being touted on the box.

Second, the out-of-the-blue Portal, which is a FPP... um... a First Person Puzzle game, based on... well... portals! It's one of those games that is better played than explained, but I will try my best in this review.

Lastly, the most anticipated (by many), Team Fortress 2, which is a online multiplayer-only game that pits a team with another controlling points and capturing the other team's intelligence.


The Review
This is a strange game to review, since it's basically 5 games. Not counting the previous Half-Life 2 games (and just focusing on the current one being touted by Valve), that whittle it down to 3. Still, I would have to cram 3-games into one review! Hmm... lets start...

Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (SPOILER WARNING)
This is a direct sequel to Half-Life 2: Episode 1, which is also a direct sequel to Half-Life 2. When I say direct, what I mean is that it continues exactly where the last game left off.

While HL2 left you off at the exploding Citidal top (and the G-Man appearance), Episode 1 shows that you survived with Alex, your new companion in the game. In EP1, the theme seems to have changed to have more character development, which is why Alex is there.

In EP2, when the Citidal finally explodes (in EP1, one of your goals were to delay the explosion), you find yourself trapped in the subway car you were riding away from the explosion in EP1. Alex finds you and rescues you using your Gravity Gun she found on the floor (must've gotten away from you during the whole ordeal!

Not trying to spoil it any more, there are lots of action in this game, while more of the same puzzle-solving, including playing with weights and elevators. Fighting a few of the bosses feels much more like a puzzle game than action, but you do feel that rush of "I gotta make it!" from an intense action game!

Now I rarely can play any of the HL games because of the way it feels (for some reason I get sick very fast), but in Episode 2, I was able to play it through after (BIG SPOILER) Alex's revival and about 30 minutes beyond that. Unlike most players, I have to take huge breaks in between game play, which prolongs my time with the game.

Even so, I was shocked that the game didn't end after that. I was under the impression that because it was episodic, it would be short, and I was expecting that. I guess compared to the original Half-Life or even Half-Life 2, Episode 2 is short. However, when compared to today's FPS such as Prey, Bioshock, and Call of Duty 4, it is normal for a game not to take more than 10 hours to finish.

I personally enjoyed myself. Since I was not able to play through all of the HL games, I had to "cheat" and watch YouTube videos of game play, ending, and read up on the story. I know, I know, but after watching a speed-run of both the full HL and HL2 games, I'm glad I did, because there is NO WAY I could finish those games on my own!

I only played EP2 because it was part of the package, and I wanted some experience with it so I can review it. I didn't expect to get sucked into the game!

Graphics
EP2's graphics didn't seem to change much from the first HL2 game, but that's not all a bad thing. While it does show some signs of age, there are a few improvements that keep it looking fresh. The facial expressions have been improved (as if HL2's facial expressions weren't already impressive), and done mostly because of the amount of time spent with Alex. HDR punched up the game's realism in outdoor scenes, and is very effective in conveying that you just came out of a dark hole.

The models seem to have improved some, but not noticable when you aren't really looking for details. The textures, however, seem to be of the same quality.

Overall, EP2 doesn't really stress older video cards as my friend's ATI 9800XT was still able to play it smoothly at 1024x768 with medium settings. My NVidia 7900GTX did not even blink at 1600x1200 with all settings maximized.

Sound
The sound to me is a mixed bag. Some of the weapons such as the pistol sound very weak, but other weapons have much more presence. The gravity gun actually sounds like it's sad and whining when it doesn't find anything to pick up!

The dialog is done very well, and makes it feel like you are part of an interactive movie. It is highly immersive, despite the fact that your character never speaks.

The music comes in and out in selected scenes or areas, which is very movie-like. Unlike the old FPS games of yore, background music isn't constantly played, nor is it completely quiet throughout all of the game. This does clue you into moments in the game where you need to pay extra attention, and does create a sense of urgency. The music playing seem to fit the situation that presents itself.

Portal
This is my favorite game out of the whole bunch. It's easy to get a hang of, and you don't need anyone to explain to you what to do, as it is all told to you in the game. Not only that, but it is a funny game to boot! This all makes for a great and fun experience.

My friend didn't say much to me about this game on purpose, as he knows the fun is in the surprises and twists. I will warn you not to read on too far if you haven't played the game yet.

You start out waking up in a futuristic room like a jail cell. As you are greeted by a somewhat friendly computer voice, you quickly feel as though you are a lab rat in someone else's hands.

In the beginning, it seems harmless enough - just a few tests to see how well you fair in understanding the use of portals. Then later, they make you understand the portal guns. Eventually, they warp your mind into thinking how to use these portals in the most interesting and unique ways to get yourself to your goal. This also explains the game mechanics to you, including the "fling" method which involves momentum and how to conserve or gain it using portals. The computer voice (her name is GLaDoS - nice name, eh?) makes a promise that if you get through the test, you will be rewarded with cake! Oh yay!

In every level, there is a elevator-like pod that constitute as the exit. It goes to the next level, and the difficulty of the puzzle rises from there. There are a few puzzles that have much simpler resolutions as I found which shocked my friend who originally played the game (as he did it the hard way).

As you get further along the game GLaDoS seem to make snark remarks and comments, which makes you wonder if she can be trusted. For example, she would make a "mistake" and transfer you to a level that was made for combat training! Robotic turret guns (with cute guns and personalities of their own, might I add) who seek you out and gun you down. I highly suggest turning on the subtitles to read everything said!

What seems like the end of the game, isn't. (SPOILER ALERT!) At the last level, you are on a platform heading for a huge flame. The platform is slow enough to make you think "this can't be right..." and plot your escape. You eventually find your way out of the test area and into the facilities behind the magic. This is when GLaDoS gets mad and really starts to hurl insults and try to put you down. Seems like she can't see you anymore, now that there aren't cameras in these areas! It starts to feel like a traditional FPS game, but involves more "I want to get over there - how do I do that?". There are clues of previous "survivors" of GLaDoS's experiments and they have written on the walls with clues on what to do (in lieu of GLaDoS's helpful hints). One of which has made the infamous Portal quotes: "THE CAKE IS A LIE!".

Eventually, you square with GLaDoS herself one-on-one. Well, she is a huge computer/robot thing so there are many parts to her. If you find a way to hit her, parts of her drop. The orbs she drops do say many funny things and seem to have their own personalities. One sound very rabid, one very confused and seem to want to befriend you, and one other spouting the perfect recipe for cake. :) It is hilarious!

The humor in the game makes for a fun game in times of frustration. If you ever find yourself stuck, save the game and come back to it when you are refreshed and you may have a better perspective of the game. Despite the potential to make me dizzy, I did not find myself getting sick of playing the game in extended amount of time unlike Half-Life 2.

Graphics
Graphics seem to be less taxing than the already relaxed requirements of EP2. Because you are in an indoor environment, and the textures are few (to make it less confusing to players as to where a portal can and can't be created), I find that it was a smoother game experience on my friend's older hardware. Needless to say, my hardware didn't flinch at all at 1600x1200 (my native LCD resolution). This is a great game to play on a laptop with a mainstream 3D chip. I was able to play without any hiccups on my laptop equipped with a nVidia 8600GT at 1440x900 with all the settings set at high.

The game isn't the most exciting looking graphically, but it does its job very well. It is one proof that game play can really trump graphics. Everything still looks great and modern, however, with the right settings. The white sterile environment looks very much so when everything is white and shiny. The portal guns have a polished look to it, and the rooms are well lit as if it was lit with fluorescent lighting. Once you get into the dark underbelly of the test facilities, the dark dingy look is very convincing with rusted surfaces and no-so-shiny pistons. Finding out what surface your portal gun works on requires more trial and error.

In all, the graphics isn't exactly bad or basic, but definitely felt like the Nintendo Wii or PS2 can recreate this game without much problem.

Sound
Most of the sounds are very basic. There really aren't many loud explosions or booms to note. In fact, the sounds mostly are light. From the sound of the portal guns, to the energy balls bouncing around. It fits the game well, actually, since this is no action game. However, once in the underbelly of the facilities, the sound of pistons moving and other machineries are very convincing.

Don't forget all that dialog GLaDoS spews! It is what makes most of the audio portion of the game! The way the voice actor for GLaDoS conveys certain statements make you either wonder or laugh out loud! The quality of the recording is top notch. No strange warbling or artifacts were noted. During the battle with GLaDoS, you'll be too caught up in the action of trying to complete your goal of destroying her (your goal, not hers!) to listen to all of her put downs and funny comments. This is why I say you really should turn on subtitles or at least play a 2nd time and slow down your pace and make listening to everything your primary goal instead of trying to destroy her. It seems like it is enough materials to keep from a repetitive loop from happening for a good long time!

Lastly the ending song in the credits is also hillarious!

Team Fortress 2
I'll admit, this is my least favorite of the bunch. I am so used to Battlefield 2142 that I can barely control my character smoothly and predictably in the game. I find myself not being really helpful in capturing the goals, and worse yet, die very quickly in the game! I do, however, found my favorite class - the Spy!

In this game, there are two teams - Red and Blue (classic!). There are different classes that do many unique things to help the team. They seem to be created in a way where they compliment each other and that one cannot really survive on their own, which really promotes team work more heavily than most other games.

Unlike the first TF, TF2 seem to have more personalty! What I should say is, each class seem to have their own personality. They all speak and taunt, and each have a unique voice. Also when you get killed (as I always do), the game zooms into the person that did you in so you know who to take revenge on. However, it is very hectic out there, and I can never really single one person out to get revenge, so it seems to be more for style.

I haven't tried out many of the other classes, but I did find that the one I seem to work best is the Spy. with the spy, you disguise yourself as the other team. You get to choose the class you want to disguise as, and just walk right in! It's fun to get healed by the other team's medic! When you are disguised, your team sees a funny little mask on you so that they know it's you. The other team just sees the class you disguised in and a cloned player's name. If they are smart and attentive enough to see two players with the same name, they will know something is up!

The reason why I love being a Spy is that I find that I die less. I am able to sneak in and if there is just one other person (the enemy), I can back-stab him (which also takes off your disguise) without them knowing, and put my disguise back on without any one seeing me! I last much longer this way, and don't get killed as often. However, because of this, I don't really get to help my team capture goals. But at least I frustrate the enemy enough to perhaps keep them off my team's back!

Other than that, this is the least played game in the bunch. I know there are hardcore TF players who would balk at that statement, but if you never really got into the TF game to begin with, I'm not quite sure you'll like it either. Not only that, but if you are someone who is sensitive to how FPS games feel, you'll understand what I am saying.

I just can't stand the way the game feel, is all. It actually makes me feels sick quicker than HL2.

Graphics
The graphics of TF2 is much more cartoony and gives it a "fun" vibe. I rather enjoy it, and with the added voices, the characters really pop! It seems to be the most heftiest graphics hog than the other two games in the bundle, but shouldn't be a surprise, since it involves multiple players on screen. My friend with his ATI 9800XT needed to lower his resolution to 800x600 to play well enough. Although I can still push it at 1600x1200 with my NVidia 7900GTX, the action is too fast-paced for me to keep up (me, not my computer). I end up turning the game off to look at something more stationary (like TV!).

The textures are bright and have a very uplifting feel to it. The big fat Demo and heavy guy actually looks like jolly characters that you want to take out for a few beers after stealing the other team's intelligence or capturing goal points. The levels look like a children's storybook come to life! All keep the game play light and pretty, but believe me, the fierce competition and ferociousness is still there!

Sound
The sound in this game is excellent! Every explosion, snipper fire, bullets - all can be heard crystal clear! All the funny taunts that spew from each of the classes (especially the heavy accents from the Demo and Heavy) immerse you in their world. Death cries and screams work very well in the game, too. The announcer seem to keep you updated of things that are happening to your team.

There is no music to speak of, but TF2 doesn't really need any.

Conclusion
While I am not a huge fan of TF2, I play it once in a while. I thoguht I was going to like this game, and most people actually bought the game for this title alone (my friend sure did). I thought I would join him in TF2, but found myself not being able to play due to motion sickness, but instead found Portal to be the game that sticks out for me in this bundle. Granted it's a short game, but it every moment is packed with real game play instead of having you do mindless running around. Half Life 2: Episode 2 is also another surprise. I didn't expect to be able to play through this game due to the previous one causing sickness. However, I found if I pace myself, I was able to do so, and the story telling is very compelling. There are parts of the story that flips you off or makes you cry. It's definitely pulling on the player's emotions. Not to mention some action sequence in the mix, and it's all very good! I have yet to finish it still, but I feel I am close to the end.

Here's the thing: I think The Orange Box is a great bundle for $50 because if you'll find something you'll like. While others applaud that EP2 is finally out, I feel like it was more of the same old HL2 games. Then there is Portal, which some may not care for, but I sure did. And then there are TF fans that are rabid over TF2. I sure wasn't. But I still felt it was a good purchase because I am able to play all three games (all of them I still play here and there and is worth the cash), but Portal was the biggest gaming surprise!

Trust me... you'll find something you'll like in this box!