32 MAXIMUMPC OCTOBER 2007
HALF-LIFE 2 BY ANY OTHER NAME
The Orange Box
Valve calls its latest addition to the Half-Life series The Orange Box,
but we call it freaking awesome. With the newly updated Source
engine—now with better graphics, courtesy of increased system
requirements at the shallow end of the pool—Gordon Freeman and
Alyx have never looked better.
By ditching support for legacy DirectX 8 graphics cards, Valve
opened the door for a much better looking Half-Life that is superior
to both Episode 1 and Lost Coast.
Battling the pack AI of the new hunters is well and good, but
we’re nearly as excited about the hot puzzle action that Portal prom-
ises, and certain editors are actively lusting over Team Fortress 2.11 GAMES
THAT WILL
YOUR PC