The biggest problem with Portal 2 is familiarity. Inevitably, it doesn't feel quite as magical as it did the first time you linked two portals together, chucked a cube through them and got that little buzz of achievement from completing a physically impossible puzzle. Like the first time you played an FPS, it's a thrill that can't be recreated.
The greatest success is how much it dates the previous game. Playing Portal 2 makes you realise that Portal was a series of puzzles with a story draped over the top; this uses the same basic tools but tells a specific, hilarious narrative in a detailed, (dys)functioning world.
The game takes you deep into the bowels of test-obsessed conglomorate Aperture Science, where you face brilliantly period-specific tests from the company's earliest days, and the puzzles gradually scale up in the same way as the original. Absolute beginners will quickly grasp the basics; experienced players will enjoy the new gels that increase bounciness, decrease friction, and enable previously untouchable surfaces to take portals.
The rooms have been scaled up, too. You quickly leave the poky confined spaces for vast, multi-stage expanses equipped with bottomless pits, churning meat grinders, descending spike pits and inquisitive yet murderous turrets. Thinking out of the previously-employed boxes is harder than you might think; in places it looks more like Half-Life 2 or even Bioshock, with portal locations almost hidden in the distance. For the most part it's challenging rather than difficult, although there are a few situations later on, mostly involving gels, which will irritate.
While these mechanical improvements elevate the game, the most satisfying inclusion is completely new: the co-op mode. Introduced in the main storyline but otherwise completely separate, it casts you and a friend (either using split-screen or Xbox Live) as charmingly-animated robots solving a series of puzzle rooms.
It's a similar situation to single-player, right down to GlaDOS' spite-rich commentary (here dedicated to needling each player in an attempt to make them fight) but by forcing you to collaborate it enables you to share the endorphin rush that comes when you've cracked a puzzle. This can be expressed by animations unlocked as you progress (the I've-got-your-head taunt is a particular favourite) but really, this is the sort of experience best rewarded with a high-five in person. Couch co-op has never been so rewarding.
Valve's stated ambition was to leave you wanting more, and in this it's just a bit too successful: while it's far bigger than the original, an experienced pair of players will still be able to burn through the entire package in a weekend. While it's worth replaying to catch the dialogue you missed the first time round - a spectacular rarity in any game - and to hunt out the hidden Rat Man rooms, there isn't enough variety in the way you solve puzzles to sustain repeat runthroughs. We're going to need DLC, and plenty of it, to keep our co-op partnership going. Still, it seems unreasonable to penalise a game for being so good you want to keep playing it. While you won't spend as long on Portal 2 as the infinite online of, say, CoD, its shorter, more concentrated high is irresistible.
16 comments so far...
Mendes on 19 Apr '11 said:
I'm so hyped for this. My only minor dissapointment is the length, but oh hum it's got the co-op too, the split screen being a bonus.
If the postal service is on time I may well have my copy waiting for me tomorrow plus a copy for my mate on his birthday this weekend.
He wasn't to in to the first one, in his own words he couldn't get his head round it, but he'll soon learn once I've portalled him in to a nebacular drop! Plus he's a fan of Stephen Merchant so that's a bonus.
Bezza89 on 19 Apr '11 said:
I have the game on preorder for £10, so length doesn't bother me as much (the game is like £30 on amazon). How long it is would be nice to know, I know you say a weekend, but that could be 48 hours to one hour a day. As I said, don't mind it's shortness, but how short?
arranhiggs on 19 Apr '11 said:
these days, if i spend money on a game, i want longetivity. Like mass effect and the like, i'm still playing them. so if you say this one isn't that long compared to the usuall 15+ we can get from many games, and still give it a 10/10, i can't understand it...
DLC better be free too
IIFBDIIRaz on 19 Apr '11 said:
^ This..... 10/10 for Portal 2 seems excessive, but i suppose you gain longetivity through not being able to figure out the puzzles
Mendes on 19 Apr '11 said:
The length of a game should have no bearing on it's score, Tetris isn't a long game but it's a classic isn't it?
The score should be based on many factors, if it excels in presentation, gameplay, fun, graphics, sound, voice acting, writing, puzzles, online play etc etc etc but is maybe a little short then it may still deserve the 10.
Besides I think single + coop will take it over 15 hours, plus it may have the time trials, least portals, least number of steps challenges like the first game.
wishface on 19 Apr '11 said:
The PC version is being zerobombed on metacritic for it's length. Seems a fair criticism.
Mendes on 20 Apr '11 said:
Hmmm, maybe, but if the good outweighs the bad then if possibly warrants the high scores... for example Edge have given it a 9/10, again with mention of the length. Their reviews are usually on par with my own views so I expect still to enjoy the game immenseley, but at the same time will be gutted went it's over.
Plus, to be fair a lot of those 0s being given on Metacritic are PC users criticising day 1 DLC, which to be honest does sound like a bit of a swindle if what I've read is true.
Bezza89 on 20 Apr '11 said:
I've heard the DLC is just a skin for the co-op robots. I don't know where I read that, but if true is hardly essential.
Mendes on 20 Apr '11 said:
Yeah I heard something like that too, if so tut tut Valve, even though they are regarded as a fan friendly developer, paid for, day one DLC is going to upset some people no matter if it's essential or not, especially if the game is as short as some are saying.
They could have softened that blow with additional in-game content, like the additonal skins as unlocks for completing a level in a certain time or number of portals. I understand why some fans are feeling a little upset, but as always, you don't have to buy it!
golliwoza on 20 Apr '11 said:
I am a steam user and the DLC is just for co-op skins as well as a hat for TF2 but the drawback is that you have to own a range of games entitled the potatoe sack which costs around £27 while on offer otherwise £40. you can buy portal 2 and this pack together for a ofer of around 50 or so pounds. I will probably get portal 2 for steam when its on a cheaper price only bcause i have more friends to play with on steam but otherwise you are paying alot more for the DLC and i only own 2 of the games in the potatoe sack (killing floor and audio surf)while the pack numbers at around 20 so games which are mostly indie and not to everyones taste.
Bezza89 on 21 Apr '11 said:
First 20 minutes of this game are completely rubbish, they're just from the first portal game and were really poor, however, after you meet glados, everything improves and it's back to 'mind bending yet when you work it out simple' puzzles - though I've only been on around 40 minutes.
BarmyArmy on 22 Apr '11 said:
I think it's heavily priced. There has been a flood of articles on OXM in the past few weeks debating online passes, and the general hardship facing developers in recent years with minimal profits.
But I think Portal 2 is the perfect example of greed. I don't believe that this is worth the £30 or £40 price tags it's been given. It's fair to say that games shouldn't be heavily hit for their length, but this is a game with very little re-playability as well. Compare that to most other games, and your getting alot less for your money (regardless of the quality). Yet this is something which isn't reflected within the price tag!?
Such a shame because it will probably put alot of people off, and they'll pick it up for cheap towards the end of year on the dreaded pre-owned.
Dan86uk on 26 Apr '11 said:
To anyone knocking this game for it's length; I'm not gonna sugar-coat it, you are an utter tool!
I completed Portal 2 yesterday and I loved every minute of it. It is short but it's perfectly formed; and for what it's worth, it's longer than one would expected and much longer than P1.
Would you rather finish a shorter game wanting more? Or finish a longer game glad to finally have it over and done with? There's nothing worse than a game that's too long (Alan Wake, I'm looking at you).
P2 may not offer any replay value as such, but I will definitely be playing though it again in the future because the game is absolutely amazing!
Bottom line: QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
NuttyDannyGW on 28 Apr '11 said:
What I don't understand is paying over £30 for a game can't you expect Quality AND Quantity, and I'm sorry but length does have a bearing on the game. 'Portal 2 may not have any replay value', kind of a big admission! BTW not trying to be a dick
, it's just as a few above have said the cost of gaming's been in the spotlight recently and to anyone who's looking for an alternative, I can't speak highly enough for Lovefilm.com, and no I don't work for them!
Dan86uk on 4 May '11 said:
I still stand by what I wrote, and I said it has no replay value AS SUCH.
When the term 'replay value' is mentioned, I think of things like unlockable new weapons/gadgets/costumes upon completion. P2 may not have anything like that, but it doesn't mean a second playthrough is utterly worthless. You should revisit a game because you want to, and not feel obliged to do so just because you want a rocket launcher with unlimited ammo.
Don't you have any favourite films that you've watched several times?
glavias on 3 Jun '11 said:
Gamestation £22.99 if anybody is interested.
http://www.gamestation.co.uk/gs/portal- ... -_-portal2