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Portal 2 Review

SarcasmoJones

Shared on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 13:11

Portal stands as a classic example of a sleeper hit. Packed in The Orange Box, a Valve collection featuring Half Life 2, Team Fortress 2, and a couple of Half Life 2 sequels, Portal was the little puzzle game in the shadow of giants. However, Portal had a lot going for it....it featured addictive gameplay, a menacing antagonist, and packed in with one of the most popular game series ever. It didn't take long for Portal to steal the spotlight from Gordon Freeman.

Portal 2 takes place several years after the events of the first Portal. Ellen McLain reprises her role as the menacing and malicious AI, GLaDOS, who definitely holds a grudge against the woman who killed her at the end of the first game, the silent protag Chell. JK Simmons and Stephen Merchant also lend their voice talent to this worthy sequel. The plot is easy to follow:Chell is awakened, GLaDOS is reactivated, and testing resumes. The portal gun returns, and a few new substances and gadgets have been added to give the problem solving extra depth. The real advancement in the sequel is the addition of cooperative play, adding a whole new dimension to portal problem solving with a focus on teamwork and timing while utilizing all the style and substance(s) from the single player iteration. The puzzles are still challenging on a second single player playthrugh and the co-op experience changes depending on your partner. It's a relatively short game with long legs. I would recommend Portal 2 without reservation...it truly is a game for everyone.

Comments

SirPoonga's picture
Submitted by SirPoonga on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 09:03
Just like how SOCOM stole the idea of shooting bullets at enemies from Call of Duty.
ONTHEGAS's picture
Submitted by ONTHEGAS on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 19:04
Big difference there hoss. One company claimed they had an original idea and one company made a cookie cutter shooter. I can only call it like I see it. Lets just say that Valve was sailing the ocean in 1492 and hit a piece of land. Humanhead and 3dRealms were already on this land, did Valve discover it? I'm just saying, give credit where credit is due. Valve is like Al Gore when he "invented" the internet.
SirPoonga's picture
Submitted by SirPoonga on Thu, 06/02/2011 - 08:46
Heh, another big difference, one is a FPS and one is a puzzle solver. As you see, I can compare apples to oranges also :)
ONTHEGAS's picture
Submitted by ONTHEGAS on Thu, 06/02/2011 - 20:28
If I'm not mistaken you brought Socom up. Let me break it down. A game came out where it was possible to form portals in walls and that was the puzzle/platforming aspect of said game. Another game comes out a few years later and has a similar aspect to their game and critics rave over this original idea. Sequel is made, same accolades thrown its way. I fell for your trap, the comparisons don't matter in this discussion. I will stop now. I have to remember that all of us will not agree on every topic. Just like I don't agree with your views on piracy,modding and or cheating. I will tip my king and allow you this victory. Have some honor and don't respond to this reply. Thank you.
Arvind's picture
Submitted by Arvind on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 13:40
Girls! GIRLS! Separate! I swear to God, if I have to pull over this goddamn car....
YEM's picture
Submitted by YEM on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 13:47
Portal is a spiritual successor Narbacular Drop... which came out in 2005 Prey came out in 2006
YEM's picture
Submitted by YEM on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 13:47
Portal is a spiritual successor to Narbacular Drop... which came out in 2005 Prey came out in 2006
YEM's picture
Submitted by YEM on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 13:47
whoops double (now triple :lol: ) post
ONTHEGAS's picture
Submitted by ONTHEGAS on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 18:26
First off Lotus, don't you have an obituary to write? Or maybe some shitty review you can write? Keep telling yourself that you are making a difference with your reviews over at Metacritic. If Poonga and myself want to fuck around and bust eachother's balls a bit we don't need the king of trolls to act like judge and jury. If you did pull the car over, would you lecture me on good work ethic? Yem, it was harmless fun.
DIGITALciphers's picture
Submitted by DIGITALciphers on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 15:40
I think Portal 2 is great too. I need to finish it and play some co-op.
SirPoonga's picture
Submitted by SirPoonga on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 16:51
Errrr, must use spell check :)
JPNor's picture
Submitted by JPNor on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 19:27
I dug the game and Thought the single player was amazing. I got the PS3 version too and haven't loaded up the PC version yet, but I'm itching for some co-op. I'm pretty sure I have you in my PS3 friends list so when you get into co-op, let me know. Seems most of my other PS3 friends have already moved on to other games.
ONTHEGAS's picture
Submitted by ONTHEGAS on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 22:16
I really enjoyed the game. I never thought that the mindless shooting of holes in walls could be so satisfying. Well I was wrong. I wonder if Valve will rip anything from the new Prey game and call it original? I can't wait until Preytal 3!!!

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