The Orange Box

Publisher: Valve Corporation
Developer: Valve Corporation, EA London (PS3 version)
Release Date: 10/09/2007
Genre: Action, First-person shooter
Engine: Source Engine
System requirements:
*1.7 GHz processor
*512 MB RAM
*DirectX 8 compatible video card
*Windows 2000/XP/Vista


The Orange Box is a video game compilation produced and published by the Valve Corporation. The package contains five games: Half-Life 2 and its first two expansions - Episode One and Episode Two - the puzzle game Portal and the long-awaited multiplayer game Team Fortress 2. All five games are powered by Valve's Source engine. The package has received critical acclaim and has been nominated for several awards. The Windows version was released on October 9, 2007 as both a boxed retail copy and as a download available through Valve's Steam service. The Xbox 360 version was also released on October 9, 2007. A PlayStation 3 version was released on December 11, 2007 in North America and in Europe.

Half-Life 2

Half-Life 2 is a science fiction first-person shooter game that is the sequel to Half-Life. Originally released for Windows in 2004, Half-Life 2 received critical acclaim, including thirty-five Game of the Year awards, and as of June 8, 2006, over four million copies of Half-Life 2 have been sold. Taking place in and around the fictional City 17, Half-Life 2 follows the scientist Gordon Freeman. Dr. Freeman is thrust into a dystopian environment in which the aftermath of the Black Mesa Incident has come to bear fully upon human society. Freeman is forced to fight against increasingly unfavorable odds in order to survive. In his struggle, he is joined by various allies, including former Black Mesa colleagues, oppressed citizens of City 17, and the Vortigaunts.

Half-Life 2: Episode One

Half-Life 2: Episode One is the first of a trilogy of episodes continuing from the events of Half-Life 2. Episode One was originally released in 2006 for Windows as a standalone game. The game takes place immediately after the end of Half-Life 2, in and around the war-torn City 17. Episode One continues to follow scientist Gordon Freeman and his companion Alyx Vance as they deal with the events of Half-Life 2 and humanity's continuing struggle against the Combine. The game was well-received, although it was criticised for its short length and lack of new features.

Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Half-Life 2: Episode Two is the second of a trilogy of episodes continuing from the events of Half-Life 2. First made available as part of the The Orange Box, Episode Two focuses on expansive environments, travel, and less linear play. Gordon Freeman and the series' other major characters move away from City 17 to the surrounding wilderness following the closing events of Episode One. The game was well-received by critics, being praised for its new environments and features.

Portal

Portal is a single-player first-person action/puzzle game that was first made available as part of The Orange Box. The game consists primarily of a series of puzzles which must be solved by teleporting the player's character and other simple objects using the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device - the "portal gun". The goal of each puzzle is to reach an exit point. The portal gun and the unusual physics it creates are the emphasis of this game. Portal was a surprise favorite of The Orange Box, receiving widespread praise and several Game of the Year awards.

Team Fortress 2

Team Fortress 2 is a multiplayer team-based first-person shooter that is a sequel to the original Team Fortress mod for Quake. First made available as part of The Orange Box, Team Fortress 2 is built around two opposing teams competing for an objective. Players can choose to play as one of nine classes in these teams, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Unlike other Source-powered games, which aim to create realistic settings, Team Fortress 2 uses cartoon-style theming and non-realistic graphics. Team Fortress 2 was very well received by both critics and consumers alike, with praise for the unique settings and characters not seen before in a multiplayer game.

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