Portal 2 Metacritic user score pounded

By Fred Dutton Published 19 April, 2011

Mutiny at DLC prices, game length, ARG.

Despite bringing in some of the highest review scores of the year so far, the PC version of Portal 2 is taking an absolute battering on its Metacritic user score page.

Whereas its straight Metacritic rating currently sits at a very healthy 95, its PC user score average is a dismal 5.1.

Posters are rallying around four main complaints, with the game's online store apparently causing the most uproar. As detailed on Rock Paper Shotgun, Valve has included day one DLC that asks users to shell out up to £5 a pop for various non-essential cosmetic items and gestures for their co-op robot.

Secondly, many are complaining that the campaign is too short, offering only around four hours of gameplay.

Some are also arguing that the PC version is a straight port of the console version, probably prompted by a "Please don't turn off your console" message that appears when you save the game.

Finally, Valve's ARG Potato Sack ruse – which asked users to shell out for a bundle of indie games in order to help unlock the game on Steam before its published release date - seems to have backfired on them, with many laying into the marketing campaign in their 0/10 reviews.

"It's shorter than some internet flash games i've played, is loaded with day 1 DLC, and has a terrible port from consoles. The price is 900% what it should be for what essentially amounts to less effort than most oblivion mods," wrote one reviewer.

"Ridiculous DLC on day 1!" stated another. "And both endings have been spoilt virally by Valve. And while the console versions were leaked 2 weeks early, the PC version was still subject to the gimmicky grab for cash to allow for a faster unlock via steam. Is this going to be the future of PC gaming? No wonder that PC gaming is dying."

The PlayStation 3 version has also come under attack, with its user score currently at 5.4, while the Xbox 360 version has gotten off lightly, with a 6.6 rating.

While complaints about the DLC and ARG campaign are arguably valid, the claims regarding its length are hugely exaggerated, and that save screen message is likely just an unfortunate slip-up on Valve's part.

"There's simply too much game here for it never to falter – but it hardly ever does," wrote Eurogamer's Oli Welsh in his 10/10 review. "It's so generous and complete, so satisfying in each moment and in the whole, that a momentary lull, an overused mechanic or a cheap gag seem like trivial flaws."

Regarding the console port accusations, he wrote, "Digital Foundry will present a full multi-format Portal 2 comparison soon, but for now let's note that only the consoles offer split-screen co-op, while PC and Mac are arguably the best showcase for Valve's crisp visuals and precise controls."

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (110) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • M4RV #1 1 year ago

    While complaints about the DLC and ARG campaign are arguably valid, the claims regarding its length are hugely exaggerated, and that save screen message is likely just an unfortunate slip-up on Valve's part.

    ^ ^ ^ ^

    Playing Devil's Advocate...?! Nice.

  • Haunted_Tree #2 1 year ago

    Someone always has to spoil the party ...

    Enjoy it for what it is - a perfectly realised game world with unparallelled design and a self-aware sense of humour - it may be short but boy is it sweet.
    Edited by Haunted_Tree at 19/04/11 @ 17:29

  • jonbwfc #3 1 year ago

    Is the notion that 'PC Gaming is dying' at all to do with the idea that a percentage of PC gamers seem to be arch tossers who the average normal gamer wouldn't want to share a bus with, let alone a co-op game?

  • kinky_mong #4 1 year ago

    @jonbwfc: Is that percentage very close to 100%?

  • RodHull #5 1 year ago

    I thought the PS3 version was going to be the bestest?

  • karooo #6 1 year ago

    Metacritic user scores doesnt really require a news post.

  • ThrowingTuba #7 1 year ago

    Surely nobody listens to user reviews on Metacritic?

    It's like sticking your head down a well.

  • homerramone #8 1 year ago

    A PC game thats a direct console port ? the problem with this is where ? happens the other way often enough. Dont like it ? dont buy it or buy the console version.
    As for the non-important day 1 dlc... sounds fine to me... Day 1 DLC that has clearly been removed from the full game to milk it.. now thats shit...
    Edited by homerramone at 19/04/11 @ 17:52

  • MarcusCabrera #9 1 year ago

    Why is that people whine and bitch over DLC when it's not essential to the experience? It's simple: get it and enjoy it if it's worth the price to you, if not then don't.

  • Mister-Wario #10 1 year ago

    I would expect the console version to have platform-specific terms and not the other way round.

    Also, charging for ingame gestures? After TF2's hat craze? Whaa?

  • Raz76 #11 1 year ago

    Is Metacritic user scores the basis of many purchasing decisions?

  • Mockerre #12 1 year ago

    I can get the short campaign argument. I just powered through both of them in about 12 hours (6+6). 12 hours is actually fine BUT Portal 2 - as most logical puzzlers - doesn't have any replay value whatsoever. You beat it once, there's no reason to do it again.

  • Xensor #13 1 year ago

    I took one look at the store and wondered why they bothered with overpriced cosmetic tat. Also saw the bundle nonsense on steam, ignored it completely. Ain't even seen the save message, but i ain't been looking for it. Regards the length i'm 4 hours into the campaign, loving every minute and not even looked at the multiplayer yet. Bottom line for me - the game is 10/10, the marketing balls, virals and dlc tat 1/10. But then i didn't get the game for all that extraneous bullshit :)

  • chaywa #14 1 year ago

    It's more worth bitching over the DLC courses added into Tiger Woods 12's campaign which set you back on your career than this.

    Retards will be retards I suppose.

  • tengblad #15 1 year ago

    Let's not even get into how pointless it is to post a user review on Metacritic. Close to no one actually reads or cares about these.

    The complaints that have been leveled against Portal 2 on the PC are laughable and stupid.

    Regarding game length, I've played close to seven hours of it by now and I'm still not done. Getting close to the end, sure, but ~8 hours seems like a pretty decent length for a game like this. Much longer than that and I'm fairly sure it would've overstayed its welcome.

    Day one DLC? Sure, there's a shop for hats, items, gesture etc for the co-op characters. HATS, people. Items that have no impact what-so-ever on the gameplay itself. Items that will only be seen by your co-op partner. Items that don't offer any kind of competitive advantage, or really advantage at all, to the player in possession of it.

    The console port argument is based on one line of text that, according to a Valve poster on the Steam Forums, was there due to a mix up during the certification process. Other than this insignificant line of text, people think it's a console port? It's a game developed for multiple consoles at the same time. Who cares what platform was the main development platform when the game looks and runs as well as it does? I've not noticed any bugs, had to navigate any menus using my keyboard, been unable to change my resolution, or any of the other multitude of things that are normal signs of a "crappy console port".

    As for the ARG campaign? No one forced anyone to buy it. Hell, I think it was pretty cool on Valve's part to use Portal 2 to promote a lot of awesome indie games that might not have gotten the buzz they did otherwise. It's of course unfortunate if someone feel cheated for not being able to play Portal 2 sooner, but if you spent money on the Potato pack JUST because of that, then maybe you need to get your priorities straight.

    God, I'm really annoyed by the PC gaming community for pulling stunts like this. Here we've got an awesomely produced, excellently written and acted and generally amazing game getting bashed for very, very minor issues, some of which are nothing more than problems of perception!

    It's ironic that PC gamers complain about consoles being for "kiddies". Throwing a tantrum because not every single little detail is not to your liking is not how grown people act.
    Edited by tengblad at 19/04/11 @ 18:12

  • GamesConnoisseur #16 1 year ago

    Two World II user ratings is DOUBLE that of Dragon Age II, played DA to the end, not the best game but quite entertaining in main storyline and currently doing TW and can see the attractions of deeper RPG mechanisms but quite boring and frustratings in place.

    Conclusion for me is that user ratings pounding downs are as much worth as often hyped up critics ratings, truth is somewhere in the middle and its all subjective!!

  • ChthonicEcho #17 1 year ago

    It almost hurt me physically to read some of the inane idiocy written there. On the other hand, only people as stupid as the ones who wrote that drivel will actually take that score or the associated reviews into account.

    Sure, feel free to hate the game. I'll just go back, fire it up, and have fun. Mmm, fun.

    Edit: "I thought it was a little bit short so I decided to splurge and buy the DLC pack so I could get the most out of the game. All that the DLC had was a bunch of stupid hats and dances for the robots to do. Screw this game and screw valve. I want my money back."

    13 out of 18 agreed with that review? Hilarious.
    Edited by ChthonicEcho at 19/04/11 @ 18:28

  • Skooch #18 1 year ago

    And I thought Valve were a PC gamer's best friend!?

    The DLC and ARG thing do sound like genuine gripes, but the game length concern and the console port thing could be red herrings, maybe? It would be easy to leave an inappropriate error msg even if it wasn't a straight port and game length I have found to be a highly subjective issue.

  • Liquidoodle #19 1 year ago

    Metacritic is a big bag of crap, who pays attention to it anyway? Play the game if you think it might be good, if it's not go sell it, burn it or throw it like a Frisbee at a chav.

    Reason why I don't pay much attention to reviews, I am the only person who can review a game for myself :) though saying that 10/10 sounds pretty impressive :)

  • giapel #20 1 year ago

    When will gamers start to value games based on quality rather than length and production values. Ah, well...

  • Daeltaja #21 1 year ago

    Sign. Interweb no-lifers have nothing better to do. They may be charge for DLC day 1, but it's for cosmetic stuff. Who gives a crap? At least the option is there for people who WANT to buy that stuff. For everyone else, what do we lose exactly?

    The only thing I'm angry about is the price of Portal 2 on Steam. But then the same could be said for the other top new releases. As with those, I'll just go and buy it in the shops for €20 less and have a nice shiney box to show for it.

  • KingofDarkness #22 1 year ago

    I'm a PC gamer since childhood and let me tell you, PC gamers of olde are not a bunch of whiny 4chan newcomers who think they're a part of the "master race" now that they've bought a PC and steam and think it's cool to label everything as console port and bitch about everything, while namedropping good ol' classics ( they've probably not even played them and are just namedropping to increase their "internet cred", lol)

    I truly feel saddened to have these people ruin the image of PC gamers as whiny assholes who like to bitch about the most insignificant of things like a save message. Please ignore these people.

  • miiiguel #23 1 year ago

    Glad I didn't buy this fraud.

  • ballybeg #24 1 year ago

    The only issue i would have with the game is the 49.99euro price on steam, it is woefully overpriced imo. What is the deal with steam these days and it's prices, who pays this sort of money??!

  • butler` #25 1 year ago

    Is Metacritic user scores the basis of many purchasing decisions?

    Are any game reviews?

    Especially when they're so obviously out of line with common consensus.
    Edited by butler` at 19/04/11 @ 18:47

  • Lusterpurge #26 1 year ago

    If a large number of people are upset over the circumstances, maybe Valve should sit up and take notice. After all, they are one of the most gamer friendly developers out there. Here at Eurogamer, you may think Portal 2 is a perfect game, but why is your opinion any more valid that someone else's opinion? Every comment here is attacking the person writing the user reviews, writing off metacritic as worthless, and resorting to internet name calling, which is pretty juvenile, in my opinion. I'm not saying gamers don't often get greedy and egocentric, but sometimes it's justified and will help the developer make some changes to ease the frustration of the community.

  • metalangel #27 1 year ago

    I'll say it yet again, Valve are in an ivory tower so tall and majestic that you clusterfuck of idiots will (to use the parlance of t'interwebs) get butthurt on their fucking behalf. They could come around to your house, punch you in the face so hard it breaks your nose, and you'd still give them £5 because you're that in love with them. They are just as out to fuck you over as any of the 'evil' companies as EA and Activision, however many smokescreens they might throw up.

    Now neg the fuck out of me for I am an infidel who dares to question your god.
    Edited by metalangel at 19/04/11 @ 19:05

  • kupocake #28 1 year ago

    If you wrote one of these reviews, please make sure the knife you castrate yourself with is rusty.

  • t8yman #29 1 year ago

    i'm sorry but I agree with the haters on the DLC thing. I'm buying it on 360 at the weekend BTW, but this game was always gonna struggle to justify its pricepoint as a full price game, to hold ANYTHING back as DLC is piss poor IMHO, especially cosmetic stuff.

    I'm looking forward to it, and the EG review really ramped up my expectations, but i understand people being miffed.

  • orangpelupa #30 1 year ago

    <strong>"Digital Foundry will present a full multi-format Portal 2 comparison soon, but for now let's note that only the consoles offer split-screen co-op, while PC and Mac are arguably the best showcase for Valve's crisp visuals and precise controls."</strong>

    like i said on the comment of previous article/news/review/something about Portal 2 in EG,

    usually the splitscreen for PC can be enabled from console command.
    and it is doable
    even its also support Vertical/horizontal split.

    here someone on steampowered forum has done it
    [link url=http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1849059
    ]http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/sh...[/link]



    btw i dont understand with the rage toward Portal 2.
    day one DLC with non "needed" things.

    its doesnt affect the gameplay to those who buy or not buy. so why upset? O_o
    Edited by orangpelupa at 19/04/11 @ 19:00

  • Embar #31 1 year ago

    Outspoken neckbeards bite the hand that feeds their entitled, sweaty, fat, pathetic faces.
    Edited by Embar at 19/04/11 @ 19:03

  • IncredibleKoosh #32 1 year ago

    Does it say much that a greater percentage of people giving it a good ranking were able to articulate WHY, as opposed to just ranking it zero?

    Also not many of the negative reviews seem to mention how the game actually plays...

  • IncredibleKoosh #33 1 year ago

    Also, this tool has reviewed the PC and 360 versions, gave the PC one 10, the 360 zero

    <a href="http://www.metacritic.com/user/pukan
    ">http://www.metacritic.com/user/pukan
    </a>

    This one, PC and 360 - IDENTICAL reviews - 3/10

    <a href="http://www.metacritic.com/user/metsfan1
    ">http://www.metacritic.com/user/metsfan1
    </a>

    This one, again 360 and PC IDENTICAL reviews - 0/10

    <a href="http://www.metacritic.com/user/rooble
    ">http://www.metacritic.com/user/rooble
    </a>

    In all cases, the Portal 2 reviews are their only ones...

    I've no opinion on the game at all, but this ^^^ is a bit suspicious - particularly as all the critic reviews are positive.

    :edit: Nearly all of the 0/10 reviews are the ONLY reviews submitted by that particular user.
    Edited by IncredibleKoosh at 19/04/11 @ 19:22

  • matseffect #34 1 year ago

    There are at least 10 other Portal 2 news story's all of them better than what meta critic users think.

  • Darren #35 1 year ago

    I got Portal on the PC for free when Steam gave it away last year and enjoyed what I played of it. I didn't go ga-ga over it though like some but admit it was clever and innovative. I'm reluctant, however, to buy the sequel at full-price though, especially following the reports of its short length. Also the co-op mode holds little interest for me as I don't play games online. Maybe when the game drops to £15 I might consider buying it. A demo in the meantime would be welcome. Still can't shake the feeling that this would have made a perfect lower price point PSN/XBLA downloadable title rather than being sold at an over-inflated price though...

  • StooMonster #36 1 year ago

    Just goes to show how worthless Web2.0 comments and interactions on articles are, pointless opinions. I often wish the web had none of it.

  • sanctusmortis #37 1 year ago

    Anyone who thinks a couple of extra gestures and costumes are "essential to the gameplay experience" deserves day 1 DLC.

  • Softie2k #38 1 year ago

    I am about 2 hours into Portal, and although very funny, it's identical to the original. Finding it a bit boring...

  • Darren #39 1 year ago

    @orangpelupa - People are unstandably annoyed that content has been held back to be sold on the day of the game's release. It makes it look as if it has been intentionally held back to be sold at extra cost. Had it arrived one or two weeks after then few people would have taken issue with it. Day One DLC is just a kick in the balls really for people who've just bought the game.

  • des #40 1 year ago

    Not surprised,Portal 2 is $20 game trying to be $60 game.Valve has gone to shit in last few years DLC,DLC,DLC.

  • Ryboy #41 1 year ago

    Well done for adding leverage to it by simply reporting on it. I am more interested in docu-soaps about Jade Goody or Jordan on ITV9 than this fucking pile of nonsense.

    What absolute and utter fucking bullshit.

  • Bazbot_SP2 #42 1 year ago

    So Portal 2 story is only 4-5 hours long and it deserves a 0/10 review. Call of duty has a 4-5 hour story and it is game of the year!
    (I agree with Zero Punctuation, games should be judged on single player and not reviewed on the multiplayer alone)

  • Lemming81 #43 1 year ago

    It's worth pointing out that Metacritic is worth viewing for the average score derived from journalist reviews, but I can't imagine anyone is looking at the user reviews. I mean it's not even the default page!

  • metrunui58151125 #44 1 year ago

    No cake for you (I mean chessecake).....(Wait a moment)....THE CAKE IS A LIE. I haven't got this yet for my PS3 but i disagree about what there're saying about it. Not on.

  • RedSparrows #45 1 year ago

    Waaa waaa fucking waaa.

    Don't buy the DLC, don't participate in an obvious money-maker ARG, don't rush through a game/judge titles purely on length, and don't go utterly apeshit about a slip-up which, chances are, are disproved by superior PC performance - which, shurely, you'd be able to spot, being PC leets?

    to quote

    GAWD

  • Shikasama #46 1 year ago

    THOSE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN TEXT ARE WRONG AND A DISGRACE!

    Not like my opinion expressed in text.

  • ZiggyMoff #47 1 year ago

    Whilst i agree the game is good and does deserve a high score i actully agree with what's happening on metacritic.

    What valve are doing with the DLC is silly, fact is, it's release day which means that content should have been included in the game not released as DLC (i'm getting really fed up with complanys doing this), to not do so is just jumping on the console paid DLC bandwagon, with the way valve have supported all there other games (TF2, CS Source etc) to go the complete oposite direction this time is just spitting in the face of loyal customers.

    The people defending valve amaze me, what valve is wrong and they deserve a backlash for doing it (and Eurogamer, i'm amazed you didn't even mark down for doing it).
    Edited by ZiggyMoff at 19/04/11 @ 20:56

  • omniscient #48 1 year ago

    I'm going to blame this on Americans :).

  • FuzzyDuck #49 1 year ago

    So it's short, eh?

    I bought Vanquish day one, full price.

    Still one of my best ever buys, like i'm expecting Portal 2 to be on Thursday.

  • mumblyjoe #50 1 year ago

    RE Day 1 DLC

    I'm sure Gabe is stood be each and everyone of forcing us to buy it, and the potato sack thing to for that matter...

  • Bartacus #51 1 year ago

    Potal 1 as part as the orange box fantastic value.

    Portal 2 as part of nothing but portal 2 minus bits they want to charge xtra for as DLC on day 1, a rip off.

  • coolbritannia #52 1 year ago

    ALL day 1 dlc for games is a complete gip. At least make the character gestures unlockables in game, with the dlc a shortcut to these unlocks. Pathetic.

  • photoboy #53 1 year ago

    Surely this is Metacritic working at its best? Users are unhappy and are showing that unhappiness by rating down the game. That fact that there's a disparity between professional reviewers and the players suggests that the professionals are out of touch with the players, particularly since the professionals won't have had to pay for any of their DLC.

    (For the record, I think Portal 2 is a fabulous game and I'm on my second play through. Who cares about length as long as it's fun to replay?)

  • Freek #54 1 year ago

    Lets not forget that Valve has created this problem themselfs by positioning itself as the company that doesn't do paid for DLC.

    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/valve-wont-charge-for-dlc
    ]http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/valve-...[/link]

    "You buy the product, you get the content," used to be their motto.

  • Anciegher #55 1 year ago

    What a bunch of morons, this is so far the best game of 2011, and I've had a blast all evening playing the campaign and co-op! Loving the game so far! Could be Valve's best game to date.

  • Kaminari #56 1 year ago

    It's not just the PC version that's getting bashed.

    And most of those complaints are unfortunately sound. Portal 2 is a decent puzzle game with a clever atmosphere, but it gets stale very fast and the retail price of 60 euros is out of this world. The huge hype it got from professional reviewers shows how far remote from reality those said reviewers are.

  • Walkerj #57 1 year ago

    Metacritic sucks. Metacritic "Gamers" suck. PS3 version comes with a free, independent copy of the game that can be used to play online with the same PS3 version. Most games make you buy 2 copies to achieve the same result. The game is funny, challenging and polished. I am so tired of spoiled brats complaining about every little thing. If you don;t like the stupid day 1 DLC then DON"T BUY IT. If you think the potato sack thing was stupid then DON"T BUY IT. i don't understand why people complain about DLC prices. If you don't think its worth it then DON'T BUY IT!!!!!! If you are so upset at the price then you must have really loved the game, so then suck it up and pay 5 freaking euros for a goddamn DLC.

    I played the online shortly with my brother, we only bought the one ps3 version, looks amazing on both systems, PC and PS3. PC version lets you make your own puzzles. How can people complain about this!?!?!?!

  • Walkerj #58 1 year ago

    I read a lot of reviews, especially when buying used games, new ones I basically know if I want them day one or not.

    That includes user reviews and professional ones.

    I only read the positive reviews though. Far as I am concerned, if you don't like it, why would you review it poorly? Just don't review it at all. People who rate something so lowly obviously have a motive, otherwise they wouldn't waste there time.

  • darkmorgado #59 1 year ago

    Fucking hell, look at all the retards getting pissed off because they are being charged to have a completely useless hat on the head of their character, that they will never even see.

    Fucking hell, this is a new low for the gaming community.

  • Toothball #60 1 year ago

    Oh no, they rated it down on Metacritic! Let's hope they don't realise that Amazon has reviews. That place would be ruined if some unscrupulous bunch started posting unfavourable reviews.

  • hello_fi #61 1 year ago

    If you took all the energy expelled by furious overweight neckbeards today as their pudgy digits angrily type their bile filled reviews, well, you still wouldn't have much energy because PC gamers are bloated sorry excuses for human beings who can hardly climb the stairs out of their parent's basement without being short of breath.

  • spekkeh #62 1 year ago

    People will probably neg me for weeks to come again for saying this, but I'm not surprised. PC gamers, at least the vocal ones on community websites, I've just given up hope on them. They're an inferior breed who don't understand games. (I used to be one mind)
    I actually prefer spotty CoD players. At least they're not pretentious about their casual gaming.

  • azic #63 1 year ago

    What's all this hate on PC gamers about?

    I dont get this idea that PC gamers are all fat and stupid according to some on this forum. I wonder have any of you heard the ass holes on live?

    Crazy..

  • Goodfella #64 1 year ago

    I am utterly dumbfounded at all the aresholes in this thread and on Metacritic, bashing this game for such insignificant reasons.

    It's a work of art, an intelligent, witty journey through the minds of genius and madness, and yet all a lot of people can do is rant on about DLC that is unimportant, that they don't need or have to buy, game length of 4 hours?! - which in my experience so far is utter bollocks, I'm 6 hours in on the single payer alone and still no sign of the end.

    A lot of you so called PC gamers should be ashamed of yourselves for bahaving like total twats.
    Edited by Goodfella at 19/04/11 @ 22:46

  • andywilkie35 #65 1 year ago

    Surprised the fat nerds stopped playing their pirated copy of the game long enough to log their vitriol.

  • azic #66 1 year ago

    There are a lot penis complexes on this forum.
    Can somebody please explain the Fat theory to me in regards to PC gamers?

    Not that I want to encourage any consoles jizzers to pull their spunk encrusted hands off their game pads!

  • azic #67 1 year ago

    @andywilkie35
    Surprised you stopped talking to your boyfriend on live long enough to post your vitriol?
    And the without the fat nerds PC, your wankbox would still be using cartridges and 16bit Motorola chips.

    Next you will be saying need for speed started on the PS1!

    Joke really

  • andywilkie35 #68 1 year ago

    CRY MOAR!

  • geox30 #69 1 year ago

    I ussually don't give much attention to user reviews,but this time I think this is the case.I don't doubt that this is a very good game,but I don't like to be treated like an idiot.Valve used to be something to brag about for us PC gamers.Valve used to be respectfull and generous-remember the value of Orange Box.This is the absolut opposite.I canceled my order two minutes after I made it,not that I don't want to play this game,but the message needs to be clear...

  • kinky_mong #70 1 year ago

    @azic: A homophobic post with terrible grammar. Good to see you're sticking to the stereotype of PC gamers being butthurt children as this article so perfectly proves.

  • spekkeh #71 1 year ago

    What message exactly? That excellent games aren't worth money? This seems better value for money than most games, it certainly lasts longer than CoD, and it's probably a whole lot better too.

  • Bravestinsane #72 1 year ago

    You know... people can complain all they like... yes the game was short. But i done campaign in under5 hours, not long i know, but it really depends how good you are at the puzzles, some were a damn brain buster where you just stand and think for a while.

    They said Coop is about 2 times longer than the first game and Single player is 3 times the length of the first game.. i read this in a interview, the first game i completed in about 90 minutes.... its not like they lied, i knew how long the game would be before i bought it, and it's about right in what they said.

    I laughed while playing it, and i don't regret spending £27 on the game, its a good £13 cheaper than other single player games that only last about 1-2 hours longer. But personally this was more enjoyable for me.

    I also enjoy the fact that buying it on PC i know ill probably get free DLC with new missions, that's what it's been like in LFD2 logged on yesterday for the first time in 2-3 months and had like 3 new maps to play. So im not complaining.

    Short yes, but i enjoyed it so i don't care.

    But people are seriously complaining about the potato sack? GROW THE FUCK UP, Valve didn't make you buy it, they said you may get the game quicker if you did, bear in mind it was only available 3 days before release, if you paid that for a possible 3 day release early your a moron.

    I already own killing floor so played that over the weekend to help get it early, but i didn't put any extra money in, one of my friends did, and the lucky fucker got the valve complete pack, including Portal 2 for free cause he found all 36 potatoes -.-

  • Subquest #73 1 year ago

    Hello_fi, spekkeh, goodfella - y'all let that ire flow freely now fellas, don't waste a chance to judge em all by the words of a handful. I'm sure console gamers would never post guff on the net...

  • azic #74 1 year ago

    @kinky_mong
    where was my homophobic post? i thought andywilkie35 was a girl?
    Edited by azic at 19/04/11 @ 23:19

  • Nevflinn #75 1 year ago

    While I perfectly approve of people criticising or protesting against marketing decisions, panning the actual game for those completely separate decisions just reeks of utter self-entitlement. To be frank, I doubt this will have any staying power, but to say hypothetically that it were a more serious situation, where Valve was pushed to the ropes by this sort of protesting, I'm afraid that the designers who poured their heart into making those deep puzzles, or the programmers that made everything and ensured it worked, would suffer for creating one of the best games of the year.

    But of the complaints they give, the one that I genuinely can't get is replayability. How is it not worth the price of the good memories it'll leave you with of the short time you get opening portals, or all the time you'll have to recount the jokes and memes-to-be? Time in most games is typically padding to get review points, but as the first Portal proved, shorter can indeed be better.

  • Sevens #76 1 year ago

    Valid complaints, at least more valid than this 10/10 rating.

  • TrailDingo #77 1 year ago

    Some people just wana be grateful they can afford to buy the Game, skint and gutted gonna have to wait till payday for it, some right twisty mofos about these days

  • AHiFi #78 1 year ago

    New low for Eurogamer.

  • Shotofen #79 1 year ago

    You know, complaining about people complaining is very annoying. Everyone has their own opinions, and calling them names does nothing to invalidate those opinions. If you don't want to hear people with opinions, become a hermit. I am angry because this comment thread is really mean. Buy Portal 2 if you want to show support for Valve, but you don't have to act like the world is exploding when the company gets criticized.
    Edited by Shotofen at 20/04/11 @ 00:25

  • DrStrangelove #80 1 year ago

    Well I must say I am very satisfied with Portal 2 on PC. Best game this year so far, better than Crysis 2 even (I know they're hardly comparable, but I have more fun with Portal 2). 9 or 10 for me. By the way, I haven't seen any "don't turn off console" message so far.

    I don't care what some hateful kiddies are bitching.

  • geox30 #81 1 year ago

    @spekkeh
    the message that 38€(the digital copy from steam asks that much)is way too much for a 4hour console port with co-op that has no replay value at all and cut contend from the game to release it as DLC.I wrote about the Orange Box-it had multiple AAA games-TF2 including,which I still play and the original Portal-at 40€!Do the comparison yourself.If anyone here is rich,I won't be the one to tell him how to spend his money,but please let me judge for myself how to spend mine.There is another article that says that Epic games feel threatened from 1$ games for smartphones.Well,Valve should be too.

    Oh,and I never bought any CoD,I only play Bad Company 2. Play.com sells it for 16.49€,that's value!

  • DaemonSpawn #82 1 year ago

    How in hell is this short? I've been playing it for 4 hours already, and it doesn't sound like the game is going to end right away. Modern Warfare 2 was about 4-5 hours long, and for those who didn't like its multiplayer (like me) it was a ripoff. Now I bought Portal for 40 bucks (pre-order for 2-pack), and it's presumably twice as long for single player campaign plus a completely different co-op campaign.
    I'm not even going to compare the n-th brown roller-coaster Call Of Duty clone (a.k.a. Modern Warfare 2) with a brilliant masterpiece which is Portal 2.

    Same goes for the in-game store - it's non-essential, people! Nobody is selling extra finale or uber-gun firing 3 different portals. You want those skins - you buy them, if you don't - play the game as it is.
    Fucking morons.
    Edited by DaemonSpawn at 20/04/11 @ 00:54

  • geox30 #83 1 year ago

    @DaemonSpawn
    if you don't like multiplayer,then Modern Warfare 2 was a ripoff.You probably don't like multiplayer because you are no good at it and it takes time for you to finish games for the same reason.Go play Tetris or something.Fucking moron.

  • CaptainKid #84 1 year ago

    I don't care about the "DLC" which doesn't change the gameplay in any way.
    Reason: Valve gave an incredible amount of maps and gamemodes away FOR FREE with the L4D series and TF2.

    But I'm not paying €50 for a 12 hour game with no replay value.

  • MrFlump #85 1 year ago

    Oh dear oh dear. If you had bothered to do some research you would have discovered this was the work of the morons in /v/ on 4chan. It was a directed attack with instructions not to post 0 scores but low 3-4 scores and mention several key words.

    As for the whole DLC debate, seriously... It's purely cosmetic stuff. It's not new levels or anything, it's pure cosmetic. You get the same on most console titles on day one as well. The game is fantastic, it's got 8 hours of play easily not including replay value and then going through it again for the commentary.

    Valve also sorted the rewards for those with their 36 potatoes and if they had preordered portal 2 and got golden potatoes they now have a free copy of portal 2 to gift.

  • Andeus #86 1 year ago

    Yawn, bunch of idiots on metacritic who obviously never played a Valve game before. The only valid concern is the one about the ARG.

    It took me around 8 hours to finish the game, cut like 30 minutes of me slacking off and it's still way more than the mentioned 4 hours. And I don't think I lagged behind either, I just didn't power run through the whole thing. If the co-op campaign is as big as the SP then in total it's over 12 hours of gameplay and that's fine.

    Anyone who claims that plays Valve games, has played TF2 and knows about the store and everything around it. Everyone else thinks that it is day 1 DLC. Well it's not, Valve's DLCs actually have content and not the crap that other companies sell to customers like a new skin or a gesture for 5$. And when the time comes for Portal 2's DLC, chances are it's gonna be free of charge.

    The ARG is a valid one. I too was expecting something more out of that, like EP3 info. If they bought all the games just to do the ARG in hopes of getting something of real money value (besides the Valve pack) then it's probably their fault since noone guaranteed anything like that. But still, if the guys were loyal enough to spend time on observing stuff for the ARG it makes sense that they are Valve fans and they already have their games, making their reward kinda silly. A unique skin for multi or their steam profile could be better off. Or a trip to Valve HQ or something.

  • dfooster #87 1 year ago

    Those pc users are so aloof aren't they. Maybe they just think they are entitled to more than the console users because they shelled out about a thousand quid for their rig. I suggest they all go play grim fandango at their desk in their bedroom and bugger off. I'm sick of hearing their whiny comments on the Internet how they dont get any preferential treatment over the console users.

    Go buy a £150 console then and save half of your life copying feckin files from one folder to another just to get something to work.

  • Subquest #88 1 year ago

    @dfooster - yessssss, let the hate flow through you. A thousand pounds you say? Why not TEN thousand pounds? I mean, if your writing guff on the net, don't hold yourself back. Well done on the undisguised hate, though - and don't worry that it reveals more about you than anything else.

  • StooMonster #89 1 year ago

    Yep, apparently it's a Valve hate campaign orchestrated by /v/
    [link url=http://i.imgur.com/cGgFk.png
    ]http://i.imgur.com/cGgFk.png
    [/link]

    Instructions include not to post 0 as it gets deleted, rather post low score but use positive words in body text so it cannot be easily detected and removed from rankings.

  • coolbritannia #90 1 year ago

    Subquest revealed as Emperor Palpatine.

  • geox30 #91 1 year ago

    @dfooster
    I prefer to play games on PC for a reason,that is by choice,not out of ignorance like you do on consoles.I also own a Wii,a PS3 and several handhelds.I am not a geek as you may think for PC users,believe it or not.I,for that matter,know more about console gaming than you do for PC gaming.The benefit of having multiple platforms is that you have the luxury of choice,whatever it may be..Don't post stupid comments that have no substance at all.

  • doragor #92 1 year ago

    @mumblyjoe
    "I'm sure Gabe is stood be each and everyone of forcing us to buy it, and the potato sack thing to for that matter... "

    What?

  • subedii #93 1 year ago

    OK seriously? The "ALL YOU ARE ELITSTS PC GAEMERS!" crap needs to stop.

    I mean how are we missing the bit where the 360 and PS3 reviews are getting hit with the same thing? As others have noted, this is largely coming out of 4chan, who decided on review bombing Portal 2 "for the Lulz". They're hitting ALL versions.

    Grief, look at the Steam stats for one second will you? If this was really just about PC gaming then Portal 2 wouldn't currently be one of the highest played games ever to hit Steam.

  • geeza2020 #94 1 year ago

    some people really dont know a good thing when they see it. I feel sad for the once great PC community.

  • cowell #95 1 year ago

    Congratulations Nerd Army for creating a storm in a tea cup on Metacritic. I don't give a monkeys what you rate it as a user. Professionals are loving it across the board. That's good enough for me and I'll be buying it this week. In fact I might even buy the DLC too and then not use it, just to irritate you further. The choice is mine. I can buy it or ignore it IF I WANT.

    I recall all the rage around the announcement of Left4Dead 2 and people love that game now
    Edited by cowell at 20/04/11 @ 11:13

  • apoc_reg #96 1 year ago

    How can you ive a 4 hour game 10/10 when its being sold at full price? Thats just mental

  • subedii #97 1 year ago

    @Geeza2020: Dude, please don't pretend your views aren't just slightly biased on occasion when it comes to anything PC related?

    I mean grief, you even once LITERALLY said that Blizzard have some weird hatred or dislike of the console market (and this was regarding a post simply saying the PC market was healthy), and when I tried to address that one with you (fairly politely I would have said) you called everyone "PC cunts" and then stormed off. I can even post the link if you really want, but personally I'd rather not.

    Which is kind of the problem I have with that whole "LULZ PC ELITISTS" attitude. Because like I said (and as others have already pointed out), this review bombing thing is largely some bizarre anti-Valve campaign coming out of 4chan, and as a result it's also affecting ALL versions on metacritic, not just the PC version.

    And yet with all that Portal 2 is still managing to be the highest played game on Steam right now and definitely amongst the highest played games ever released on Steam. Which would be kind of difficult if this was some mass action across an entire freaking platform as it's being tarred, and not simply the work of a bunch of angsty shouty internet dudes.
    Edited by subedii at 20/04/11 @ 11:28

  • LowEnergyCycle #98 1 year ago

    Some people just don't deserve games. They don't deserve the effort and time and money it takes to create them. I can imagine Valve reading those Metacritic comments and thinking "Well fuck you then!"

  • geeza2020 #99 1 year ago

    subedii - yes I would like you to link those posts please.

    I tihnk people can make up their own decisions thankyou. I have also stated MANY times how I love PC games, have played them for years, and have no issue's with the hardware or companies involved in making games on that platform. Its the PC community with the constant "console kiddies" crap that pisses me off, even the PC gamers who arent so outright offensive in their dislike of consoles often have an air of aloofness about them, I just think they need to get over themselves.

    Just to make sure you dont get confused with my point:
    PC hardware/games = fucking awesone
    (Majority of) PC gamers = twats

  • Subquest #100 1 year ago

    @geeza2020: (Majority of) PC gamers = twats

    Sadly, the only conclusion to be drawn from such a sweeping mass twatting of tens of millions of people, is that you.. yourself.. are.. in fact.. the twat.

  • subedii #101 1 year ago

    @Geeza2020:

    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-10-26-blizzard-pc-gaming-super-healthy/comments
    ]http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-1...[/link]

    "Dear oh dear, looks to me like the only people getting defensive and "up in arms" here are pc cunts. And you are cunts. Insecure, stuck-up, elitist, over-sensitive little smelly cunts. I hope PC gaming dies on its big fat spotty arse if you lot are the gamers who are left. CUNTS. "

    Be honest. This is neither polite nor rational conversation, and it wasn't really warranted either. It's largely just ending on a rage.

    Referring back to that linked thread, I felt Arcam had a far more valid viewpoint, and at least didn't swear at people if they held a different viewpoint. You were getting pretty angry at people because they didn't hold with the view that Blizzard have some bizarre vendetta against the consoles, when ultimately decisions along those lines were business or playability decisions (and even more relevant, it looks like Blizzard may be developing one or two console specific titles at the moment).

    So yeah. When you start going that route, I'm going to have to side with Subquest on that one.



    EDIT: And really, then let's take a look at a different community for a second then shall we?

    Saw LoT linked over in the Portal 2 review, and thought it would be relevant.

    [link url=http://www.lensoftruth.com/news/portal-2-a-slap-in-the-face-to-360-and-pc-users/
    ]http://www.lensoftruth.com/news/portal-2...[/link]

    Read the post. Now read the comments. Now then, shall we start tarring the entire 360 or PS3 communities on the basis of these? Oh but look, it's a lovely 3-way as well because the author brought in that one splash screen as evidence that PC users got shafted as well, whilst going on about how the 360 version was deliberately gimped in favour of the PS3 version.

    Seriously, if you want I can recount any number of idiot claims and arguments that I've seen come from both the 360 and PS3 "communities" as well, just as vehement and just as loud. Grief, until E3 last year, Gabe Newell was defined as Evil Incarnate by angry PS3 community fanboys, how suddenly that changed eh? The point being you DON'T cast everyone based off of a few loudmouths. That would be silly.

    Particularly when the aforementioned actual gameplay stats show otherwise.
    Edited by subedii at 20/04/11 @ 13:10

  • geox30 #102 1 year ago

    @geeza2020
    I will side with the others as well.When it comes to pigs-you are really photogenic by the way-like yourself,there is no need to be polite.You are a big ass

  • login_name #103 1 year ago

    How can you ive a 4 hour game 10/10 when its being sold at full price?

    It's not a 4 hour game. Sorry to break it to you but your internet heroes are either liars, idiots or quite simply self-entitled pricks.

    Frankly, it wouldn't bother me if it was. The game is one of the best I've played and is far more deserving of my cash than most games out there. The in game store is a bit of a rip though, some of that should at least be unlocked via achievements or something.

  • M_of_the_sys #104 1 year ago

    You're all twats and I blame violence in video games.

    There, I said it...

  • Powerstreak #105 1 year ago

    User reviews and ratings are nearly always shit. See: App store.

  • LuL #106 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 14:21:48 14-12-2011

  • Laminator #107 1 year ago

    While I don't exactly condone these guys behavior they effectively have made some publicity against DLC which is a good thing. For everyone who says ignore the DLC if you don't want it - or worse, actually buys it you are helping to ruin the gaming industry so thanks for that. Pretty soon we'll be getting half a game for the retail price and have to buy the other half as DLC because nobody is objecting so they can get away with it.

    And despite what you think of these guys charging money for animations and cosmetic items which cost almost nothing to make is pretty despicable. Exploitation would be the word I'd use.

    That said Portal 2 was a great game, a shame it had to have this taint on it, and I have lost some of my former respect for Valve.

  • LuL #108 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 14:21:48 14-12-2011

  • Laminator #109 1 year ago

    OK Lul, maybe speak to your doctor about getting some kind of anger management therapy?

    I have no objection to businesses making a profit... for selling things that are worth the asking price. That rules out about 90% of DLC. I wasn't specifically talking about Valve when I made that post. There are far worse companies like Activision that manages to sell millions of copies of overpriced map packs to the ignorant consumer. They are really struggling to pay the bills eh maybe Bobby Kotick can spend some of his $5 million annual bonus?

    Now if your brain is capable just think for a second about the development of Portal 2. All the programmers, artists, voice actors, management that worked on that game for years. They then sell their product for the price of an average game... no problem there. But then they think... hang we're only going to sell x million copies... how can we milk even more cash out of people? I know! Lets remove some content from the game and sell it seperately for waaaay more than it actually cost to make! Surely some people wiill be stupid enough to pay for it! And that's what they are doing calling you stupid every time you buy it. Meanwhile the sensible who don't buy it lose out because they decided to remove it from the game for extra milking. They did not 'offer' anything at all they took something that normally would have been included and tried to resell it overpiced.

    I pity those people who are willing to blindly pay for something without thinking how much it's worth. Maybe these companies can start charging for the air in the gamebox too?
    Edited by Laminator at 22/04/11 @ 22:19

  • IronCladChicken #110 1 year ago

    How come so many people here are overracting about a few PC gamers overracting?
    This is just a fluff piece.