Think with Portals
Portal 2 review
Portal 2 does the unexpected, it takes a critically aclaimed story and expands it in ways that did not seem possible. In Portal 1 the story seemed to focus around Glados and the environment you are in. Characters were built and expectations of their definition were made. However Portal 2 goes and changes your perception of Aperture Science, Glados, and the many new faces of the world the game takes place in.
This is supprising as many of you may have seen Portal as the pinnicle of story telling in terms of developing a character and also giving a clear idea of what the story is doing. However, with Portal 2, the very definitions of what you come to expect are blured. The game world is not black and white anymore and your perceptions of what is going on will change.
To go into details of why this reviewer thinks this way would go into story spoilers which is a key part of the game, and so they will not be discussed.
Moving into another area of the game, the gameplay itself. The basic mechanics from Portal 1 were place a portal on a wall and then another and move around to get to the exit of the room. These puzzles sound easy enough and once again they are to begin with. However as the game progresses the difficulty and challenge of the puzzles at hand change. You will meet many of the elements of a puzzle from Portal 1 but then you will come to meet new challenges that block your route. These are well paced and work in tandem with the story. The sense of reward from the puzzle mechanics are represented with nuggets of story. This is the traditional Valve at work here and something fans and new comers will come to expect.
The audio and visual aspects of the game are to a high standard. With hints at other titles streemed around the locations in the game. Players of Left 4 Dead and Half Life will know of these little hints to other Valve titles and story plot. These work well with the game as the player is given choice in how much of the plot and world they wish to absorb to a greater detail than the minimal level the opening sections of the game give.
The audio in the game is minimalist with qeues given at times needed such as completion of a puzzle and to give a sense of momentum when this is required for puzzle solving. The cast from Portal 1 are back with new voices to give fans of the series the continuity required for a game such as this.
The co-operative campaign is also a welcome edition to the Portal universe. Playing as two robots, you are solving puzzles similar to that of the single player. However team work is very much needed, especially towards the latter end of the co-op where timing and portal placement is key. The story is very well made and gives you a sense that the way the story has been passed to the player in the single player was not an accidental design principle. The co-op world is the same as the single player but takes place in a different time line to that of the single player. However you will want to complete the single player before moving into the co-operative mode as some story points from the single player are spoilt in the co-operative mode.
However, after praising the visual aspects of the game there are aspects the game could improve. The Source engine is starting to show signs of aging or the hardware running the game is starting to show its age (the review was done on the Xbox 360 edition of the game). The visuals, whilst stunning in some aspects (such as the use of white and contrasting colours in the puzzle aspects of the environment), some are showing cracks. The lack of damage to the environment could show more deformatiy if you are smashing heavy objects into them. However this is a minor criticism in the scheme of things.
Another criticism is with the single player end game. The story seems to build up to grand ideas and thought into the characters. However, the ending feels like time had ran out for the development of the game. The co-operative game ends in a way fitting to Portal the series so it is unclear why the single player story ends in such an abrupt mannor.
The co-operative campaign is also not perfect. The mode really does require you to play with a friend as issues can arise with timing and puzzle solving. Strangers via matchmaking may not be the best way to play through this mode and the game itself suggests this.
Another issue is the length of the game. For fans of the original, this game in single player can be beaten in under 10 hours and without playing the co-operative portion of the game, half the game is lost.
Summary
Portal 2 is an experience that many will enjoy. The rich story telling, awesome gameplay and tried and tested visual and audio aspects will please many. However the experience is not perfect and people who do not wish to listen to the dialouge in the game will only experience half the game.
With a completion time of 17 hours for single player and co-op the game is a good buy or worth a rent at minimum.
Portal 2 does the unexpected, it takes a critically aclaimed story and expands it in ways that did not seem possible. In Portal 1 the story seemed to focus around Glados and the environment you are in. Characters were built and expectations of their definition were made. However Portal 2 goes and changes your perception of Aperture Science, Glados, and the many new faces of the world the game takes place in.
This is supprising as many of you may have seen Portal as the pinnicle of story telling in terms of developing a character and also giving a clear idea of what the story is doing. However, with Portal 2, the very definitions of what you come to expect are blured. The game world is not black and white anymore and your perceptions of what is going on will change.
To go into details of why this reviewer thinks this way would go into story spoilers which is a key part of the game, and so they will not be discussed.
Moving into another area of the game, the gameplay itself. The basic mechanics from Portal 1 were place a portal on a wall and then another and move around to get to the exit of the room. These puzzles sound easy enough and once again they are to begin with. However as the game progresses the difficulty and challenge of the puzzles at hand change. You will meet many of the elements of a puzzle from Portal 1 but then you will come to meet new challenges that block your route. These are well paced and work in tandem with the story. The sense of reward from the puzzle mechanics are represented with nuggets of story. This is the traditional Valve at work here and something fans and new comers will come to expect.
The audio and visual aspects of the game are to a high standard. With hints at other titles streemed around the locations in the game. Players of Left 4 Dead and Half Life will know of these little hints to other Valve titles and story plot. These work well with the game as the player is given choice in how much of the plot and world they wish to absorb to a greater detail than the minimal level the opening sections of the game give.
The audio in the game is minimalist with qeues given at times needed such as completion of a puzzle and to give a sense of momentum when this is required for puzzle solving. The cast from Portal 1 are back with new voices to give fans of the series the continuity required for a game such as this.
The co-operative campaign is also a welcome edition to the Portal universe. Playing as two robots, you are solving puzzles similar to that of the single player. However team work is very much needed, especially towards the latter end of the co-op where timing and portal placement is key. The story is very well made and gives you a sense that the way the story has been passed to the player in the single player was not an accidental design principle. The co-op world is the same as the single player but takes place in a different time line to that of the single player. However you will want to complete the single player before moving into the co-operative mode as some story points from the single player are spoilt in the co-operative mode.
However, after praising the visual aspects of the game there are aspects the game could improve. The Source engine is starting to show signs of aging or the hardware running the game is starting to show its age (the review was done on the Xbox 360 edition of the game). The visuals, whilst stunning in some aspects (such as the use of white and contrasting colours in the puzzle aspects of the environment), some are showing cracks. The lack of damage to the environment could show more deformatiy if you are smashing heavy objects into them. However this is a minor criticism in the scheme of things.
Another criticism is with the single player end game. The story seems to build up to grand ideas and thought into the characters. However, the ending feels like time had ran out for the development of the game. The co-operative game ends in a way fitting to Portal the series so it is unclear why the single player story ends in such an abrupt mannor.
The co-operative campaign is also not perfect. The mode really does require you to play with a friend as issues can arise with timing and puzzle solving. Strangers via matchmaking may not be the best way to play through this mode and the game itself suggests this.
Another issue is the length of the game. For fans of the original, this game in single player can be beaten in under 10 hours and without playing the co-operative portion of the game, half the game is lost.
Summary
Portal 2 is an experience that many will enjoy. The rich story telling, awesome gameplay and tried and tested visual and audio aspects will please many. However the experience is not perfect and people who do not wish to listen to the dialouge in the game will only experience half the game.
With a completion time of 17 hours for single player and co-op the game is a good buy or worth a rent at minimum.
