Portal 2 Review

Though Blake wrote a great review for Portal 2 upon its release, I wanted to share my experience with the great sci-fi puzzler.

Portal 2 is a sequel to the first Portal iteration that shocked many gamers with its innovation and it is a great follow up. The game has you still controlling the first protagonist Chell who is still in Aperture Science. You wake up in what seems to be a cheap motel room when you are given a quick tutorial by a voice recording that is tasked to make sure that you are stable. Once you go back to your bed and wake up once again you realize that you couldn’t be further away from a motel.

Aperture Science is falling apart thanks to GLaDOS being destroyed and most, if not all of the test subjects have died. You meet a charmingly British robot named Wheatley who will act as your guide for parts of the story. The storyline of Portal 2 is even more engaging than the first. The original Portal was built on the gameplay and character development to drive the story. In Portal 2 the story progresses directly through the two main voiced characters, GLaDOS and Wheatley, but also keeps the original idea of using the gameplay to make the story move along. The combination of more character interaction and the gameplay elements make it a story that defines the second game as a true sequel.

Portal 2 also lovingly builds on the great gameplay experience that Portal was well-known for. The standard two portal system is still the base of all of the puzzles but they’ve added lots of new ways for them to interact with the new objects and obstacles. Light tunnels, light bridges, lasers, refractor cubes, repulsion gel, and more litter the test chambers that you will face. You’ll often find yourself playing with the new features just like you did with the original. A moment I’m sure most gamers had was the idea of shooting a portal right below and above you to create a never ending fall. This sort of “tickle of fun” can be found with the other new mechanics making you feel like it’s your first time playing again. Bouncing on the repulsion gel is a personal favourite.

The coop aspect of the game is also great fun. It’s a pleasure to have a friend join in the puzzling gameplay that was always a solitary affair. The coop campaign is a separate mode and does not take place in the singleplayer line of chambers. It’s a great addition for them to throw in and will extend your gameplay even more.

My one and only real gripe with Portal 2 is how short the experience is. I managed to finish the singleplayer mode in about 6-8 hours with the time I spent stuck or frustrated on certain puzzles. I would definitely recommend it for fans of the first, but if you are unsure as a gamer than renting it should be your first resort.

Portal 2 is my favourite game this year so far. With the very addicting puzzling gameplay and engaging character development it was some of the best fun you can squeeze out of your entertainment regardless of its length. Perfect score!

 

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