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» MEDIA (7) Portal In front now, behind you later Dropping a turret Turret on turret Companion Turret and Bullets Least Portals Advanced Portal

Portal is a unique puzzle game by Valve. You play as a test subject at the Aperture Lab going through 19 test chambers. Your only weapon is the portal gun which shoots a blue and orange portal. Basically, the way it works is that if you shot the blue portal on Wall A and the orange portal on Wall B, you can walk through a portal and come out the other. So in one instance, you might have to cross a long pit full of toxic waste which is too far to jump. What makes the portals even more interesting is that the laws of physics are applied, notably the speed. So if you are standing on the edge of a high platform, you can shoot a portal on the floor below and another portal up high on a wall. You can jump down into the portal and you will be rocketed out of the portal on the wall. This is like a super jump.

Throughout the levels, you will be figuring out obstacles like jumping over high walls, redirecting energy balls to power platforms, etc. Some levels increase the challenge with “companion turrets” and their “companion bullets.” Most levels have black floors and walls that can’t have a portal placed on them. The levels require you to think a little to solve certain obstacles, though this depends from person to person.

Not much can be said about the story that ties this game together without giving too much away. I really don’t want to ruin in for any of you so I won’t be saying much. Although, I will say that it is like a humorous short story. I’m not really sure how to describe the humor. The comments and jokes are funny but are communicated by a humorless computerized voice. You just have to play the game to experience it.

The game is pretty short but it offers advance and challenge maps. They basically are the maps you played in the “campaign” but with increased difficulty. Advance maps changes the levels by adding components like more toxic waste pools and black walls. Challenge maps have 3 modes: Least Portals, Least Steps, and Least Time. So if you thought the campaign was pretty easy, these bonus maps should be a better challenge for you.

Valve has also added those addictive Xbox 360 achievements to the PC version. This might add a bit of replayability for some while others might give up trying to earn gold medals on the challenge maps.

Portal may or may not be worth your $20, but I highly recommend people to buy the Orange Box which includes the game.

Pros:
+ Unique gameplay and puzzle solving.
+ Humourous

Cons:
- Rather short.
- $20 if as a stand alone package off Steam.

I give the game a 92%.