With the Steam Deck to hand, I’ve been trying all kinds of games to see what I can get out of it performance-wise. I did a hefty chunk of my Elden Ring playthrough on it, I’ve started Metal Gear Solid V again, but on the handheld, and a whole host of others. The thing I’ve missed a bit though, is to stop “testing” it and to start enjoying my time with it a bit. That’s where Portal 2 comes in.
I love the Portal games. Ever since my purchase of “The Orange Box” and playing through Portal in one sitting, just enraptured by it. Unaware of the status it had built within the gaming world, and thinking I was truly original commenting “the cake is a lie” here and there…..
When I heard about Portal 2 in the works, I was keen to get on with it asap. Co-op, bigger campaign, more GLaDOS and a lot more portal-based puzzling. So I played it, loved it and kind of just left it, remembering it fondly.
Steam sales are a wonderful thing, though, and moving away from console, onto PC means I “need” to play Portal 2 all over again! So here we are. Over ten years after release.
Portal 2
Portal 2 is a critically acclaimed first-person puzzle-platform game developed and published by Valve Corporation. It was released in 2011 for Windows, Mac, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, and has since gained a large following of fans who appreciate its unique gameplay mechanics, engaging storyline, and memorable characters.
The game picks up where the original Portal left off, with the player once again taking on the role of Chell, a human test subject trapped in the Aperture Science testing facility. With the help of a new AI companion named Wheatley, Chell must navigate a series of increasingly complex test chambers, using a device called the “Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device” (aka “the Portal Gun”) to create portals and manipulate her environment.
One of the things that makes Portal 2 so enjoyable to play is its clever and challenging puzzles. The game’s levels require a combination of logic, spatial reasoning, and quick reflexes to solve, and as you progress through the game, the puzzles become increasingly more complex and difficult. But even when you’re stumped, the game does a great job of providing hints and clues to help you figure out what to do next.
Outstanding
Another standout feature of Portal 2 is its witty and often hilarious writing. The game’s dialogue is sharp and full of dry humour, with memorable quips from characters like GLaDOS, the sadistic AI antagonist from the first game, and Cave Johnson, the eccentric founder of Aperture Science. The voice acting is top-notch, with Ellen McLain delivering a fantastic performance as GLaDOS and Stephen Merchant bringing Wheatley to life with his trademark charm.
But what really sets Portal 2 apart is its story. Without giving too much away, the game delves into the history of Aperture Science and the mysterious forces that control it, unravelling a complex narrative that keeps you engaged and invested throughout. The game’s final act is particularly satisfying, tying together all the threads of the story in a way that feels both surprising and inevitable.
All in all, Portal 2 is a fantastic game that is well worth playing. Its challenging puzzles, witty writing, and engaging storyline combine to create an experience that is both fun and thought-provoking. If you somehow, haven’t played it yet, there’s no time like the present.
Still outstanding in every way.