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The gaming download shop Steam, where you can purchase and download the five-game compilation known as The Orange Box, has been growing at a vast rate recently with a library now spanning 200 games.
When Steam launched in 2003 it was widely criticised for being clunky. But, thanks to improved software and 8Mbit/sec broadband, it's easy to download The Orange Box in just a few hours.
The centre piece of Valve's new creation is Half-Life 2: Episode 2. The game follows on from Half-Life2: Episode 1's plot by putting you and co-star Alyx in grave danger with massive portals opening across the planet that are set to bring in the Combine (inter-dimensional war mongers) who aim to take over the planet.
It sounds like just another first-person shooter, but the plot and voice acting is just as good as in previous Half-Life titles. It also looks amazing graphically and, although not DirectX 10, the game engine now takes full advantage of quad-core PCs. Valve has seen sense in including Half-Life 2 and Episode 1 in the pack so you can catch up on the plot.
Another key corner of The Orange Box is the long overdue Team Fortress 2 - a multiplayer shoot 'em up. Originally announced in 1999, it has changed out of all recognition from early previews - both visually and the way it plays.
It is cell-shaded and looks similar to Pixar's movie The Incredibles, where each character has his own distinctive voice and phrases. Every time you die the frame freezes and zooms in on your killer, which reveals the facial expression he's pulling. This can be anything from extreme concentration to a sick smile, which left us laughing out loud on several occasions.
It's a different animal to the original Half-Life modification in terms of game play too. There are no grenades and more territorial maps than 'capture the flag' versions. Weapon changes and character abilities (spies, scouts and medics are now more useful) have been tweaked to make this a more balanced game than before. The medics' health ray gun is the biggest innovation, which allows them to heal from a distance. A greater emphasis is placed on offence - medics can apply 10 seconds invincibility on a team mate, which results in all out assaults.
If you prefer classic Team Fortress action, Fortress Forever (www.fortress-forever.com, not included) has just been released. It's one of the better free Half-Life 2 modifications that stays true to original Team Fortress game-play.
As if the there wasn't enough comedy and graphical gold in The Orange Box, another game, called Portal, blows you away mentally. It's brain training in three dimensions where you manipulate space by creating wormholes with a portal gun - a mind-boggling concept that takes some getting used to.
For example, you can fire one portal into a regular horizontal wall and another into the ceiling. When you walk through the horizontal portal you'll drop through the ceiling, all of which happens in the same room. Seeing your character in the exit portal as you enter it is best described as freaky.
It's a puzzle-based game where you simply have to make it to an end point. Some levels require you to build up huge momentum by jumping through floor portals, popping out at a greater height, and then repeating the process until you have incredible speed.
We thoroughly enjoyed The Orange Box and were also impressed with Steam, from where you can initiate online play for $50 (£25) per year, which is great value for money. For old-school gamers, The Orange Box can be bought on DVD, albeit at the higher price of £35.
See also:
A creative and gripping plot makes this a top contender for game of the year 24 Sep 2007All Action & Adventure GamesTags: Games
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