In this review, we get to the core of the PC/Steam game Portal 2. We find out how well this puzzle game plays.
This game was released in 2011. It is a sequel to the game Portal which we previously reviewed. We thought Portal wound up being a great game, so it made sense to give this sequel a try.
This game is also the subject of one of our first impression videos.
Once again, you play as the character Chell. The events take place after the original Portal game. Chell has been in placed in stasis and a certain amount of time has passed. After going through a few tests, Wheatley wakes up Chell at one point and decides to get her out of what looks like an apartment room. Apparently, plenty has been happening to the facility and Wheatley doesn’t necessarily give up very many critical details.
Eventually, you get re-introduced to the Portal gun. This initially only shoots out one portal. A later upgrade allows for two different portals to be shot out at a time. There are a number of different features that return. This includes buttons, glass walls, and switches that activate and deactivate different things. Cubes, laser beams, deadly pools and other features do make a return.
Part way through, however, other features get introduced that weren’t present in the previous game. This includes blue gel that permits jumping as well as orange propulsion gel that increases your walking speed. Moon rock gel is also introduced to allow players to paint walls like the other paints. The effect, however, is that it turns many walls into walls that you can stick a portal onto. Other features include light floors and tractor beams. Generally speaking, this adds to the features found in the previous game and adds new layers of complexity.
In the previous game, you are simply going through a small part of the facility. You are introduced to test chambers and some back room areas as well. This game expands on this by allowing you to visit not only the damaged test chambers, but also old areas of the facility and even factory locations as well. Ultimately, the experience is much larger in more ways than one in this sequel.
In addition to this, there are other features you can access outside of the game. This includes cooperative play as well as online test chambers that users create. Challenge mode test chambers have been removed, however.
One thing I like about this game is the fact that it greatly increases the overall size of the game itself. Probably one of the weaknesses in the previous game is the length as it clocks in at a much smaller gameplay time in single player mode. The length of the previous game is pretty close to the opening chapters. As you go through to later parts, this game ultimately opens up much more nicely and better explores the facility.
Another thing I like is the fact that this game builds on existing features. It ultimately introduces new features to give the game a much more varied play throughout. By the time you are introduced to a new element, you have some reasonable experience with the previous elements in the game. So, each feature is nicely introduced to the player.
Probably my only real complaint with this game is the fact that some areas make you play “hunt for the one wall where portals stick”. As a result, I found myself hunting every nook and cranny of a massive area for a way to advance. Sometimes, it takes a bit of time just to hunt for an exit before you can even go about solving the area in the first place. So, there are moments of irritation in some parts of the game.
Otherwise, there isn’t much to complain about in this game. It has very solid gameplay that keeps the player interested from beginning to end. There are moments of irritation as some levels feels like you are simply hunting for that one patch of white wall that allows you to advance. Otherwise, there isn’t much to complain about here.
Graphically, this is a great game. The textures are nicely detailed and the environments work quite well. Since some areas open up by quite a bit, there is also some great draw distances as well. There is some nicely done lighting effects and special effects. This includes moving walls and destructible walls. Everything is nicely modelled from the environments to the characters. So, a great game overall on that front.
Audio is pretty decent. The splashes of music is OK as it adds some good environment. Voice acting is quite good. Also, the effects of different special features that were thrown in work quite well too. So, a great effort on that front.
Overall, this is a great game. It takes what makes the first Portal game and upgrades it to provide a much more full gaming experience. Some areas can be a bit more annoying than others, but that is probably the only real complaint I have with the game. Graphics are great with how environments are laid out and the audio is also nicely done mostly thanks to the voice acting and effects. So, I’d say this is a great game overall.
Overall
Furthest point in game: Beat single player mode.
General gameplay: 22/25
Replay value: 8/10
Graphics: 8/10
Audio: 4/5
Overall rating: 84%
Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.
