In contrast to the other games in the Orange Box, Portal's graphics are clean, almost sterile. The environments you'll explore are devoid of life, adding to the loneliness you'll feel throughout the game. The only company to be found in the Aperture Science Center is GLaDOS, the robotic guide through each testing chamber. "She" is official, manic, and often hilarious, commenting on your progress and sharing tidbits of information. Through "her" voice, Valve reveals a surprisingly gripping story, infused with equal parts humor and suspense. Even though Portal is only around five hours in length, each moment you spend in its world is fascinating. What was thought to be filler turns out to be the most exciting experience of The Orange Box.

Just taking those three games into account, The Orange Box is a steal at its retail price. When you consider that you also get Half-Life 2 and Episode 1, it’s a no brainer to recommend this purchase. Add in the huge assortment of achievements that will draw you back to these games multiple times, and the excellent integration with Xbox Live, and you’ll probably pass out from excitement. There isn’t a better value for the Xbox this holiday season, and the quality of each game is far above even other high-profile titles this year. Valve has put together an impressive package that demands your attention. Now you just need to clear your schedule until late March to fully enjoy it all.