In this review, we wonder if cake is a lie in the PC/Steam game Portal. We find out how well this puzzle/action game plays.
This game was released in 2007. A sequel would eventually follow this game.
The story is that you have awakened from your stasis bed at Aperture Laboratories. A voice instructs you to to proceed to various test chambers where you experiment with portal technologies. Eventually, you get your hands on a portal gun which enables you to create portals at will. With this, you proceed through various test chambers, working your way to the next elevator.
While this is more or less a first person shooter, this game is more about solving puzzles than action (though there is violence later on in the game). A number of your initial puzzles will involve retrieving cubes and placing them on large red buttons. This activates doors, allowing you to proceed to later levels. Other levels task you with redirecting energy spheres into objects designed to catch them. Some levels ramp up the difficulty by throwing energy fields that block the movements of certain things as well. Still, with some thinking, you’ll eventually be able to take on all the challenges laid out before you.
One thing to remember about Portal is that, when you go through portals, your momentum carries you through. This enables some added level of creativity such as giving yourself loads of extra momentum to launch yourself onto higher ledges. Sometimes, you can shoot portals as you are flying through the air to give yourself some added boost to your flight path.
There are, of course, obstacles facing you. Initially, those obstacles wind up being walls you can’t place a portal onto. There are also high ledges, pits, and slime pools that kill you. Later on in the game, you also square off against sentry units that fire at you. A number of them can be taken out using a variety of tactics. Still, your biggest obstacle is generally the overall physics which is what the challenge of the game is for the most part.
In all, there are 18 test chambers to complete, but the themes do take a gradual term not too much unlike a Silent Hill game in terms of physical aesthetics of the rooms. Also, you’ll always have one voice over following you wherever you go. This changes as you progress as well.
One thing to note is that you don’t necessarily have an obvious damage meter. Instead, you simply need to avoid taking too much damage at any one given time. Of course, a large portion of the game is about movement, so health doesn’t play a huge role to begin with.
Apart from the main game, there are “bonus maps” as well. There are two versions of these maps. There is the advanced test chamber which makes some minor edits to the last 6 levels for added challenge. Additionally, you can take on the other challenges where you try and take on the same maps, but are challenged to complete them in either the shortest amount of time, fewest steps, or fewest portals. Medals are awarded based on your performance.
For me, the concept of the game made me nervous. The idea of trying to move through mazes while timing the portals (not to mention keeping your aim true at the same time) made me think that this game is actually going to be quite difficult. However, once I got into the game, the game is actually a lot easier than it looks. Sure, you are constantly warping around, testing your ability to aim well while flying around, or timing moving platforms all at the same time, but when you take control, it isn’t so bad. One big thing to note is the fact that fall damage isn’t really much of a thing in this game.
As I got used to how the game plays, it became quite entertaining to play rather than intimidating. Probably the only time I ever got frustrated playing this was while playing (and eventually beating) the advanced levels. Of course, they are called “advanced” for a reason, so it’s hard to expect anything less. Overall, this game has a great difficulty curve considering how wildly different the main concept is.
The game also has some great variety. Each level keeps things interesting by constantly throwing something new at players. This in combination with a good difficulty curve, it’s a tricky thing to achieve, but this game does manage to do so quite successfully.
Even the dark humour actually works quite well. It gives the game a good personality as you go along.
My only complaint about this game (which will go along with most critical reviews of the game, really) is the length. You can easily go from start to finish in a single day. It would have been nice to get some solid game length as well to go along with the quality. The way it is now, this is actually a big thing holding this game back.
Generally speaking, this game has a lot going for it. It might be intimidating based on the concept, but the learning and difficulty curve is actually well thought out. The game has good writing, great level design, and nice variety. The length is a big problem for this game, but otherwise, it’s hard to really come up with any complaints about the game apart from the occasional hang I got while playing (only lasts a couple of seconds, though).
Graphics are nicely done. The textures are nice quality and the effects are good. Probably the only problem is that there isn’t much of a variety. This goes back to the fact that this is also a short game and there is all of three or four different kinds of areas. These areas could really be divided into two to be honest. Still, it’s hard to really complain about what is there, but quantity is a pitfall.
Audio is definitely a part where this game shines. The music is largely ambient and fits well with the game (though it sounds a bit similar to Half-Life 2 (and expansions). Voice-work, what amount is in there, works quite well and gives the main protagonist a solid personality. Sound effects are decent, though most seem to be borrowed from Half-Life 2 again. So, decent all around, though could be more separate from other games.
Overall, this is a great game. It’s got a great difficulty and learning curve. The variety works quite well too. Length, however, holds this game back by quite a bit, though the writing is well done. Graphics is great, though quantity is a bit of a problematic. Audio works well, though a lot of it seems to be borrowed from Half-Life 2. So, a great game, though a few issues do hold this game back.
Overall
Furthest point in game: Beat the game and advanced test chambers.
General gameplay: 21/25
Replay value: 8/10
Graphics: 8/10
Audio: 3/5
Overall rating: 80%
Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.
