'get yourself a portal'
  Developer: Valve
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Category: : Puzzle
Multiplayer: none
Official Site
Platform: PC / X-Box 360
Might look like: /
Date posted: 11 January 2008
Written By: Ian
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The Orange Door
The Orange Box, after months of delays, is finally here.
We'll be reviewing each section at a time, and first up is what is basically the bonus game, "Portal", which is essentially a showcase for Valve's physics engine.
So, is this tech demo even worth playing, just because you can walk through walls?
Graphics and Gameplay
The Graphics in Portal are pretty 'low', there is no other way of describing them! But its not something you ever really notice. The whole look is pretty stylised, and therefore Valve just about get away with the fact that they clearly didn't spend much time optimising the Source engine.
Equally, Valve, rightly, thought that gamers won't care too much about graphics, or the lack of music or much sound, when they actually play the game. It' won't win the 'best graphics award' but ...
  
The game is the essence of simplicity.
You have a gun. It fires orange and blue portals. One of each. If you fire another of the same colour, the last one disappears. You work your way through 19 increasingly more difficult puzzles.
At first, the game guides you by the hand. Then, it lets you loose a little. Then it presents some of the most mind-bending puzzles ever presented to man.
However, the difficulty feels right, and never too great.
And if you found it too easy, then the advanced levels will have you pulling your hair out.
Whilst the game is short, its so much fun you'll probably play the whole game in a sitting, then try the advanced levels too, it really is that good.
  
Conclusion
"Portal" is an amazing experience.
It has little sound or music, dated graphics, even compared to the other games in the Orange Box, and it lasts about 2 hours first time through.
It is, however, one of the most ambitious and original games released, ever.
The gameplay is fantastic, and is one of the most thoughtful games you'll ever play. It's also a game with plenty of replay value thanks to the advanced maps and challenges, not to mention achievements on the 360 version.
Portal has to be seen and played to be fully experienced, and whilst it is by no means a perfect game, it cannot be anything other than thoroughly recommended.
-Ian
Ratings
Manual:
89 % |
Graphics:
69% |
Music & Sfx:
72% |
GamePlay:
92% |
|
This game scores
on our 5-point Rating System
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