Metareview: The Orange Box (PC, Xbox 360)

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 10th 2007 at 6:28PM }

Valve may have the most deficient understanding of episodic gaming EVAR(!), but they are masters of smoke and mirrors marketing. Valve made us completely lose focus on Half-Life 2: Episode 2 being in The Orange Box (YAY!) by bundling so much gaming goodness in the package, that instead of us cracking jokes about their episodic incompetence, we end up calling The Orange Box the gaming value of the year -- 'cause it is with Half-Life 2, Episodes 1 and 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2. Sure, if you've played Half-Life 2 on your PC it might not be such a fantastic value, but for console owners (minus those that played Half-Life 2 on the original Xbox) this is their first go at HL2 and its episodes.

GameTap (100/100): "If your PC isn't quite up to snuff, the Xbox 360 version is a good substitute. Occasional framerate hitches, plus one minor gaffe with the gamepad (weapon selection) are the only things dragging down the 360 version. That, and it has freaking 99 Achievements spread across all five games. Due to the delay of the PS3 version, we haven't played it yet, but we'll update you when we do."
Team Xbox (96/100): "So, is The Orange Box the best bargain in gaming? While there might be longer games (Oblivion, for example) or games that pack more titles onto a single disc (any of the 'classic' compilations), this is a near-perfect blend of varied games. ... Although this is undeniably one of the must-own games for the Xbox 360, we have a few questions. Will we be getting Episode Three over Xbox Live? And where's our Counter-Strike: Source?"
IGN (95/100): "There's nothing else available on any console like The Orange Box. Though you could argue that Half-Life 2 is old news by now, there are still four components of the Box brand new to consoles. That so much great content is offered at the standard single-game price is astonishing ... And all on one disc. While Portal and TF2 may not be strong enough to stand on their own, coupled with the Half-Life titles, The Orange Box really is one of the best games ever released."

Tags: halflife2, metareview, orangebox, portal, teamfortress2, valve

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

hellohello @ Oct 10th 2007 6:39PM

Bloody hell man now many games are there now on the 360 that are rated 95% or higher. My Wii collected so much dust that i cant even clean it properly.

IlyaG @ Oct 10th 2007 7:27PM

Here are all the games, on all the platforms, that have a combined average review score of over 90% (according to MetaCritic)

XBOX 360:

Orange Box - 98
BioShock - 96
Halo 3 - 94
Gears of War - 94
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - 94
Guitar Hero II - 92
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter - 90
Forza Motorsport 2 - 90
Call of Duty 2 - 90

-----

WII:

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - 95
Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition - 91
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - 90

------

PLAYSTATION 3:

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - 93

fatt coward and the ex-pats @ Oct 10th 2007 7:56PM

Well this isn't a fair argument at all. I don't own any of the three systems, but when the 360 had been around as long as the Wii and PS3 have right now, it only had 2 or 3 90+ titles, right?

By my reckoning, these were Call of Duty 2 (which really, would that get the same score if it came out right now?), Oblivion, and GRAW.

chimp o death @ Oct 10th 2007 8:13PM

Well, by your "logic" the 360 would still have 60% more
90 or above titles.

Psaakyrn @ Oct 10th 2007 9:22PM

Assuming that good games comes out at a arithmetic progression. I'd say that it's likely NOT the case simply because companies get better at programming for consoles as time goes by.

(Also, the only high-rated PS3 game is a (reasonably) old multiplatform game?)

JJ Rooster @ Oct 10th 2007 10:43PM

Ha! Not bad for PS3, and it's only our first year. Just wait till we get some more 360 ports, and our numbers will skyrocket!

Jim Halpert DM @ Oct 10th 2007 11:26PM

Yeah, we have a Wii and 360 in the dorm, and it hasn't gotten any action for the past month.

Shagittarius @ Oct 11th 2007 12:02AM

So the Wii and PS3 both have 1 90+ game? Since Zelda and Resident Evil were both on the cube?

Or can I count all the 90+ PS2 games that play on my PS3 if I change the box?

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Oct 11th 2007 12:08AM

as long as you don't use the new 40gb ps3, then sure

mcintits @ Oct 11th 2007 9:12AM

ya but how many of those 360 are exclusive?

GRANTED @ Oct 11th 2007 10:09AM

i am very pleased that a game is coming out for the ps3 that is rated better than halo and bioshock. will pick up orange box 1st-day after De-lay (see what i did there?)

Gareth @ Oct 11th 2007 12:20PM

Heh, I'm looking forward to reading Kola's spin on those results.

"But.. but.. but.. we have Lair!"

Maybe Sony will have all of the knob-jockeys fired by the time PS4 is released and will be able to offer some competition, but for now the 360 is most certainly the console to own.

Neebs @ Oct 10th 2007 6:37PM

So far I'm at the second to last stage of Portal, and that is insanely fun and pure genius.

MasterInsan0 @ Oct 10th 2007 9:01PM

Portal = Win

Arturo @ Oct 10th 2007 6:42PM

Been playing TF2 and I can't put it down! Bought both versions and I'm so happy with this it's seriously cutting into my halo time! Damn homework keeping me from playing everything! Not to mention pgr4, so much to play , so little time =(

copa @ Oct 10th 2007 6:46PM

For those of you new to Half-Life 2, you're in for a treat.

Hey Bungie, here's how you tell a story that actually MAKES SENSE!

Hey Irrational, you can have in-game characters with life-like facial animations to go along with that great dialog!

Portal looks like a beautifully implemented puzzler, and I would have gladly paid $60 retail just for TF2.

This should keep me absorbed until Rock Band.

finnith @ Oct 10th 2007 9:28PM

Just out of curiosity (I'm reserving my opinion until you say something), which game(s) are you referring to. The only storyline that I didn't understand was that of Marathon Infinity.

Ska Oreo @ Oct 10th 2007 10:28PM

I'm pretty sure that it's prett easy to be able understand the entire Halo storyline, unless you're a complete retard.

Joop @ Oct 10th 2007 11:32PM

Finnith, Ska Oreo:

Just because the story is understandable doesn't mean it makes sense. The story isn't confusing, but it is weak, disjointed, and relies far too much on "OMG, the USS Plot Device just jumped out of hyperdrive in our proximity!" among other deus ex machina. Halo is a great series in spite of the story, not because of it.

hotnutz @ Oct 11th 2007 3:21PM

Hey Joop,

Perfectly said! Ska Oreo believes that that the end all of be all is Halo 3 so there is no point in trying to convince him that Half Life 2 did what Halo did but 6 years ago.

Halo 3 is marketed towards "retards" (as Ska likes to refer to people who don't agree with him - another shining example of what a intelligent and well spoken xbox 360 person he is) and Ska is the poster boy.

Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Oct 10th 2007 6:48PM

Man I wish there was a package with a Gordon Freeman or G-man figure,I'm picking this Friday meanwhile I'm doing Legendary in Meta,YOu know which game.

colin @ Oct 10th 2007 6:54PM

what skulls are you using? on coop legendary i never get any time bonus but get damn close to the achievements.

Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Oct 10th 2007 7:51PM

Depends on the level,in the 3rd level I'm using Fog,Tough luck and Famine.

I never got the time bonus well max X2 bonus but that's it,in legendary you die pretty easily so you have to take your time.

BTW never use Iron,yeah the X3 bonus is awesome but if you are playing Legendary is just a pain in the a$$.

Keithris @ Oct 10th 2007 6:56PM

Just finished Portal.....Loved it...beautiful ending.

Kevin @ Oct 11th 2007 1:15PM

Such an awesome song!

http://rs204.rapidshare.com/files/61630781/Portal_-_Credits.mp3

Kevin @ Oct 11th 2007 1:18PM

um... that previous tihngy had a tag on it saying that the mp3 is a spoiler, so yea... don't download unless you like spoilers

krazy @ Oct 10th 2007 7:00PM

so...this game another hype?!?! im new to this so im gonna pick up another hype game, halo was okay but lets see this! I PICK HEAVY!

sinergy @ Oct 10th 2007 7:05PM

please don't compare halo to half life. kthxbye.

Papa @ Oct 10th 2007 7:15PM

Why not? They're both FPS games. Please enlighten us.

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Oct 10th 2007 7:18PM

halo is a run 'n gunner, half life is a slow, puzzle/survivor fps

Ska Oreo @ Oct 10th 2007 10:38PM

@blooh

If you really believe Halo is a run and gun shooter then:

A. You haven't played Halo
B. You're playing it on easy.

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Oct 10th 2007 11:12PM

i played it on normal

Ska Oreo @ Oct 10th 2007 11:59PM

And that's why. Play it on Heroic or Legendary. Trust me.

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Oct 11th 2007 1:57AM

no thanks, there were enough annoying parts i died on a couple dozen times. all they do is make enemies hit harder and have more HP, right? pass

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Oct 10th 2007 7:10PM

lol what's up with the crows in that picture? and the ghost of alyx

lord hobo @ Oct 10th 2007 7:29PM

I have finished both games, they are amazing.

Sihylm @ Oct 10th 2007 7:32PM

Portal isn't a game.

It's an Experiance.

James @ Oct 10th 2007 7:48PM

Oh hells yes. My jaw dropped when I performed one of them portal-drop-portal long jump techniques. Oh what a game.

Needs more levels though. many many more levels.

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Oct 10th 2007 8:29PM

that's why you get it on PC, for mods

sheppy2.0 @ Oct 10th 2007 7:34PM

I bought the PC version today. Was planning to wait for PS3 but I figured I'd buy the PS3 version when it's $30 since I could get it now for PC for $37.

JJ Rooster @ Oct 11th 2007 9:23AM

PS3 version will suck since EA is doing the port.
Gabe himself says "...they’ll make the PS3 version a good product; EA got the job done in putting a lot of people with PS3 experience on the project. But I think it’s harder to get it to the same standard as the 360 and PC versions."
PS3 version delayed, and looks worse confirmed!

coolforever4537 @ Oct 10th 2007 8:49PM

The Orange box is by far the greatest game bundle EVER made. Half Life 2 Episode 2 and Portal are AMAZING.

Shawn @ Oct 10th 2007 7:36PM

Episode 2 is friggin fantastic, by far my favorite fps of the year. Half Life is just that good, as there's nothing that can top it.

People that haven't played HL before will now understand what us crabby PC gamers were ranting and raving about all these years....

sheppy2.0 @ Oct 10th 2007 7:39PM

See, I kept holding off for two reasons...

1. The horribly paced original. 3000mph crowbars, running 48mph, after studying in animation and even having to slave over a graph editor for two full semesters, Half-Life was a messsy, sloppy joke.

2. I knew an ultimate version would come along.

So this will be a fresh play of HL2 for me... WooT!

Long Bow @ Oct 10th 2007 7:40PM

My plan was to wait for Mass Effect and call it a nice year for my 360. I'm quite the casual, took me about 2 weeks to beat Halo 3. Now all this hype comes along for Orange Box, and I'm seriously buying into it. I never played any of the three listed games, so I might pick it up to see what surprise is in store.

ck @ Oct 10th 2007 8:12PM

you're in for a treat. Half life 2 was possibly one of the richest experiences that I've played on any system, pc or console. I really enjoyed the first half life, but valve took it one step further. I'm definitely picking this one up on steam.

squeevi @ Oct 11th 2007 11:44AM

I'm in the same boat as you buddy, lol. I'm goog for a game only about every few months, otherwise I just don't have the time to play though a game as much as I'd like and feel like I've got my moneys worth. But yeah, was definatly content with Mass Effect for the rest of the year, but now not so sure... :-(

James @ Oct 10th 2007 7:46PM

This set just takes the piss out of Halo 3.

I started writing a list of what was better than Halo 3 (Big Halo 1 fan is me), but then I'd just be naming everything under the sun.

TF2 is pure addiction. Halo 3 can take it's little theatre feature and I'll stick to perfect gameplay thx.