Support NeoGAF

[Edag Plata]

7.0 Presentation
An otherwise super-stylized game suffers dramatically under technical issues and dreadful load times.
7.5 Graphics
These games look really nice. Too bad the framerate stutters when they’re trying to look their nicest.
9.0 Sound
Superb voice acting. Truly a work of art. The music, while used sparsely, is executed at just the right times and with enough style to put any badass to shame.
8.0 Gameplay
Orange Box is a blast, but beware: the framerate will interfere with your ability to play the game smoothly.
9.0 Lasting Appeal
Get past the technical issues and there’s enough content in this fantastic collection to last you a long, long time.

8.4 OVERALL
Impressive
(out of 10 / not an average)

Closing Comments
All five games in The Orange Box are awesome, and even though we had problems here and there with some of the control choices, the experience of playing Half-Life 2 games should not be missed. Valve should be counted among the few that simply know how to tell a good story. However, the PS3 version is without a doubt inferior, so think carefully before investing the money (if you only own a PS3). The choice is yours, Mr. Freeman.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/840/840505p1.html

Here we go...

 

[Kyoufu]

Thats a good score.

 

[Wario64]

So Amir0x wins this time?

 

[mr_bishiuk]

Great games, great package but are you supporting shitty ports by buying it?

 

[Roat]

Here we go...

It's not like we weren't given enough notice. The PS3 version has technical issues. By technical I mean 'we couldn't be bothered getting it to run like the other versions'

 

[Kyoufu]

Great games, great package but are you supporting shitty ports by buying it?

The last thing PS3 needs right now is software being boycotted by potential buyers.

 

[Edag Plata]

It's not like we weren't given enough notice. The PS3 version has technical issues. By technical I mean 'we couldn't be bothered getting it to run like the other versions'

Oh I know, but it doesn't mean people aren't going to find things to fight and/or complain about.

 

[PuppetSlave]

SO there are framerate problems but not a disaster atleast. Thats good.

I have a friend who I will tell to get the 360 version but I already know he will not listen...

 

[sphinx]

The 360 version of this game game received 9.5 and it's considered by many the game of the year.

this is yet one more case of PS3 just getting a lazy port, isn't it?

 

[AniHawk]

PS3 owners that don't have a 360 or play PC games: BUY THIS

 

[AranhaHunter]

PS3 owners that don't have a 360 or play PC games: DON'T BUY THIS

.

 

[No Means Nomad]

SO there are framerate problems but not a disaster atleast. Thats good.

A whole point less in terms of how enjoyable the game is perceived is pretty much a disaster if you ask me.

 

[Roat]

Great games, great package but are you supporting shitty ports by buying it?

Probably. But are you going to miss out on good games for your console that you're not going to be able to play otherwise?

Sure, Gabe probably doesn't give a stuff if you buy the PS3 version or not, but if it's your only option then it's worth it, even if the framerate isn't great. It's the same if you have a lower-end PC.

 

[Zzoram]

SO there are framerate problems but not a disaster atleast. Thats good.

I have a friend who I will tell to get the 360 version but I already know he will not listen...

You friend likes buying inferior product when there is a better option?

 

[Brashnir]

You friend likes buying inferior product when there is a better option?

fanboy goggles are a bitch

 

[Geek]

A whole point less on terms of how enjoyable the game is perceived is pretty much a disaster if you ask me.

Please. The game is far from a disaster. It has its bad moments (I didn't mind the load times, personally), but the frame rate problems can't prevent it from being one of the best games of the year.

 

[Zzoram]

Probably. But are you going to miss out on good games for your console that you're not going to be able to play otherwise?

Sure, Gabe probably doesn't give a stuff if you buy the PS3 version or not, but if it's your only option then it's worth it, even if the framerate isn't great. It's the same if you have a lower-end PC.

Actually a lower end PC can have better framerate, they just turn off motion blur and turn off HDR.

 

[Slavik81]

.

WTF?

 

[Zzoram]

fanboy goggles are a bitch

Seriously. I just can't fathom how someone with both a 360 and PS3 could justify buying Orange Box on PS3.

 

[AranhaHunter]

I was gonna get this if it got good reviews, it doesn't look like it will, so I'm thanking Valve and EA for saving me 60+tax that will now go towards booze for New Years.

 

[AranhaHunter]

WTF?

Why would you buy a shitty, lazy 2 month old port when there's a superior FPS game out the same day (UT3)?

 

[Roat]

Actually a lower end PC can have better framerate, they just turn off motion blur and turn off HDR.

It depends, that lower end PC might be a Pentium Pro with 16mb of RAM

Some people enjoy higher graphics with a lesser framerate over lower settings that are smooth, it's a personal preference when you don't have the top platform available. Of course it's better that PC owners have the choice through graphics settings, but the PS3 version may be the only choice for some, and even at that it's not a bad choice.

 

[IronicallyTwisted]

Why would you buy a shitty, lazy 2 month old port when there's a superior FPS game out the same day (UT3)?

In terms of platform UT3 might be a better choice, but The Orange Box is a much better purchase if you own a X360 or PC.

 

[Roat]

Why would you buy a shitty, lazy 2 month old port when there's a superior FPS game out the same day (UT3)?

Have you played UT3? It's a completely different experience from the Orange Box. One doesn't replace the other simply because they're FPS'

 

[The Innocent X]

Valve isn't suddenly going to love PS3 because people buy this port. I'd say buy UT3, because Epic and Sony have put much more time, effort, and money into that product.

 

[WinFonda]

I'll buy it to support Gabe. He probably needs a new condo.

Edit: Never mind, forgot UT3 was coming out... Sorry Gabe You can't compete when you don't even try.

 

[Zzoram]

In terms of platform UT3 might be a better choice, but The Orange Box is a much better purchase if you own a X360 or PC.

Orange Box is also like, 100x better single player experience.

 

[herod]

I will buy UT3 when it comes out here and wait for this product to come down to the asking price that's reasonable for Portal alone.

 

[squicken]

Unfortunately, our complaints don't stop there. The remainder of our criticisms are to blame for the discrepancy in scores between the PlayStation 3 version of the game and the 360 version (the PS3 version, after all, wasn't handled entirely by Valve). The PlayStation 3 Orange Box performs far worse, and this fact just isn't up for debate. While framerate issues aren't as problematic in Half-Life 2 and Episode One, Episode Two suffers a great deal, especially during the episode's larger battles. We regret to say that some sections border on being unplayable because of the stutters, which often cause your aim to be thrown off and timing shots to be very difficult. The problem isn't persistent throughout, but when it hits, it hits hard.

More troubling still is the difference in load times. Almost all the PS3 load times are at least five seconds more than the 360, but loading a saved game/loading after death is particularly awful. These clock in at about two to three times as long as the 360 version, which slows down the gameplay considerably. Even though the PS3 Orange Box sports a quicksave feature, any benefit of this option is lost considering the overall abundance of loading.

Even in Portal, a short title that often requires a little trial and error, this problem is massive. The 360 version takes about three seconds to load your last checkpoint if you die. The PS3 version takes seventeen. It hurts.

We must also mention that during all of our Team Fortress 2 play sessions, there was a very startling delay when using explosive weapons like the Soldier's rocket launcher or the Demoman's grenade launcher. When you pull the trigger to fire, there's a very brief but noticeable delay between the recoil of the weapon and the actual delivery of the explosive. This can seriously screw up your timing when trying to lead a rocket shot, or similar attacks.

Damn that is some messed up shit.

 

[Zzoram]

Valve isn't suddenly going to love PS3 because people buy this port. I'd say buy UT3, because Epic and Sony have put much more time, effort, and money into that product.

Not that Epic cares about PS3 either, they wouldn't even make UE3 work with PS3 right until it was time for them to release their own game on PS3, AND Sony paid them extra to do it (and proudly announced this deal at E3).

Only goes to show how powerful Epic is now that UE3 is used for everything.

 

[Zzoram]

Damn that is some messed up shit.

So much for people blasting 1UP for saying it was a mess. They called it the way they saw it, and IGN just backed them up with this review.

 

[Slavik81]

Why would you buy a shitty, lazy 2 month old port when there's a superior FPS game out the same day (UT3)?

Because even a lazy 8-week-old port of Orange Box is still a better game than a great 2-week-old port of UT3.
(Ok. Fine. Actually a lack of mouse support in Orange Box might mean they're about on par.)

 

[Barnolde]

Playable for the most part, but not ideal. Makes me glad I have this on PC.

They should have gotten Gearbox to do the port, they did a great job at console HL2 and would've put in kb/m support too.

 

[SolidSnakex]

Damn that is some messed up shit.

Buy UT3 or COD4 people.

 

[Dante]

Getting UT3 tommorow

 

[Zzoram]

Playable for the most part, but not ideal, makes me glad I have this on PC.

Amen. I bought it on Steam, preordered it for the discount so I paid $45 flat for it. No tax.

 

[The Innocent X]

Not that Epic cares about PS3 either, they wouldn't even make UE3 work with PS3 right until it was time for them to release their own game on PS3, AND Sony paid them extra to do it (and proudly announced this deal at E3).

Only goes to show how powerful Epic is now that UE3 is used for everything.

Sony really messed up with the moneyhats this year. They needed to buy AC, or bioshock, and they ended up with UT3 launching barely a couple of weeks before christmas with little advertising.

Anyway, I would prefer to support a decent game than an EA port any day of the week.

 

[AranhaHunter]

Because even a lazy 8-week-old port of Orange Box is still a better game than a great 2-week-old port of UT3.

NO

 

[Zzoram]

Buy UT3 or COD4 people.

While those run better on PS3, the sad fact is Orange Box is a better game. It just sucks to have to pick, better game or better framerate?

 

[ChryZ]

I'm not going to support this halfassness.

 

[AranhaHunter]

Orange Box is also like, 100x better single player experience.

True, and UT multiplayer is like 100x better.

 

[Zzoram]

Sony really messed up with the moneyhats this year. They needed to buy AC, or bioshock, and they ended up with UT3 launching barely a couple of weeks before christmas with little advertising.

Anyway, I would prefer to support a decent game than an EA port any day of the week.

Ubisoft supposedly asked for the money hat for AC back when they announced it as a PS3 exclusive. Apparently they never got called back, and we know how that story ended.

 

[Mindlog]

PS3 owners that don't have a 360 or play PC games: BUY THIS

Seriously.

and not too make a statement or any other crap reason

Other than you enjoy great games.

 

[No Means Nomad]

Why would you buy a shitty, lazy 2 month old port when there's a superior FPS game out the same day (UT3)?

You're comparing yellow apples to green apples here.

 

[SolidSnakex]

While those run better on PS3, the sad fact is Orange Box is a better game. It just sucks to have to pick, better game or better framerate?

Support the ones from developers who actually try to give you the experience you'd expect.

 

[AranhaHunter]

While those run better on PS3, the sad fact is Orange Box is a better game. It just sucks to have to pick, better game or better framerate?

Fact according to who? You?

 

[Zzoram]

True, and UT multiplayer is like 100x better.

Wrong. There is a reason TF2 has 5000 servers and UT3 has like 30 (on PC). UT3 might be a bit better in some game types, but TF2 is great at what it does, and the fact that it's part of a 5 game bundle for the same price as UT3 makes it the better value proposition.

 

[Roat]

and they ended up with UT3 launching barely a couple of weeks

You guys do know that UT is no Gears of War right, it's not going to single handedly move a lot of consoles. I see a lot of PS3 owners holding it up as a bright light who have never played a game in the UT series. It's a hardcore niche game, and each iteration has become more focused since UT'99.

 

[Zzoram]

Fact according to who? You?

you think UT3 is better than Orange Box? Orange Box has gotten unanimously better reviews (on PC where they both are released) and is a serious GOTY contender, whereas UT3 doesn't even come to mind when talking GOTY.

 

[The Innocent X]

You guys do know that UT is no Gears of War right, it's not going to single handedly move a lot of consoles. I see a lot of PS3 owners holding it up as a bright light who have never played a game in the UT series. It's a hardcore niche game, and each iteration has become more focused since UT'99.

Well, we don`t know how much money was involved, but I don`t see why Sony would put the money in if they didn`t expect it to sell well. I suppose they got a usable version of UE from it, which is one thing. They need to make smarter choices, because they have poured money into games and aren't seeing much back (first party and moneyhats), whereas the "niche" titles like bioshock that MS is buying up are selling.