Portal 2

The first Portal game stirred up mass hysteria, so it should come as no surprise how Portal 2 had a wild fan following whoheld their breath to solve some mind-bending physics puzzles. In the original title, we played in a clinical and pristine science laboratory, but Portal 2 brings us to a different setting. Instead, the laboratory fell into disrepair because the story takes place hundreds of years into the future. Chell, the heroine, awakens in the old research facility to find it dilapidated and in disrepair. Suddenly, a robot personality sphere talks with Chell to assist her. They wake up GLaDOS, an old archnemisis, who is downright furious to see Chell. As a result, Chell must pass through a series of life-or-death tests.

Whether you play from the PC or the Mac, the game looks fantastic, and you have rich and in-depth environments. Portal 2's puzzles stimulate the mind, and you have a number of tools and traps. Nevertheless, Portal 2 expanded the story, and they increased the length. This makes it unlikely Portal 2 will give you the same iconic twists and turns, but the single player campaign ensures you have a fantastic run. Even after you finish, you can also play through two player cooperative tests where you will play as two animated robots.

Portal 2 showcases menacing humor, mind-bending puzzles and non-stop action. The first Portal threw in lots of twists and turns to keep the element of surprise. The first game was short but succinct in what it played, which is what made it so popular. Even in Portal 2, when you haven't wrinkled your face to express thinking, expect a lot of laughter. The clever writing complements the action onscreen almost perfectly, and the attention to detail throughout is nothing short of astounding.

As you progress through the levels of Portal 2, you will move beyond your tight fitting test chambers to a ginormous underground chasm. Portal's core appeal never existed in the visuals of the game. Instead, what's most impressive is the mileage you get from this technology. Portal 2 prioritizes the character development and the story. You spend a great deal of time conducting spatial reasoning or solving difficult puzzles. The game also expands upon the number of fun toys found in the first title. For example, you have a gun that lets you shoot two linked portals, and the objects can pass and the momentum will be maintained. The puzzles can start to get complicated, but no matter how complicated they may seem, almost always the solutions will have a more practical answer. In some cases, you can solve it instantly, and other cases will take longer.

Pros

• Complex and interesting puzzle designs
• The writing and story keeps you immersed
• Rich and varied environments
• Cooperative mode extends the story

Cons

• The game feels too short
• No opening for competitive gameplay
• The second act could use more direction between the stages