"Have you ever wanted to have your mind blown while enjoying yourself at the same time?"

If you answered yes to that tagline, then Portal is the game for you!

Portal is featured in Valve's "The Orange Box" that consisted of Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Team Fortress 2, Portal, and the previous games of the original Half-Life 2, and the previous episode of Half-Life 2: Episode 1.

When Portal was revealed to the world by Valve many moons ago, my first impression to the game was like "Holy ****! This game looks awesome!" Creating portals to basically get to one point from another seemed like a simple concept. By the time the game was released and installed into my computer, that concept remained the same, but I've never expected it to be so fun, and exciting. Seriously!

Storyline

Not much of a storyline, considering that this is a puzzle game. Although what I can tell you is how this game is set up. Basically, you're a female humanoid named Chell. You start your day by waking up and being talked to by a female computerized voice named GLaDOS (which stands for Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System) inside a large laboratory called Aperture Science Inc. Chell is asked to do a series of tests using an "Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device" (also known as "the Portal gun") in which she has to go through a certain amount of levels in order to complete the tests. Once Chell has completed those tests, she will be rewarded with cake, as GLaDOS constantly reminds Chell along her journey.

Gameplay

It's fairly simple. The game is in first person, so the standard "first person shooter-esque" perspective plays a role here, like your "WASD" keys. To not beat around the bush here, the controls are basically the same as Half-Life 2. Anyways, you basically have "the Portal Gun" at your disposal. What it does is that it lets you create two portals, either of which can be an entrance or an exit. You use this gun to go through various stages and environments that are otherwise impossible to complete without the gun.

There's also various objects you interact with along the way, such as various cubes. One specific cube, called the "Weighted Companion Cube" is a cube you carry along with you at one stage. It doesn't speak or anything, since it's just a cube, although the only difference apart from other cubes is that it has a pink heart printed on all six sides, along with pink accent lighting within the cube, rather than the printed Aperture Science logo on the other cubes. Every stage of the game differs in terms of difficulty, in which it increases as you go on to the next stage.

Graphics

The game is based off of Valve's critically acclaimed Source engine, so the graphics in this game are what you would see in Half-Life 2. Although, the stage designs are sparse, and not too many objects to deal with in the pristine and clean environment of the stages. Throughout the game, you encounter areas behind the virgin walls, and inside you encounter many other objects of interest, such as pipes and plumbing, staircases, and random/inanimate objects, as well as written/drawn markings of interest. Those environments would likely make up for the amount of sterility of stages you progressed, so it balances in the end. Other than that, there's not much to talk about the graphics, other than the sharpness and the physics of the Source engine.

Sound

There's not much to talk about in the sound either. Although there are times when the music will pop up for the mood in which Chell is set into whatever situation she's thrown into. The end of the game however, is where the fun is, which in fact, is brilliant! You'll have to play the game yourself in order to understand what I'm talking about, if you haven't already. ;)

Replayability

This game is awfully short, but also awfully awesome. Why? Because there was so much fun when playing this game, let alone the humour that GLaDOS has to deliver every once in a while. I only spent about 3 or 4 hours playing this game, but man, it was worth the 3 hours of play time. Although as you progress, there's some achievements you unlock, as well as other bonuses, so you get to deal with those bonuses once you've completed the game. For me, I'd play this game over and over again, just for the hell of it.

Final Thoughts

I gotta say, Valve delivered this game pretty well. It surprised most, if not, all of us, in curiosity. From what I'm observing, it's quickly gaining fame, perhaps better than it's Orange Box counterparts. I mean, it's funny enough to encounter those stick figures you see in the beginning of a stage, depicted in going through their demise of being hit by a weighted cube, an energy ball, or drowning in water. I, however, never expected the ending, in which I say again, was brilliant. From what I found in this game, it's fun, it's pleasant, enjoyable, and you'd be giggling your way through in twisted curiosity. Kudos to Valve on this one!

...and to you readers, thank you for helping me help you help play this game! (Bonus to you if you know that reference!)

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/09/07