Thursday, May 12, 2011

Portal 2 Review (Spoiler Alert)


After playing much Portal 2, I start thinking where portals would really help me out in everyday situations. Maybe I'd shoot one underneath my car, and the other across town, so I wouldn't get stuck in traffic and be late for classes. Or maybe I'd shoot one on the ground, and the other next to the statue of liberty so I could jump off a building and high five the statue of liberty. And the pranks I could play...are endless.

Portal 2 is an amazing game. It's predecessor was great, but Portal 2 takes things to the next level. There's an extensive back-story that really gives the game depth. The characters have much more personality. Wheatley, voiced by Stephen Merchant, plays your sidekick and you instantly fall in love with his robotic quirkiness. That's why you feel betrayed when he becomes the antagonist, and you're ferociously playing the game to seek your revenge. Even GLaDOS, the malicious, ill-talking computer system becomes somewhat of a likable character.

The single player mode is roughly 10-12 hours long, about 4 times as long as the first Portal. The first 20 minutes of the game feel like you're playing the first one again, with a slightly different level design. After that, the puzzles and challenges are completely new, while sticking to the successful Portal formula. I really liked the 3 sections of the game: GLaDOS' levels, Old Aperature Science levels, and Wheatley's levels. That's another thing. Once you get about 2/5ths of the way, you'll play through Old Aperture Science, with Cave Johnson, voiced by J.K. Simmons, guiding you though. I found this part of the game really gave it the back-story and depth.

Co-op mode was just as fun. Although only about half as long, it's still something not to be missed. You and you're gaming partner, play as two whacky robots, P-Body and Atlas. You help each other navigate each set of levels. Teamwork is a must, as you'll discover the levels become more and more challenging. I wasn't able to play online, so sadly I had to play co-op mode by myself. Yes I took turns controlling both characters, and yes it is next to impossible at some parts, but I did it. For you.

The only complaint against Portal 2 was it's made using Source's outdated engine. The graphics look 1st generation and can't compare to anything released now. I don't mind that it's a short game, I think the fact that each level has multiple combinations of being solved makes you wanna go back for additional runs at the game. If you're still unsure, wait until it's dropped in price.

46 comments:

  1. I plan to wait for the price to fall a little.

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  2. Cool review! Such a good game, Stephen Merchant stole it for me mind :)

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  3. did you know that they already announced new DLC's? I also had alot of fun playing both single and multiplayer

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  4. You know what's really great? When people say "spoiler alert" before letting you read part of the ending. Out of the million portal 2 reviews popping up yours was the most dissapointing :(

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  5. reposted right? you saved this post?

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  6. I usually never stick to one game long enough to play them fully these days. Mainly because I'm often on the go, and busy with school. This is why Portal 2 seems like a nice game with kind of "just enough" story for me! Plus, of course, the first game is awesome.

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  7. Portal 2 is a great game. I love the addition of a two-player mode, and how it ties in with the end of the storyline.

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  8. @Jack

    You read a million Portal 2 reviews?!

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  9. It wouldnt work too good for going faster to work. lo

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  10. I dunno if graphics can be critiqued in a game focusing on puzzles over shooting.

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  11. Any idea when they are going to put a discount on Steam for Portal 2?

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  12. Ha, Guess blogger took this post and my comment with it.

    It was "I'm going to take your advice and wait for the price to drop" or something like that.

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  13. Its games like these that make me angry that I bought a Wii rather than a 360 or a PS3.

    Very nice review!

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  14. Just downloaded Portal 2, can't wait to play

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  15. Man this game is by far my GOTY

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  16. So much talk about portal 2, I need to check it out!

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  17. Although short, the campaign for this game is great.

    And I would totally shoot a Portal at school, save time on the drive haha

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  18. Portal 2 is a great game! I like the co-op.

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  19. I am going to buy this game. Can someone answer me if its possible to play co-op online? Because my other pad is broken lulz

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  20. Co-op is waaay funnier than single player. I agree it didn't look awesome with that engine.. but who cares? It's not the point of games to look.
    (ok, I'm not really objective there as I am an owner of a blog about the old mega bomberman game, but I hope you'll eventually agree with me)

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  21. This game is simply amazing. Loved every second of it.

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  22. @Wojtyla

    Yup, coop also has the online option. Just couldn't do it because of PSN.

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  23. Haven't played the Portal series yet, I should though.

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  24. Awesome game, Glad they added multi player.

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  25. Man I really want this game!!!

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  26. haha, you could definitely pull some sick pranks with a portal gun. man I really wish I could get one...

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  27. nice, i love this game so much

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  28. Awesome post man! Keep up the great blogging!

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  29. I looooooooooooooooooooved portal 2!

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  30. Loved this game.

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  31. Ahhhhhhhhhhh portals are soooo cool

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  32. Great review; Portal 2 is by far the best game of the decade.

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  33. Played co-op with my girlfriend and its very frustrating! Hard to play co-op at times unless the person understands what youre getting at :P

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  34. I played this with a friend of mine during a sleep over and I really liked it. I might have to get it for myself.

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  35. I wish I had such thing... It's too expensive, dang it!

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  36. This is a great game, i recommended that everyone who reads this will go buy it!

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