- Publisher: EA Games
- Release Date: Oct 10, 2007
- Also On: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
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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.
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After playing through both the old and new stuff, I realized that there is one word that perfectly summarizes Valve: craft. Never mind that ballyhoo about whether games are capital-A art or not. Instead, put someone in front of a Valve game, and watch that person experience sheer craftsmanship. It seems that Valve just can't make a bad game.
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Every game in the package is a winner, and the price makes it a no-brainer for anyone remotely interested in Half-Life or PC shooters in general.
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Regardless of whether you enjoy first-person shooters or not, The Orange Box is one title that every gamer must experience. If you buy one game this year, make it The Orange Box.
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A stunning compilation.
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Orange Box is the best deal in terms of bang-for-the-buck since Mario All Stars. Not only that, but every game in it is a winner. Three classic games and two great games for this low price? You're an idiot not to get it.
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Some might say that Valve is crazy, putting all these gems in one box. But in doing so it has provided a clear statement of its place among the top ranks, offering value for money as well as truly superb gameplay.
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Edge MagazineAs a whole it is almost overwhelming in its depth, irresistible in value and certainly, unreservedly, brilliant. [Dec 2007, p.82]
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You get 5 outstanding games that give you a little bit of everything, action, story, puzzles, multiplayer, and just flat out addictive content. If you own a decent PC, a 360 or a PS3...you would be doing yourself, gamers, and the wonderful developers a great injustice by not buying The Orange Box. Not only is it possibly the best bargain in gaming history, but arguably the best FPS experience of all time.
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AceGamezEach and every one of these titles is a worthy contender for a full price tag and individual release in its own right. As a whole, if you have any interest in first person shooters at all then you owe it to yourself to snap up The Orange Box immediately.
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With something like 30 hours of outstanding single-player gameplay, plus a solid multiplayer mode and even a whole new audience being introduced to one of the greatest game series to have been produced, make no mistake, the release of The Orange Box is An Event.
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For those who have played both, don’t worry – there is still $60 worth of new content in this package, so you too should go ahead and re-read that headline, because you shouldn’t have to read this whole review to understand why The Orange Box is probably the best videogame deal ever.
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Really, The Orange Box is a must-have game. There are few games that even begin to approach the value and quality that can be found here.
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The Orange Box is packed with enough content to keep gamers satisfied for a long time. In addition to the original masterpiece of Half-Life 2, the continuation of the saga with Episode 2 and Portal provide more fun than we’ve seen in years.
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I'm constantly reminded that this is effectively five fantastic games for the price of one. If you're even a casual fan of the FPS genre then there is no reason not to add this to your collection. Hell, I'd probably buy it for Portal alone!
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Now, what did I say before…ah right: Orange Box is a great package, filled with excellent games that are instant classics, and is a must-play for any gamer that enjoys a solid story, polished gameplay, and a great deal.
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This collection is an astounding value, and crams so much refined gameplay into one package that anyone who doesn't experience it is missing out on one of the best releases in recent memory.
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Not only do you get the best single player first person shooter ever created, you also get the two next chapters, a 3D puzzle game that also happens to live in the Half-Life universe and a terrifically fun team-based multiplayer first-person shooter. This is a lot of game in one package for only 50 dollars.
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With three amazing new games and two classics all in one package, it's impossible to go wrong with The Orange Box.
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As has already been pointed out in many other places by many other people, The Orange Box may be the single greatest value in gaming history.
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Play MagazineThere are many reasons to praise Half-Life 2 that reach well beyond the surface of its gameplay and into the expression of its complete world of fantasy. [Nov 2007, p.66]
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Damn you Valve. That's what rival game publishers must be thinking.
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This is pure value-for-money: a total of 5 excellent games for the price of one (and a bit). The sheer quality of the gameplay to be experienced makes The Orange Box an absolute "must have" purchase. Get it now, get the gnome into space but don't eat the cake.
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PC GamerLeave it to Valve to deliver the goods on such an ambitious game package...The Orange Box is one of the finest compilations of gaming content ever produced. [Nov 2007, p.58]
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One of the best deals in gaming. All five games that are offered are a blast to play, and if Portal and Team Fortress 2 were fleshed out a little more, they could easily stand on their own. However, most gamers will not be angry at Valve for packaging all of the games together, giving a nearly complete Half Life 2 experience.
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The Orange Box is a mix of conceptually different products that when combined, provide great entertainment on so many different levels.
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PC FormatUnited they stand, divided they fall doesn't apply. Each game stands alone as an example of inspired design. Together they are essential. [Dec 2007, p.94]
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The Orange Box is worth a hundred bucks; you will pay half that. So much fun and excitement packed into this collection, it should be a crime.
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When you consider that you have what many coined a perfect game in Half-Life 2, two incredible mini-chapters, one of the most innovative puzzle games you’ll ever play, and addictive online multiplayer all for just 60 bones, you can’t go wrong. Do not hesitate. Man’s freedom awaits.
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The once-great are still very good, and the newer titles continue pushing the envelope in terms of quality, narrative and how much you can do within a given genre.
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The Orange Box may not restore the reputation of the bargain box, but it is a bargain, and it is worth your time. The three titles may vary in quality, but a fan of the franchise can probably overlook the flaws in Episode 2, and everyone, without exception, needs to experience Portal.
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Coming in at ten dollars less that its console counterpart, you should be giving your PC some long overdue attention.
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Five fun slices of an extremely delicious pie. If you’ve never played Half Life 2 before, this package will keep you occupied for some time to come, and rarely makes a wrong move.
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The Orange Box reminds me of those knife sets sold on late-night TV, where if you act now you get a vegetable chopper and a cutting board. Besides Episode 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2, the package includes the original Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode 1. But no cake. If someone tells you the Orange Box comes with cake, remember that whatever else you choose to believe, the cake is most definitely a lie.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 2,036 out of 2236
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Mixed: 62 out of 2236
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Negative: 138 out of 2236
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Dec 4, 2010
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PierreBDec 11, 2007
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Feb 27, 2011