May 23, 2007 - Valve's goal with Half-Life 2: The Orange Box is to offer a great single-player title (Episode Two), a unique gameplay experience (Portal), and an awesome multiplayer game (Team Fortress 2). From our play date at Valve, it appears the legendary company will be able to deliver on all three aspects. While Episode Two is one sweet shooter and Portal is the next evolution in puzzle games, it's Team Fortress 2 that proved the most impressive.

Team Fortress 2 is a fast-paced class-based online shooter. Valve's challenge in reviving the long-dormant TF franchise was creating a great experience no matter which of the nine classes a player chose. Along with making each class visually different, Valve managed to infuse each class with its own personality. Each requires a different type of strategy; but all nine classes are useful. And, more importantly, each is fun to play.

Though Valve continues to work on balancing issues, TF2 at this stage in development feels fairly close to having it nailed down. Any class, when used properly, can be effective (and deadly). Some deal destruction in obvious forms (say, a giant machinegun), while others do their damage indirectly. Thanks to a comprehensive stat-tracking tool, you'll be able to measure every aspect of your performance.

Of course, nothing can replace the joy of laying waste to another opponent. TF2 gives the added satisfaction of a kill cam. Snipe an opponent and the last thing they see before respawning is a still shot of your murderous pose. Valve is considering allowing the shots to be saved, so great moments in TF2 mayhem can be preserved for the next decade.

Though October is a long time to wait for Team Fortress 2, it's never too early to choose your favorite class. To that end, we've assembled details and impressions on all nine classes.

Demoman
Primary Weapon: Sticky Bomb Launcher
Secondary Weapon: Grenade Launcher
Melee Weapon: Bottle

Valve says: A versatile combat class packing an absurd amount of high explosives, the Demoman is great at holding a map's choke points. Whether he's shutting down an enemy route by laying sticky bombs along it, shelling an area with long distance grenade fire, or simply blowing up anything that blocks the team's way, the Demoman is the class of choice for anyone interested in making a lot of noise.

IGN says: If you can't aim and you love big explosions, the Demoman was made for you. In an assault on a checkpoint, the Demoman is best as a support member, launching grenades from long range. Thanks to some of the great physics in TF2, truly skilled players will learn to bounce their grenades off walls and ceilings in order to hit targets while remaining behind cover.

The true effectiveness of the Demoman is in holding down areas. Sticky grenades can be laid out as thick as carpet around a base or checkpoint. Either the enemy will stumble into the glowing grenades or you can detonate manually. If you get creative, you can hide grenades in hard to spot places and give the opponent an explosive surprise.

Engineer
Primary Weapon: Shotgun
Secondary Weapon: Pistol
Melee Weapon: Wrench
Other Weapon: Construction PDA

Valve says: The defensive backbone of any team, the Engineer builds useful devices such as sentry guns, health & ammo dispensers, and personal teleporters. Tactical placement of these devices and the ability to maintain them under fire are the keys to being a successful Engineer. If you're better at planning and thinking than fighting, you're a natural born Engineer.

IGN says: On the surface, the Engineer would seem like a boring class to play. After all, they are terrible combatants with weak short-range weapons at their disposal. But the Engineer turns out to be one of the most enjoyable classes to play in TF2.

As an Engineer you must think tactically, placing a turret, teleporter, or ammo dispenser in the most advantageous positions. The building of each device can be sped up by hammering the construct repeatedly with your wrench. Multiple Engineers assembling turrets together can prove incredibly effective. Turrets can be upgraded multiple times, evolving from standard machinegun to rocket launcher. Every enemy killed by your turret counts towards your stats, so while the Engineer is not much use in direct combat, you still enjoy the statistical spoils of war.