New games this week: Orange Box edition

63 Comments by Justin McElroy Oct 8th 2007 9:00AM
Filed under: Nintendo DS, Features, PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360

See, these are the weeks that picking the top release is easy. The Orange Box looks to be one of the best games of the year, but, more importantly, it looks to be one of the best gaming values. And we're all about the value here on Joystiq. We'd clip coupons, if our hands weren't already horribly misshapen and arthritis-ridden from decades of clipping coupons. Yeah ... we're pretty hardcore. PS3 is getting an interesting release too, with Folklore. Check out all the releases after the break.

Gallery: Half-Life 2: Orange Box

Xbox 360:

The Orange Box
FIFA Soccer 08
Sega Rally Revo
Looney Tunes ACME Arsenal
Thrillville: Off the Rails

Xbox Live Arcade:

Puzzle Quest

PS3:

Folklore
FIFA Soccer 08
Sega Rally Revo
Warhawk (Game Only)
NBA 08

PSN:

?????

Wii:

Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast
Balls of Fury
FIFA Soccer 08
Bleach: The Shattered Blade
Thrillville: Off the Rails
Looney Tunes: ACME Arsenal
Mercury Meltdown: Revolution
Rock and Roll Adventures

Virtual Console:

Fatal Fury
World Heroes
Art of Fighting

PS2:

Looney Tunes: ACME Arsenal
FIFA Soccer 08
Honda: SBk-07 Superbike
Backyard Football 2008
Thrillville: Off the Rails
Mountain Bike Adrenaline

PSP:

FIFA Soccer 08
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
Sega Rally Revo
Jackass: The Game
Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron
NBA 08
Thrillville: Off the Rails

Nintendo DS:

FIFA Soccer 08
Holly Hobbie & Friends
Arctic Tale
Bleach: The Blade of Fate
Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck
Flipper Critters
Master Jin Jin's IQ Challenge
Thrillville: Off the Rails
Touch Detective 2 1/2

PC Games:

The Orange Box
FIFA Soccer 08
Race 07
Nancy Drew: Legend of the Crystal Skull
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer Expansion
Thrillville: Off the Rails
Sega Rally Revo

Tags: folklore, newgames, orangebox

Source

(Page 1) Reader Comments

AkmGamer: Oct 8th 2007; 9:08AM

I'm really looking forward to The Orange Box.

FOXHOUND: Oct 8th 2007; 9:12AM

...Secondedededededed. >:]

This begins the expensive holiday season of gaming ahead for me, provided I can pull myself away from playing TF2 for a bit.

joevill: Oct 8th 2007; 10:05AM

w00t! Orange Box! I'm getting the PC Version! I cannot wait to play TF2! Been waiting way too long for this!

mfed3: Oct 8th 2007; 11:54AM

hell yea, i wish valve did a little advertising for the game to hype it up like a halo. the more online players the better. the pc version will never have that problem though, tons of steam users probably preordered that thing by the hundred thousands. tf2 with the best netcode around will be the multiplayer game to beat.

Spiza: Oct 8th 2007; 2:59PM

Orange Box >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Halo 3.

Akamaru: Oct 8th 2007; 9:17AM

Been waiting for Folklore forever!

thethirdmoose: Oct 8th 2007; 9:22AM

Wow... Mercury Meltdown Revolution has been on the list for-evah, and it still hasn't come out. It's the new Duke Nukem Phantom Forever.
Mercury Meltdown Neverlution?

caramelzappa: Oct 8th 2007; 9:23AM

I pre-ordered the orange box, already preloaded portal and episode 2. TF2 is loads of fun.

sicsided: Oct 8th 2007; 9:37AM

second that. Been playing TF2 everyday for the past 2 weeks and can't get enough. Portal and Epi.2 is just laying there, staring at me with is perverted look of injustice that I've already paid for it and can't touch OH GOD WHY MUST IT BE THAT WAY!

John: Oct 8th 2007; 1:48PM

I'm sorry, TF2 is a BIG disappointment. Since they have stripped out ALL of the grenades and a ton of weapons, the game play is completely different - and boring.

Fortress Forever on the other hand is a really great mod. And it's free.

HineyWipe: Oct 8th 2007; 9:24AM

Let me see...after I pickup all the new games released by Christmas season, I'll have no money to buy anyone anything! Bring on da Scrooge!

xXFenixKnight13Xx: Oct 8th 2007; 9:32AM

Woohoo!!! Cant wait =) Poor PS3 owners keep waiting lol

copa: Oct 8th 2007; 9:32AM

Damn, it's been a long wait. I can't believe TF2 is finally here.

The1: Oct 8th 2007; 9:46AM

Thats not funny, shame on you---ROFOL. I will be getting THE ORANGE BOX for my X360 since I preordered and got a $5.00 discount at Gamestop. I may get Folklore for my PS3, need to read the reviews first.

CaptainAmericaX: Oct 8th 2007; 9:36AM

Still not sold on The Orange Box...

Whats Portal again?

sicsided: Oct 8th 2007; 9:41AM

You are trapped in a complex (from what I've seen and gathered) and given a device that allows you to shoot portals in order to get around the various traps and puzzles in the game. You will be able to shoot more and more after awhile allowing for complex situations to be overcome. Example. There is a giant wall in your way and spikes are coming in from the sides. Shoot a portal at the ceiling, then one in the floor. Jump through the floor and when you come out the ceiling quickly shoot one at the wall adjacent to the wall your trying to get past. Once you fall through the floor and out the last portal you shot, you shall be flung over your obstacle from the momentum you gained falling from the ceiling.

or you can do what most will be doing, just falling in an infinite loop til your computer crashes.

CaptainAmericaX: Oct 8th 2007; 10:17AM

lol thanks for the explanation...

Well I guess I've got some more research to do...just TOO MANY damn games this year to buy for my 360...my salary can't take it all at once.

I want to buy a better HDTV. I wanna buy an HD DVD player. I wanna buy all these games AND still have money for other things at Christmas...

God I'm screwed...

Blue_Falcon: Oct 8th 2007; 9:37AM

Personally, I'm looking forward to Duck Amuck.

Oh, and the Orange Box, as well.

T3H WICKERMAN (FDF): Oct 8th 2007; 9:42AM

Hmm this or halo 3. My 360 returns from heaven to today. It is risen and I found the stone that blocked the enterance to it's tomb to have been moved. Let us celebrate this season of revival with the teachings of gordon freeman! Orange Box ftw, for it is his will.

Jake: Oct 8th 2007; 9:51AM

I'd wait for some reviews and impressions. Often, stellar PC games just don't translate nicely to console. Halo 3 is a guaranteed fun ass game, I can tell you that.

Orange Box probably will too, and of course the excellent single player story will be intact, but it doesn't hurt to just wait a bit and see.

Do you have the option of buying both? Orange Box trumps in the single player catergory, with a sweet portal cherry on top. Multiplayer wise, not to take anything away from TF2, Halo 3 is probably going to be funner on 360, especially considering TF2 is built to thrive on mouse controls.

Can't you just buy both? That's what I'm doing, once I can put the controller down for Halo 3. (I never played much Halo 2 or Halo 1. I can actually see what the fuss is about. Fun game. Lots of unique memorable moments where something crazy cool happens.)

Zertoss: Oct 8th 2007; 9:45AM

Orange Box AND Duck Amuck on the same week?! Good thing they aren't on competing platforms!

JJ: Oct 8th 2007; 9:48AM

Definately looking like a good week.

Folklore for my PS3, Orange Box for my 360 and Bleach for my Wii. First time in a while where each of my consoles has something desirable on one day.

Delta: Oct 8th 2007; 9:54AM

Does this have any online Co-Op? I just finished Halo 3 with a friend, and would love to play another shooter with some Co-Op!

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!): Oct 8th 2007; 9:57AM

heh...Balls of Fury...

JodyAnthony (FDF - Hedonism Bot): Oct 8th 2007; 10:03AM

final fantasy tactics PSP!

woo!

After playing through Zelda: Phantom Hourglass last week (just finished it last night, soooooooo good) I am once again hooked on my handhelds

JL: Oct 8th 2007; 10:41AM

This should be the top release of the week. One of the greatest stories in video games ever.

Monthenor: Oct 8th 2007; 10:05AM

Touch Detective 2 1/2! Touch force assemble!

Dale: Oct 8th 2007; 10:10AM

Touch Detective 1/2 for the win! It's as close we'll get to a a decent new LucasArts adventure for a while.

James: Oct 8th 2007; 10:10AM

Orange Box. Possibly the best collection of the best games ever.

TF2 trumps everything else online.

Stellar singleplayer with Ep 2.
Stellar online with TF2
probably brilliant puzzler with Portal.

**** everything else this month :D

Einhanderkiller: Oct 8th 2007; 10:14AM

The Cake is a lie.

Blazur: Oct 8th 2007; 10:20AM

Hooray Orange Box!! And goodbye social life :(

monkeygamer: Oct 8th 2007; 10:26AM

I am a long time PC gamer. I started playing Halo 3 with a friend last week. Im still trying to master the analog stick controllers. It seems like a step back compared to using a keyboard and mouse. Is it just me, or will an xbox controller never be as accurate as a keyboard/mouse? I plan on getting an Xbox 360 before Christmas, but Im wondering if I should buy The Orange Box for my PC or Xbox360.

Anyone opinions/comments?

Vidikron (FU): Oct 8th 2007; 11:02AM

This is a debate that constantly rages... lol. Anyway, I think controllers can be as accurate, they just aren't as fast. I mean, you can shoot anything you want using a controller to aim, it just might take a second or two longer to get your aim zeroed in.

That said, if you're a long time PC gamer you would likely be happier getting Orange Box on the PC.

rockintom: Oct 8th 2007; 11:52AM

PC, definitely. Better controls, less idiots online, and you also get Peggle Extreme (joy!).

...Can't imagine playing portal on dual analog, anyway. It would require *very* fast responses.

SoulBlade: Oct 8th 2007; 12:31PM

Ima have to vote for PC - Vidikron is accurate in that you can aim as well, it'll just be slower. If you were a twitch gamer or just expect a high level of responsiveness / speed in your FPS, KB/Mouse FTW.

Plus it's 38 bucks for PC at Circuit City ;)

rockintom: Oct 8th 2007; 10:46AM

...I really goddamn hope they still will let you buy portal/tf2/ep 2 sans the original hl2 and ep 1, because I'm sick of re-buying crap.

...And I really don't want tf2 much at the moment anyway. All my multiplayer FPSing has been on Halo 3 lately.

Mike-453: Oct 8th 2007; 10:56AM

Looking forward to finally playing Half-Life 2, not much of a PC gamer and skipped the nerfed Xbox version

jorojoserojas: Oct 8th 2007; 12:29PM

Same story here. I skipped out on the Xbox version because the reviews said it didn't compare well to the PC...but here, years and a whole new generation later, I think it may be as faithful as it could get. So yeah, I'm getting it too.

damien: Oct 8th 2007; 10:56AM

On steam they list the tfc2 price separately, but I couldn't find a way to purchase it alone. Anyone know if you can just buy tfc?

sicsided: Oct 8th 2007; 11:41AM

i believe they are releasing them separately later on, at least on store shelves much like CS:Source.

MasterInsan0: Oct 8th 2007; 11:51AM

At the moment, you can't pre-order TF2 separately from the Orange Box, but once it is released you can buy it separately.

Also, I'm willing to bet that Steam will offer a package including only HL2: Episode 2, Portal, and TF2--a.k.a. the Black Box. Of course, it might only be $5 cheaper or so, but still, that's $5 you're saving.

Todd: Oct 8th 2007; 10:57AM

Knock Knock...
Who's there?
OrangeBox.
OrangeBox who!?
'Orange'Box gonna let me in!?

JL: Oct 8th 2007; 11:51AM

Dude....c'mon...

*shakes head

Mike-453: Oct 8th 2007; 10:59AM

You'll never get as accurate with an analogue stick as you will with a mouse, aiming is just so easy with a mouse.

Just depends on if you enjoy using dual analogues or if you can't stand the heightened difficulty to aim.

Mike-453: Oct 8th 2007; 10:59AM

h0mi: Oct 8th 2007; 11:10AM

Ill be playing this after i finish halo 3. Which might take me through the end of november at the rate I'm going.

thenino85: Oct 8th 2007; 11:49AM

This is NOT a slam-dunk choice, as the text states. Even a port of FFT deserves serious consideration for Game of the Week. Yes, I do have the Orange Box preordered on Steam and am planning on playing the crap out of it this week. But FFT practically created the SRPG market in America.

Heh, you guys should try to market that to game advertisers. The coveted "Joystiq Game of the Week" award.

@Rockintom
I have some bad news for you... The Black Box is dead. You gotta buy the Orange Box for $50 or each individual piece for $30. As an aside, I hate the way Steam markets their games. They jack the prices up so much on mods just to make their bundles look better. I already own HL2 and I really don't care about the episodes. Episode 1 just wasn't worth the money (20 minutes of plot frontloaded into the game, the remaining 4 hours was nothing but standard, boring FPS battles, including the oh-so-awesome mandatory shooting in complete darkness level) and I doubt Episode 2 will be either. I just want Portal and TF2. Sucks to be me.

mfed3: Oct 8th 2007; 11:57AM

might wanna stay away from folklore, i was semi interested in the game until i listened to a podcast where the guy was really annoyed by the game. basically talked about how it is ridiculous that they claim the amount of hours it tkaes to beat the game because you have to beat the exact game twice. you get up to a certain level then a message comes on screen saying "you cannot progress any further with this character" and it switches to the other. it proceeds to force you to beat the exact game all over again with new dialogues from npcs. an action rpg like that would piss me off to no end, not to mention the fighting looks mad repetitive. im hittin up the orange box.

Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler).: Oct 8th 2007; 12:15PM

FF:Tactics and Renegade squad sounds good.

Looney tunes: AA sucks, the demo was an awful piece of crap.

The orange box is effing awesome but I have enough games already,I’ll get it when it hits the bargain bin.