"You just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

"Thanks to the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device, the impossible is easy!"

Never has a game been quite as unique as Portal. I don't mean just in that the portal concept is new, but in that everything is so different that the game is amazingly refreshing. The "story" and the "characters" make a new idea truly great.

In Portal you a test subject trying out the new Aperture Portal Device in a series of tests designed to examine a person's capability for cognitive thought and reflexes before it is open to the general public. You will be constantly under the supervision of GLaDOS, the ever cheerful robot voice, who is pleased to alternately offer discouraging and morale boosting comments: "You succeeded, even in the face of extreme pessimism!"

The portal system is simple to grasp. You make a portal in two spots, and then you can walk between those spots. This simple concept is developed into some very complex situations. At first you'll be moving through stationary portals, learning about how they work, until you find the portal gun. You will then be able to make exits to stationary portals, and eventually advance to full control where you can place portals on any available (portalable) surface. The puzzles slowly increase in difficulty and will really test how you think spatially. Yes, that rocket turret is five rooms away, but that I doesn't mean I can't use it.

Every element of a puzzle game and an FPS can be found here: sometimes you'll be carefully crafting a path, sometimes you'll be leaping around non-stop, and sometimes you'll be sneaking up behind turrets, and throwing them to ground... or through an infinite portal loop, just for fun.

And If you've ever thought "I wish turrets had more personality", this is the game for you. You will not see cuter turrets anywhere. There's nothing like grabbing a turret from behind and smashing it on the ground only to hear it say "No hard feelings... I don't hate you."

One thing I never expected from Portal was a proper storyline, but it's there. The "story" is not superficially complex, but it will definitely leave you wondering... I'll try not to spoil anything, but after you finish, ask yourself this: Was the cake really a lie?

Portal is horrendously short, only about four hours, but that really doesn't detract from the sheer awesomeness. There is definitely replayability in the director commentary and the advanced levels, so it actually does last longer. But at the end of the game you're rewarded with one of the greatest songs in video game history. It's worth playing just for that.

So buy Portal and play it immediately! And remember, your companion cube won't try to talk to you, but if it does, we recommend that you disregard its advice.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/15/07