Half Life 2: The Orange Box
Preview
Splash your portal on the wall...
by Kevin
previewed on PC
Portal
Despite taking place in the Half-Life universe, Portal is an entirely new gameplay experience. The game revolves around using a device called the 'Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device' (ASHPD for short) to create portals on flat surfaces. The device can also grab and hold objects but it cannot throw them at enemies like Half-Life 2's Gravity Gun can. The main protagonist in Portal has not been revealed as of yet, but Valve’s Doug Lombardi says that the character will play an important role later on in the Half-Life series.
One interesting feature about Portal is the ability to use vertical momentum to reach high-up platforms. For instance, let's say there is a ledge you can jump onto, but there's a much higher ledge next to it that you can't reach just by jumping. To get onto the really high ledge, you would create a portal on the ledge, then create another one on the floor below the ledge. Jump from the ledge to the portal in the floor, and inertia will send you flying up into the air! This is just one example of the many interesting things that will be possible in Portal. All in all, there's no doubt the game will live up to the hype. It may even become another one of Valve's masterpieces!
Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2 is the long-awaited standalone sequel to the multiplayer Quake mod, Team Fortress. This is basically the multiplayer mode of The Orange Box. Like Team Fortress Classic, you will be able to choose one of nine classes, each of which have their own strengths and weaknesses. There will only be two game modes available when the game ships with no word on when additional modes will be released, so it may disappoint a few people in that aspect. But even with only two game modes, players are sure to spend hundreds of hours on the game.
Quite a package!
Looking at the package as a whole, The Orange Box is well worth what you'll pay for it. Two of the games included have already been released (and in the case of Half-Life 2, re-released several times), but the other three brand new titles alone are worth the price. The Orange Box is the ultimate experience for any Half-Life fan or even someone just getting into the series. This one is a must-buy for any PS3, 360, and high-end PC owner.
