The Orange Box Review

By Kristan Reed Published 10 October, 2007

Bananas box, more like.

Version tested: PC

10th October finally saw the release of The Orange Box on Steam. What follows is a review of the product as a whole. For individual reviews of the component games, click on the following links.

Retail versions of The Orange Box are expected on 19th October for PC and Xbox 360. The PlayStation 3 version is currently undated, but expected soon. Anyway, read on!

Oh Valve, you're spoiling us. There are only two reasons why anyone with the kit or the means to pay for it would think of not buying The Orange Box. Number 1) You have some pathological aversion to first-person shooters, or, Number 2) You're a bit loopy in the head and like denying yourself the chance to play five of the best games ever released. Gaming masochism if you like. Go and play this if you want to know what real pain means.

Including the three constituent parts of Half-Life 2 in one box, then throwing in the incredible Portal and possibly the best team-based online FPS ever made in Team Fortress 2...it's easily the best value release anyone has ever come up with, and one so rammed with quality it's hard to comprehend. Even if you're one of the many people who have already played HL2 or Episode One, it represents such astonishing value that it ought to shock competing releases into shame.

If you're a 360 or PS3 owner who missed out on the delights of the 2004 original, then The Orange Box represents an amazing opportunity to get right up to date with one of the most beloved gaming series ever made. Three years might sound like a long time for us to still be raving about an old PC game, but Half-Life 2 wasn't any old PC game. Arguably one of the very first truly next generation titles, it still looks wonderful today, and, more importantly is a joy to go back to - even if you've played through it once or twice before.

Prog rock

'The Orange Box' Screenshot 1

HL2: Episode Two: Taken from the final chapter, it's truly one of the highlights of the series so far.

True, not every chapter in Half-Life 2 is undiluted genius. Some sections feel over-long, others just a lonely set of corridors. But such moments in the context of a large game are pretty rare, and you'll come away with nothing but love for a game with so much variety and changes of pace that you won't mind letting Valve indulge in the gaming equivalent of the ten minute drum solo now and then.

With the arrival of each new enemy, and each new weapon, the flow of the combat totally changes the gameplay dynamic to the point that it almost feels like six different games, stitched together by an engrossing narrative which drives you on. Just as crucial to keeping the player wide-eyed and engaged is the way Valve throws beautifully contrasting environments at you. As gaming tourism goes, this is a one-way trip every self-respecting - or self-harming, we don't mind - gamer should play at some point.

It also makes perfect sense for Valve to throw Episode One into The Orange Box. Not only because it'd be a glaring omission not to include it, but because it's simply too short to release as a standalone episode on consoles. Clocking in at around four to five hours, its tightly constrained levels were a fantastic showcase for Valve's new co-op AI tricks, but it feels a tad claustrophobic after the wide, open spaces that characterised several sections of its forebear. Revisionist criticism aside, it's still excellent while it lasts, and packs in a succession of memorable set-pieces that are well worth a second run-through over an evening. Episode One also provides a more satisfying conclusion to "The City 17 adventures" than the cliffhanger ending of HL2.ever did. Admittedly the weakest part of The Orange Box, playing the 30-hour Half-Life 2 story chronologically is an enormously satisfying experience - if rather demanding back-to-back.

Death by Half-Life

'The Orange Box' Screenshot 2

Portal: The little plaintive voices of the turrets are one of the highlights of an unexpectedly funny game.

But even if you've played through Half-Life 2 and Episode One to death, Valve's new Achievement system across all formats (but, realistically, most useful on the unified Gamerscore system employed by the 360) presents a surprising incentive to go back and play even the old stuff over again - but in a different way. For example, finding all 45 Lambda symbols in Half-Life 2 becomes a curiously important part of your quest, although with all five parts of The Orange Box sharing the 1000 gamerpoints, this isn't a game with which you can easily boost your total.

Free from the shackles of City 17 in Episode Two, it feels like a relief to be able to get back to nature - of sorts. More expansive than Episode One, and more tightly choreographed than Half-Life 2, it's the best of both worlds. Admittedly, the sense of familiarity can dull the game's appeal to a small extent, new enemies like the Acid Lions and the Hunters provide that all-important novelty factor. And as for the final, frantic chapter - well, it's worth the price of admission on its own.

On a personal level, probably my favourite part of the entire package is Portal. Building on the promise and startling originality of Narbacular Drop, it fleshes out the concept into something very special indeed. Rich with a surprising degree of warm humour, the way the game progresses from being a simple set of perfunctory tasks to a full-on part of the Half-Life story is absolute genius. Far from being the well-designed experiment that it initially appears to be, this is among the best games I've had the pleasure of playing this year.

You could reasonably argue that it's too short, but I'd argue that in the context of The Orange Box, this is spot-on for what amounts to a freebie. Tom 'ninja' Bramwell claims the 19 test chambers will only take three hours on first run-through, but I'd suggest more that it's closer to four hours if you struggle through the last few like I did. The addition of 'expert' versions ought to keep completists happy, and some of the Achievements add a superb challenge element to what is the most compelling 3D puzzle game I've ever come across.

Life sentence

And if all that's not enough then the inclusion of Team Fortress 2 should pretty much blow any residual cynicism away. If you're bored with the online shooter scene, then Valve's wonderful efforts should go a long way to restoring your faith. The best part of a decade in the making, it single-handedly addresses many of the issues that so many of us have had with games of this nature over the past few years. Chief of these is the way Valve's exaggerated cartoon stylings not only give the game a feel-good factor missing from so many of its super-serious (but drearily generic-looking) competitors, but, crucially, make it easy to see what the character class is even from a distance. With so much of your decision-making hinging on who you're facing and who you can team up with, it totally removes that sense of exasperation you might have had when playing other team-based offerings.

'The Orange Box' Screenshot 3

Team Fortress 2: Looking more like a wacky cartoon than a hardcore online FPS - that's the point.

Another crucial part of Team Fortress 2's appeal is how much fun it is to play - no matter which character class you decide to plump for. There's no sense of everyone choosing the same set of characters, as every single one seems to boast an exceptionally cool ability that people will inevitably want to experiment with. On top of that, once you start improving and sussing out each of the six maps, real team-work comes into play once the penny drops that certain characters (like the heavy weapons guy and the medic) work exceptionally well together. As deceptively simple as Team Fortress 2 appears to be on the surface, the formula has been honed and refined to perfection. The maps, in particular, warrant a special mention for being easy to memorise, but brilliantly balanced - but after nine year's, you'd damn well hope so...

One thing we haven't discussed so far is how the games fare on their transition to 360 and PS3. The latter we still cannot comment on (Valve couldn't even show it to us when we travelled to its office), but if the former is anything to go by then the answer is this: perfect. In terms of visuals, Valve has managed to get all elements of the package running in full 1080p, with full detail, and no hint of frame-rate loss.

Running on a big HD screen, the game has never looked better or felt more immersive - even more so if you're blessed with a decent 5.1 audio set-up. Load times (or reload times) are minimal, spooling data off the disk for ten seconds every five minutes or so, and reloading the game roughly as quickly after a death. Better still, the game has an excellent autosave system (which even remembers to retain the previous autosave, should the game accidentally autosave itself, say, just as one of you is about to die - as happened once) and there are none of the stutters or hitches that once were the bane of PC owners a few years back.

Pad of joy

'The Orange Box' Screenshot 4

The Orange Box: They fit all of this onto one DVD?

The only area some of you might get a bit sniffy about is how the game feels on a joypad. As someone who was forced to adapt to FPS control on a joypad after years of preferring mouse control, I can assure you that Valve has done a fantastic job. Not once does the game cop out by giving you auto-aim, but manages to make every game feel every bit as slick and smooth as it ever did on the PC.

Take Portal, for example. Later in the game when you're rotating in mid-air, diving headlong into the ground and shooting portals from up high, you desperately need a degree of instant precision that joypads don't offer - yet the game felt every bit as playable despite this. It's a case of what you're used to - and fortunately the arrival of the game on three formats caters for everyone's preferences in style, and for a price you can't complain about. A quick search prior to this review revealed that the PC boxed version is available for under GBP 25, and the 360 or PS3 version roughly GBP 10 more. PC owners should also be aware that they can give their CD-keys to friends if they already own Half-Life 2 or Half-Life 2: Episode One, too.

The Orange Box offers everything any fan of first-person shooters could possibly want: some of the best single-player gaming ever in the shape of Half-Life 2 and Episodes One and Two; wonderful innovation from Portal, and the most refined, downright fun team-based online FPS currently available in Team Fortress 2. If that doesn't warrant a 10 out of 10, nothing does. Buy it and enjoy one of the must-have releases of this - or any other - year.

10 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (247) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ecureuil #1 4 years ago

    /expected

  • Azazel #2 4 years ago

    mmm oranges

  • ram #3 4 years ago

    9+9+9 = 10!

    But I know what you mean

  • famous_roy #4 4 years ago

    Yep, expected is right. Insta-buy!

  • smirny #5 4 years ago

    Happy Valve Day!

  • Apologie #6 4 years ago

    excellent.. i'm buying it, only not sure about wich version, the ps3 or the x360.

  • kangarootoo #7 4 years ago

    Can't really argue with that.

    I always thought that this bundle represented ludicrously good value, which for me pushes it above the scores of the individual components.

  • Cloudane #8 4 years ago

    I'm sorry but this Orange Box could in theory last and provide anybody an entire year or so of pure and downright brilliant gaming entertainment.

    For £39.99, the Orange Box is the biggest and best bargain I have ever witnessed in my life - everybody who owns the formats to play it should automatically buy it.

    Fantastic stuff! A well deserved 10.

  • kangarootoo #9 4 years ago

    @Apologie

    Dizzy mentioned on another thread, the PS3 version is 1 month+ away :(

  • Beano #10 4 years ago

    I belive this 10 far more than the 10 which Halo 3 recieved ;)

    (ordered)

  • DanWhitehead #11 4 years ago

    WANT.

  • BiscuitBase #12 4 years ago

    SOLD

  • drumbaby #13 4 years ago

    "There are only two reasons why anyone with the kit or the means to pay for it would think of not buying The Orange Box. Number 1) You have some pathological aversion to first-person shooters, or, Number 2) You're a bit loopy in the head and like denying yourself the chance to play five of the best games ever released."

    Or how about 3) You correctly thought that HL2 was an overhyped, overly scripted, boring, linear, gimmicky A.I. deficient POS that wasn't fit to lick the sweat off the first HL's goo-sac.

    ?

  • Altrezia #14 4 years ago

    What about people like me?

    I dont like scary games. Really really want TF2, quite like the idea of Portal, but wont play HL (had HL2 and got too scared to finish it)

    :(

  • WiseNail #15 4 years ago

    You can pick the 360 version up for £35 on Amazon.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #16 4 years ago

    I worry that this will be used as a yardstick to judge the value of other releases. It's becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to produce what are considered 'proper' games, and not everyone has all of Valve's money to throw around.

    Maybe it really is too good to be true.

    Of course, I've already bought it off Steam, though, and early so I got the $5 discount :) I am teh hypocrite.

  • morriss #17 4 years ago

    Yeah. Sold.

  • Twincoil #18 4 years ago

    The rest of the gaming industry should hang their collective heads in shame..

    ..as should anyone else who disguises their crapness at FPS by claiming it's a tired, boring format.

  • monkie_king #19 4 years ago

    Anyone know whether PS3 version will be able to use USB mouse/keyboard? I played HL1 on PS2 that way.

    WOPR: you can choose any of the 5 individual titles from the title screen at any time, I hear. So yes.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #20 4 years ago

    You can certainly play episodes 1 and 2 seperately on the PC version.

  • afghan_jones #21 4 years ago

    aw, hell, I was hoping this might be a bit more shit so I can get on with Halo MP before the lovely lovely COD4 shows up, and now this fecking wonderful looking FPS MP jumps up, yells, 'Helloooo' and entices me into buying it. Too many top-notch FPS's to handle.

    After Bioshock, Halo, COd4 beta and now this, I have genuinely begun to circle-strafe round corners in real life.

    Allow me to indulge in some horrendous 360 fanboyism when I point and laugh mercilessly at all those PS3 owners playing ResistanceFOM. It's childish yes, but guiltily pleasurable at the same time. Ha!

  • useyourloaf #22 4 years ago

    And peggle extreme! For $45! Come on, no one had to wait for the reviews before buying this.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #23 4 years ago

    @Me:
    I worry that this will be used as a yardstick to judge the value of other releases

    @Twincoil
    The rest of the gaming industry should hang their collective heads in shame

    That's exactly what I'm talking about. Perhaps valve should hang their heads in shame for devaluing everybody else's work.

  • SomaticSense #24 4 years ago

    "Allow me to indulge in some horrendous 360 fanboyism when I point and laugh mercilessly at all those PS3 owners playing ResistanceFOM. It's childish yes, but guiltily pleasurable at the same time. Ha! "

    ........who will probably also be playing Orange Box and CoD4 instead. Your point?
    Edited by 2 at 10/10/07 @ 10:59

  • Breach #25 4 years ago

    I havn't played Half Life since the original about 10 years ago on PC.

    My thought then was that it was very good, but about half way through the game i got bored of it and started playing something else.

    So the chances of me playing through all these games before the turn of the decade is between slim and nil.

    I suppose it's excellent value if its all you want to play for the next couple of years.

    I'll pass on this one.

  • Nostromo13 #26 4 years ago

    10 out of 10?! are you crazy, team fortress sucks!

  • Beano #27 4 years ago

    Will the 360 version be out in Europe this friday or next ?

  • kangarootoo #28 4 years ago

    "That's exactly what I'm talking about. Perhaps valve should hang their heads in shame for devaluing everybody else's work."

    Yeah, that will teach them for impressing everyone. Thoughtless nobheads.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 11:01

  • afghan_jones #29 4 years ago

    @Somatic Sense.

    My point being that Orange box hasnt been dated for PS3 yet, 360 owners had several weeks of lovely lovely COD4 beta already, plus they aint getting Halo or Bioshock.

    So while Im sitting here having played 3 of those 4 games already, with a week to go to the 4th, they are left with nought but resistance to hang their hats upon.

    (also, I was being a childish little git and only half serious anyway)

  • SomaticSense #30 4 years ago

    "I suppose it's excellent value if its all you want to play for the next couple of years.

    I'll pass on this one.    "

    vufdnhkl;xlvbxnbk

    *bangs head on keyboard*

    Ok. Makes no sense mate.

  • krudster #31 4 years ago

    But what were they supposed to do? They couldn't selling HL2 separately on PS3 or 360 three years after the fact, and Ep1 was too bite-size to sell standalone. Also, if this had have had just Ep2, Portal and TF2, you'd have had people who hadn't ever played HL2, thinking they can't start now because they've missed the storyline. This solves all of those problems. It's a fairly unique situation.

  • penguin_overlord #32 4 years ago

    A well deserved ten. I've played, completed and enjoyed Half Life 2 (as well as Half Life before it) and that game alone is better than any Halo title (and I say that as someone who's a big fan of the Halo games).

    It's a shame I have to wait longer as a PS3 owner to get this but it wil be worth the wait. It's funny when people say there aren't many games out for the PS3. With this game alone, is it necessary to buy any other FPS this side of Xmas as the experience will last for months? It originally took me weeks to complete Half Life 2.

  • speedjack #33 4 years ago

    Three 10/10 games for 360 owners in less than a couple of months.

    Wonder if Mass Effect will make it 4 ?

  • Ace_McCloud #34 4 years ago

    Dammit! There's too many 'must have' games. I can't afford them but I muuuust haaave them!!

    ...and 10/10? No game deserves that ever in the history of the world ever. You are so stupid EG, a plague on all your houses!

  • SomaticSense #35 4 years ago

    "That's exactly what I'm talking about. Perhaps valve should hang their heads in shame for devaluing everybody else's work. "

    God forbid Valve doing something like this, because £40-50 games are in no way a rip-off at all.....

    *bangs head again*

  • kangarootoo #36 4 years ago

    @Breach

    I'm not sure dismissing this on the basis that you didn't take to the first one is ideal. The two games really aren't so similar.

    I'm not saying you are guaranteed to like it, but its probably worth giving it a shot rather cut of your nose etc. If you have a console, how about a rental?

  • Rusta #37 4 years ago

    COD4 pre-order cancelled, changed to The Orange Box

    /canceled one girlfriend, one is enough with all these 360 games out
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 11:07

  • Ace_McCloud #38 4 years ago

    "...and that game alone is better than any Halo title (and I say that as someone who's a big fan of the Halo games).

    It's a shame I have to wait longer as a PS3 owner to get this but it wil be worth the wait..."

    A 'big' fan? Surely if you were that big a fan you would've plumped for the cheaper console with the bigger collection of games and the game of which you are a big fan...

    Facetious I know. But I can't help it. I smell a rat.

  • penguin_overlord #39 4 years ago

    Hey, I just realised something. If we include the PS3 version as part of this review it's the first PS3 game to get 10/10.

  • Xerx3s #40 4 years ago

    Not too interested in HL2 and Eps 1 as I thought it was a bit meh (7/10 at best) but TF2 and the other stuff might just sell it to me. The orange box is consoles only right?

  • Madafunkola #41 4 years ago

    I just had a thought which may just save my life... and some others who are complaining about "TOO MANY GOOD GAMEZ AT SAME TIME!!!"
    Buy one 10/10 game this month, another next month... and on and on. Will see you through the Feb-Apr drought.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #42 4 years ago

    But what were they supposed to do?

    Yes, I understand, but it still makes me feel uncomfortable, because I know the games development company i worked for (or any in the UK, save perhaps Rockstar North) has no hope of being able to produce a single current-gen title with that much content in it.

  • Beano #43 4 years ago

    "Hey, I just realised something. If we include the PS3 version as part of this review it's the first PS3 game to get 10/10."

    Depends how the PS3 ports turns out and when it will arrive.

  • ccfb #44 4 years ago

    Reads like a love letter to Valve. We get it now. You like them, but it's a kind of bittersweet love/adoration that is not felt both ways...

  • afghan_jones #45 4 years ago

    @madfunkola

    Yeah but its always nicer getting in on the ground floor so to speak. And there is always the issue of eveyrone on your friends list playing MP or co-op when a game comes out and then that tailing off a few months later.

  • UncleLou #46 4 years ago

    Not too interested in HL2 and Eps 1 as I thought it was a bit meh (7/10 at best) but TF2 and the other stuff might just sell it to me. The orange box is consoles only right?

    No. Available on Steam from today on, and if you had pre-ordered, you would have saved 5US$ and been playing TF2 for a few weeks. :)

    And yes, you need to buy HL2 and EP1 again (as they are included, whether you want them or not), and no, it's still not a ripoff (before the usual whining suspects appear again).

  • Madafunkola #47 4 years ago

    @ afgan_jones
    I totally agree - I really only said it to try and convince myself. I'm having trouble holding on to my credit card, especially as i walk past a game shop every day, it would be SOOOO easy to "accidentally" pre-order all the AAA games due in the next few months. I'm one of the suckers who bought a PS3 on release day too. :o

  • BM #48 4 years ago

    I'm all over this, cannot bloomin' wait

  • Azazel #49 4 years ago

    :o

  • kangarootoo #50 4 years ago

    @Mentalist(air)

    "has no hope of being able to produce a single current-gen title with that much content in it."

    Nothing wrong with that though. Smaller studios just have to be a bit more niche, and spend less on development so the risk is balanced. Not being number 1 is just part and parcel of working in any industry. You don't have to be one of the bafta winners in order to be successful and enjoy your job.

  • jaydeluxe #51 4 years ago

    Surely first game(s) to ever get 27 out of 10!

  • Wash #52 4 years ago

    @Egster

    360 release schedule disagrees, past and upcoming.

  • Madafunkola #53 4 years ago

    @jaydeluxe

    27 out of 30... :p

  • Ace_McCloud #54 4 years ago

    "@ afghan_jones : you must like FPS games or else you'll be playing nothing these past and upcoming months. Yeah great console the xbox 360."

    I'll field that one: /initiate sarcasm. Yeah you're right, there's nothing else to play on 360, it's a rubbish console, Mass Effect looks crap too. What have I done!!??

    /Sarcasm off. Dick.

  • UncleLou #55 4 years ago

    Can console fanboys just for once shut up?
    Thank you.

  • keyboardmonkey #56 4 years ago

    I maybe missing something here, but do they all come on one disc ?
    It's impressive if so seeing as a few people have commented about the lack of storage on the DVD format for the x360.

  • HankScorpio #57 4 years ago

    Aaaaarrggghh so excited about this. Never got to play HL2, so can't wait to see what the fuss is all about!

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #58 4 years ago

    I suppose it's too much to even ask if the controls are properly configurable, ie feature a "legacy" option?

  • TonyCocaCola #59 4 years ago

    I probably wont play the games, i just wanna play with the big box it comes in. It does come in a box right?

  • symmetry #60 4 years ago

    Yes and I believe it's blue or something.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #61 4 years ago

    I probably wont play the games, i just wanna play with the big box it comes in. It does come in a box right?


    No, It just features a minigame Fight Night clone with bowler-hatted men from Northern Ireland slugging it out on July 12th.

  • Lov3 #62 4 years ago

    Nice, a well deserved 10 for once, i'm sure most people will agree.

    One very minor quibble though - no CSS for console owners? (doesn't affect me, just wondering why not)

  • Ace_McCloud #63 4 years ago

    How big is this "orange box" going to be? Can I order it online with out worry of it not fitting through the post box?

  • afghan_jones #64 4 years ago

    "@ afghan_jones : you must like FPS games or else you'll be playing nothing these past and upcoming months. Yeah great console the xbox 360."

    I'll field that one: /initiate sarcasm. Yeah you're right, there's nothing else to play on 360, it's a rubbish console, Mass Effect looks crap too. What have I done!!?? "


    Also, skate, Assassains Creed, PGR4 all very busy not being FPS's in the least.

    Oh, and yes, I do like FPS's, and I think its clear from recent review scores that 360 FPS's are actually really fucking good.

    Good old Fanboyism. Every now and then its really satisfying to just argue like a complete wally. (Especially when your chosen console is clearly 'teh win' at the minute. ROFL on that, bitches!)

  • The-Bodybuilder #65 4 years ago

    Me buy, me buy.

    Don't care much for TF, as I'm not a fan of class playing (halo 3 will supply my multiplayer needs.).

    Still wished this had co-op, but 30hrs of singleplayer will do me nicely.

  • Steroyd #66 4 years ago

    awe nuts I bought an Xbox for this... but it got delayed to the point that I sold my xbox before it released, was happy to find out it was coming to PS3 but now I have next to no money.

    EG you make my life hard... very very hard. :(

  • SomaticSense #67 4 years ago

    Seeing as how EG always say that XBLA scores should be taken as relative to the price of full games. Does this mean that, as 5 games for the same price of one, each one scoring 10/9/9/9/9, then the score should realistically be taken as effectively 41, and not actually a 10?

    Best gaming bargain ever.

  • DrDamn #68 4 years ago

    So where are all the people bleating about how no game deserves a 10/10? Could it be that this is also coming out on your console of choice and therefore maybe it's one of those "exceptions"? :)

    Ludicrous value. Might well save it for a rainy release day though, depends on number of friends playing TF2 I guess. Lots of other online stuff taking up my gaming time currently.

  • The_Inquisitor #69 4 years ago

    For someone (like me) who hasn't played Half Life 2 before, it's gonna be great.

  • zuljin #70 4 years ago

    @SomaticSense
    "God forbid Valve doing something like this, because £40-50 games are in no way a rip-off at all....."

    On a similar note:

    [link url=http://www.play.com/Games/PC/4-/3321114/Su preme-Commander/Product.html
    ]http://ww w.play.com/Games/PC/4-/3321114/...[/link]

    Awesome game, £13. Sh*t hot work pc, £0.

  • monkie_king #71 4 years ago

    @Egster: "what a surprise, the sun is shining. oh, great, it's a lovely day outside. i expect people will be going out and enjoying themselves. typical."

    give it a rest.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 11:50

  • SomaticSense #72 4 years ago

    "you must like FPS games or else you'll be playing nothing these past and upcoming months. Yeah great console the xbox 360."

    Yeah, and the Mega Drive and SNES were crap consoles as well, what with all the platform games on there.....

    /sarcasm off

  • SomaticSense #73 4 years ago

    Wow! Is that the Matt Damon?

    Or are you his stalker?

    Hmmm :\

  • mazzl #74 4 years ago

    bioshock, skate, halo3, orangebox, pgr4

    all realy nice releasses. i do agree with the drewling mob here that the price is right
    :)

    now i only need time to play games.....

  • Pirotic #75 4 years ago

    Heh, this must be the first 10/10 everybody simply has to agree on. Good to see an orange box review as well as the seperate games.

  • projectmayhem #76 4 years ago

    at least this 10/10 is deserved. *nod to halo3 review*

  • Xerx3s #77 4 years ago

    No. Available on Steam from today on, and if you had pre-ordered, you would have saved 5US$ and been playing TF2 for a few weeks. :)

    And yes, you need to buy HL2 and EP1 again (as they are included, whether you want them or not), and no, it's still not a ripoff (before the usual whining suspects appear again).

    Yeah, saw it on steam. Not interested in DD though. Not for that kind of money anyway.

  • skillian #78 4 years ago

    In terms of visuals, Valve has managed to get all elements of the package running in full 1080p, with full detail, and no hint of frame-rate loss.

    All games in the package are 1080p?! That's one hell of an achievement if the textures, effects etc. really do look as good as their PC counterparts.

  • LeD #79 4 years ago

    Another slap in the terminally delayed PS3's face. Getting the game a month after everybody else, muchos ouches! Aie aie aie!

  • SomaticSense #80 4 years ago

    "OMFG read like a 9.9999 recurring rather than a 10/10!

    RUBBESH!     "

    Yeah, I agree, the score system is properly fucked. Definitely read more like a 9.9999 recurring.

    Sort it EG.

  • magicpanda #81 4 years ago

    The cake is a lie

  • Carrybagma #82 4 years ago

    Best retail gaming package of all time? What astonishing value.

    I'm gob-smacked by it apparently being in 1080p too. Can someone confirm this?

    I've got the 1080p and the surround - I just need a copy of this an a 360 to be deliriously happy. I've put off playing HL2 for years, waiting until I got a decent PC sorted out in order to enjoy it at it's best - this package makes it worth the wait. My crap PC lives to cough another day.

  • monkie_king #83 4 years ago

    I'd be more put off the PS3 version by the horrible floppy weightless analogue sticks. Hopefully it'll support USB mouse/keys.

    I think it's about time MS relented a bit and let 360 have mouse support too. They kept it off the original Xbox to prevent the "LOL! it's just a PC in a box!" image, and a slew of half-arsed PC ports. Think that danger has passed now.

    That said, the left-hand of an FPS is better on a controller. WASD doesn't really do it for me, and triggers and d-pads beat remembering 14 keybindings. Maybe I need one of those nerd mice with about 32 buttons.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 12:21

  • JayeM #84 4 years ago

    I have no money! :'(

  • Darren #85 4 years ago

    @Penguin_Overlord - You're forgetting that the 10/10 Oblivion was also released on the PS3 so technically that was its first top-scoring game. ;)

  • monkie_king #86 4 years ago

    Does anyone else keep reading "RFOM" as "ROFL"?

  • zuljin #87 4 years ago

    @headbog
    "Besides, FPSs are what sell consoles these days. The are the platform games of modern times. Immersive."

    *cough*fifatopofchartsagain*cough*

  • Vin #88 4 years ago

    Mint. The old Xbox version still rocks major nutsack, so i'm totally sold on this.

  • Darren #89 4 years ago

    Oh god I hate to say this I really do... but screenshots I've seen from the 360 version of Half-Life 2 look a little... ummm... jaggy like it doesn't use AA - check out the screenshots in the reviews - so hearing that the game runs at 1080p seems to explain why, i.e. AA has been dropped in favour of a higher rendering resolution. I'm glad my HDTV has 1080p support if this is true, hopefully it'll look fine when downscaled to 1360x768.

  • Dizzy #90 4 years ago

    As expected.

    10 number 3 on the 360? Unprecedented?

    Will be getting this on 360 AND PC ;) Yea I am crazy but I would like to play against my PC buddies and my 360 friends.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 12:31

  • zuljin #91 4 years ago

    @headbog
    Define "sell consoles". If by that you mean people buy consoles for fps, then I know plenty of people that bought a console just for Fifa.

    And sorry, but I honestly don't think Metroid would even come close to a bestseller on Wii. I don't mean that in a negative way, just that theres plenty of other games I usually hear mentioned way before MP.

  • SomaticSense #92 4 years ago

    Am I the only person who couldn't give a fuck about jaggies?

    I mean I see them, but I really couldn't care less.

  • Wayne #93 4 years ago

    Question: is there any combat in Portal? Or is it 100% puzzle game?

  • Kiigan #94 4 years ago

    Now everyone go buy it, and stop buying Fifa and Juiced and junk like that.

  • kangarootoo #95 4 years ago

    "I'd be more put off the PS3 version by the horrible floppy weightless analogue sticks. Hopefully it'll support USB mouse/keys."

    Ooh, thats a good point. That would make a difference to my choice. I would expect it to have been mentioned by now if so though.


    "Am I the only person who couldn't give a fuck about jaggies?
    I mean I see them, but I really couldn't care less."

    Me too. I don't even notice unless I look for them. I've been playing games since 320x240 was acceptible for a 3D game, and I still had fun back then.

  • TonyCocaCola #96 4 years ago

    I still play those games and have fun... Maybe i should think about upgrading my pc...

  • Bulbatron #97 4 years ago

    Can't wait to play this, but which game to play first...?

  • Bulbatron #98 4 years ago

    Actually, I do have one question. Will you be able to save at any time you like on Half-Life 2, or is it checkpoints only?

  • monkie_king #99 4 years ago

    Wayne, it's basically pure puzzle game. You only have the Portal Gun. Look at the full review for some more, slightly-spoilerific, detail, though.

  • penguin_overlord #100 4 years ago

    @Darren- I forgot about Oblivion. You're right. And the PS3 version was the best.

  • foamy #101 4 years ago

    IT SHOULD HAVE 5k GAMERPOINTS :((((((((((((

    Anyway, Valve = love.

    Come to daddy.

  • andromeda #102 4 years ago

    @SomaticSense

    What u said mate. Couldn't agree more

    never given a rats arse about jaggies, in fact i find full antilaliasing can look a bit too clean and weird. Thats just me though i guess. heh

  • monkie_king #103 4 years ago

    slightly poor eyesight == nature's 4xAA

  • penguin_overlord #104 4 years ago

    What makes me laugh is that after all the hype over Halo 3, Half Life is undeniably a better game. If we were talking about movies, Halo 3 would be Transformers (all big bang action, limited characterisation) and Half Life would be the Bourne Ultimatum (crafted action sequences, characterisation).

  • monkie_king #105 4 years ago

    oh penguin, it's ok that you bought a PS3 you know.

  • neuroniky #106 4 years ago

    "The 360 is better than PS3 just now because of Gears, Bioshock, Halo 3, a lower price tag, earlier release dates, a company that isn't changing it's strategy every day.
    Other than that there's not much in it. "

    Pgr4, Forza 2, possibly Mass Effect and, well, Xbox Live.

  • Fab4 #107 4 years ago

    How many achievement points will The Orange Box allow you to get? Not that i'm an achievement junkie or anything (4000 in nearly 2 years 360 gaming ;)..just curious if its classed as 3 (or is it 5) separate games or not.

  • penguin_overlord #108 4 years ago

    @monkie_king - look, I'm a big fan of Halo 1 and Halo 2 and originally bought an Xbox at launch just to play Halo. I know that Halo 3 is a great game (sometimes big dumb blockbusters are fun) but it simply doesn't have the depth of Half Life. Having played Half Life 1 and 2 already I testify to that.

  • Apologie #109 4 years ago

    I have both consoles (Ps3 and X360) and really want these game, but, on the other hand, i don't know yet wich version will be better so, what do you guy's think??? is it worth the waiting for the ps3 version to be released??? (till now, very few multiplatfoirm games were better for the ps3) anyway.

  • penguin_overlord #110 4 years ago

    @Apologie - I'm going to go out on a limb here and say the PS3 version will be the best. Valve won't release a sub-standard conversion (they know better than that) and I've read several reviews that say the 360 version does suffer from slow-down at times. The PS3 outmatches the 360 on performance (more games will demonstrate that in the next year).

  • monkie_king #111 4 years ago

    penguin, fair enough.

    you are comparing Halo3 to "Half Life" though. Do you mean Ep2? Well, that's not better than the whole of H3 in its own right, is it?

    Orange Box might be, I grant you, but that doesn't diminish Halo3's 10 score for the whole package, Live and all.

    I'd also contend your point about depth. Having played HL 1&2, and Halo 1&2, I always enjoyed the HL games, but didn't get much replay value out of them once finished. They're actually far more set-piece driven than Halo, which is a more organic experience. HL feels far more on-rails.

    I don't really see why dialogue and a character-driven story matter to games. Take that to its logical confusion and you get MGS. Besides, how much character does Freeman have vs . the Chief?
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 13:28

  • Pulsar_t #112 4 years ago

    Perhaps Valve should try something new.. Has the wait been worth it? For me, a resounding No suffices.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #113 4 years ago

    @penguin_overlord

    This would be the PS3 that Valve were criticising for being awkward to write for?

    Unless you want to play it with a keyboard and mouse (and if the PS3 version actually supports that, which it might not), then I'd say it's very likely the 360 version will be the technically superior console version of the Orange Box.

  • Azazel #114 4 years ago

    penguin: it seriously is ok. I think it's a nice console too. See? You're not alone. So very alone.

  • bdc #115 4 years ago

    Penguin, the PS3 version is a port of the 360 version being done by EA. It's almost guaranteed that it will be the inferior version - the Xbox 360 version has been done from the ground up with the extra graphical and engine implementions added specifically to cater to the 360's hardware. EA's job is to try and port such proficiencies over, and let me tell you this, it certainly won't be a 100% fit. Why don't you take a look at ooooh, say.... every single multiplatform release to date? Except DiRT, but that's to be expected anyway, hideously staggered release and all. You're living in cuckoo-land mate.

  • DrDamn #116 4 years ago

    @Fab4
    1000 for the lot - it's mentioned in the review. ;)

  • penguin_overlord #117 4 years ago

    @Mentalist(air) - I don't think that Valve are actually writing the PS3 version themselves, they're just publishing it.

    It's entirely possible the PS3 version will be the best. DiRT is best on the PS3 and, from what I've read, so is the new Burnout game.


    @monkie_king

    The replay value of the Halo games comes from multi-player more than the single player experience. The difference between HL and Halo games are that the HL games are bigger single player experiences. The original Half Life is an absolute classic. It totally blew away every other FPS game when it launched.

  • Apologie #118 4 years ago

    penguin_overlord

    you might be right..., altough multiplatform games "till now" have been better for the X360, i do believe that these one in particular will be superior for the ps3. (given the extra time to prepare and polish everything).

    Plus, multiplayer is for free on the Ps3, and that is a big (enormous) advantage.

    Well, guess i'll just have to wait for another month.

  • Trane #119 4 years ago

    Ugh all this talk of consoles, you lot should just be grateful you get to play a legendary PC franchise at all! ;)

    I was sold before the review, but this is just the confirmation of greatness I wanted to see.

  • Madafunkola #120 4 years ago

    @Apologie
    I'm in the same boat with the X360/PS3 choice, bbuuuutttt - I'm going to lump for the Xbox version as I have more mates on that to play TF2 and i'm a gamerscorewhore.
    The only comparison of games i've done for myself on the 2 is the skate. demo and the PS3 version had some shocking framerate issues.
    IMHO!!! - before i get sniped by the PS3 fanbase.

  • Fab4 #121 4 years ago

    Cheers DrDamn...i hardly ever read the reviews, just the scores ;)

  • Runtime #122 4 years ago

    @Apologie

    It also depends on how long your willing to wait. The PS3 version has not got a solid release date yet.

    Also which controls do you prefer for FPS's 360 or PS3?

  • penguin_overlord #123 4 years ago

    Actually the free muliplayer is an important point for people now considering whether to buy a PS3. If you remove the £30 charge for online gaming, the 40GB PS3 is only £20 more than a 360 Premium AND you get a bigger hard drive, Blu Ray and WiFi.

    I can't wait for the next 12 months when the PS3 consistently sells more than the 360.

  • TonyCocaCola #124 4 years ago

    Oh dear...

    *Starts thumbing through 360 games deciding what to play next... decisions decisions... ;)
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 13:41

  • Nallen #125 4 years ago

    "PC owners should also be aware that they can give their CD-keys to friends if they already own Half-Life 2 or Half-Life 2: Episode One, too."

    Can anyone confirm it's possible to do this with the Steam version?

  • Azazel #126 4 years ago

    Ugh all this talk of consoles, you lot should just be grateful you get to play a legendary PC franchise at all! ;)

    /nods in agreement

  • monkie_king #127 4 years ago

    pengiun, hmm, depends what you want. I prefer the depth of combat in the Halo games. Lost count of the times I've replayed Silent Cartographer.

    Half-Life feels more like being led along by the nose. The original was great in 1998, some great set pieces (having the soldiers perforate that air duct you're hiding in with M16 fire was my highlight), but large sections toward the end suck utter balls.

    The second one had some bad patches too, the endless boat section, the ant-lion dunes, the contrived "ooh look our physics engine" puzzles.

    Ultimately, they're both excellent, but quite different experiences, and your preference comes down to personal taste. It's like arguing that Pulp Fiction is better than Goodfellas.

  • belziah #128 4 years ago

    @bdc

    Its not a port but, unfortunately it is being done by EA which scares the living shit out of me. I've heard the tide is turning but they are consistently the worst PS3 programmers about.

    I'm hoping(praying and offering animal sacrifices - well a Nando's quarter chicken extra hot, at least) that because they're only working on the PS3 version, that they're taking the time to actually familiarise themselves with the hardware, rather than dump whatever 360 code they can onto the system.

    I've got my fingers and toes crossed and am thinking happy thoughts, so they may not totally fuck it up.

  • Azazel #129 4 years ago

    @nallen: yup

  • Trane #130 4 years ago

    @penguin_overlord

    Newsflash: No-one gives a shit about blu-ray.

    Also why would it mean so much to you personally that the PS3 outsells the 360 over the next 12 months? Get a girlfriend or something.

  • DrDamn #131 4 years ago

    @Penguin_Overlord
    "Halo 3 would be Transformers (all big bang action, limited characterisation) and Half Life would be the Bourne Ultimatum (crafted action sequences, characterisation)."

    There are those who quite understandably prefer the all out action of Transformers to the "moving the camera fast = crafted action sequences" of the Bourne Ultimatum though. These are both action games. The depth and complexity in Halo is in the action itself and not the story or characterisation.

    I'm not saying one is better than the other, I'm just saying you cannot state "Half Life is undeniably a better game.". They are both games of exceptional quality and which people prefer is down to personal taste.

  • Apologie #132 4 years ago

    Madafunkola

    Speaking about multiplatform, Oblivion, Fight Night 3, Dirt, (not sure about FIFa08) are better for the Ps3... everything else is preferable for the X360.

    My point here is the ability to play multiplayer for free and the extra time they have to develop for the Ps3... (i just hope they don't mess things up, i remeber the FeaR version for the Ps3 and it sucked) hard choice.

    (i do prefer the controls of the X360 for shooters) but that multiplayer issue, if only i knew that the game would be just as good or better.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 13:45

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #133 4 years ago

    I believe that Sony themselves (Kaz or Ken, I think) said that Xbox to PS3 ports would be inferior on their platform. They countered that they believed soon people would be developing PS3 to Xbox ports, which would be better on PS3. Dirt and Burnout are examples of PS3 lead projects (although Burnout isn't out yet, so we can't judge that), and that would suggest what he says is true.

    The Orange Box started life on PC, was converted to Xbox 360, and from there to PS3. Using Sony's own rules, that would indicate the PS3 version will be poorer.

  • dryden555 #134 4 years ago

    on the other hand, if you've already played HL2 and you dont care about multiplayer, this is not worth buying even at that price.

  • Orange #135 4 years ago

    As good as it is, don't think I'll bother. Wasn't keen on HL2 and although I like the sound of Team Fortress 2 but I prefer my online FPS games to be gritty.

    Portal seems to be more concept than actual game.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #136 4 years ago

    I'd say that Episode 2 and Portal appear to be worth my 27 quid.

  • monkie_king #137 4 years ago

    @squarejawhero: 'cos someone brought up Halo3's score again ...

    It seems to a be a sore point.

  • Azazel #138 4 years ago

    @dryden555:

    The only multiplayer element being TF2? The other 3 parts aren't worth £25 quid if you've played HL2? What?

  • Apologie #139 4 years ago

    I know Halo fans will be very veeeeeeerry angry, but Half Life 2, just by itself is a better game ... graphics wise, physics and originality..., to me, it's just a better game. (and let's not forget the fact that HL2 is 3 years old)

  • Runtime #140 4 years ago

    @Mentalist

    Was Dirt really a PS3 lead project?

    It seems somewhat confusing as it was released a couple of months earlier on the 360.

  • monkie_king #141 4 years ago

    To be fair, there's probably an interesting conversation to be had about the relative merits of the Halo and Half-Life brands of single-player FPS gameplay. Not here though. Especially not if it's going to descend into console-war cockmonglery.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #142 4 years ago

    Re: Dirt

    I read in Develop that PS3 was the lead platform for Codemasters' new racing game engine.

    here we go:

    http://ww w.developmag.com/news/24597/Spe...

  • Runtime #143 4 years ago

    @Mentalist

    Cheers for that. I am interested in seeing what else Codemasters use that engine for.

  • Madafunkola #144 4 years ago

    It's been a long time since someone mentioned the Wii... Do you reckon we should throw that into the ring too??
    Could a version of Portal work on the little white thing?

    /puts fingers in ears and hides behind rock
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 14:08

  • monkie_king #145 4 years ago

    @Madafunkola: i like the way you think. Portal's pretty abstract so you don't need super-realistic gfx, the wiimote would be a nice interface.

    Maybe a title for "Wii Software" rather than a retail release?

  • Darren #146 4 years ago

    Well the PS3 version of the Orange Box was never an option for me because of the lack of rumble and I think console FPSs play better on the 360's controller, thanks to its superior analogue sticks, their placement and those comfy triggers. I hope for the sake of PS3-only owners that the Orange Box turns out to be every bit as good as the 360 version but the fact that EA are doing the port doesn't fill me with confidence, as everyone of their PS3 multiformat games has been inferior in some way to the 360 versions.

  • miiiguel #147 4 years ago

    @ Egster: "you must like FPS games or else you'll be playing nothing these past and upcoming months. Yeah great console the xbox 360. "

    LOL! This is cyclic..., every time a game gets a good score we have this kinda speech. When it was PGR3 and 4, "yeah, yeah... good game, but 360 is but driving games", then Dead Rising "ok..., but this is only for the hardcore crowd"; NBAs; NHLs; PES; FIFA's "yeah..., ok fairly good, but this is a sports box"; XBLA's like Castelvania, Sonics, etc: "yeah... they're ok..., but is this a retro machine" ?

    Thank god we have PS3 that has all the good stuff...
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 14:38

  • tmatharu #148 4 years ago

    Right....Sold.....getting it!

    Loving it!

  • Twincoil #149 4 years ago

    "Perhaps valve should hang their heads in shame for devaluing everybody else's work"

    Someone. Shoot. This. Fool.

  • testpattern #150 4 years ago

    rabble rabble 10/10? rabble rabble half life 2 bit the big one rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble i like pie rabble rabble rabble rabble no game should get a 10 rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble 360 is gay rabble rabble rabble rabble ps3 is gayer rabble rabble rabble eg is gayest rabble rabble rabble rabble
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 15:00

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #151 4 years ago

    Someone. Shoot. This. Fool.

    For goodness sake, I was playing devil's advocate, and using the previous poster's expression for emphasis.

    I am certainly glad to be able to buy a great value package, but I think it's wrong that people should expect this sort of thing as the norm. Developers are under enough pressure from ever-increasing expectations as it is.

  • Kenshin001 #152 4 years ago

    "@squarejawhero: 'cos someone brought up Halo3's score again ..."

    Actually I think it began with afghan-jones self admitted 360 fanboy comment about Resistance players on page one.

    Anyway, as a PS3 owner I'm looking forward to playing this, though with Haze, COD4, Time Crisis 4 and possibly UT3 there is going to be a glut of shooters.

  • Lemming81 #153 4 years ago

    Why are the console fanboys arguing over my PC game? o_O

  • monkie_king #154 4 years ago

    Yeah, fanboys are pillocks. Anyway, as a C64 owner, I'm looking forward to a Christmas playing Uridium, though with Attack of the Mutant Camels, Armalyte and possibly Sanxion, there is going to be a glut of shooters.

  • afghan_jones #155 4 years ago

    "Actually I think it began with afghan-jones self admitted 360 fanboy comment about Resistance players on page one."

    I merely planted a dirty great fanboy LOL-bomb and then stepped back to watch the inevitable fallout....

    KAPOW!

    (Please dont put me on ignore for this, I thrive on the attention)

  • DUFFMAN5 #156 4 years ago

    Uridium, now that is a good game C64 4ever. I thought HL on the xbox was great, might put this on the to buy list, god knows when I will get a chance to play, must have 10+ games in the wings awaiting to be booted up on the brilliant piece of kit that is the 360
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 15:40

  • Nostromo13 #157 4 years ago

    Ultimate Orange Box Spoiler: There is a cake!!! haha!

  • Verwandlung #158 4 years ago

    What is this half-life you speak of?

  • SomaticSense #159 4 years ago

    "on the other hand, if you've already played HL2 and you dont care about multiplayer, this is not worth buying even at that price. "

    I 100% disagree.

    I've got two full priced boxed copies of Xbox 1 Half-Life 2 sitting upstairs (don't ask why......), and yet I still feel it's massive value for money. I feel that £40 for Ep1, Ep2, and Portal well worth the money for single player alone, especially as if they were each sold seperately they would be at least £20 each.

    But then I am actually also interested in TF2 (less so than the HL stuff and Portal though), and am even massively looking forward to playing through Half-Life 2 again with better graphics, hopefully fewer loading periods, and in hi-res goodness. It was that good an experience first time round.

    So yeah, it's still well worth the money either way.
    Edited by 2 at 10/10/07 @ 15:44

  • penguin_overlord #160 4 years ago

    The 360 version of The Orange Box has shot up to number seven on the games chart on Amazon UK. The PC version is down at 16. The 60GB PS3 has shot up to number four (ahead of Halo 3) but the Wii has shot up further to number one. Can't explain why as there are no Wii games in the top ten. It looks like a lot of people are choosing Resistance (another great FPS) as a free game with their PS3 as it's at number nine. Surprisingly, the PS3 version of FIFA 08 is outselling any other version (including the PS2's) so I wonder if a lot of people are buying it with the console. It's interesting that the 40GB model is not in the top 100 at all and only 21 in the PS3 only chart.

  • miiiguel #161 4 years ago

    I think the 1,2 mates who complained about the 0,003 Eur Live costs per day are a minority. I know lots of people who often admits they'd prefer to pay that price for a as decent PSN. Then again, they're work collegues, they don't need to ask mum.

  • gaselite #162 4 years ago

    This is an absolutely landmark product. It represents basically the greatest release in the history of gaming. Double the quality of your Halo 3s and other big releases for half the price (as it works out in the AUD exchange rate if you buy it on Steam). It is just unbelievable, insanely good value for three insanely good games.

  • FlamingCarrot #163 4 years ago

    Uridium. I almost had a swearfest at my poor Grandma at the time as she walked in front of the TV as i approached my highest score. I am an old (not skool, just comparatively) gamer and man alive, i loved the C64.

  • penguin_overlord #164 4 years ago

    @miiiguel

    For me, it's not the actual cost of Live it's the principle of it. £30 a year is very little but why should I pay for something that's free with other consoles? MS are such cheats when they price the 360 and a lot of people are unaware of the hidden costs when they buy one. £250 for a Premium may seem cheap but a lot of poeple will need to add £50 to that for WiFi and £30 a year for Live does add up.

  • gaselite #165 4 years ago

    Also, EG is a brilliant site, the quality of the reviews is virtually second to none. It's such a shame, then, that it attracts such a brain dead community of pissy little bitching malcontents. I can't believe that a pissweak, utterly trite and tiresome 'console war' argument has broken out in the comments for a review of such a brilliant package of games. Grow the fuck up and pay attention to the medium you're supposed to care about, not the companies that sell you the means to experience them. We all know it's best on the PC anyway.

  • FlamingCarrot #166 4 years ago

    It is great value, all 4GB of it. I still find mouse + keyboard work best for me in FPS'. I feel like have a Beadlehand when using the gamepad.

  • Madafunkola #167 4 years ago

    @Maaaaat Daaaaammmmaaan
    Reason Wii is sold out is that the Ninty boys have already stated they won't meet demand this xmas - therefore every slimy eBay racketeer will have snapped up every console available to rinse genuine consumers of their money. They are going for about £350 on play.com's PlayTrade. Disgusting!
    Now, back to Orange Box...

  • monkie_king #168 4 years ago

    @gaselight: "pissy little bitching malcontents" -- just wonderful. I salute you. I think that should be EG's new tagline.

  • LittleVoice #169 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 18:03:32 01-02-2012

  • miiiguel #170 4 years ago

    @penguin_overlord : this is just my principles, but I leave my politics to the voting booths. I can't afford to wait, and wait and wait (then again, I'm probably much older than you, and brats will come up sooner than later - at least my father realized now that is much better to be a grandfather). I want the best and I want it now. I always knew Live costs 0,003 Eur per day.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 16:09

  • afghan_jones #171 4 years ago

    @penguin

    you should pay for it because its better than anyone elses online offering.

    @gaselite

    everyone knows gaming is all about swearing loyalty to a massive corporation. Its like growing up in the ghetto and having to join a gang to get by on the mean streets of compton. Actual games are an irrelevancy.

    Also, you can always put people on ignore.

    (Just not me because it is pretty much a certainty that I will come out with some gem of genius wisdom at some point in the future and you wouldn't want to miss out on that, now would you?)

  • UncleLou #172 4 years ago

    The 360 version of The Orange Box has shot up to number seven on the games chart on Amazon UK. The PC version is down at 16.

    I am surprised it's even appearing in any charts - makes no sense to buy the boxed copy of the PC version, you can't play it without Steam anyhow. You pay more and get it later.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #173 4 years ago

    Actually, with sales tax and credit card exchange rates, the boxed PC version from Amazon is marginally cheaper.

    £26.61 was what it cost me with the $5 discount. Still, I could play it today, if only I had time.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 16:17

  • miiiguel #174 4 years ago

    @ MattDamon: exactly the same situation as you, and I wont, wont!, rush me Halo 3 experience for the sake of the Orange thing!

    damn!, I just love, love, love, those Mad Max-esque fights in Halo!
    Edited by 2 at 10/10/07 @ 16:16

  • krokomkiller #175 4 years ago

    Sold!

  • smelly #176 4 years ago

    10/10?

    Reet.. okay.. fps = 10/10 then.. hokay. :-)

    "I know Halo fans will be very veeeeeeerry angry, but Half Life 2, just by itself is a better game"

    Agreed.. Halo is genreically average in all areas.

  • miiiguel #177 4 years ago

    "Agreed.. Halo is genreically average in all areas."

    All areas but in the foruns area. There's always a Halo present... tum, tum, tum! It haunts you!!!

  • miiiguel #178 4 years ago

    shit, it is everywhere, for an average in all areas, it's doing pretty crazy...:

    "Halo’s Master Chief’s Wax Figure unveiled at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas"

  • JediMasterMalik #179 4 years ago

    If this got anything below a 10, it'd be a disgrace, it's increidble value, for incredible games.

  • Penguinzoot #180 4 years ago

    Yep, a must buy for me.

  • DFective #181 4 years ago

    Fucking hell! Another 10?
    I was getting it anyway, but now the week or so waits gonna be more annoying.

  • NewYork #182 4 years ago

    TBH, Team Fortress still looks like a "f*** off newbies" hardcore online FPS, cartoony or not.

  • Madafunkola #183 4 years ago

    I'm hoping TF2 isn't too hardcore as I've not played the original... Can you have private friend rooms like halo??

  • Nova5lag #184 4 years ago

    Hang on surely...

    HL2:EP2 9/10
    TF2 9/10
    Portal 9/10

    Thats 27/10 for all three in one box surely... plus the fact you get HL2 & EP1 thrown in for good measure lets add 3 for that...

    So Orange Box 30/10! Highest scoring game ever \0/

  • X201 #185 4 years ago

    @Madafunkola

    No, but it's nothing to worry about, just dive in.

    or join the Eurogamer Steam group, I'm sure some of the regulars will give you a game.

    Or just have a run around on an empty server to get used to weapons and stuff.


  • skx #186 4 years ago


    Is there any splitscreen action for the 360 version available ?

    Coop or plain Multiplayer in splitscreen?

    Is standart Half Life 2 deathmatch also on 360 available?


    thx =)

  • Machiavellian #187 4 years ago

    @penguin_overlord
    Free with other consoles but are they at the same level. This is the problem with your argument. The Wii and PSN service are sub par compared to Live at this point in time. The reason people are willing to pay for Live is because MS continue to make it worth the money. I really want to see how Sony is going to implement Home worldwide. If it took MS a billion bones to setup live, can Home cost any less. There are a lot of features within Home that does out do Live but they are also bandwidth hungry and servicing those features and keeping the quality up will demand a serious network. This stuff isn't free and Sony money making plans to support such a service best be implemented tight or Home will be delayed indefinitely or a lot of the features will be cut

  • grandmaster Verified Director, Digital Foundry #188 4 years ago

    Even though the options screen says it's running at 1920x1080, I could lay money on The Orange Box actually being upscaled as I can barely tell the difference between 720p and 1080p.

    I'll give it another look later.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 17:04

  • mcmonkeyplc #189 4 years ago

    If Valve made this cross platform i.e. xbox live and PC live then i'd buy it. Now I just dont know if I can warrant another FPS purchase.

    Halo 3 is out you know!

  • deaner #190 4 years ago

    I'm going to make a generic FPS with a generic plot and generic gameplay and I bet EG give it 11/10.

  • bigbadbeasty #191 4 years ago

    "If Valve made this cross platform i.e. xbox live and PC live then i'd buy it. Now I just dont know if I can warrant another FPS purchase."

    That would be crazy, nobody on the other platforms would play it, they simply would not be able to compete with the PC users

  • kangarootoo #192 4 years ago

    @penguin_overlord

    "£30 a year is very little but why should I pay for something that's free with other consoles?"

    But its not free on other consoles, because its simply not the same product.

    I own both consoles and they both have their strengths, but CURRENTLY XBLive kicks the ass of PSN all over town.

    I'm sure Sony have plenty of future improvements up their sleeve (as will MS too), but right now its like complaining that a lasagne costs more than a boiled egg.

  • smelly #193 4 years ago

    "shit, it is everywhere, for an average in all areas, it's doing pretty crazy...: "

    Popularity doesnt mean good.. remember sclub were popular at one point..


    mmmm.. hannah.. well maybe they were good.. but you get my point :-)

  • smelly #194 4 years ago

    Besides.. Who Cares?

    SONIC IS IN SMASH BROS!!

    Nuff said :-)

  • squeakyg #195 4 years ago

    Okay, I'm confused about the graphical quality of HL2 in this package. Everyone says something different! I need to know if there is significant improvement to HL2, to justify owning it yet again.

    Some reviews say that HL2 adopts the HDR lighting effects from Episodes 1 and 2. Some people even go so far as to say the engine has been "worked from the ground up for the 360".

    But then some reviews say the graphics look "old" and don't mention any noticable improvement. In fact IGN says it's clearly a port of the Xbox 1 game! (Please, please tell me how they determined this, and if it's true).

    IGN also says load times are in the same places and take 30 seconds, compared to Eurogamer's report of "10 seconds every 5 minutes".

    Also, Eurogamer is the only one to suggest a pixel resolution of 1080.

  • reddevil93 #196 4 years ago

    Seriously EG, take the finger out. It is on PS3 aswell.

  • monkie_king #197 4 years ago

    @squeaky: you're probably better off asking in the EG forums tbh. I can pretty much guarantee that HL2 won't have HDR though -- they'd have to go back and relight everything. The best I would hope for is that they dropped the PC assets in there (which probably do look kinda outdated by now anyway).

    Hopefully they can fit enough of Highway 17 in RAM to retain the binoculars/GMan appearance, this time.

    Talking of HDR, I wonder why they didn't stick The Lost Coast in Orange Box. I know it was really just a demo, but still.

  • grandmaster Verified Director, Digital Foundry #198 4 years ago

    But then some reviews say the graphics look "old" and don't mention any noticable improvement. In fact IGN says it's clearly a port of the Xbox 1 game! (Please, please tell me how they determined this, and if it's true).

    IGN also says load times are in the same places and take 30 seconds, compared to Eurogamer's report of "10 seconds every 5 minutes".

    Also, Eurogamer is the only one to suggest a pixel resolution of 1080.

    The graphics don't look any better at 1080p than they do at 720p. Even though the options screen says '1920x1080', it must be referring to the resolution set on the dashboard, not the native resolution as it's showing classic scaling artifacts. Frame rate also appears identical at both resolutions.

    I've only played for the first few minutes, but overall impressions are it's running at 720p/30 with the odd frame rate fluctuation. Yes it does look "old" because it's a port of Half-Life 2 and the game itself is old - nothing wrong with that. However, my old PC (3.4GHz, X800XT) ran the game at 1920x1200 at much the same frame rate.

    I don't really want to comment on Ep1 and Ep2 as I want to play them through in order, and I've not played those on PC.

    Loading is fairly frequent. Can't say for sure but it seems to be equivalent to the PC version.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 18:31

  • urban #199 4 years ago

    =]

  • CraigTheRave #200 4 years ago

    Brilliant! I was hoping and preying this would be as good as it sounds. I will definitly be going back to Half-Life 2 for the achievements and to enjoy it at full detail and in HD, good frame rate etc and better loading times - as before I had only played it on a mid-level PC and XBOX.

    Bring it on!!

  • alkeygs01 #201 4 years ago

    @penguin_overlord

    wow childrens stories not paying like they used to, tro....

    well ill let you finish that.

    it is running with HDR the point of hdr is they wouldn't have to recolour it the engine takes into account the correct lighting conditions and then displays accordingly.

    so the lost coast demo to demonstrate hdr would be kind of redundant

  • grandmaster Verified Director, Digital Foundry #202 4 years ago

    Graphics in HL2 don't seem to have had a makeover and even the HDR isn't that impactful IMHO. Textures might even be slightly lower resolution than the PC version. There appear to be some reflective effects that may or may not have been in the original game.
    Edited by 1 at 10/10/07 @ 19:57

  • smoothn00dle #203 4 years ago

    another 10/10??? FireSale of perfect score!?!?

  • Sl1pstream #204 4 years ago

    Unlocking the Steam version right now, I'll probably pick up the 360 version too if enough people on my friendslist are playing.

  • Mechstra #205 4 years ago

    Having got the Orange Box for PC, I'm frankly puzzled by all the hate for HL2 not being graphically updated to match Episode 2 and such.

    HL2 and Episode 1 are just a free extra - three games for a really low price with two free games thrown in.

  • GitSomE_UK #206 4 years ago

    Blimey it's been a good year for games now this? I wasn't sure whether to go PC or 360... till I read 1080 on and full 5.1... xbox it is!

    MGS4, COD4, Crysis, Mass Effect .......sooo many more good games to come!

  • Vandrius #207 4 years ago

    TF2 is the most accessible, easy to pick up yet deeply complex FPS I've ever played.

    You can honestly figure out whats happening within a game or two... but mastering things takes a bit longer.

    BTW, to people tossing up between console/PC... if you want to play TF2, remember consoles have 16player max... PC is 32. Thats all I needed to know to make my decision.

  • 3william56 #208 4 years ago

    Stunning game great value, everyone gets to play (PS3 month delay - pfft) so why all the console b*tching?

    Give it a rest, and just enjoy one of the best slices of gaming you'll ever be offered, and be happy you lames!

  • grandmaster Verified Director, Digital Foundry #209 4 years ago

    Blimey it's been a good year for games now this? I wasn't sure whether to go PC or 360... till I read 1080 on and full 5.1... xbox it is!

    It really isn't 1080p.

    I'd be going for the PC version personally.

  • greenthumb #210 4 years ago

    does half life 2 come with the multiplayer in it? i remember lobbing toilet pans at people being fun, or is the only multiplayer TF2?

  • kangarootoo #211 4 years ago

    @reddevil93

    "Seriously EG, take the finger out. It is on PS3 aswell."

    But its not out YET, so they can't review it can they. When there is a PS3 version to review, I'm sure they will.

    Paranoid.

  • BillyBrush #212 4 years ago

    Can't wait, Half life is certainly my fave FPS series..

    should be good both consoles i'm sure...some of the US people on my friends list were playing this yeaterday, 99 acheivements which i guess means it's got about 2000 gamerpoints spread about..which is nice

  • BillyBrush #213 4 years ago

    BTW

    the reason PS3 ver is not reviewed yet is probably as there's a different team on it, Valve handles 360 and PC and EA are converting it over to PS3

    EA not a great record on PS3 but i imagine they may have chucked a bit of cash into this as having a nice version (who knows it could yet be the best) would keep the hounds from their door

  • Lemming81 #214 4 years ago

    I can't believe the amount of people stressing about whether HL2 has been 'updated' in anyway or not. HL2 doesn't look at all dated as it is, IMO. Then again, I've no idea if the xbox/360 versions took a graphical hit - I've only ever played it on PC as the gods intended.

  • BillyBrush #215 4 years ago

    Interview with Game Newell on Edge goes over it if yer interested ...

  • krudster #216 4 years ago

    Err, yes it is 1080p.

  • Apologie #217 4 years ago

    i HOPE THE PS3 VERSION TO BE MORE STABLE AND GRAPHICALLY SUPERIOR TO THE X360 VERSION.
    BY THE WAY, CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF FIFA08 VERSION IS BETTER FOR THE PS3?

  • Apologie #218 4 years ago

    zerolight

    I read that the x360 had ocasional frame drop problems and the loading times were big... because of the extra time they are putting in it's version and the recent improvement in multiplatfrom games for the ps3.

  • grandmaster Verified Director, Digital Foundry #219 4 years ago

    Loading occurs at the same places as PC, but is at most 5-10 seconds, just like the review says.

  • krudster #220 4 years ago

    Ok, as Rich Leadbetter has told me, it's not true 1080p on 360, just upscaled. Still looks very nice unless you're determined to zoom in on grass textures for the entire game. Some of the world geometry is starting to look a little old close-up now, but you'd have to be massive pedant for it to somehow detract from the game.

  • StormRider #221 4 years ago

    Went out and bought the game. Came back all excited. Popped the disc into the dvd drive, and went to install Steam. Afterwards it failed to update. Took me several tries and about an hour later, it updated.

    After faffing around with creating a new account etc, I activated the product, then finally popped up this message that says my purchase needs pending, and meanwhile I cannot play the game.

    So here I am, waiting for Steam to verifying my retail purchase, and I can't play the game. Dammit. Wonder how long I have to wait?

    Somedays like today, I wish I had bought the xbox 360 instead.

  • nakke #222 4 years ago

    Steam, while otherwise brilliant by now (well, IMO), still seems to struggle during launches of big-profile games. Hopefully they'll sort everything out soon though.

  • smoothn00dle #223 4 years ago

    Eurogamer sux!

  • BillyBrush #224 4 years ago

    @Stormrider

    I know the feeling....most people get a bit defensive of Steam, but for me I managed to clear my forms and you just try recovering a password with Valve, personally I got nowhere

    So...i played 1st half of HL2 on my PC and it was friggin amazing, but had to finish it off on Xbox and the Xbox version just seemed a bit wrong (compared to the luvliness of it on PC)....3rd time lucky on 360 for me

  • Apologie #225 4 years ago

    Supine

    One for all you delusional PS3 fans: Valve's Gabe Newell called the PS3 "a waste of everybody's time", and said that its Orange Box would struggle to match the performance of the 360/PC versions.

    ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------
    nice joke
    Edited by 1 at 11/10/07 @ 17:18

  • skillian #226 4 years ago

    I didn't think the X360 version would be 1080p.

    I have to say though, the scaler in the 360 must be impressive for so many people to not actually be sure. Even on my small LCD monitor the difference between 768p and 1024p is very noticeable, let alone what it would look like blown up to 42" size.

  • skillian #227 4 years ago

    @Spuine:

    Of course he also said:

    "Look, I spoke to some people at Microsoft, and as I said, I can't point to a single feature in Vista that I care about that solves problems for us at all. And I had the same conversation with the Xbox 360 guys. It's like, Xbox 360 doesn't make my life any better, and in fact, it makes it a lot worse, as you're telling me I can't count on having a hard drive."

    Of course I know that was just an omission, and you weren't really just trying to stir the pot ;)

  • zoidberg #228 4 years ago

    VALVE SUCKS!

    Half Life Episode 3 is about the ice-breaker (ship) BOREALIS...

    it was featured in the September 2004 Half Life 2 FULL GAME when it was "stolen" and released...

    They are re-packaging the game they were supposed to do in 2004!

  • Apologie #229 4 years ago

    Gabe Newell is just lazy (new technologie, new challenge), and he don't want to put any effort... plus, i just lost my respect for these guy, he's comment is simply arrogant and plain stupid.
    Games like Drakes Fortune, Metal Gear etc... will stop him from saying silly things like that.
    Edited by 2 at 12/10/07 @ 00:27

  • Trane #230 4 years ago

    "Gabe Newell is just lazy (new technologie, new challenge), and he don't want to put any effort... plus, i just lost my respect for these guy, he's comment is simply arrogant and plain stupid.
    Games like Drakes Fortune, Metal Gear etc... will stop him from saying silly things like that. "

    This comment is simply arrogant and plain stupid, like Gabe Newell gives a shit about MGS, plus you'd have probably added Lair to that list 2 weeks ago, oh well.

  • -TKF- #231 4 years ago

    Where is the PS3 review....!!!

  • graffekta #232 4 years ago

    Ok so on the review it says release date 10.10.07 and thats for the Euro release...

    But once again the UK gets shafted and its not out until the 19th when its already out everywhere else... :(

  • Apologie #233 4 years ago

    Trane

    but he will after the install base starts to grow, and beliave me, it will grow a lot after these price drops.
    Edited by 1 at 13/10/07 @ 12:20

  • Trane #234 4 years ago

    Your point is still totally moot I'm afraid, Gabe Newell doesn't give a crap about how well MGS will do.........why the hell would he?

    Christ.

  • zimzu #235 4 years ago

    has anyone else noticed the dangerously high number of 10/10 scores that games have been receiving from eurogamer recently? i fear at this rate they may need to start scoring out of 11 or even 12...

  • Kannan7 #236 4 years ago

    Only thing I am worried about is people who don't read gaming sites won't pick it up because of the cover.

  • sanctusmortis #237 4 years ago

    Trane

    but he will after the install base starts to grow, and beliave me, it will grow a lot after these price drops.

    ...

    He's a PROGRAMMER. Install bases and stuff don't mean jack if the machine's a POS to program for. Hence the comments about Vista and the 360 HDD, as these are things that affect programming.

  • Azazel #238 4 years ago

    has anyone else noticed the dangerously high number of 10/10 scores that games have been receiving from eurogamer recently?

    Yeah, there's like... loads of good games out right now. IT MAKES NO SENSE.

  • Fitzmogwai #239 4 years ago

    Don't worry Zimzu, I'm sure that the 10/10 tsunami will start to ebb soon.

    If you asked me to pin it down, I'd predict this will begin in early December.

    Just a wild stab in the dark, you understand. Gut feeling.

  • Fitzmogwai #240 4 years ago

    Keep it up, Apologie. You make me laugh!

    (At you rather than with you, but both feel equally good.)

  • shantesh #241 4 years ago

    Just bought the Orange Box really friggin sweet deal cause its priced really low here (India) about 25 US dollars..
    Edited by 1 at 18/10/07 @ 17:59

  • Nikanoru #242 4 years ago

    Gordon needs voice acting. I mean come on, this is 2007, people! Obviously every game character should have voice acting.

  • mechamonkey #243 4 years ago

    Dear god the lag is bad on 360 TF2, forget anything over 4x4 matches :(

  • Madder-Max #244 4 years ago

    TF2 is brilliant. it blows halo 3 and Lost Planet outof the water.......apart from lagging and freezing issues. Had to restart the 360 on numerous occassions this weekend.

    Best Regards,

    THE medic
    Edited by 1 at 22/10/07 @ 10:15

  • Repsode #245 4 years ago

    Nikanoru: You know what you're saying is heresy, right?


    You might as well kill the real-time cutscenes so we can cut out the immersion entirely.

    oh.....


    HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA. Very funny! Had me going there for a second.

  • japstersam #246 4 years ago

    i thought portal was awesome, one of those games where you can really appreciate that whoever was dreaming them up really thought about it and really had some brains...great deal package in my opinion :)

  • rommy667 #247 2 years ago

    Just got this for 15 euro what a package love it :)