ArMyMoDz wrote

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Portal 2 is the sequel to the enormously successful and critically acclaimed first title which originally came packaged in with the Orange Box from Valve, along with Half Life 2, its episodes and Team Fortress 2.

No one really knew what to expect, but not too long after, the industry found itself blown away by something very special. No pressure then to produce an amazing sequel, right? Valve want to make it so.


Hit the jump to find out if the Valve couldnt handle the pressure.


The first Portal was incredibly successful for a reason, and by successful I dont just mean that it sold well or was popular with critics, but it was deeply loved by gamers. Thats because Portal was something different, something a little special. What made Portal so special was that just to begin with, Valve had given us an incredible and mind-bending way to solve puzzles from a first person perspective.

Then what people didnt expect, was that Valve managed to wrap this puzzle game into an intriguing story with hilarious-yet-creepy writing and characters and then deliver us something that we had never quite experienced before with an ending that could have gone anywhere. There was definitely something subtly magical in the ingredients thanks to the guys behind it.

So where to the then, Valve?

Portal 2 kicks off quite some time after the first game and the entire Aperture Science facility has become rusty and overrun with plants thanks to its lack of maintenance (I wonder whose fault that is).

After waking from a long, unintentional slumber (more like stasus) you are assisted by a small bot to make your way to safety and before you know it, you are about as far from it as you could get, but I wont say why.



The brilliant puzzle solving is back and better than ever as you will now also be using it not only to go through tests, but to get around as well as you try and get a grip on your new derelict surroundings.

Thats not to say that proper Aperture Science testing does not take place, and now with added elements like liquid goo-like compounds with properties like insane elasticity for bouncing or the incredible lubrication for catching crazy speeds over short distances, you now have even more to pick your brain over. The additions with puzzle elements dont stop there, but the change from the first games puzzle to the seconds are enough for anyone to enjoy more of what they love, without having to endure just more of the same.

I personally found the puzzles to be easier than the first game, but Im not sure if its because they are, because I have merely been trained well by the first game to look in the right places or if I was just wearing my smart-boy-underpants. Regardless, the puzzles are still great fun to do and there are still some that will have you stumped for a while as you delve deeper into Valves carefully crafted puzzle adventure.

The campaign really takes you on a very interesting journey, but one which I dare not spoil in a review. It will run you around 6 hours depending on how well you handle the puzzles and (it also includes Valves usual commentary mode as well for those wanting a second go) is a fantastic journey thanks to the brilliant writing, complex well, characters in the game and a lot more exploration and discovery of where you are and what its purpose is.



The small A.I bot that assists you, named Wheatley, is voiced by the UKs Stephen Merchant, the actor/writer most known for his work as the writer of the incredibly popular series The Office. Much of the games script is directly influenced by his very distinct brand of humour and you will interact with his character very often, and while the voice work is done beautifully and the writing is genius it is a bit of a marmite sort of comedic tone and script that you will either thoroughly enjoy, or get a little annoyed with over time then again, that might well be just what the story needed, so take it at that.

Its no secret, thanks to the trailers, that GLaDOS makes a return and in that regard you should know exactly what to expect in terms of writing, voice and humour. Add the elements of GLaDOS and Wheatley together, along with a magnificent other characters voice work that you will hear (I wont say for spoilers sake) and you will find yourself amused at almost all times.

Behind the scenes of Portal 2, amazingly still sits the good ol Valve Source engine, banging and clanging away at its old age. Surprisingly, the game actually still looks very good and a lot of that is also thanks to fantastic art and graphic design that works together with the engines best features to keep the new environments looking great and running at a consistent, smooth pace.

One of the most exciting new features of Portal 2 is of course, the ability to play a separate co-operative multiplayer campaign featuring two little test bots named Atlas and P-body.
The co-op can be played either online or split-screen and will run you between 4-5 hours (again, depending on your pace) and brings with it a small campaign that, while not as in-depth as the main campaign of course, has its many enjoyable and humourous moments as GLaDOS runs you through test, making ridiculous and hilarious remarks (usually about the odd behaviour of humans) and keeps trying to make you feel like you should be trying to better your partner.

The completely new special test rooms, now designed for two players, really work like a charm and their is much joy to be had working together with a friend to figure out puzzles and do what is necessary to help each other progress and get to the end of the test chambers. Nifty little tools have been added, such as the ability to ping surfaces to indicate something to your partner (such as where a portal should go) as well as the ability to hold down a button and see from their point of view.

The multiplayer experience really adds a fantastic layer of fun onto the Portal 2 and is one that we will not be able to live without from now on, not to mention a huge amount of potential for DLC.

Conclusion:

Portal 2 manages to live up to the hype and be everything we loved about the first Portal, but with more. More tests, more toys and especially more of the great campaigns story and humour.

Valve has done a bang-up job thats worth your money, but even more so if you are able to take advantage of the new co-op mode.

Scoring:

Gameplay: 9.0

Still a magnificent puzzle system, now with even more ways to enjoy the unique levels and testing chambers.

Design & Presentation: 8.5

Good looking game despite the old engine, with incredibly smart level design and a polished finish to add onto the great script and marvelous voice acting.

Value: 8.0

While great as a game, its still a little short-lived for those with a budget for only one game or looking for something to get stuck into for a while.

Overall: 9.0