The Orange Box

 PlayStation 3
The Orange Box Image
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 221 Ratings

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  • Summary: Games included in The Orange Box compilation: The original Half-Life 2 - The player again picks up the crowbar of research scientist Gordon Freeman, who finds himself on an alien-infested Earth being picked to the bone, its resources depleted, its populace dwindling. Freeman is thrust intoGames included in The Orange Box compilation: The original Half-Life 2 - The player again picks up the crowbar of research scientist Gordon Freeman, who finds himself on an alien-infested Earth being picked to the bone, its resources depleted, its populace dwindling. Freeman is thrust into the unenviable role of rescuing the world from the wrong he unleashed back at Black Mesa. And a lot of people - people he cares about - are counting on him. Half-Life 2: Episode One - The player reprises his role of Dr. Freeman, who must immediately face the repercussions of his actions in City 17 and the Citadel. Freeman reconnects with Alyx Vance and her robot, Dog, as they continue their support of the resistance's battle against the Combine forces. Half-Life 2: Episode Two -- the second installment in Valve's episodic trilogy advances the award-winning story, leading the player to new locations outside of City 17. Portal - a pioneering type of single player action game that rewrites the rules for how players approach and manipulate their environment – much like how Half-Life 2's Gravity Gun reinvented the way gamers interact with objects in the game. Team Fortress 2 - an all-new version of the legendary title that spawned team based multiplayer action games. The game's daring new art style features the most advanced graphics of any Source-based game released to date. [Valve Software]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. GamePro
    100
    There has been some criticism levied against the PS3 version of Orange Box for daunting load times and framerate issues and while they are present, it's easy to forgive these technical issues given the quality of the game itself. If you have a PS3, you can't afford not to own it.
  2. AceGamez
    100
    It is better than you could possibly imagine and it deserves all the praise that it has gained in its short life so far.
    All this publication's reviews
  3. My Gamer
    94
    If you don't already own this, you just…NEED to get it.
  4. Pelit (Finland)
    90
    The Orange Box is great and atmospheric fun on PS3, too. Only major gripes are the occasional slowdowns, which luckily don't make the game unplayable. [Feb 2008]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. PSM3 Magazine UK
    90
    Overall Five ace games in one box. The slowdown shouldn't stop you having an Orange Christmas.
  6. IGN
    84
    All five games in The Orange Box are awesome, and even though we had problems here and there with some of the control choices, the experience of playing Half-Life 2 games should not be missed. Valve should be counted among the few that simply know how to tell a good story. However, the PS3 version is without a doubt inferior.
  7. GameSpy
    70
    In spite of framerate drops, inconsistent online multiplayer, and other serious issues that weigh it down, there's little doubt that the five games in this package exude Valve's attention to detail and show off the developer's talent for making great titles.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 48
  3. Negative: 7 out of 48
  1. Carlos
    Jan 16, 2008
    10
    BUY IT NOW. The Orange Box is my first PS3 game and is amazing. The only problem i had is with frame rate dips in Half Life 2 Episode 1 and BUY IT NOW. The Orange Box is my first PS3 game and is amazing. The only problem i had is with frame rate dips in Half Life 2 Episode 1 and the game freezing on me in episode 2. Half Life 2 has taken the crown for my most beloved game i have ever owned. Half Life 2 Episode 1 is great fun for a weekend. Portal is the best puzzle game but is just to short for its own good i had to stretch it out between gaming sessions to make it last. Team Fortress 2 is probably the best online multiplayer game that I have ever played on a playstation console. Half Life 2 Episode 2 though is a fantastic game that is like Highway 17 in Half Life 2 and is great right after beating Half Life 2. This is the best deal in gaming history. 5 games for 60 dollars.… Expand
  2. JoshuaB.
    Jul 12, 2008
    10
    Amazing offer for a game. Half-life 2, possibly one of the best pc games out there, its sequels, episode 1 and 2, portal, a great puzzle game Amazing offer for a game. Half-life 2, possibly one of the best pc games out there, its sequels, episode 1 and 2, portal, a great puzzle game that'll blow your mind, and tf2, a crazy multiplayer game where you have different classes, resulting in different types of battle skills. This is portrayed in a cartoony style type of graphics. tf2 for the Ps3 sadly only has 5 maps from the, say about 50+ maps from the pc version, but were hoping this will change. Good news about it: It had better graphics than the pc (Special effects) until pc got an update... o well... It is a great package, and if I would say so myself, a bargain.… Expand
  4. MetaRogue
    Nov 12, 2014
    10
    The Orange Box is a great way to get a hold of 5 Valve games for the price of 1. The updated graphics for PS3 show and EA has handled it well.The Orange Box is a great way to get a hold of 5 Valve games for the price of 1. The updated graphics for PS3 show and EA has handled it well. Quick Save is definitely a useful feature to have when encountering those roadblock moments or failing a jumping puzzle section.

    The games themselves are iconised as classics with the package even stating that Half Life 2 is the Highest Rated PC Game of All Time by (guess who?) Metacritic.

    The only downside is that trophies don't come with the PS3 version, despite being available on Xbox 360.

    That said, revisiting City 17 or venturing as Gordon Freeman for the first time to understand why HL2 was so highly raved about does pay off and offers comparison to how far FPS games have come.

    Portal is a fun, but short puzzle based FPS that focuses more on using the Portal Gun effectively and mastering the mind bending effects of those portals. The story and dialogue are also another fantastic element: GLaDOS will go down in history as one of gamings most villainously sadistic AI's besides SHODAN.

    The only disappointing thing about playing The Orange Box is finishing HL2 Episode 2 and wondering what exactly happened to Episode 3 or Half Life 3 for that matter.

    What happened Valve?    … Expand
  5. NeilR.
    Feb 2, 2008
    9
    Have to agree with others, EA did an ok job with the conversion, it's nowhere near as bad as was reported and it is quite clear that Have to agree with others, EA did an ok job with the conversion, it's nowhere near as bad as was reported and it is quite clear that it's a coding issue, luckly it's very rare. Loading times is the only negative i have for this game. they are annoying when you have to wait 30 seconds for the game to continue after you die. TF2 is great fun, occasionally laggy but mainly it runs smoothly and seems to be improving. Portal is great.… Expand
  6. okayokay
    Oct 10, 2018
    8
    rrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaadddddddddddiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccccaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllll
  7. RichEP.
    Dec 13, 2007
    8
    This game rawks! pay no attention to the naysayers that wanna throw stones..OB for PS3 is Too Fun! I'm so glad to have all these top of This game rawks! pay no attention to the naysayers that wanna throw stones..OB for PS3 is Too Fun! I'm so glad to have all these top of the line games all rolled into one super game pack thats well worth the measley $60. investment.… Expand
  8. DavidL.
    Mar 10, 2008
    0
    This is the inferior version of the Orange Box. The frame rate issues completely kill any fun that was there to have. It's a shame but This is the inferior version of the Orange Box. The frame rate issues completely kill any fun that was there to have. It's a shame but like every PS3 multiplatform game, it's far inferior to the other versions.… Expand

See all 48 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best PS3 Game of 2007
12
#12 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2007
9
#9 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2007