The Orange Box review

Not quite as incredible as its other versions, but still a massive value

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Five amazing games

  • +

    Only sixty dollars

  • +

    Need we repeat ourselves?

Cons

  • -

    Finding time to play them all

  • -

    Striders...they reeeeeal bad

  • -

    Does not include a kitchen sink

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Dec 17, 2007

[Editor's Note: Some of you may notice that our PS3 and 360 reviews of The Orange Box have identical text, but the PS3 version has scored lower. This is not a typo. The two versions have identical content and both are fantastic. However, the PS3 version sometimes moves at a chuggy, stuttery pace (especially during Episode Two), and has notably longer loading times. These faults havecost it a point.]

You can't get much for sixty bucks these days. Dinnerand a moviefor two?Perhaps.A pair of jeans?Maybe one leg.Sothere's no way five incredible games, all worthy of individual purchase, would be available for that low, low price, right?

You poor naive fool, says Valve, how wrong you are. Their Orange Box is finally here, and its five bigsections - Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, Portal, Half-Life 2, and Half-Life 2: Episode One - are all juicy, delicious, and priced to sell.We've bitten into all of them,so have a taste:

Half-Life 2: Episode Two review
The latest chapter in Dr. Freeman's unusual career is as thrilling as ever.

Team Fortress 2 review
The onlinemultiplayer shooter with the face of Pixar and the heart of Schwarzenegger blows shit up and looks really cute doing it.

Portal review
This first-person, physics-bending puzzleristerrific, hilarious, and over too fast.

Half-Life 2: Episode One review
Way better than The Phantom Menace.Just way better.

Half-Life 2 review
We won't judge you if you haven't played it.But there's always been an empty place in your soul, hasn't there?

More info

GenreShooter
DescriptionThe Orange Box has five big sections - Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, Portal, Half-Life 2, and Half-Life 2: Episode One - and they're juicy, delicious, and priced to sell.
Platform"Xbox 360","PS3","PC"
US censor rating"Mature","Mature","Mature"
UK censor rating"","",""
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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