| Re: Orange Box PS3 Reviews
Here is my opinion on the orange box package after my experiences with it on the ps3. Please note that although i'll try to omit spoilers for a few of the games, it'll be pointless to review certain ones without including details about the gameplay involved.
Half-Life 2
Half-life 2 is a linear plot-driven fps game with a clever physics engine which is used to set up puzzles, traps and set-pieces. The game is set 30 odd years after the original, and besides the odd reference for fans of the original, there is no need for you to have played half-life before in order to 'get' this one or lack any enjoyment from it. As a gaming experience, it's second to none, and even after playing the pc version 3 years ago the game still feels fresh and serves as a solid benchmark to similar games of how to make an excellent interactive experience.
Graphically in comparison with the pc version; my pc could never run it with all the bells and whistles on like the big gaming rigs could. The game engine that it runs on (the source engine) has had some significant improvements over the years - of which all the games in the orange box now benefit from (HDR lighting, motion blur post processing, enhanced lip-syncing and other great features). These are thoughtful additions and mean that even though the graphics look slightly dated next to the best looking titles on the ps3 (cod4, uncharted), the extra effects still give it that current-gen edge.
The game runs on average around 30 fps even in large outdoor sections. The only factor which affects the framerate drastically is the buildup of many enemies on screen. Reading the reviews claiming there were parts which were 'unplayable' proved to be extremely wrong. Even during the strider sections it barely dropped below 20 and never hindered me.
The sound is identical to other versions in every respect other than the omission of 5.1 surround over optical. This could be an important factor for some people so it's worth bringing up. It didn't matter as much to me, but it would've been nice and something hopefully that could be patched in the future.
The save system is still as effective as before - as you pass through each 'checkpoint', the game will load for upto 8-10 seconds and automatically quicksave for you. A slight problem was upon dying, the amount of time it would take to re-load from either the last checkpoint you had it, or the last time you quicksaved. This would easily be in excess of 20 seconds and at times was frustrating.
Other flaws (not exclusive to the the ps3 version) include: there are very few variations of enemies, scenery is constantly re-used and the squads you aquire later on feel a little weak to be helpful. Many people complain about the abrupt ending, but with the addition of both episodes one and two in this package it's not an issue.
Even so, it's one of the greatest videogames i've ever played and a true masterpiece in storytelling, design and gameplay. You feel fantastic upon finishing it and there are memories from almost all of it that will stick with you as being some of the best gaming has to offer.
Score = 10/10
Half-Life 2: Episode One - ***SPOILERS***
This is the weakest point in the Half-Life 2 universe for me for a few reasons. After the climax of the previous game and battling your way through the austere and opressive citadel, the game forces you back in there to complete another task. To me that just wasn't a fun prospe(k?)t and one that I entered into with very little interest.
Thankfully, the citadel sections were improved over the last game, and you spend the majority of it with the enhanced gravity gun which is a great deal of fun to play with and adds an extra dimension to the puzzles and killing (picking a guard up by his boot and flinging him into a stream of pure energy results in him being reduced to dark bubbles of matter - still very satisfying!).
After this you move through the streets of city17 again, now not completely under combine control and the game picks up. You spend quite a while underground and your relationship with alyx becomes strong - often you rely on her to take out enemies whilst you're working out a puzzle. She never feels too scripted and makes the squad-based npcs seem a little wooden in comparison.
Outside of the plot - and a minor niggle - but the game did not recognise the control configuration that i'd set up from the previous game either, so I had to go into the control settings and change everything (including stick sensitivity).
The main problem I had with episode one is how much it felt like the latter section of HL2. There was not enough variation in the environments, objects, enemies, weapons or gameplay (save for a few excellent puzzles) for my liking. Maybe I expected too much - it is still upto the very high standard of the original and the relationship progression between you and alyx is an excellent addition.
Graphically this was near on idential to the previous game on the system. There was a very noticable drop in framerate during a water/electricity-based puzzle section, but other than that it was as slick as ever.
Score = 8/10
Half-Life 2: Episode Two ***SPOILERS***
This is the episode that really starts to showcase the originality that I felt was missing from the previous one.
New enemies and much more 'organic' environments are introduced, storyline twists and sudden events really shock you, some of the puzzles and action set-pieces are every bit as, if not better than some of the series best - an excellent new vehicle is available and the graphics are improved to a standard that puts it on par with cutting-edge titles.
Due to that last point, this is also the title that suffers the most from the slowdown. I was quite disappointed at how much there was in parts - again, it was never quite enough to prove unplayable, but drops to 10fps and below are common enough to make you feel like that.
I've not finished this title, but i'll make sure to update this thread when I do. I can see it's the longest out of the two episodes, and at halfway through, feels more than twice the game episode one was. It brings the excitement back and due to that i'll award it:
Score = 9/10
Portal
Portal changes the way you think about videogames forever. If half-life 2 evolved games by introducing the laws of gravity, portal revolutionises them by introducing a mechanic that changes the term 'first person shooter' into 'first person thinker'.
You're an unnamed 'test subject' in an almost clinical laboratory - and over the course of the 'experiment chambers' you're given access to a weapon named the portal gun.
It works like this: You fire the blue trigger, a blue portal appears, you fire the orange trigger, an orange portal appears. You go through the blue portal, you come out the orange portal. In essence, it's as simple as that.
The beauty of it is that the laws of physics discern how exactly you are able to navigate through those two portals. Jumping through the blue one at a great height, will see you shooting through the orange one at the same speed you went in. This leads to some truly mind-bending situations and enables puzzles to be set up taking full advantage of this.
The game itself is very short, I finished it in under four hours - so in comparison with the rest of the orange box package you could say it's a sweet side attraction to the main event. But it's really not. You'll go back in again and again just to play about with the physics and well, just to experience it all again.
There is a sembelance of a plot throughout the game, but the lack of that plot being the main focus of the game is what makes it so brilliant. There are sections during the experimental chamber sections where you're able to 'sneak' outside of where you're supposed to be, exposing 'behind the scenes' and linking (abeit very vaguely) the game into the half life universe, which adds something special and almost scares you into wanting the game to be nothing more than a series of tests!
Graphically, this is the poorest out of the orange box titles - which owes a lot to the portal mechanic, but also to the setting. The framerate issue raises it's head at a few points, but not many and again, takes nothing away from the gameplay.
Technically, it's the most impressive game i've ever played. How a videogame can give you vertigo or resemble motion in such a realistic way is beyond me but it's something that has to be commended. A true pioneer, something that should be experienced by everyone, becuase of that I can only give it full marks.
Score = 10/10
Team Fortress 2
I've only played this twice due not getting on with the cartoon/pixar-styled graphics. The slowdown and interface compared with other modern team/class based shooters like Call Of Duty 4 seems paltry in comparison, but again i've spent very little time with it so i'm not in a position to review it properly or give it a score.
Overall View
The orange box really is an absolute bargain. Collected here are some of the greatest games you can play not just for the playstation 3, but for any platform. If you've not played any of these game before it's an absolute must, you'd be a fool not to. If you've played some of these before on the pc then it's more than worth delving into the Half Life 2 universe again in the comfort of your living room on the big screen. And finally if you've never played Portal before i'd argue that £30 would be more than worth the price for it alone.
There are framerate issues at times, but unless you're a hardcore pc gamer, you're not going to care. The games themselves walk all over any flaws you care to think of and leave you only feeling utterly and completely blown away like nothing else on the system can.
Score = 10/10, by far.
Last edited by Zeromajor; 17-04-2008 at 12:17 PM.
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15-12-2007, 12:33 AM
Quite simply the finest team-based multiplayer game I've had the pleasure to play.
E. & O.E.
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