Matterialize
10-10-2007, 8:29 AM
Title: Portal
Format: Game
Rating: :heya::heya::heya::heya:
Date: Released on October 10th, 2007 at 3:00AM EST
Genre: Portal is basically a first-person puzzle game. The only weapon used by the player is the portal gun.
Gameplay Review:
The game begins with you, The Test Subject, in a comfy little cell. You are never told your name in the game (but the credits inform you that the Subject's name is Chell), but upon seeing yourself through a portal, you appear to be a woman of young-to-middle age, sporting an orange jumpsuit and long-ish black hair. (I don't know if this is the same for all games, or if there is some way of changing your gender. I got to play a chick in my game). Right off the bat this intrigued me, because previous demos had featured a male protagonist. I was immediately interested to see how else the game would deviate from the demos. Some portals automatically open for you, and you learn the basics of the puzzle-solving gameplay: Using weights to hold down switches, switch sequence, that sort of thing. The first few puzzles are, of course, simple.
The thing that kept the puzzles from being repetitive was the fact that you really did have to think about some of them. There were times where I was completely stumped, and other times when I solved a puzzle completely by chance. Some puzzles were spanned across several large rooms, and require you to execute the puzzle steps in exactly the right order.
Of course, this was one of the few downsides to the game. Each puzzle could only be done in one specific way, so it was extremely linear. Still, it's a puzzle game - there aren't supposed to be multiple ways to tackle a problem. Each puzzle is meant to have only one solution, that you have to figure out. I didn't mind at all, but some gamers might be put off by the right-or-wrong style of gameplay.
The learning curve is fairly quick. Despite having played the game for a good few hours, I did learn how to efficiently use the portals fairly quickly. It can be mastered by almost anyone, while still being enjoyable to those who are seasoned veterans.
However, due to the linear style of gameplay of the main game, there's really no replay value. You solve it once, and that's it - playing the game over again will present zero challenge, because the only enemies in the game are stationary turrets and moving obstacles, both of which can be conquered in the same way each time.
Portal also features no visible heads-up display. There are no health bars or indicators of any kind, and the portal gun has unlimited ammo. Also, dropping from extreme heights does not seem to affect the player at all. This is apparently due to devices attached to the Test Subject's legs, which can be seen if you look at yourself through a portal.
The storyline of Portal is interesting. In the demos, we see The Test Subject running through the whitewashed rooms of Aperture Science, performing tests. While the whole game is indeed puzzle-solving, I will say this: there's more going on than a simple scientific experiment. ;)
As you progress through the main game, you'll unlock various bonus levels and challenges. These do have replayability, because you score points in them based on time taken to complete the puzzles. Medals are awarded for the appropriate times, so you can always keep trying to beat your score. There are six regular bonus levels, taken right out of the main game, and once you beat the main game there are advanced bonus levels unlocked: The original six, but twisted up a bit. Portal also has a list of Achievements that you can attain, requiring play in both the main game and the bonus levels in order to get all of them.
In conclusion, Portal is an extremely fun game - but it might not be for everyone.
NOTE: I chose not to include a complete plot synopsis, because it'd be extremely hard to avoid spoilers. It'd make for a better review, too, but... I'd rather let you guys play it and discover everything for yourselves.
Oh, what the hell: There's cake at the end! =D (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/Matterialize/portalcake.jpg)
Format: Game
Rating: :heya::heya::heya::heya:
Date: Released on October 10th, 2007 at 3:00AM EST
Genre: Portal is basically a first-person puzzle game. The only weapon used by the player is the portal gun.
Gameplay Review:
The game begins with you, The Test Subject, in a comfy little cell. You are never told your name in the game (but the credits inform you that the Subject's name is Chell), but upon seeing yourself through a portal, you appear to be a woman of young-to-middle age, sporting an orange jumpsuit and long-ish black hair. (I don't know if this is the same for all games, or if there is some way of changing your gender. I got to play a chick in my game). Right off the bat this intrigued me, because previous demos had featured a male protagonist. I was immediately interested to see how else the game would deviate from the demos. Some portals automatically open for you, and you learn the basics of the puzzle-solving gameplay: Using weights to hold down switches, switch sequence, that sort of thing. The first few puzzles are, of course, simple.
The thing that kept the puzzles from being repetitive was the fact that you really did have to think about some of them. There were times where I was completely stumped, and other times when I solved a puzzle completely by chance. Some puzzles were spanned across several large rooms, and require you to execute the puzzle steps in exactly the right order.
Of course, this was one of the few downsides to the game. Each puzzle could only be done in one specific way, so it was extremely linear. Still, it's a puzzle game - there aren't supposed to be multiple ways to tackle a problem. Each puzzle is meant to have only one solution, that you have to figure out. I didn't mind at all, but some gamers might be put off by the right-or-wrong style of gameplay.
The learning curve is fairly quick. Despite having played the game for a good few hours, I did learn how to efficiently use the portals fairly quickly. It can be mastered by almost anyone, while still being enjoyable to those who are seasoned veterans.
However, due to the linear style of gameplay of the main game, there's really no replay value. You solve it once, and that's it - playing the game over again will present zero challenge, because the only enemies in the game are stationary turrets and moving obstacles, both of which can be conquered in the same way each time.
Portal also features no visible heads-up display. There are no health bars or indicators of any kind, and the portal gun has unlimited ammo. Also, dropping from extreme heights does not seem to affect the player at all. This is apparently due to devices attached to the Test Subject's legs, which can be seen if you look at yourself through a portal.
The storyline of Portal is interesting. In the demos, we see The Test Subject running through the whitewashed rooms of Aperture Science, performing tests. While the whole game is indeed puzzle-solving, I will say this: there's more going on than a simple scientific experiment. ;)
As you progress through the main game, you'll unlock various bonus levels and challenges. These do have replayability, because you score points in them based on time taken to complete the puzzles. Medals are awarded for the appropriate times, so you can always keep trying to beat your score. There are six regular bonus levels, taken right out of the main game, and once you beat the main game there are advanced bonus levels unlocked: The original six, but twisted up a bit. Portal also has a list of Achievements that you can attain, requiring play in both the main game and the bonus levels in order to get all of them.
In conclusion, Portal is an extremely fun game - but it might not be for everyone.
NOTE: I chose not to include a complete plot synopsis, because it'd be extremely hard to avoid spoilers. It'd make for a better review, too, but... I'd rather let you guys play it and discover everything for yourselves.
Oh, what the hell: There's cake at the end! =D (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/Matterialize/portalcake.jpg)