The Orange Box features three top-rated new games by Valve: Half-Life 2: Episode Two, the second installment in the Half-Life 2 episodic trilogy; Team Fortress 2, the sequel to the game that put class-based, multiplayer team warfare on the map; and Portal, the game that blends puzzles, first person action, and adventure gaming to produce an experience like no other. To bring gamers up to date with the Half-Life 2 universe, The Orange Box also includes Half-Life 2, the best-selling and highest-rated action game series of all time, and the episodic debut Half-Life 2: Episode One-together, more than 30 hours of award-winning gameplay. Purchasers of the PC version of The Orange Box who already own Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One can conveniently "gift" them to a friend from within Steam. The Orange Box is now shipping to retailers and will be available for a suggested retail price of $49.95 on the PC and $59.95 on the Xbox 360 console system. Contact your local stores for details.
When reviewing a game, one thing I try to avoid is giving a game a higher-than-deserved rating. I gave Episode 1 a 94%, which to me is an outstanding result. After playing through Episode Two, I realize how much better Episode One could have been. Not only with gameplay, but with story as well. With all of that said, I am awarding Episode Two a 95%. It's an outstanding experience from beginning to end, and is not a game you are going to beat and set aside right away. Without question, if you are a fan of the Half-Life 2 saga, Episode Two is a no-brainer. If you've never had the opportunity to play the series, then there are no excuses to not try it now, as it's available for both current-gen consoles as well.