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Overall game package....Better than I'd hoped ... maybe even a 'Game of the Year' contender in this group

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 42 / 82
Date: October 15, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Some comments on the 3 new components of this 5 game package.

Episode 2...a worthy sequel to Episode 1...

In fact, qualities good enough (IMO) to think that it might have contended for single player, Game of the Year*, (however, its shorter overall length would probably preclude this honor.)

This game was all that I'd hoped for; it has some great battles, an extended car driving component, an interesting new weapon (towards the end), a compelling story line, a hint of humor and a touching, emotional ending.

In addition, it has smooth flowing graphics, well sync'd voice and lip movement and a few interesting puzzles. Also, the way the other characters (i.e. Alyx, Dr. Vance etc.) watch you and turn their bodies to adjust to your position (Freeman) is remarkable; very realistic.

My only small complaint would be that the first quarter of the game was a little drawn out and repetitious; however this is only a minor concern in an otherwise incredible PC game.

Easily 5 Stars...more if I could.

*****

Portal...quirky and different but fun!

A rather unique, single player puzzle game that involves going in and out of doors; doors you make with (what else), your portal gun. However, this task is not quite as easy as it sounds; to accomplish your goals you must use strategies of lateral thinking, timing and momentum to get through all 19 different levels. Of course the challenges become more complicated as you progress and to win the game (and escape), you must defeat the increasingly neurotic test-facility robotess in the finale. Great fun!

This spacial concepts took a little time to get use to, but once the basics were mastered this was an interesting and fun exercise in abstract thinking and puzzle solving. 4 ½ Stars.

*****

Team Fortress 2...non-stop action

An excellent addition to the original TF. The gameplay could best be described as multiplayer chaos, with everyone running around like mad trying to survive. It is, however, great fun. 5 Stars.

Conclusion:
Great value for the money; 1 new game, 2 new sequels, plus a couple of old games thrown in (games that, for anyone who likes this genre, has already played long ago). Overall package...5+ Stars.

*other nominees for single player 'Game of the Year' might be 'Bioshock' and "Call of Duty 4', with 'Timeshift' and 'STALKER-Chernobyl' close runner ups and 'Crysis' in a more distant grouping.

Nothing rhymes with Orange...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 19 / 26
Date: October 10, 2007
Author: Amazon User

They say nothing rhymes with Orange... but what about PWNage!? I guess that doesn't either. But it should! This game rocks!

Team Fortress 2 is worth the price of admission for this instant classic collection. The team play is deep and instant. You really find people pairing up as medic and heavy to mow down a field of scouts and engineer turrets. Or people switching classes to fill in a defensive gap. THe healer class is greta fun as is the support engineer. They game is very well balanced with each class able to counter another.

The voice acting is hilarious and the charater models are gorgeous. This game will be played years to come, as the graphics are so highly stylized they will age with grace. The depth of each player class and the differing play modes make for a truly engrossing experience. Mix in some achievements, point capturing, Steam's new robust online community, in-game VOIP and you have a stellar game experience worth $50 alone. But wait theres more!

The price is simply amazing. Easily the best deal in gaming available out there! Half Life 2 was great and episode 1 continued that excitement. Portal proves to be great and a fresh take on puzzles, this time in 3D. Episode 2 will be great as well.

I am happy i purchased this game and have been able to play Team Fortress 2 for the Steam beta period. I will not stop playing for a long long time! Great work Valve!

Hands down, the best video game package ever.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 13
Date: October 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Every game in this package is worth buying, playing, and playing again.
I was mostly impressed by Portal and Team Fortress 2. Both are innovative in their visual style and humor, and they both play like a dream. Portal is mind-bending, and while short, offers plenty replayability in it's bonus maps. Team Fortress 2 will keep you busy for days. There aren't a lot of maps to start with, but the multiplayer, class-based gameplay keeps things from getting old.
I can't really review Half-Life 2: Episode 2 here because I have not finished it yet. Though so far, the graphics are amazing and the pacing is spot-on.
The Orange Box is incredible, and for the price that most companies will make you pay for one game, Valve gives you 5.

Fantastic value for money.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 11
Date: October 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The Orange Box has to be the best value I have ever known in my 20+ years of playing video games on many formats. There are five games in the Orange Box all of which are brilliant in their own right. I already owned Half Life 2 and HL Episode 1 but I was still more than happy to pay the US dollar equivalent of £30 for the three games that I didn't own.

The five games that you get in this pack are:

1)Half Life 2 - Probably the best FPS ever
2)HL 2 episode 1 - A rather short expansion pack for HL 2
3)HL 2 episode 2 - The second expansion pack for HL2
4)Portal - A physics based puzzle game
5)Team Fortress 2 - An online multiplayer FPS

All three Half Life 2 games are graphically excellent with a really well told story and immersive gameplay.

In Portal you wake up in a lab and must solve increasing difficult puzzles to escape. What makes this game unique is it's use of the portal gun that enables you to open 2 portals at a time. When you go through one portal you emerge from the other. What makes it tricky is working out where and at what velocity you will emerge. For instance, if you jump from a ledge and enter a portal in the floor you might emerge from a portal in the side wall at the same fast speed. You must solve the puzzle for each level to get to the elevator. Anyway, it's tricky to describe but is indeed good fun.

My favourite though is definately Team Fortress 2. I just love this game. It's an online shooter involving two teams over six maps. You can choose from nine classes of combatant such as the engineer who can build turrets and teleport points to assist the team, the Heavy who carries a large chain gun, the spy who can camoflage himself as the opposing team, the soldier with his rocket launcher and five other distinct characters all with their own unique gameplay altering traits.

Overall the Orange Box has something for everyone and is worth every penny. I highly recommend it.

Overwhelmingly awesome!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 7
Date: October 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I am not a big gamer, but I loved TeamFortress back in its heyday and I was glad to see that the finally decided to release the long-awaited update, TeamFortress2. It is as addictive and enjoyable as its predecessor and has all the right features to keep me wanting to play hour after hour (even when I keep getting killed by spies!). It combines intense action with some nice tongue-in-cheek humor and excellent visuals.

What? There are other games in the box too? Bonus.

I started Portal and it is pretty cool, though I have heard from others that it is a little on the short side, but fun.

I have not even fired up Half-life 2 yet.

This game pack is a steal! You must buy it.

Great Deal, Great Games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 16
Date: October 23, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I can understand why people who already owned Half-Life 2 and Episode One are annoyed that they didn't get to take advantage of this outstanding deal. But Portal and Episode Two alone are well worth the price of the entire set. Easily the best video game purchase that I have made in the last 5 years.

Superb

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 29 / 61
Date: October 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Excellent price for 5 triple-A quality games. Lives up to the hype.

...and if you already own HL2 and episode1, Valve (through Steam) lets you transfer those licenses to a friend.

Better than Episode 1, Great story addition

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 9
Date: October 17, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Episode 2 picks up minutes after the end of Episode 1. Aside from a little deus ex machina with the train wreck (somehow you and Alex survive withotu a scratch), the story proceeds beautifully, with you having to descend into an Antlion colony and assault several well dug in Combine positions while trying to reach White Forest, Eli Vance, and the rest of the Resistance:

Visuals: Jaw-dropping sums it up nicely. The environmental have at minimum trebled in size, and the fine detail quality is undiminished. The views in the distance are gorgeous and disturbing for their realism. The views of the city and the atmospheric effects are dazzling, and the sheer size of the landscape you are able to interact with is also impressive.

Sound: I dial the music to 20-30%, as any louder and it starts to drown out sounds of actual fighting. A great score, with good fade-in and fade-out, without leaving you with combat music for five minutes after the last enemy dies.

Gameplay: Better AI, though still rather predictable. New tactics that you have to employ to defeat the groups sent against you. Grabbing a good piece of cover and blasting away, charging out to grab ammo and health doesn't fly anymore. The enemy uses better skills to dig you out if you try. Nice puzzles, if some are a little... odd (When you start hunting for equipment caches, you'll know what I mean. Hint: You'll have to ignore the voice in your head that says "Dropping a grenade and then standing atop it is generally considered bad practice." at one point.)

Story/Dialog: Prepare for flashbacks to Episode V of Star Wars. The vortigaunts make a major addition to the character cast, and their dialog is amusing and entertaining. Also, dialog is gaged on certain situations. Screw up a puzzle, and a vort or Alex will berate you for your recklessness, or compliment you for your intelligence and skill for great shooting, assisting them in combat, or solving a hard puzzle)

All that said, if your not a fan of TF2 or Portal, wait for just Episode 2. Or, if you half HF2 and EP1, you can always get this and "gift" those two licenses to other people. Steam has apparently learned at least a few lessons about enraging their fan base by forcing people to by more than one copy of a game. On a stretch though, given how extensive this episode is, I'd say its almost worth the retail price tag just for Ep 2.

DONT HATE

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 16
Date: October 12, 2007
Author: Amazon User

before you read this and give me a negative review, i just want you to understand that I PERSONALLY HAVE NO PROBLEM USING STEAM. so put down the finger and complain on someone elses post. with that said, i review the games and the games alone, because i feel they are works of art and pieces of artwork that should be appreciated. because apparently a lot of you dont need to play the game in order to rate it. for the majority of people that HAVE played it, it is very fun.

I bought the orange box the day it came out, and have been playing it ever since. for those of you who arent in the know (which i doubt is a lot of you by now), the orange box is (in my opinion) one of the greatest deals in gamer history. there are five games included. Half-Life 2, HL2 Episode 1 & 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2. i beat portal in a few hours and just finished episode 2... then went back and beat portal again. As a gamer and half-life fan, i had to own this. if youre new to the half-life universe this would be a great introduction, and MANY hours of fun. Start with HL2 and then work your way through the episodes. even the game portal will help drive the story, YES PORTAL HAS A STORY LINE.

HALF-LIFE 2 & EPISODE 1
these two games were released years ago, but as part of the promotion to get new customers familiar with the story line, they threw these in the the package as "gifts" that you can give to friends if you already own them. just a quick summary, HL2 has been said to be "The Best Game Ever Made" and was originally released in 2004. it not only has revolutionary game play (no, im not being paid to say that), and incredible audio, but it is a better quality game than many that have been released recently (which is pretty sad). The story and voice acting is top notch, and ive played through it several times. you can also see my review of episode one in my review section.

HL EPISODE 2
Honestly, this may be one of the most beautiful games ive ever played. and for you half-life fans, you know i mean that by "beautifully scary," as in, watching disastrous events has never looked this good. episode 2 takes you into the white forest, or should i say in search of it. over-looking city 17, you see the massive spaces that this game provides. its extremely cinematic, with many many memorable moments. from the advisors messing with your vision, to the portal explosions. it all looks fantastic. a nice little tweak they made to the suit was the flashlight. in the previous games the H.E.V. suit wasted aux power by using the flashlight, quickly draining all power when sprinting in the dark. but now the flashlight is a whole separate unit, which is nice. the puzzles are... what you would expect. fairly easy, however one did make me a little frustrated as it turned out being a scavenger hunt... dang elevator. the battles are epic, especially with the devastating "Hunters," and the acid spitting ant-lions (whom are surprisingly effective at long ranges). you also get your hands on a beefy new vehicle, which is just plain fun. however, the biggest let down was i never got to use the blue laser combine sniper rifle (you get so close too). theyre probably saving that for episode 3! this game took longer to beat than episode 1, with about 5-6 hours of game play. and ultimately, was much more fun and memorable. it answers questions, but also asks many new ones. and yes, it will leave you hanging... again.

PORTAL
this first person shooter puzzle game is quite the surprise. its fairly addictive, giving you the pleasure of wielding a gun that shoots portals. what more could you ask for?! in fact the only bullets that will be fired are from stationary sentry guns, much like the ones in half-life. the first few "levels" introduce you to the portal world and teach you the basic methods of solving problems (shoot portal A into wall, shoot portal B into wall, walk into portal A and come out of portal B). a robotic voice will be your only companion (other than the companion cube lol) in the game. she will congratulate you, make witty remarks, get angry and eventually confront you. Yes, not only is it a puzzle game, but it has a spooky story behind it. a story that relates to half-life, and im sure we will hear more about in half-life 2 episode 3.

TEAM FORTRESS 2
for the person that loves online FPS's, this is for you. team fortress is an online shooter that pits two teams against one another. the appeal of the game is the 9 classes. each class has its own strength as well as weakness. its up to you and the people you play with to focus on teamwork and capitalize off of each others abilities. the game looks wonderful, with a clean cartoony finish. but dont let that fool you, for blood and body parts ensue. its like watching a pixar movie directed by Quentin Tarantino.

Over all, this is a great deal, 5 complete games for the price of one new release. although some people do hate STEAM's service, it really has never bothered me. it will work really easily with a fast online connection. but yes, it is a bummer when you dont have access to the internet, because steam wont let you play any games (unless you change the settings to let you play without an online connection, which you need to do online), but many people seem to rate valve products by steam and not the game. dont judge a book by its cover, dont judge a book by its movie, and dont judge a game by its service provider.

SO GO AND PICK UP THE CROWBAR!

---UPDATE---

ive beat episode 2 several times now because i feel that i didnt truly appreciate how great it looks. the AI is better, the Hunters will flank you and earn their name. also watching the poison head crabs scurry for cover is a nice touch. also, portal gets easier and easier to beat, but its still a ton of fun. ive been showing it off to all of my friends, leaving their mouths open. and it does have some bonus maps if you cant get enough of the puzzles. theyre basically the same test maps but made more difficult. and ive been playing team fortress 2 more, and it really is astonishing. it looks like no other online fps on the market, and i really took notice to how nice the sound is. plus the animation is superb. it was frustrating at first, but after learning how to actually use every players "effects" its a lot more fun.

Despite Steam, a phenomenal game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 10
Date: October 11, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This package is worth it for Team Fortress 2 alone, but getting Half Life 2 and both it's episodes is a wicked sweet bonus! I have NEVER had more fun playing a FPS than with TF2. The Pixar style designs work perfectly, and help maximize the "fun factor". If you love team/role-based FPS, then this is the grandaddy of them all. :)

Buy it. 'Nuff said.

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