Portal 2 Review

By Oli Welsh Published 19 April, 2011

The sound of science.

Version tested: PC

Portal is perfect. Valve's 2007 puzzle adventure – a short story about escape, in which the player must solve a series of spatial riddles with a gun that shoots doors – has a ruthless clarity to it, an economy of form and expression, that few games can match.

Its creators took one fantastic idea and developed it exactly as far as it needed to go and no further. They teased you with a premise that mocks your status as a lab rat running through their devious maze. They gave that mockery a cool, cruel and bitterly dry voice in GLaDOS, the arch AI that keeps you company in the game's pristine prison cells.

And then they lifted the curtain, just an inch, and let you look behind it. They almost surreptitiously slipped a neat parable of a story past you, sealing it with a punchline so resounding it knocks you back in your seat.

You can't call Portal heartless, it's far too funny a game for that, but it does have a heart of ice. It's so tight, so deliciously underplayed, that criticism passes through it like light refracted through a jewel.

Very little of this is true of Portal 2. It would be impossible to expand that haiku of a game into a 10-hour blockbuster (with a separate co-operative campaign for two players) without muddying those crystal waters. Inevitably, it's more talkative, the humour is broader, it contains some ideas that don't work as reliably, and the fiction's delicate relationship with the Half-Life universe is disturbed.

But the sacrifices are worth it a thousand times over. Portal 2 is a riveting and hilarious entertainment. It has Uncharted 2's easy way with a one-liner or action set-piece married to the intricate brain-teasing logic of the best Zelda dungeons. (Far from insignificantly, it's also a major video game that involves virtually no combat.)

Although its warped humour is miles away from Half-Life 2's oppressive tone, it is absolutely recognisable as that game's successor and equal, and thus the first full-scale Valve epic in over six years.

This is a new Valve, though, riffing on the cartoon comedy of Team Fortress 2 and the weathered B-movie pastiche of Left 4 Dead as well as its stock-in-trade cool sci-fi. That's clear from the opening, when you awake in a containment cell that's not an antiseptic glass cubicle but a simulacrum of a shabby 1970s-style motel room. The tutorial for the controls even contains a brilliant interactive gag at Valve's own expense.

Once again, you are Chell, the ponytailed woman in the orange jumpsuit who was GLaDOS's unwilling test subject in Portal. Many years later, a disaster appears to have befallen Aperture Science's labs and the clean white tiles of familiar test chambers are cracked and overgrown with vegetation.

You're woken from stasis by a chatty idiot of an AI called Wheatley, an expressive steel eyeball given verbal diarrhoea and an English West Country twang by Stephen Merchant (Ricky Gervais' writing partner on The Office). Wheatley begins as your guide and comic foil, a village-idiot version of Halo's 343 Guilty Spark.

When your sardonic, deadpan tormentor GLaDOS is rebooted, a strange and darkly funny psychodrama starts to develop between these disembodied voices and your silent avatar. Another commentator joins this intimate cast during an unexpected second act, which parodies BioShock while shedding some light on Aperture's past – but I really should stop there.

Aperture Science welcomes back Eurogamer.

The script, by Eric Wolpaw, Jay Pinkerton and Chet Faliszek, is a riot. It's both shameless and devastatingly successful in its pursuit of belly laughs as GLaDOS gradually lets her bone-dry quips slip into withering sarcasm and Wheatley does that Britcom blend of surreal nonsense, self-mocking blather and slapstick. Portal was a sequence of great jokes, but Portal 2 is that rare beast, an actual video game comedy – and one of the funniest ever.

That's also thanks to the great voice cast. Merchant's prattle might chafe with some players, but I loved his deflating, humanising effect on Portal's cold brilliance. As GlaDOS, Ellen McLain manages the difficult task of taking a sociopathic and bitchy computer on a personal journey, and there's a splendid turn from veteran US character actor J. K. Simmons.

Valve's animators should also take a bow. Without much warning, they have revealed themselves to be some of the best in the business, delivering work of exquisite, movie-quality detail and timing.

Their greatest achievements are the two robots players control in co-op: this mute comic duo is like a mechanical Laurel and Hardy brought to life by Pixar. But even the robotics of Aperture Science's test chambers are lent personality and character, moving between slick, synchronised spectacle and the involuntary, violent tics of a madman.

Valve's virtual architects have long had an extraordinary gift for pacing and environment design, and it's in full effect in Portal 2. Artful details guide you through the space and the story, or hint at untold tales. The functional puzzle chambers are still the meat of the game, of course, but they're broken up with spells of up-tempo action or quiet exploration that give the puzzles room to breathe.

And those puzzles? There's nothing Valve can do to develop or perfect the first game's exploration of portals, whereby you use the two mouse buttons or triggers to 'fire' two doors onto certain surfaces, allowing you to teleport yourself and objects, or subvert the laws of physics and three-dimensional space to reach your goal.

So a number of new devices are introduced, the designers toying succinctly with each before moving on to the next. Sprung platforms called Aerial Faith Plates, and the Propulsion and Repulsion Gels that increase your running speed and jump height, are fairly standard-issue platform game mechanics given a great new lease of life by portals. Splattering gel like paint through cunningly-placed portals, or using portals to turn the faith plates into trampolines or orbital slingshots is a thrill that's both cerebral and visceral.

But the game's very best posers involve beams: laser switches, the Hard Light Bridge (a beamed platform) and the Excursion Funnel (a tractor beam that can pull or push you through the air). There's also a memorable moment of genius involving Conversion Gel, which allows you to apply portals to previously inert surfaces.

It's not until the very end of the game that Valve's designers dare to bring all these elements together – with gun turrets, cubes and switches, of course – in a mind-bending crescendo of ingenuity. Some chambers are vast, layered, cause-and-effect constructions that seem impossible before revealing a solution of such imagination, tactile satisfaction and devilish wit that you'll laugh as long and loud as you do at any of the jokes.

It's a shame it has to end, but it does, and unlike most games it ends very well, with a dumbfounding punchline and delightfully absurd coda. (Trying to recreate Still Alive in a new end-credits song was a mistake, though.) But Portal 2 is not over, because you can go on to enjoy several very happy hours of co-operative puzzling with a friend.

Co-op presents the most natural and intellectually terrifying extension of Portal's puzzle-platforming lexicon: two more portals. But if you're worried that these will simply be too much for your brain to handle, don't be. This mode is the perfect proof of the old maxim that two heads are better than one.

Valve realised in testing that it could set the difficulty bar much higher for co-op simply because talking through a problem will lead you more quickly to its solution. The result is one of the most satisfying and genuinely collaborative gaming experiences you can have with a friend.

(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. PS3 has the tempting bonus of cross-platform play via Steam and free access to the computer versions – but they all look great and play better.)

Eurogamer tries out Portal 2 co-op.

It's impossible to completely allay Portal fans' fears that this sequel might sully its pristine beauty. Although it's certainly no pushover, it's definitely more eager to please, and sometimes it's guilty of playing to the gallery. If you hate the idea that Stephen Merchant, comedy robots and tart fat jokes can exist in the same universe as Half-Life's Combine and Black Mesa, Portal 2 might offend you.

There's simply too much game here for it never to falter – but it hardly ever does. 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.

Portal is perfect. Portal 2 is not. It's something better than that. It's human: hot-blooded, silly, poignant, irreverent, base, ingenious and loving. It's never less than a pure video game, but it's often more, and it will no doubt stand as one of the best entertainments in any medium at the end of this year. It's a masterpiece.

10 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (172) Latest comment 1 year ago

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

  • mrpon #1 1 year ago

    Woo!

  • Alf-Life #2 1 year ago

    Nice! Staying spoiler free here, great score! :)

  • the_dudefather #3 1 year ago

    this was a (outdated reference)
    Edited by the_dudefather at 19/04/11 @ 08:59

  • thesonglessbird #4 1 year ago

    I've played about an hour and so far I agree with that score.

  • Goodfella #5 1 year ago

    No surprise there, been playing it for the last 90 minutes (PC) and it's amazing!

  • charming_fox #6 1 year ago

    How spoilery is the review on a level of 1 to 10? 10 being totally spoilery and 6 being not spoilery at all?

  • monkehhh #7 1 year ago

    Longest day at work ever coming up.

  • MikkyX #8 1 year ago

    Scrolled down. Score came into view. Just knew it.

    YES.

    Now why did it have to unlock five minutes before I left for work? :(

  • Blerk #9 1 year ago

    Gah! Stop making me buy it at full price!

  • karooo #10 1 year ago

    cant wait to get my copy. This game truly shows how awesome Valve is.

  • scor81 #11 1 year ago

    only decision left to make here is PS3 or 360?!

  • Lovemoose #12 1 year ago

    I want it, but valve spoiled me with the orange box last time - is it worth full price for portal 2 alone?

  • iHAZaCHEEZ3burger #13 1 year ago

    I think I just creamed my pants reading that.

    Can't wait to play it.

  • spliffhead #14 1 year ago

    The PC version is a dead cert (especially at the Valve xmas sales), but should I also get the 360 version or the PS3 one!

  • tankboi #15 1 year ago

    Winning! As Charley Sheen would say.

  • MikkyX #16 1 year ago

    @scor81 If you MUST get it on console get the PS3 version - cross platform co-op with PC / Mac and I believe you get a code to download the Steam version as well.

  • TruWari3r #17 1 year ago

    Didn't want to read the review to possibly spoil my preorder for the game, clicked the next page, scrolled to the bottom and saw it was a 10.

    Whoo hoo and still don't want to read the review to possibly spoil anything for the game :)

  • Bradach #18 1 year ago

    @spliffhead
    Well if you get the PS3 version you'll get a free PC/Mac (steam) copy and steamworks cloud saves on the PS3 so...

  • ZuluHero #19 1 year ago

    I'm supposed to br getting the PS3 version on thursday (which comes with a free pc copy), but the temptation to buy the PC version off STEAM is already getting too much!

    You haven't helped Oli!

    Gah!

    /hides under a rock

  • MikkyX #20 1 year ago

    Still want a wallpaper sized version of that image they're using for the review banner on the homepage. Anyone know where to get one?

  • PierrePressure #21 1 year ago

    I think Stephen Merchant plays his character brilliantly. This game is full of win.

  • andywilkie35 #22 1 year ago

    Fucking yes, can't wait for this, sounds brilliant.

    Anyone know if this can be played co-op on the same console?

  • RodHull #23 1 year ago

    A definite buy for me (of course) buy I'm still quite confused as to which platform to buy on. The lure of split screen play strikes out the PC, and Steam cloud is tempting on PS3 although I cannot think of a situation where I'd need it. I think I'll end up going for the 360 version purely on a bigger friends list and preference for its controller. However Microsoft's unmoving stance on allowing the likes of Steam play is starting to really grate. I'm sure it's founded in their silly desire to trump Steam with Games for Windows but it's the gamers that seem to be suffering.

  • kirankara #24 1 year ago

    for anyone who care about which format to choose on consoles

    [link url=http://www.gameblurb.net/featured/versus-portal-2-screenshot-comparison/
    ]http://www.gameblurb.net/featured/versus...[/link]

    [link url=http://www.lensoftruth.com/head2head/head2head-portal-2-screenshot-comparison/#comment-22677
    ]http://www.lensoftruth.com/head2head/hea...[/link]

    oddly looks like a ps3 win

  • Whitster #25 1 year ago

    @Zuluhero

    I concur, with the early release for PC they should make it so you can get a refund on the Steam version when you register the PS3 version.

  • Roland_D11 #26 1 year ago

    I played about an hour this morning and I love it.

    @MikkyX

    The first wallpaper here is similar to the banner:

    [link url=http://www.gameranx.com/gallery/portal-2-wallpapers-hd-high-resolution/1/#gallery_main
    ]http://www.gameranx.com/gallery/portal-2...[/link]

  • frunk #27 1 year ago

    Avoiding (not very huge) spoilers...

    Its pretty easy... on the first page stop reading here:
    This is a new Valve, though, riffing on the cartoon comedy of Team Fortress 2 and the weathered B-movie pastiche of Left 4 Dead as well as its stock-in-trade cool sci-fi.

    and start re-reading after the video. Just minor stuff after that

  • AcidSnake #28 1 year ago

    I'd say a 3 on the spoiler scale, it mentions some minor things but nothing too bad...

    That said, can't articles be written with spoiler tags as well?

    Anyway, the game sounds absolutely great and I can't wait for my copy to arrive...

  • Graveland #29 1 year ago

    How soon before it becomes cool to hate Portal? It happens to all other perfect games.

  • charming_fox #30 1 year ago

    ARTICLES WITH SPOILER TAGS??!?!?1!!! You deserve a Nobel Peace Prize you big fat fucking genius!x

  • konstantinos #31 1 year ago

    hell's bells, yeah...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    cheerio...!

  • Olemak #32 1 year ago

    Sounds good, but will there actually be cake this time?

  • mingster #33 1 year ago

    ooo didnt expect a review of this today. nice.

  • YoungPayters #34 1 year ago

    high praise indeed. must. earn. money.

  • sport #35 1 year ago

    It looks ok, but it's no COD.

  • Cjail #36 1 year ago

    Do we know what kind of split-screen the game will have: horizontal or vertical?
    Edited by Cjail at 19/04/11 @ 09:38

  • Fab4 #37 1 year ago

    Boom!

  • gjgjg #38 1 year ago

    ah the last article i have to stop myself reading before i play it :)
    ...maybe ill wait for a df article actually ...grrr

  • StolenGlory #39 1 year ago

    "It looks ok, but it's no COD."

    Yeah and you probably look like an intelligent human being and yet we all know you aren't based on that stupidly trolling statement.

  • charming_fox #40 1 year ago

    Hang on a minute, is it really split-screen? Seriously? On 360?

  • metalangel #41 1 year ago

    @Graveland: As soon as an obnoxious meme from it is everywhere... the original gave us cubes, cake and that song.

  • Vanmunt #42 1 year ago

    How soon before it becomes cool to hate Portal? It happens to all other perfect games.

    I don't like valve games, sorry and all that, Its a shme but you can't like everything.

  • Ignatius_Cheese #43 1 year ago

    Tell me which version to buy, Eurogamer!

    As a casual PC/laptop gamer and Dual Shock 3 hater, the 360 version appeals but the lack of updates/non-cross platform play does not.

    Gah!!

  • sport #44 1 year ago

    "Yeah and you probably look like an intelligent human being and yet we all know you aren't based on that stupidly trolling statement."

    oh cmon, COD's much more realistic - it's like you're in a war. This just looks silly...

  • mingster #45 1 year ago

    I think i will wait till the Portal 2 PC Razor Hydra controllers are released though.

  • kirankara #46 1 year ago

    @ignatius.ill repeat for u, theres no pc comparison, but hey ho


    for anyone who care about which format to choose on consoles

    [link url=http://www.gameblurb.net/featured/versus...
    ]http://www.gameblurb.net/featured/versus...[/link]

    [link url=http://www.lensoftruth.com/head2head/hea...
    ]http://www.lensoftruth.com/head2head/hea...[/link]

    oddly looks like a ps3 win

  • zisssou #47 1 year ago

    Oh it's out now on PS3 and 360?.. oh wait.

  • Cadence #48 1 year ago

    Sport you're joking right? Please tell me you're joking!

  • rochyroch #49 1 year ago

    Managed to play 22 minutes of it this morning before i had to go to work,

    I love a bit of FPP (First person puzzler) !

    nice one valve.

  • DavoTheDiv #50 1 year ago

    Good review. Glad Valve didn't screw things up for the sequal. Still not sure if this is going to sell well though, which is a shame.

  • MikkyX #51 1 year ago

    @Roland_D11 It's good, but it's not the one - thanks though. It's close enough that I think I can use it :)

    Maybe I'll P-Shop (DYSWIDT?) GLaDOS coming out of the portal.

  • LHH #52 1 year ago

    What's this? an in game dlc store...oh valve... oh and what is this? "please don't turn off your console" messages during saving on the pc version... oh valve LOL
    Edited by LHH at 19/04/11 @ 09:51

  • Anciegher #53 1 year ago

    I was on the fence before this review. Now I'm definitely going to pick it up!

  • xandoodle #54 1 year ago

    WHY IS THERE NO MOVE SUPPORT :(

  • evild_edd #55 1 year ago

    Noooooooo......

    Was hoping to avoid making this a day 1 purchase as I still have loads to play through but I loved the original and want this so much.

    Format choice is an easy one for me: I don't have a PS3 and my laptop will run this like slug doing the 110 metre hurdles, so it's 360 by default.

    Spiltscreen co-op for console versions is a result :0)

  • mukki #56 1 year ago

    Good review!
    looking forward to this and particularly co-op!

    10 out 10 wow

  • hippyjump #57 1 year ago

    i came

  • udat #58 1 year ago

    I saw.

    Also, props to the "sound of science" tagline. Love it.

  • tonynibbles #59 1 year ago

    INSTABUY.

  • the_inchworm #60 1 year ago

    I had no qualms reading the review, and then I regretted my choice given the incredibly pretentious final paragraph. This 'New Games Journalism' approach is right up there with using a comma instead of 'and' in headlines (as in "Sonic Generations announced for PS3, 360";). Is Eurogamer hoping the New York Times will notice that it, too, is using US journalism conventions and give it a pat on the back?

  • Widge #61 1 year ago

    She blinded me with science. SCIENCE!

  • AdamAsunder #62 1 year ago

    I really liked the first Portal, but I really didn't hold it up as one of the best games ever. As a result I wasn't suckered into the hype for this.

    However upon going on Metacritic this morning to check reviews for 'Bloody Good Time' I see that Portal 2 has garnered a 97 average. I've read a couple of reviews now and I'm feeling a bit of an idiot now.

    Gah. Ah well, being as I'm poor I'm going to have to wait until it's dirt cheap.

  • geeza2020 #63 1 year ago

    my poor wallet :( was supposed to be a new-game-free month damn it!

  • jablonski #64 1 year ago

    I've never been more certain of seeing a 10 on a review

  • Hindle #65 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 23:04:43 04-04-2012

  • Hindle #66 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 23:04:43 04-04-2012

  • SeesThroughAll #67 1 year ago

    @kirankara: wow. That is a big difference. Unbelievable. If that is true, I am curious how DF will do their h2h.

    Needless to say, the best version of all is PC. Which is the version EG reviewed Portal 2 on.
    Edited by SeesThroughAll at 19/04/11 @ 10:43

  • turingsway #68 1 year ago

    Its nice how you resisted resorting to hyperbole. The original was really good but was unfortunately the only game to ever give me motion sickness which somewhat limited my enjoyment of it :(

  • smithdown #69 1 year ago

    Never a doubt in my mind that this would be awesome.

    I'm getting it on PS3 - I've barely any friends on either console (sniff!) and none of them are likely to buy this anyway! So if anyone wants to add me to their PSN list for some co-op, it's the same as my EG username. I have a headset!

    One question I'd like someone to answer - have Valve added in any replayability, like the awesome challenge maps in the first one? I hear rumblings about DLC too, but what will it look like?? A level editor would be awesome, give that to the PC crowd and allow PS3 players to access the UGC levels!

    Look at me still talking while there's science to be done ...
    Edited by smithdown at 20/04/11 @ 08:47

  • Cjail #70 1 year ago

    @geeza2020
    Luckily many online retailers are selling it for just 32£
    Edited by Cjail at 19/04/11 @ 10:47

  • SeesThroughAll #71 1 year ago

    A level editor would be awesome, give that to the PC crowd and allow PS3 players to access the UGC levels!

    I read somewhere that the 360 will also play levels from the level editor. Microsoft gave in to Valve eventually.

  • Beek4257 #72 1 year ago

    "in which the player must solve a series of spatial riddles with a gun that shoots doors"

    Had I not played the first Portal, I'd be mighty confused by that sentence.

  • kirankara #73 1 year ago

    @seethoughall

    was shocked myself as i expected with valve's hatred of ps3 architecture, it would be a slight 360 win in best scenario, but ps3 win was not even in my thinking

  • gamingdave #74 1 year ago

    I have been playing through the first Portal in anticipation, and really want this. Unfortunately though the source engine gives me motion sickness.

    I never managed to play more than 20 minutes of HL2 before feeling sick, and last night I only managed an hour of Portal. Saying that, it was the 18th level, when you can end up yoyoing out of 2 portals trying to line up a shot, with the camera spinning all round, and on the projector so a 106" screen.

    Big dilema on which version to get as well. PS3 looks like the winner, as I then get the PC version on top, but my biggest friends list is on the 360.

  • M83J01P97 #75 1 year ago

    So now that you've got Portal 2 out of your system Valve, can we have Episode 3 please? :)

  • HandOfBeadle #76 1 year ago

    "So the first game, which is "perfect", didn't get a 10/10. The second game which "is not (perfect)"... 10/10.
    I do believe this is a new low point of nonsense EG reviewing right here. "

    Johnny 5 = not perfect, but ultimately much better than Numbers 1 to 4. Hope this helps.



  • StooMonster #77 1 year ago

    Took five minutes to decrypt, but then had to go to work. Just had a text for a three line whip to a family birthday party (with the kids), not going to be playing this until after 9pm. :(

    10/10 was anticipated, I am sure it's beyond perfect.

  • RabidChild #78 1 year ago

    Gah, i'm so obscenely excited about this. Hurry up, Thursday!

  • apoc_reg #79 1 year ago

    Only worry i have is that like the first one (it being Valve) they wont release additional puzzles for it quickly and efficiently.

    When i finished portal i thought, wow that was great. and just expected DLC of additional levels (not story levels just puzzles to test my brain) and it never happened... be a shame if that was the same here.

  • RobTheBuilder #80 1 year ago

    Read like an 8. ;)

    *ahem*

    Still playing the first game, but this looks like being a definite add to my list.

  • Redeye #81 1 year ago

    First thing Thursday morning, I'll be having me some of this. :D

  • Bangaioh #82 1 year ago

    haha, just pre-ordered this morn!! :)

  • O11Y #83 1 year ago

    Proving once again that Valve have indeed sold it's soul to the Devil in exchange for bottomless, game-building excellence.

    Good stuff, look forward to playing it

  • Rens11 #84 1 year ago

    Knew it was gonna be a 10 before reading it gonna have to wait till I finish dead space 2 though!

  • HarryPalmer #85 1 year ago

    Oooooh yeah. Awesomes.

  • davisorle #86 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 15:13:14 09-05-2012

  • bratmandu #87 1 year ago

    Whoop - just arrived today! It's gonna be like a bloody barclays advert with all that steven merchant though, hopefully his character gets killed off quickly.

    -- neg away: the man's a sellout and the uk office wasn't as good as the american version.
    Edited by bratmandu at 19/04/11 @ 11:50

  • orangpelupa #88 1 year ago

    "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, "

    usually the split screen on PC can be enabled by fiddling with the console command

  • Andeus #89 1 year ago

    For those of you who had motion sickness with Half-Life 2 and Portal on the PC, just go in Options --> Graphics --> Advanced and change the Field Of View value to 75 or 90 or whatever looks good for you.

    By using that I stopped having motion sickness on HL2 and all it's EPs and Portal.

    Btw Portal 2 by default doesn't give me any motion sickness at all, so it's ok.
    Edited by Andeus at 19/04/11 @ 11:32

  • beep #90 1 year ago

    Can't wait to play this and hear my favourite goggle-eyed freak's voice! \o/

  • spekkeh #91 1 year ago

    was shocked myself as i expected with valve's hatred of ps3 architecture, it would be a slight 360 win in best scenario, but ps3 win was not even in my thinking

    Actually, looking at the Source source code (you can download it for free with the Source SDK if you own one of the major games), you'll notice that the added xbox 360 code is cleaner looking than the PC core as well. I reckon that's just progressing knowledge (or more time) on behalf of the programmers because it was added later. The Source engine is of course a product of over a decade now, so it's quite possible that the new PS3 bits are better optimized.

    Your links don't work, however given that Valve's brilliance is never in the amounts of polygons pushed, I'm pretty sure it won't mean much to me, and I'll just be getting it for my xbox 360 so I can coop on the couch.
    Edited by spekkeh at 19/04/11 @ 11:42

  • spekkeh #92 1 year ago

    For those of you who had motion sickness with Half-Life 2 and Portal on the PC, just go in Options --> Graphics --> Advanced and change the Field Of View value to 75 or 90 or whatever looks good for you.

    Or grit your teeth and bear it. There's a clear habituation effect with cybersickness, it'll get less over time. No pain, no gain eh ;).

  • smithdown #93 1 year ago

    @apoc reg: "Only worry i have is that like the first one (it being Valve) they wont release additional puzzles for it quickly and efficiently."

    Portal 2 is a different beast, a standalone AAA title that Valve look to be supporting fully. Portal was a bonus inclusion in the Orange Box, so its not surprising it had little support (though don't forget the addiitional challenge levels that were released with Portal: Still Alive on XBLA).

    Valve have already promised DLC for the sequel, and apparently there is an in-game DLC store (presumably on the front menu). What that DLC will look like and whether it will include user-generated levels, I don't know. I hope hope HOPE they'll allow the PC community (at least) access to developer tools, cos the mechanics in Portal 2 would allow for some properly mind-bending UGC. If those are then made available to everyone playing on every platform... I might never have to buy a game ever again!

    EDIT: Have just had a dispatch email from HMV, squeee!
    Edited by smithdown at 19/04/11 @ 12:54

  • Sonic_D #94 1 year ago

    I agree that Portal was the perfect game and was always worried about how they could make a ‘Full Length’ game for Portal 2. It was inevitable that it could no longer be perfect I guess, but it sounds like they have managed to make something that justifies creating the sequel, which is a great gaming achievement. Got it preloaded and ready to run when I get home.

  • geeza2020 #95 1 year ago

    "...and the uk office wasn't as good as the american version."


    thats one of the most mind numbingly idiotic things I have ever read.

  • kirankara #96 1 year ago

    @spekkah the links do work, it seems to be this site thats having issues, especially when linking out to other sites at moment.

    try again in a bit, or just type Lens of Truth and game blurb into google and then find the respective articles.

    i agree the games not a visual stunner either way, but u might be surprised at difference, i was. still no game breaker either way, and if u only have 360 its no biggie, but theres the other added bonuses on ps3 version too

  • kirankara #97 1 year ago

    us office was mind numbingly idiotiic, even more so than that statement tbh lol

  • Noble6 #98 1 year ago

    Awesome review.

  • DrStrangelove #99 1 year ago

    Shit. I'll have to cancel a date tonight.

  • Smudge1983 #100 1 year ago

    Riiiggghhhht I'm gonna have to sell a foot or a lung by Thursday... Or I could trade games in. So pleased that this has done well. Bravo Valve and to all the Pc players enjoy. I have to wait :(

  • evild_edd #101 1 year ago

    @DrStrangelove: Just tell her you're more interested in spending time with your companion cube. Sure she'll understand ;0)

    Oh, and fuck it - I can resist everything except temptation, as they say. Ordered so hopefully will be arriving through my letter box in the not too distant future.....

  • technicianTed #102 1 year ago

    The gameblurb link worked for me and i have to say i thought they had the screenshots the wrong way round.

    It's the 360 version that looks like it's coated in vaseline this time around which is pretty rare for 360 games to look so blurry.
    Not impressed at all with how it looks on the 360, the blur is horrible and strange to see on that machine.

    Ps3 version for me then so i can play the pc version for free.

  • bratmandu #103 1 year ago

    @kirankara

    Nope it was far better than the cringe-fest uk one - and it has the ratings and reviews to back that up. Granted it took a series to find it's feet and distinguish itself from the uk one - but Steve Carrell is a genuis and most of the cast are top notch.

    As for steve merchant:
    "Do a commercial, you're off the artistic roll call, every word you say is suspect, you're a corporate whore and eh, end of story." - Bill Hicks.

  • marcgiu #104 1 year ago

    bye bye dead space 2 and nfs hp - you going to tradein-ville. Gotta get me some of this

  • SeesThroughAll #105 1 year ago

    Even Mortal Kombat nods to Portal! As one can see here.

  • smithdown #106 1 year ago

    The cringiness was what made the Office so great and different, at the time. Better than the cheesey shmaltz vomitted on to the screen by most US sitcoms.

  • M1chl #107 1 year ago

    PS3 version for me this time, awesome review by the way : )

  • Scopeh #108 1 year ago

    Never played the first one, not very good with Puzzles, but all this hype has got the better of me, i'll pick it up :D

  • menage #109 1 year ago

    I'm torn. This sounds really great, but I never got what was so special about Portal to begin with. It looked average, I didn't really think Glados was funny, moreso annoying, and the puzzles kinda got on my nerves after a while. And first person platforming is still crap imo.

    Thr latter is probably why it didn't work for me. The viewpoint just wasn't for me for a puzzle game.

    Bring on the negs probably.
    Edited by menage at 19/04/11 @ 13:03

  • Bravestinsane #110 1 year ago

    The game is awesome,

    I started playing it around 7am completed it by 12:30.

    The puzzles get gradually more complicated as you go, some are insultingly easy (but thats a compliment that particular puzzle really fits in well with the character... you will see what i mean when you get there ;) )

    Ending of single player is awesome, graphics are really good on the PC. The liquid effects later on in the game are pretty nice.

    Can't say i have ever had much feeling towards characters in games until now, but you genually grow to like them, and your opinions on them change as you progress.

    Haven't played Co-op yet, but ill give that a go over the next few hours.

  • kirankara #111 1 year ago

    @bratmandu,

    i am not even huge fan of the british office either tbh, im a peter kay max and paddy or phoenix hights kinda guy, not that outhern poncey comedy kinda guy, but like someone said, that was the beauty of the office, it was filmed in a fly on wall documentary style , and was meant to be cringe worthy beyond all belief. thats the humour in it, that the main character thinks hes brilliant, but is hated by all in the office, and that generally hes one of lifes failures, both professionally and socially, yet he takes himself so seriously. Same pretty much applies to all the other characters, in terms of them basically being lifes losers and how awkward they all are around each other etc.

    its literally painful to watch at times, but thats the humour. The american version leaves me stone cold.

    as for most other us comedies, apart from the obvious brilliant shows like frasier, cheers, and a few others, who clearly have huge writing crews who are paid huge amounts of money,they do tend to be even more cringeworthy than the office(british version), but for totally different reasons, everybody loves raymond, king of queens, and some of other comedy shows that somehow wcahieve huge figures really have me scratching my head, as i am lucky to giggle slightly in an episode.

  • Moogrose #112 1 year ago

    Any idea when that DF face-off will be up?

  • StooMonster #113 1 year ago

    DrStrangelove: Shit. I'll have to cancel a date tonight.

    Co-op opportunity instead?

  • Grobbelboy #114 1 year ago

    360 vs. PS3 screenshot comparison here:
    http://www.lensoftruth.com/head2head/hea...
    There's a pretty big difference in aliasing in favor of the PS3 version...

  • photoboy #115 1 year ago

    Blasted through it earlier today on PC. It's definitely not as unique and original as the first, but I'm already hankering to replay it. It's really excellent and definitely worth getting on whatever platform(s) you may own.

  • mrmonkey1980 #116 1 year ago

    How much did they pay you?

  • dfooster #117 1 year ago

    Lets face it, it's common knowledge to the rest of the world that the yanks ain't funny. The US office was another fine example of the yanks thinking they understand why somethings funny, decide to remake it with their own actors and totally miss the point of the original. In fact there was a comedy series on tv the other month which parodied everything I have said above called "episodes" with matt le blanc.

    Back on topic I'm stoked for portal 2 although a little worried how some people have completed it already in just a few hours. I hope it's not too easy!!

  • davisorle #118 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 20:44:35 16-04-2012

  • coolbritannia #119 1 year ago

    I know I'm going to get negged to fuck for saying this, but that last paragraph was awful. I'll be picking this up in a month when it's half price, the comment about the campaign being 5 hours long is a bit of a downer, but I'm interested to see how they made a full campaign out of the concept from the first game.

  • bratmandu #120 1 year ago

    @kirankara
    Really? Peter Kay? That's your level? Remembering things we had previously forgotten does not a good comedian make.

    @ dfooster
    Pretty asinine comment there - yes a whole lot of US comedy is shite - as is a whole lot of Brit comedy. To say yanks aren't funny is just wrong. I'm with you in that US remakes of Brit comedy show are usually god awful - however the Office is the exception to the rule. It's less ricky gervais cringey humour, and more Anchorman-zany style. If you don't like that kind of humour then fine. But the fact remains that British comedy went down the tubes sometime in the mid 90s, whilst some of the finest comedy has been produced by the states (seinfeld, 30 rock, family guy, futurama, curb your enthusiasm, etc.).

  • kirankara #121 1 year ago

    @bratmandu

    Clearly u dont have northern blood in u , otherwise u would get peter Kay . His stand up is repetitive now, but Phoenix nights is comedy gold.

    If u quoting the American office as the highlight of comedy, then I'd rather have my teeth pulled out than watch comedywithout anaesthetic tbh.

    British comedy is far from dead too, we don't do series in same way as America does with huge shows that run for 8/9 series , but British comedy is well and truly alive. We just have very different sense if humour to Americans overall. Subtlety is the key in British humour, irony, sarcasm etc, as opposed to the Carroll /ferrel esque humour.

    I did 6 months in California, and lived for year with 2 Americans ( Michigan ) and the ppl who I got on with best were all from Chicago , new York etc , Californians just don't get the British at all.

    British comedy tends to be smaller shows that don't make it into USA as with most our films . In fact, I'd say some of the funniest films in recent years have been small britsh productions with British casts.

  • squeakyg #122 1 year ago

    Last paragraph: "THIS GAME IS BETTER THAN PERFECT". Let it never be said again that "10/10 doesn't necessarily mean perfection..."

  • actionfitz #123 1 year ago

    bit raging that My Game.co.uk pre-order wont be here till Thursday.
    Mates amazon order arrived today and They are selling in right now in Game Belfast.
    Wont be pre-ordering from Game again, was only lured their way by the few ££'s built up on my game card.
    /bugger

  • Subquest #124 1 year ago

    Some folks here have obviously not watched the The Office (US) for more than 5 minutes - it can be the only reason they're slating it. It's different from the UK version, but very witty, well written, and is up there with Modern Family, 30 Rock, Family Guy as one of the top current US comedy series.

    But anyhow. Portal 2 - had no intention of buying it, but fuck... a 10's a 10.

  • WJF #125 1 year ago

    To those wishing for some kind of level editor:

    "Portal 2 editing tools will be included. Note: To be made available after launch."

    (taken from the Steam store entry for Portal 2)

  • RedSparrows #126 1 year ago

    Retarded comedy discussion is retarded.

    In other news, glad this scored well. Still not sure I'll buy it.

  • bratmandu #127 1 year ago

    @kirankara
    I'm from Ireland so I don't have northern blood no, but I 'get' peter kay - as funny as the northern accent and 'my nan says' humour is, it's nothin on python, young ones, or enfield and whitehouse-era comedy. Spaced was the last great british sitcom. There's a few, A FEW decent brit stand up comedians these days, but not many. Brit sitcoms are done - 'My Family'??

    I don't think you can say all americans don't get sarcasm, irony, satire or subtlety - the quality ones do. Not sayin US office is the best, but's it damn funny - and if you watched past the 1st season you would realise. It's not trying to be like the UK one, nor should it.

    either way, original point - merchant's prattling might be ok in portal 2 (I'll find out tonite my 360 version arrived today) - but i will be constantly expecting to see animated piggy banks dancing round a lawn and be reminded to put all my savings in fixed ISAs.

  • Yossarian #128 1 year ago

    The best British comedy is The Thick of It.

    Now stop.

  • man.the.king #129 1 year ago

    @sport

    "It looks ok, but it's no COD"

    And THANK GOD for that. You are welcome to your COD.

    On-topic: My PS3 version is already on its way (Release-Date amazon dot com delivery) - pre-ordered sometime in Feb. Also getting a 25 USD credit for pre-ordering - so effectively got it for 30 :D
    /very happy

  • Cherub007 #130 1 year ago

    There is probably no argument on earth more pointless than 'this is funny and that isn't'.

    And is Merchant a sell-out? Probably not, given the type of comedy he creates. Does he give a flying fuck? No. Does a single aspect of his commercial work have the slightest bearing on him being, to my mind, one funny bastard? No.

  • Iain815 #131 1 year ago

    Yossarian, you're fucking right it is!

    Anyway, been playing the same since 10 this morning and I've already finished it. But it was brilliant.

    Some puzzles I did scratch my head about but most of them I just breezed through, which was a bit... frustrating. I was hoping for a bit of an extra challenge.

    Still the co-op to play, so as far as I'm concerned I'm still only half way through the game.

  • kirankara #132 1 year ago

    like i said peter kays stand up is very repetitive and my na kinda humour, but phoenix nights isnt at all. theres definitely an affectionate nod to northern culture and that period he grew up in for sure, but its far more clever than u are giving it credit for.

    As for office, what can i say, it just does nothing for me, and I never said all americans were same and unable to appreciate british humour, but by and large , the tv itself gives u an idea of how different their humour is. Tv series like futurama and family guy were almost cancelled(in case of futurama actually cancelled) as the american public didnt get it by and large.

    we dont have to agree (although python, blackadder, young ones etc are very much my kind of humour too) and i find some american series very funny, and also think u have not seen enough british stand ups if u cant name any funny ones, theres quite a few good ones around.

    As for british comedy series, spaced, father ted, royle family, the original office of course, inbetweeners, the it crowd, peep show, and many more,but these are usually small niche crowd comedies. ur right we dont really have an equivalent to friends, frasier , etc etc though.

    anyway we agree to disagree i guess, and i just bought orange box having never played half life 2 or portal , and im not sure ill like portal tbh, so thought this was cheaper and safer option, and if i do like it, ill chuck crysis 2 back at person behind my local cex desk and get portal 2 soon.

  • PearOfAnguish #133 1 year ago

    Jay Pinkerton wrote the script? Awesome. He's hilarious.

    The Steam install is a hefty 11GB though. That's gonna take a while to download.

  • Syrette #134 1 year ago

    @kirankara

    It's YOU. Not 'u'.

  • man.the.king #135 1 year ago

    @kirankara

    "Subtlety is the key in British humour"

    Subtlety you say? Would that be the subtlety on display in Fawlty Towers, for example? Or in many Monty Python skits?

    FWIW, note that Fawlty Towers is still my favorite sitcom, EVER.

    "We just have very different sense if humour to Americans overall"

    Now THAT I can agree with - I think we should just leave it at that. Each area has its own particular blend of comedy, and everybody has their share of bloopers.

  • weebl #136 1 year ago

    It is also a British trait to pick great things to pieces. Most people commenting about the game here and on Metacritic haven't played it yet but seem to have an opinion on why it won't meet up to their expectations.

    Just enjoy it people!

  • bratmandu #137 1 year ago

    @kirankara
    I'll give you those, but there was edgier, better brit comedy in Brasseye, Partidge and Time Trumpet - but Father Ted and IT Crowd you can't have - Linehan and Matthews are Irish -and you'll hear them say in interviews as I have that in Ireland as they grew up in the 70s/80s, we got some american shows over on cable here. We also got the english terrestrials - and thus their influences in Father Ted/It Crowd are a glorious mixture of the best of english/us comedy stylings - which is why I appreciate US humour as well as UK instead of writing off all american comedy as shite.

  • Gammerz #138 1 year ago

    Well done Valve on a perfect score; it must be the icing on the cake.

  • Jacksie66 #139 1 year ago

    I could really go for some cake right now...

  • kirankara #140 1 year ago

    @kirankara

    "It's YOU. Not 'u'."

    Get bent, i got a degree in philosophy and study of religions, and have read some very complex literature, with some very complex vocabulary, soIi don't need YOU to tell me how to write the word YOU. i just cant be arsed to write YOU in every conversation i have, in the same way I dont spell check, insert capitals, use perfect grammar, use
    colloquializations, check for commas, apostrophes etc. If it bothers u that much, YOU should get some psychiatric help, as there's something deeper at play here. YOU bloody control freak


    man.the.king

    @kirankara

    "Subtlety is the key in British humour"

    "Subtlety you say? Would that be the subtlety on display in Fawlty Towers, for example? Or in many Monty Python skits?

    FWIW, note that Fawlty Towers is still my favorite sitcom, EVER.

    "We just have very different sense if humour to Americans overall"

    Now THAT I can agree with - I think we should just leave it at that. Each area has its own particular blend of comedy, and everybody has their share of bloopers."

    Monty python was very cutting edge in its time, and although anarchic and quite crass on some levels, it certainly had subtlety too. wikipeadia link gives nice account of monty python [link url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python#Style_of_the_show
    ]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Pytho...[/link]
    Fawlty towers was more prime time viewing and not really cutting edge comedy, although very funny still.

    bratmandu

    @ kirankara
    I'll give you those, but there was edgier, better brit comedy in Brasseye, Partidge and Time Trumpet - but Father Ted and IT Crowd you can't have - Linehan and Matthews are Irish -and you'll hear them say in interviews as I have that in Ireland as they grew up in the 70s/80s, we got some american shows over on cable here. We also got the english terrestrials - and thus their influences in Father Ted/It Crowd are a glorious mixture of the best of english/us comedy stylings - which is why I appreciate US humour as well as UK instead of writing off all american comedy as shite.

    I said british not english lol. So i tand by my british statement. Yeah there are other better comedies than ones i named im sure, its one of those situations where u try and think of something and shows u would normally refer to go out ur head completely.

    U can find external influences in all great artists, other than what we directly percieve, and i suppose thats what makes great artists great, they take inspiration from sources and utilise them to innovate etc. look at rock and roll, its influences are multifarious to say the least.

    Theres great british and Americann comedy, but i dont think u can really doubt that a lot of the tripe on American tv that counts as comedy is unbelievably predictable and contrite. throw in the canned lauughter and I want to cry. U can literally predict a lot of scenarious and lines in those shows. Everybody hates Chris, Two and Half Men, both have some brilliant script writing, but at other points they revert back to horribly predictable lines that u can see coming mile off, to be topped off with canned laughter.

    nice chatting with u btw, but i still hate the American office lol

  • levitate #141 1 year ago

    The Americans had Seinfeld, still one of the best sitcoms ever made and the brits had Monty Python, Young Ones, Fawlty Towers etc. Both flavours of humour suit my needs at different times, just like sexual positions with the missus. As for the game; holy crap! 10/10!

  • randompanda #142 1 year ago

    The bunch of idiots going off on what kind of comedy is funniest - Shut up.

  • kirankara #143 1 year ago

    'random panda

    how can i politely put this? how about, go sexually pleasure yourself??

    who made u the forum conversation police? we gott side tracked for bit amongst the conversation about portal 2, and it will most likely be over now, and at some point will go off topic again with another set of ppl at another point, so, to use another colloquial phrase, get bent!!

  • man.the.king #144 1 year ago

    @kirankara

    "Monty python was very cutting edge in its time, and although anarchic and quite crass on some levels..."

    Which is exactly what I meant when I talked to bloopers as in "not everything that came out of Cleese, Gilliam, Palin, Jones and Chapman's stable" was cutting-edge or subtle. And in the same way that Brit humor is great, but not 100% of the time, a similar variance in quality can be observed in American material too. Depending on WHO it originates from (and I do not mean the nationality here).

    In summary, you can't really say that one group of people has a "better" sense of humor/humour than the other group.

    Different? Yeah, sure.

  • kirankara #145 1 year ago

    @kirankara

    "Monty python was very cutting edge in its time, and although anarchic and quite crass on some levels..."

    "Which is exactly what I meant when I talked to bloopers as in "not everything that came out of Cleese, Gilliam, Palin, Jones and Chapman's stable" was cutting-edge or subtle. And in the same way that Brit humor is great, but not 100% of the time, a similar variance in quality can be observed in American material too. Depending on WHO it originates from (and I do not mean the nationality here).

    In summary, you can't really say that one group of people has a "better" sense of humor/humour than the other group.

    Different? Yeah, sure."

    dont remmber ever saying that all american humour was naff, just a lot of the comedy shows are. I actually said at various points they had some great shows, and that not all americans have same sense of humour, as I found New Yorkers to have a far "sharper" sense of humour, much more sarcastic etc.

    Also just because their humour wasnt always cutting edge or subtle doesnt mean its not funny, does it? the two statements arent interdependent on each other, but some of the biggest comeedy shows in America have such appallingly contrived and cliched, and extremely predictable humour, that its painful. im looking at things like Everybody loves Raymond, How I met your mother, king of queens etc, the kind of crap us Brits get on constant repeat on channel 4, E4 and paramount .

  • kirankara #146 1 year ago

    @kirankara

    "Monty python was very cutting edge in its time, and although anarchic and quite crass on some levels..."

    "Which is exactly what I meant when I talked to bloopers as in "not everything that came out of Cleese, Gilliam, Palin, Jones and Chapman's stable" was cutting-edge or subtle. And in the same way that Brit humor is great, but not 100% of the time, a similar variance in quality can be observed in American material too. Depending on WHO it originates from (and I do not mean the nationality here).

    In summary, you can't really say that one group of people has a "better" sense of humor/humour than the other group.

    Different? Yeah, sure."

    dont remmber ever saying that all american humour was naff, just a lot of the comedy shows are. I actually said at various points they had some great shows, and that not all americans have same sense of humour, as I found New Yorkers to have a far "sharper" sense of humour, much more sarcastic etc.

    Also just because their humour wasnt always cutting edge or subtle doesnt mean its not funny, does it? the two statements arent interdependent on each other, but some of the biggest comeedy shows in America have such appallingly contrived and cliched, and extremely predictable humour, that its painful. im looking at things like Everybody loves Raymond, How I met your mother, king of queens etc, the kind of crap us Brits get on constant repeat on channel 4, E4 and paramount .

  • levitate #147 1 year ago

    I actually agree with kirankara on this, odd as it may seem. GTFO panda.

  • randompanda #148 1 year ago

    Since you put it so politely, it'd be my pleasure to leave you to continue to spew irrelevance on a comments section of a game review you cretin.

  • omraya #149 1 year ago

    so, anyone knows what's up with the co-op part of the game?
    is it like a seperate campaign and test chambers?
    or is it like the same campiagn/puzzles as the single player but only in co-op?


  • bladdard #150 1 year ago

    Loved portal, love valve, can't wait until thursday to get my hands on Portal 2 (PS3 version but I'll play it on the PC) but where the hell is HL2 ep3?

  • kirankara #151 1 year ago

    dont let the door hit ur arse on way out panda, berk!! ps, if u still think im being polite, ill let u in on a secret, the history of this word lies in rhyming slang, and the words berkely hunt.

    so is this game a proper mind bending puz;e that will frustrate hell out of u for ages whilst u figure out puzzles,with an element of trial and error, or is it quite logically consistent, so u always feel like you have learnt something, and this carries on into next puzzle etc

  • kirankara #152 1 year ago

    dont let the door hit ur arse on way out panda, berk!! ps, if u still think im being polite, ill let u in on a secret, the history of this word lies in rhyming slang, and the words berkely hunt.

    so is this game a proper mind bending puz;e that will frustrate hell out of u for ages whilst u figure out puzzles,with an element of trial and error, or is it quite logically consistent, so u always feel like you have learnt something, and this carries on into next puzzle etc

  • stepleftstepright #153 1 year ago

    okay, PC version is the best. 360 or PS3?

  • TheGuvernor #154 1 year ago

    That was one of the more pretentious reviews on E.G. for a while - but the game sounds great.

  • technicianTed #155 1 year ago

    Way to go pinkyrocks to get Leadbetter on your side.

    If he does dislike the ps3 which i highly doubt, he's going to dislike some members of the ps3 community even more i think.
    He does seem to take alot of abuse from ps3 fans.

  • carlitoswagon #156 1 year ago

    God needs to create more hours in the day for gaming.

  • bratmandu #157 1 year ago

    Well I got a good night of it in - merchant has a pretty nice performance - I guffawed a couple of times. But he is a sellout and I keep expecting to see money metaphors running around.

    Just got to the bit's with the repulsion gel after maybe 5-6 hours of play. Hoping there's still a bit to go - haven't even seen the other gels, but I'm taking my time with it. So far pretty good - they got the balance of puzzle difficulty spot on - although it's getting more head scratchy the further i get.

  • icanus #158 1 year ago

    pure brilliance!

  • Odulin #159 1 year ago

    Really very good game! I laugh very often, because game is full of great intelligent humour. Good job Valve!

  • ShiroBen #160 1 year ago

    Just finished it. The last sequence ... it's amazing. It's just brilliant. It couldn't have been better. Worth the price of admission for that alone. I was agape all the way through and then for more than a minute afterwards, my face a literal:

    :o

    Game of the year. Nothing else is going to affect me like that. Fantastic experience.

  • bratmandu #161 1 year ago

    Yup, just done the singleplayer, great story - brilliant environments and voice acting and a genius ending. I'd say I clocked about 9-10 hours on it. Trying not to spoil but the JK Simmons bits were incredibly good - especially the way the music and decor were matched to the different levels. Merchant's voice wasn't too annoying.

  • DRUNK3N-_-DRAGON #162 1 year ago

    its a brain fuck and anybody who says its not is lying..end ov

  • aplsin #163 1 year ago

    I played the first Portal for PC and loved it! However it did require some rapid and precise mouse movements to get through some of the puzzles. Will I even be able to to get through all the levels in this game on Xbox 360 if i really really suck at aiming with joypads? (I'm a bit scared this is more hardware demanding than the first Portal that's why I'm thinking of getting it on 360, that and split screen)

  • Ryboy #164 1 year ago

    The ending is fucking shite. How disappointing.

  • bratmandu #165 1 year ago

    @aplsin
    The 360 controller is fine for p2 - there aren't as many 'create-infinite-loop-to-gather-momentum' puzzles in this compared to the first game. The harder puzzles are more about using the gels/laser redirects to create the right conditions for moving forward - can't speak about the co-op though as I haven't gotten into it yet. But precision-wise a controller works fine.

  • aplsin #166 1 year ago

    @bratmandu
    Thanks, exactly what I wanted to know! 360 version it is then, always fun to have a good coop game when friends visit!

  • bcxixa10 #167 1 year ago

    GREATEST GAMER EVER

  • B1G_D #168 1 year ago

    So, a 10 for a game that can be completed and thrown aside, in less than two days?

    So lastability, or value for money, don't count for anything nowadays?

    Great game, grating length.

  • curryking3 #169 1 year ago

    "So, a 10 for a game that can be completed and thrown aside, in less than two days?

    So lastability, or value for money, don't count for anything nowadays?

    Great game, grating length."

    Err... why do people today act like every other Super Nintendo game lasted 20 hrs?

  • goldenbone #170 1 year ago

    Brilliant game, my favorite gaming experience of the year so far, no question. Not finished it yet, playing it through slowly to savour it properly (playing at night, with headphones on primarily).

    Review is spot on, really nails it. It's amazing that they managed to take the basic framework of the original, and so expertly craft a full scale sequel, staggering in fact. In the hands of anyone else, this could easily have been a disaster..

    Anyway, early candidate for game of the year, for me, and a strong one at that.

  • B1G_D #171 1 year ago

    "Err... why do people today act like every other Super Nintendo game lasted 20 hrs?"

    ????

    So what are you saying? It's progress that one of "the" games of 2011, has less lastability than "every other Super Nintendo game"? I still maintain that charging full price for what started as (and still is in my book) a MOD for Half-life 2 is daylight theft.

    And I was a Mega Drive man myself.
    Edited by B1G_D at 26/04/11 @ 23:35

  • icelt #172 1 year ago

    Hmmm... suppose there's always gotta be one and this time it is me. Just finished the SP and will freely admit that P2 is a very, very, very good game. However it is not a masterpiece.