Half Life 2: The Orange Box By James Ritchie By James Ritchie on Nov 13, 2007 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

This one is a no-brainer. Five of the greatest games of the modern era, bundled together at a price point that puts the value of other similarly-priced titles to shame. The Half-Life franchise originated in a critically acclaimed FPS that was released almost a decade ago, and has since spawned a sequel and two expansion episodes - both of which are contained on The Orange Box. If you haven't played Half-Life 2 or its counterparts, you owe it to yourself to pick up this package - its one of the most engrossing, engaging and titillating shooter experiences you're likely ever to enjoy. Rich in atmosphere and full of those 'wow' moments that make gaming such a great hobby, no one can refute that Half-Life 2 has made an indelible mark on the gaming landscape. The two successive episodes uphold the legacy of their forebearer, while delivering unique and diverse experiences in a genre that is plagued by staticity and sluggish progress.

Portal is a refreshing, startling and surprisingly humorous blend of FPS, puzzle games, and a malange of other elements that combine to deliver yet another mindblowing experience, and leave you hungry for more. Based on an indie project from the PC called 'Narbacular Drop,' the game sees you grapple with a number of mind-bending conundrums armed only with a gun that fires portals - gateways that allow you to manipulate the environment around you by transporting yourself, and objects, across vast distances, into other spaces, and away from danger.

Team Fortress 2 takes the Half-Life user mod of yonder and kits it with the trappings of the source engine - courtesy of some slick cel-shaded visuals. You'll select a class, and vie for victory with a small team of bretheren in some cleverly-designed settings. The balance of classes and fun gunplay make TF2 a winner, however there was some latency issues, and a lack of a strong community (though I believe this is in contrast to the PC version).

Overall, a must for shooter fans.