Portal: Still Alive

By Dan Whitehead Published 17 October, 2008

Have your cake and eat it.

Still Alive, the Portal project headed for Xbox Live Arcade, was shrouded in secrecy for a long time. Apart from the title and the intended download outlet, little more was known. Was it a sequel to Valve's surprise reality-warping first-person puzzler? A spin-off? An expansion pack?

Well, it's certainly not a sequel. If anything it's a compilation, a hefty 631MB download which contains the original and much praised Portal game, along with a chunk of new material. Fourteen additional Challenge Maps, based on the 2D maps from the Flash version and accessed via a separate menu option, are included under the Still Alive banner and good performance in these unlocks a further six Testchambers, which in turn have six advanced alternate layouts. That's twenty-six new Portal maps to explore in total, with a small but robust reward system built in for superlative play.

Speaking of rewards, there's a new range of Achievements to aim for, offering virtual pats on the back for such feats as tricking a rocket sentry into "destroying its own rocket when the rocket has been redirected back towards it". There's also one worth 25 Gamerpoints for only ever entering the orange portal in the main game, which I can see becoming an obsessive test of concentration and planning to rival The Orange Box's space-bound garden gnome. There's also the lure of leaderboards, given that the game was clearly designed to attract the speedrun crowd. As always, your success is measured not only in terms of how quickly you solve a puzzle, but in how many footsteps and portals you had to use.

'Portal: Still Alive' Screenshot 1

Yes, these are from the original. Still Alive is more secret than Gemma Atkinson's sex change. Allegedly.

The additional fourteen maps aren't going to trouble experienced Portal fans for very long though. They feature a few new obstacles, in the shape of red barriers that kill you on contact, and blue plasma barriers which can provide a solid surface to walk on - or form an impassable barrier. Where they differ from the transparent windows and shimmering blue barriers of the original game is that portals can be fired through both red and blue, while Companion Cubes can be dropped through red barriers without being destroyed.

Other than that, the puzzles rely on techniques already perfected in the original game. Using momentum through portals to reach higher areas, or to catapult yourself across wide gaps. Setting up a blue-to-orange-to-blue relay of linked portals to manoeuvre a vital cube out of a tight spot. And, of course, avoiding those gun turrets with their sing-song voices reassuring you that they don't mind that you've had to disable them.

It's the chatty turrets that provide the character in the Still Alive section of the package, since there's no GLaDOS to guide and torment you. Aficionados will probably spend a lot of time figuring out where in the Portal timeline these levels are set, since despite the absence of GLaDOS you are still controlling Chell, the heroine of the original game.

This is both reassuring and slightly disappointing. Obviously the thick seam of dark humour was one of the elements that made Portal so memorable, along with the final act break from convention. Trying to repeat that formula, or resurrect GLaDOS would therefore be a big mistake - the worst kind of sequelitis - and it's encouraging that Valve has avoided such corny fan service.

'Portal: Still Alive' Screenshot 2

There is no hidden message in this screenshot.

On the other hand, it does leave these levels feeling a little dry. The puzzles are still clever, though rarely ingenious, and there are a few hints scattered around that life behind the scenes of the Enrichment Center is not all it should be. Scrawled arrows suggest the way ahead, and an occasional scribbled cry for help can be found. Only one of the fourteen new maps requires you to go beyond the white and grey sterility of the test chambers though, in a challenge that requires you to find a way up into a chute to free some jammed cubes.

I should point out that it's entirely possible that the additional six test chambers and their advanced counterparts could contain more development in this area. Unfortunately time, and my own exhausted brain, meant that I wasn't able to complete all of those before putting fingers to keyboard.

Still, it's out on 22nd October, so you won't have to wait long to find out what we make of it. The big question, we suspect, will be how you feel about the price-tag. After all, a lot of people will already have half of this package, and unless the new content will be available as a cheaper standalone download for those who already own The Orange Box, it may be hard to justify the over-the-odds expense. We shall see.

Portal: Still Alive is due out through Xbox Live Arcade on 22nd October, and will cost 1200 Microsoft Points (GBP 10.20 / EUR 14.40).

Picture of Dan.

About Dan Whitehead

Dan has been writing for Eurogamer since 2006 and specialises in RPGs, shooters and games for children. His bestest game ever is Julian Gollop's Chaos.

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Whitehead archive page.

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Comments (42) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • MrHyde #1 3 years ago

    I dont fancy paying £10 for a game when I can buy the orange box for £15.

  • Tonka #2 3 years ago

    I see the Eg logo.
    I get the cake!

  • DFawkes #3 3 years ago

    Any chance of a Steam release too? I love Portal so much I'd have to buy a 360 just to play it.

  • the_dudefather #4 3 years ago

    @DFawkes
    the extra stuff is free for the PC anyway I think

  • JonFE #5 3 years ago

    "...unless the new content will be available as a cheaper standalone download for those who already own The Orange Box..."

    I certainly hope they decide to release a standalone pack... I ain't paying thrice (already bought it twice on PC and x360) for Portal, no matter how much I loved it :)

  • hokuto_no_rob #6 3 years ago

    Total rip.

  • homerramone #7 3 years ago

    Yup - seems a bit excessive £10 when you can get all the other stuff in OB for £5 more. They mightve at least allowed people that own the OB to download the new stuff for maybe 400 pts or something (hardly a bargin either, but better than £10 !)

    Cant believe the download size either. Saw it on PN a month or so back and thought 'oh its just a test - they will reduce for release !'


  • GamesConnoisseur #8 3 years ago

    Dont buy it if you dont want it or not happy with the expectation to pay extra for the content. Wallets talk, but still there will be plently who will want and its their (and my) money!

  • Eraser #9 3 years ago

    While I think the idea behind Portal's gameplay is excellent, I find that Portal, in itself, is a load of crap. It's designed so incredibly poorly. I'm not talking about the puzzle mechanisms in the levels, but the whole feel, atmosphere and look of the game is like it was done by a 4 year old.

    The whole game uses a whopping 2 textures.
    Edited by 1 at 17/10/08 @ 13:59

  • Gnort #10 3 years ago

    Portal easily justifies the 1200 MSP price tag, even without any extras, if you haven't played it before. However, the big problem is that the Orange Box is already in bargain bins for not a lot more, and this version doesn't seem to add enough content to justify a re-purchase if you've already got the original.

  • ZuluHero #11 3 years ago

    Isn't this just the portal flash pack maps?

    It was very well done actually..uses voices you didnt hear first time around. Much better than that crap calling itself Portal: Prelude

  • mazzl #12 3 years ago

    i don't have the OB yet, but want to play portal. will check out prices here for the OB.
    buying the complete game does seem loads more value for money

  • MrXBob #13 3 years ago

    ...What happened to the Portals? Everything else looks identical to the disc version, but the Portals themselves looks very different.

  • TipTop #14 3 years ago

    /orange

  • Lutz #15 3 years ago

    OMG IS TEH CAKE A LEI?!

  • DFawkes #16 3 years ago

    Free on PC? I'm assuming that's for Steam Portal owners, and I'm not buying it a 3rd time for PC. I'll just get a 360 instead. Then buy it a 3rd time anyway.

    /Uses the same inverse money saving that our banks did

  • JonFE #17 3 years ago

    @DFawkes:

    I *think* the extra maps can be downloaded from here.

    EDIT: Sorry, but I could be wrong. The above download mentions 40 levels, which is more than those in Still Alive...
    Edited by 1 at 17/10/08 @ 14:36

  • TipTop #18 3 years ago

    /blue

    Ta Dah!

  • miiiguel #19 3 years ago

    Instant buy as I didn't get OB.

  • CapnCloudchaser #20 3 years ago

    Does the OB not have achievements for the Portal side?

    I haven't played Portal, more interested in that then the OB, but since you can get OB fairly cheap anyway, I'm not sure if it is still worth it with achievements?
    Edited by 1 at 17/10/08 @ 14:40

  • prolific8 #21 3 years ago

    Where is OB for £15? Cheapest I can see is £18.

  • bonker #22 3 years ago

    "This is both reassuring and slightly disappointing. Obviously the thick seam of dark humour was one of the elements that made Portal so memorable, along with the final act break from convention. Trying to repeat that formula, or resurrect GLaDOS would therefore be a big mistake - the worst kind of sequelitis - and it's encouraging that Valve has avoided such corny fan service."

    I think that's utterly, utterly wrong.

    No GLaDOS, no sale, end of.

  • RexRunti #23 3 years ago

    "Trying to repeat that formula, or resurrect GLaDOS.."

    No offence but did you watch the end credits of portal, you know, the still alive song? I don't know why I put this in spoiler tags because the expansion's bloody called "Still Alive". It turns out the cake isn't a lie either

  • darc #24 3 years ago

    So am I getting this right? Still Alive is basically a re-release of a Flash game, and 6 new levels? Somewhat... anti-climactic.
    Edited by 1 at 17/10/08 @ 15:29

  • jamie_fear #25 3 years ago

    Orange Box on 360 was £12 on play.com last week.

  • bitesize #26 3 years ago

    So am I getting this right? Still Alive is basically a re-release of a Flash game, and 6 new levels?

    no, it's a re-release of the whole original game, plus maps based on the flash game maps, plus 6 new levels. i learned all that by reading the article...

  • darc #27 3 years ago

    "no, it's a re-release of the whole original game, plus maps based on the flash game maps, plus 6 new levels. i learned all that by reading the article..."

    LOL guess I had that coming. I did skim a bit, having already played Portal through, as well as most of the additional Portal challenges that shipped w/ Orange Box.

    That said, it's still anti-climactic. There's nearly no new game to go along with the new name.

  • kinky_mong #28 3 years ago

    I'll still end up getting it because it's less than a tenner for more maps and some inventive achievements of one of my top 3 games ever. I can afford it and don't mind giving more money to Valve.

  • Sansmilk_GK #29 3 years ago

    Such a rip off... but I'll still probably pick this up... Awesome game

  • agparrot #30 3 years ago

    I need a bigger slice of hard drive.

  • Daikon #31 3 years ago

    GBP 10.20? For ten new levels?
    As much as I love Portal I think I'll pass on this one.
    Btw are PS3 owners getting the short end of the stick again?

  • Ergates_Antius #32 3 years ago

    "It's designed so incredibly poorly. I'm not talking about the puzzle mechanisms in the levels, but the whole feel, atmosphere and look of the game is like it was done by a 4 year old."

    Er, what? Are you mental?

  • adamamosa #33 3 years ago

    I honestly feel I owe them the extra tenner, after orange box was such a bargain!!

  • darc #34 3 years ago

    "I honestly feel I owe them the extra tenner, after orange box was such a bargain!!"

    Seriously! That release almost seemed too good to be true. Of course, by the time I picked it up (for PC) I'd already shelled out for HL2 and HL2 Episode 1, but I was still psyched to be getting the whole collection on one DVD. And just Portal and Ep. 2 were worth the retail price.

    I'm not down on the Still Alive pricing, I think that's fine. I'm just disappointed there isn't a whole new game based on these excellent mechanics.

  • bushwod #35 3 years ago

    I think the price is fair considering they're trying to sell this to people who haven't played Portal and it deserves to be played by EVERYONE.

    Having said that they really need to release a DLC for OB for about a fiver for the loyal fans.

    Let's hope they eh.

  • Retroid #36 3 years ago

    Shop around and get your points cheaper than RRP, or cash in some of those loyalty points in Game :)

  • bonker #37 3 years ago

    Fuck Game.

  • muscleblade #38 3 years ago

    "Instant buy as I didn't get OB"

    You should buy the OB instead imo. Best game on any system ever imo. Check the metacritic average and see what i mean.

  • avoozl #39 3 years ago

    "It's designed so incredibly poorly ... The whole game uses a whopping 2 textures."

    Haha. That's funny. Maybe you should load up thousands of different textures in Photoshop and re-size them real small so they all fit on the screen at once, then you can just stare at that all day, marveling at the sheer number of textures you can see at the same time like the game of your dreams!

  • Nikanoru #40 3 years ago

    the whole feel, atmosphere and look of the game is like it was done by a 4 year old.


    Ahahaha holy shit, this must be a troll.

  • UncleLou #41 3 years ago

    "It's designed so incredibly poorly. I'm not talking about the puzzle mechanisms in the levels, but the whole feel, atmosphere and look of the game is like it was done by a 4 year old."

    I guess a more subtle, mature and elegant approach like the one in Portal compared to most of the rest in gaming can't be everybody's cup of tea, but this level of misjudgment is just frightening.

  • Ginger #42 3 years ago

    Not got this, and played through HL2 on the PC so for a tenner, this is a must have for me.