Portal 2
It’s been a few years now since the huge success over GLaDOS for us, but for Chell it’s been a lot longer. Out of the frying pan and into the fire; fire filled with more tests, new obstacles, and some new inventions. It’s time to start thinking with portals once more.
The game picks up, more or less, right after the last with Chell waking up from a long sleep only to realize she is back inside the facility. How she got there and why are explained in a comic that Valve created to link the two games. She is greeted by Wheatley, a new personality core, and tries to navigate her way out with his help. Wheatley isn’t the smartest core, and he inadvertently awakens GLaDOS.
The game comes with a few surprises and some subtle element changes from the first game. While still taking place inside the same laboratories from the first game, they have seen significant wear and tear over the years since GLaDOS’ destruction. The lab is now over grown with plant life, rust, and in many cases has completely fallen apart. Musical cues have also been added to the game, and add to the aesthetics of the visuals to give a brand new feel to the same old place. The change makes the game feel much like Half-Life 2 did, for me, when compared to the first game: Things seem a bit too different. Another addition is the use of special fluids that help in solving puzzles. Repulsion Gel creates a trampoline like effect on whatever surface it hits, Propulsion Gel speeds the movement of anything that moves along it’s surface, and the last making any surface it touches into one that will accept portals. Many of the tests will require the use of all three in tandem which helps spice up the gameplay. Along with the addition of the fluids are Aerial Faith Plates which launch things in one direction, Excursion Funnels which propel things along a path, and a few other additions. All of these elements combine together to further test things learned in the previous game, making players step their game up.
The biggest addition to the game is that of the Co-Op mode. this puts you and another player in the roles of Atlas and P-Body, each with their own portal gun. These series of tests require both players to work together to solve the puzzles with communication and teamwork being vital for success. While shorter than the initial single-player offering, completing these tests feels a great deal more rewarding.
Valve has once again graced us with a short but sweet experience that can easily be played again and again. The humor, thought provoking puzzles, and fun gameplay mechanics all really shine and make for a really enjoyable experience. I really can’t find any reason not to own this game, or the original, unless you really don’t like puzzle games.
