Video Game Review | Portal 2, dev. Valve

 

Note: The version of the game I’m talking about is the PS3 version. Please by this line do not think in any way that I am basing, or holding above, this version in comparison to all other consoles. The experience is technically all the same across the board for every system, so I’m in no way comparing any of them, or praising one over the four. I’m looking at the content of the game, not its performance aspects, so please no negative comments or claiming of ‘fanboyism’.

So… Portal 2. Unless you’ve been holed up under a rock for the past few months, you’ve probably heard of it. Portal 2 is the latest game from the creative masterminds of Valve, creators of legendary games like Half Life, Counter Strike, and Left 4 Dead, among others. As you can see, that’s a pretty hefty portfolio to overcome. How could they possibly raise the bar above some of the highest lauded PC games of all time? Though even with all these classic titles behind them, I can still say that Portal 2 is one of their greatest creations.

"Bring along a friend, and shoot some portals.... for science."

Why?

1. It’s funnier than ever.

The quirky brand of humour from the cult original makes a return and executes better than ever. Stephen Merchant and J.K. Simmons play equally iconic roles that fit them like a tailored coat, the British colleague of Rick Gervais delivering the laughs as a self aware track bot, and the latter as the over-egoed CEO of Aperture Science. As for what role they play in the story of the game, I won’t say, because I don’t want to spoil the experience for you. However, what I can say is that this has to be one of the funniest games I’ve ever played; there was more than one time where I laughed out loud. It also moves well to periods of solemness and seriousness, which kept the stakes high and realized. Kudos to the Valve writing team (Erik Wolpaw and the rest) for keeping that humour alive, capitalizing on making a well-written script that is more comedy than tragedy, and managing it without cake memes.

2. It’s prettier than ever.

Updates to the Source engine have been made in Portal 2; the rooms of Aperture Science have been scarred and been industrially cremated from the concluding events of the first game, and wildness and nature is starting to move in. Lighting is a major improvement from the original; once sterile light is now more organic, as shadows creep and move along the walls, dirt-coated monitors pop and light into life. It comes off as a more “lived in” environment, worn but colourful and vibrant and beautiful to look at. The panels and apparatus of the laboratory moving and shifting back into place is wonderfully animated, and the element of music (Jonathan Coulton does return for a closing song, as well as a the inclusion of a few other welcome guests such as The National) and is backdropped by the finely tuned style of sound that Valve has made themselves known for. This hand-in-hand bond between these three technical pillars (sound, visuals, and animation) make it very memorable, and I’m  only talking about the first opening stages of the game, where the player refreshes themselves with how the portal gun works; anything said more after that would be considered a spoiler. In fact, everything after the first hour and a half is one big mega-spoiler.

3. It’s longer and larger than ever.

 For all its praise, many fans can reach a consensus that Portal 1 was a short game. In the eyes of many, perhaps too short, like a truly delicious chocolate that takes only a second to eat, and ends too soon, with the faint echoes of its taste stuck in your mouth and a craving for more where there isn’t any. Well, thankfully, Valve gives you a much bigger slice of the cake (sorry, I couldn’t help myself there) by offering a much longer game with a devious amount of test chambers and a much beefier length. The testing also is now widened to include cooperative play, which adds on another portion of playability. Nothing says bonding time like an afternoon of solving puzzles with two oversized and adorable robots. And those trolls who say the game can be beaten 4 hours: guess what? They’re lying! The game gets better and better as the player goes along and doesn’t slow down for a second, while at the same time still being a lot longer than the original. To say anything more of the awesome tools that Valve gives you in the later stages of the game would simply be ruining the surprise. Just wait until you get the gels.

Portal 2 weds indie game design, humorous deliverance, and ingenious gameplay mechanics to make it stands heads taller than its cult-forming protégé. One of the best game experiences of the year. Now go play and do your part for science.

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