When talking about lasting value in video games, there are many facets of the concept that apply to different individuals. Some appreciate games where the content is short but action-packed, while others enjoy a lengthy and deep experience. Whatever your preference, one thing is for certain: The Orange Box is the gaming package that by either definition is the very epitome of value. You'd be hard pressed not to find something to like in at least one of the five games included. In fact, it's quite likely that you'll be impressed with everything on offer here. The content within is of such a high level of quality and variety that having it in abundance is just the icing on the cake.

Let's start with what you get. Valve has decided to take the entire Half-Life 2 saga and combine it with two additional games to form The Orange Box. As such, both the original Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One make a reappearance, and in combination with Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, and Portal, make up the entire product. If you've played the original game and Episode One already, fear not, as the new material more than makes up for whatever may be familiar territory. If not, then you're in for a treat, because the previously released games are among some of the best first-person shooters of all time.

It's business as usual in the Half-Life universe.

In case you haven't played either of the first two games, you should do so just familiarize yourself with the story. Half-Life 2 and Episode One take place in and around City 17, which is one of the last human cities in existence. An alien race known as the Combine has taken over most of the world and formed a puppet government to maintain control. You play the role of Gordon Freeman, a scientist from the original Half-Life who was previously in stasis until the beginning of the events of Half-Life 2. Since Gordon has the exceptional ability to keep himself alive in dire circumstances, he's called upon by old friends to help assist in the destruction of the Combine, and the events of these two games follow that narrative pretty closely.

Half-Life 2 was a masterpiece of a shooter when it was released in 2004, and it still holds up well today. The magnificent combination of gun combat, physics-based puzzles, and superbly timed pacing have become staples of the series at this point. Episode One generally follows suit, but at the same time, seems as if Valve wanted to test the waters a bit without taking too many risks. As such, the game wound up being a little too similar to what was previously established, and it was over before it could relinquish itself of that dilemma. The episode was by no means a bad game, but these issues now make it stand out as the weak point in the series.

The good news is that Episode Two is easily the best entry in the Half-Life saga yet. It starts right after the ending of Episode One, with you narrowly escaping what would normally be a deadly train wreck. The Citadel has been destroyed and you're forged with the task of rejoining your allies with the intelligence you've acquired. Alyx once again accompanies you at the start of the game, but it won't be long before you split up and partner with other characters. This change from Episode One was an excellent design choice, and is a large part of what makes Episode Two so much more fun. You're never around doing same thing with the same person for too long, and that makes the game flow so smoothly that you'll barely notice the hours flying by.

This episode also reintroduces vehicles into the mix, with large sections of the game requiring you to drive from point A to point B. The car you're given this time around is faster than anything from Half-Life 2, although there's no gun mount or anything like that. There are also numerous departures from what was previously typical gameplay. In one sequence, for example, you are required to avoid killing a particularly nasty enemy, as it contains resources that you need for a vital mission. It's fast and it does a ton of damage if hits you, so you're forced to stealthily navigate through smaller caverns in order to get where you have to go. The final battle sequence is also pretty unique, in that it combines both the driving and gunplay in a continuous fashion that's never been done in Half-Life before. When you combine all of this with a much improved storyline, fun and memorable characters, and refinements to the existing formula, you're left with a game that is nothing short of exceptional.

Portal, another new game in the Orange Box, is a unique take on the puzzle genre. It was originally based off of a student project called Narbacular Drop, which Valve liked so much that they hired the developers to work for them. The result is an interesting first-person game that takes you through an obstacle-ridden course with only the use of a portal gun to reach the end. Using the weapon is simple enough; you fire it where you want to go, and then shoot another portal to walk through to your destination. Since each portal has no designated entrance or exit, you can effectively go back and forth at will. This ties in to a lot of puzzles, because you're often required to create portals on the fly and make multiple trips through each. You can also use portals to manipulate other objects in the environment as well. Momentum also plays a rather large role. The concept makes sense; if you repeatedly fall from a high to low portal, you'll gain speed just as if you were falling down an endless pit. With enough velocity, you can launch yourself from the upper portal to areas that would normally be inaccessible.

Don't be fooled by the Hunter's size - it's just as deadly as a Strider.

Many of the later sections utilize all of these mechanics to form a satisfying, albeit a bit challenging, puzzle game. Timing eventually becomes an important factor, so mastering all of the puzzle solving techniques is essential to finishing the game. This may sound like no easy feat, but it's made much more enjoyable by the artificial intelligence that guides you through the levels. While it offers a few useful tips in the beginning of the game, its sole purpose seems to be to hinder your progress. More often than not, the AI will spurt some downright hilarious piece of dialog, which is usually in the form of a quip so insane that you'll wonder what's wrong with the thing. This culminates in an epic final sequence that takes the dialog to a level of hilarity that is rarely heard in video games. With the writing as good as it is, it makes the audio alone one of the most compelling aspects of Portal.

Once you've finished the standard nineteen levels, which takes about 3 or 4 hours, you can tackle additional challenges and advanced maps. The advanced maps take a few of the original levels and slightly modify them to increase their difficulty. For instance, one map is made much harder by disabling your ability to eliminate turrets, while another takes away your ability to plant a portal in what used to be a vital position. These maps are much more challenging, and will definitely wrack your brain a bit. Challenges are a bit different. While the maps are the same, there are added restrictions like the inability to take a certain amount of steps, or being forced to utilize a specific number of portals. There is also the option to open and load additional maps, which is an indicator that Valve plans to release more in the future. And that's the only real downside to Portal; after it's all said and done, it will leave you wanting more.