The Orange Box (Xbox 360)

[  « Previous Page | 1 | 2  ]

Portal might be short, but it's the jewel in Orange Box's crown.

To those of you out there who, like me, are diving into the wonderful world of HL2 for the first time I'll say one thing: don't be put off by its more considered pace, its physics-based puzzles and its three-year-old graphics. Consider them more reasons to play the game. Stick with it and by the end you'll be glad you did - HL2 has one of the greatest gaming storylines ever, absolutely stunning physics, fantastic voice acting and some brilliant computer-controlled characters. Forget the Arbiter Halo fans, Alyx Vance is the best AI-controlled team mate I've had the pleasure of saving the world with. She's genuinely interesting, actually has a story and never gets in the way. Play through all of HL2, Episode One and Two, and you'll form the kind of bond with Alyx that will leave her playing on your mind at the most inappropriate of times.

After giving HL2 a good seeing to I thought I'd try something else The Orange Box has to offer - Portal. Two-and-a-half hours later I was damn glad I did. You can read the full review here, but suffice it to say, Portal is one of the most refreshing, interesting games I've ever played. You use the dual portal gun to create two portals - going through one will lead you to exit the other. You need to get to the exit of each of the game's 19 mind-bending levels using this method, but things get increasingly complex, and stomach-churning. It's pure gaming fun and while a little short is quite amazing for what is essentially The Orange Box's bonus content. Portal is the game I thought I'd play the least when I bought The Orange Box. It's turned into the one I play the most. Give it the attention it deserves, Portal is worth it.

 Advertisement

So on to Team Fortress 2, the online team-based FPS that will only be of relevance if you've signed up to Xbox Live. TF2, which is nine years in the making, has garnered a lot of hype from PC gamers, and now that the game has been released on PC already via Valve's online distribution service, Steam, all the cool kids are playing it. But 360 gamers, will it be enough to draw your trigger finger away from Halo 3 or Gears of War?

It's a bit of an unfair comparison. TF2 is unlike any online FPS available on the console. You play as one of nine classes, each defined by its gun or special ability: the super fast Scout is great for snagging the flag and capturing points quickly; the Soldier, with its slow-firing rocket launcher, is a good all rounder; Pyro is the best close-quarters class, burning enemies to bits with the devastating flamethrower; the defensive minded Demoman is armed with a timed detonation grenade launcher and a remote detonation sticky bomb launcher; Heavy is super slow but deals massive damage with the mini-gun; the Engineer builds turrets which are great for mowing down base-rushers; Medics have a Ghostbuster-esqu gun that shoots a healing beam into allies; the Sniper does exactly what it says on the tin; and the Spy, perhaps the class that requires the most skill, can turn invisible, disguise himself as a member of the other team and one hit kill from behind. Once you've picked your class, you're then divided up into two teams, red VS blue, and across the game's six maps you need to work with your team to complete objectives like CTF and control points to win.

Despite having a lot of fun with TF2, it won't be stealing me away from Halo 3 long term. For me, I prefer the slightly slower paced, vehicular combat of Halo 3 online.

It's fast, frenetic fun, with an emphasis on team work. The Heavy, for instance, is easily taken out from a distance by the Sniper or the rocket-launcher wielding Soldier. But if you've got a Medic pumping points into your life meter, you can pretty much bulldoze your way into an enemy stronghold. The Spy is a great class for lone wolves, but don't expect to be able to win the game on your own, despite the temptation to camo up, head for the enemy base and stab the Engineer in the kidney. The Scout, while being super fast, has hardly any health. You'll need to co-ordinate your efforts with your team mates or you won't have much fun dying all the time. The games we've played online mostly begin with offensive (we'll include the Heavy here since he seems to be mostly played offensively) and support classes like the Medic rushing the enemy base. Snipers head straight for secluded, high positions and the Engineer tends to start making turrets. Games ebb and flow as either red or blue imposes itself, and it's all over in what seems like a blink of an eye. On the face of it simple, accessible online FPS fun, but it can get very involving as you learn the intricacies of each class.

In terms of looks, the game has a cartoon-like visual style that makes a refreshing change from the gritty realism we seem to be deluged with nowadays. It looks a lot like animated film The Incredibles and includes tonnes of lovely, colourful little touches that help to add to the atmosphere of the game. Valve has tried to tell the gamer how TF2 works through its visual style as much as possible. So, for example, red first aid crosses flow through the medic's healing beam. The Spy will have a mask showing what class the enemy sees him as when he is in disguise. I'd have to say that I was more impressed with TF2's art direction than how the game plays.

Team Fortress 2 is good fun, but it's not really going to take Halo 3's title.

Reservations? Despite having a lot of fun with TF2, it won't be stealing me away from Halo 3 long term. For me, I prefer the slightly slower paced, vehicular combat of Halo 3 online. Oh, and there's no grenades in TF2. I just love grenades. Don't get me wrong - there's much more of a fun atmosphere in TF2 (sometimes I wonder if people play Halo 3 for fun or because they enjoy shouting at people), but, in my opinion, it's not the best online FPS the consoles have to offer. And although I take it for granted, I missed the Halo 3 matchmaking system, which all online games should have now. In TF2, you search for hosted games and join. Clearly, Halo 3 has spoiled us with its online matchmaking. The 360 version doesn't look half as good as the PC version either - something that was noticeable when we had both running side by side in the office. We also experienced noticeable lag, although we understand Valve is preparing an update to the game that is supposed to fix this by the time you play the game.

Phew. The Orange Box has a lot to take in. Perhaps too much, especially for newcomers to Valve's work. All in all, we'd say there's about 25+ hours worth of HL2 gaming in there, maybe four or five hours with Portal, and, depending on whether you like TF2 or not, as many hours as you want with Valve's online FPS. Together, you're getting a minimum of over 30 hours of, some would say, the greatest entertainment gaming has to offer (shame there's only 1000 achievement points to go around all the games!). And that's not counting the inevitable DLC through XBL and PSN (eventually). We'd expect more Portal levels, more TF2 classes and maps and perhaps HL2: Episode 3 as a downloadable purchase - well, we can dream.

I'm a massive fan of FPS games on a pad with shoulder buttons. I prefer it to keyboard and mouse. It was because of this that HL2 passed me by at a time when it should have put both hands on my shoulders and shook me silly. I'm glad The Orange Box has provided me, and other gamers like me, with an opportunity to experience everything PC gamers have been banging on about for years. Will it force Halo 3 addicts to put Master Chief's heroics on hold? Probably not enough to seriously dent its popularity. But we heartily recommend that you at least try to find some time in your busy gaming schedule for Gordon Freeman's more thoughtful exploits. If you love FPS gaming you owe it to yourself to get The Orange Box. Hell, if you love gaming, you owe it to yourself to get it. Anyone for cake?

[  « Previous Page | 1 | 2  ]