The Orange Box is a five-game collection of
best-selling Valve hits and anticipated new releases. The most
recognizable games in the package are 2004's critically acclaimed
Half-Life 2 and its first two expansion packs, Episode One and Episode
Two. They are joined by the standalone puzzle game, Portal, and the
team-based online shooter, Team Fortress 2. Half-Life 2 continues the
saga of scientist Gordon Freeman, who finds himself in a world overrun
by an alien army known as the Combine. One of the key features in
Half-Life 2 and its expansions is the use of physics to interact with
the environment, whether it's pushing cinder blocks to create a
staircase or using a gravity gun to hoist and then slam objects into
enemies. Freeman will interact with several friendly characters as well
as drive an assortment of vehicles in his quest to defeat the ruthless
Combine. Portal is a 3D puzzle game played from a
first-person perspective. The object is to advance through a series of
rooms by using a gun to create a means of escape. Instead of lasers or
bullets, the gun fires one of two opposing portal types: orange and red.
One could be used as an entrance, while the other used as an exit.
Portals can be fired on most surfaces, and the gun can also be used to
pick up and toss objects. Storage and weighted "companion" cubes found
within rooms are creatively used to activate switches, knock out
security droids, and more. Turret guns, toxic liquid, crushing walls,
and other hazards must also be avoided throughout play. A sarcastic,
female-voiced computer will monitor your performance and serves as a
droll guide for each area. In addition to the main game, players can
unlock both a challenge and an advanced mode for more deviously designed
puzzles and goals. Team Fortress 2 pits two rival
construction crews against each other on six themed maps. Nine classes
are available when forming a team: Pyro, Heavy, Spy, Scout, Sniper,
Medic, Engineer, "Demoman," and Soldier. Each class offers unique
abilities and equipment to complete objectives, from a medic's healing
powers to a spy's disguises for eluding detection.