Portal 2 Single Player review (Damn you PSN hackers!)
Portal was an iconic game. If you haven't played it, you've seriously missed out. Go play it now. Do it...is what I would be thinking if Portal 2 wasn't released Tuesday, Apirl 19th. Screw the original Portal, you can play it later. Theres something better now, and its the sequel.
I already knew what I was going to see when I loaded up Portal 2 (for the PS3, go figure I only get to play a little over an hour of the online). I knew GlaDOS and Wheatley would be a hurricane of humor while I went through the various testing chambers of Aperture Laboratories. I bet many people were expecting the same thing. Hell, that would have been worth the 60$ by itself. That isn't what you get though.
The story opens up with you (Chell, the mute protagonist from the first game) being awakened by Wheatley. With Wheatley, the game is funny right off the back with one of the most memorable quotes of the game (Say "Apple"!). If you've seen the trailer, then you know what happens next. GlaDOS is awakened and Hell hath no furry like a women/computer scorned. This is when the game becomes so much like the original. The puzzles seem the same, though the scenery is a bit different due to the broken down, plant covered Aperture testing chambers. GlaDOS commentates and you get your portal gun back (this time you get both sides at the same time, which was great). The only new element put out early in the game is the Thermal Discouragement Beam. This is fun, but nothing really amazing. Its absolutely satisfying destroying turrets though.
This is where the story takes a HUGE twist. Its so awesome I wouldn't dare spoil it. Anyway, you end up getting plunged to the bottom of Aperture Laboratories where the original testing chambers and rooms exist. This leads to probably the best part of the entire game...Cave Johnson. Its mostly this character that makes this game so damn funny and memorable. I actually listened to over 11 minutes of quotes on Youtube, nonstop, and loved ever second of it. GlaDOS is also really funny as a potato (again, no spoilers) and is actually a more enjoyable character overall. All three of the gels also get shown off down here. These are the blue Propulsion Gel (bouncy bouncy), the orange Repulsion Gel (Super fast), and the white Conversion Gel. The white is the most boring of the three since the only thing you get to do is place portals where ever it hits. The prop/re-pulsion gels are both a lot of fun though and each gets a good amount of game time.
After escaping the bowels of Aperture you come back up to fight your way to...the final confrontation. Thats all I can say without spoiling anything. Wheatley again shines here after disappearing during the old Aperture section. This is probably where, other than the very beginning, he is the most funny. Up here you also get to use the Light Bridges, which are generally unremarkable but lead to some interesting puzzles.
The gameplay in Portal 2 never really dies down and it is always fun to play. Some of the new abilities get a little boring (i.e.: White gel), but the other ones are fun enough to keep it going. If you liked the gamplay of the original Portal, then you will LOVE this gameplay. The puzzles are deeper and more fun to work through.
The story in Portal 2 is amazingly deep. You learn a lot about the original Aperture Laboratories under the ownership of Cave Johnson and the mysterious Caroline. Its very interesting and is definitely worth paying attention to.
The humor, of course, is where Portal 2 shines. Its funny ALL THE TIME. GlaDOS is very funny though she takes more of a backseat role in comedy compared to Whatley and Cave Johnson. Unfortunately, Wheatley drops out for a long time after the first...uh...confrontation with GlaDOS (no spoilers are hard) and never really appears again until the end. Cave Johnson fills most of the gap, guiding you through the underbelly of the once great Aperture Laboratories.
If you have the money, then buy Portal 2. Its a hell of a game and deserves all the money we can throw at it. Its funny, the story is good, and the portal-dependent gameplay is more fun than ever.
Story- 4/5 - Surprisingly deep but its not being focused on or explored
Characters- 5/5 - Not counting the silent Chell, Wheatley, Cave Johnson, and GlaDOS (not to mention the turrets) are all very amusing and surprisingly interesting
Gameplay- 4.5/5 - The same as Portal but with a few new abilities, some of which fall flat
Humor- 5/5 - I'd give it higher if I could
Overall- 9.5/10
Portal was an iconic game. If you haven't played it, you've seriously missed out. Go play it now. Do it...is what I would be thinking if Portal 2 wasn't released Tuesday, Apirl 19th. Screw the original Portal, you can play it later. Theres something better now, and its the sequel.
I already knew what I was going to see when I loaded up Portal 2 (for the PS3, go figure I only get to play a little over an hour of the online). I knew GlaDOS and Wheatley would be a hurricane of humor while I went through the various testing chambers of Aperture Laboratories. I bet many people were expecting the same thing. Hell, that would have been worth the 60$ by itself. That isn't what you get though.
The story opens up with you (Chell, the mute protagonist from the first game) being awakened by Wheatley. With Wheatley, the game is funny right off the back with one of the most memorable quotes of the game (Say "Apple"!). If you've seen the trailer, then you know what happens next. GlaDOS is awakened and Hell hath no furry like a women/computer scorned. This is when the game becomes so much like the original. The puzzles seem the same, though the scenery is a bit different due to the broken down, plant covered Aperture testing chambers. GlaDOS commentates and you get your portal gun back (this time you get both sides at the same time, which was great). The only new element put out early in the game is the Thermal Discouragement Beam. This is fun, but nothing really amazing. Its absolutely satisfying destroying turrets though.
This is where the story takes a HUGE twist. Its so awesome I wouldn't dare spoil it. Anyway, you end up getting plunged to the bottom of Aperture Laboratories where the original testing chambers and rooms exist. This leads to probably the best part of the entire game...Cave Johnson. Its mostly this character that makes this game so damn funny and memorable. I actually listened to over 11 minutes of quotes on Youtube, nonstop, and loved ever second of it. GlaDOS is also really funny as a potato (again, no spoilers) and is actually a more enjoyable character overall. All three of the gels also get shown off down here. These are the blue Propulsion Gel (bouncy bouncy), the orange Repulsion Gel (Super fast), and the white Conversion Gel. The white is the most boring of the three since the only thing you get to do is place portals where ever it hits. The prop/re-pulsion gels are both a lot of fun though and each gets a good amount of game time.
After escaping the bowels of Aperture you come back up to fight your way to...the final confrontation. Thats all I can say without spoiling anything. Wheatley again shines here after disappearing during the old Aperture section. This is probably where, other than the very beginning, he is the most funny. Up here you also get to use the Light Bridges, which are generally unremarkable but lead to some interesting puzzles.
The gameplay in Portal 2 never really dies down and it is always fun to play. Some of the new abilities get a little boring (i.e.: White gel), but the other ones are fun enough to keep it going. If you liked the gamplay of the original Portal, then you will LOVE this gameplay. The puzzles are deeper and more fun to work through.
The story in Portal 2 is amazingly deep. You learn a lot about the original Aperture Laboratories under the ownership of Cave Johnson and the mysterious Caroline. Its very interesting and is definitely worth paying attention to.
The humor, of course, is where Portal 2 shines. Its funny ALL THE TIME. GlaDOS is very funny though she takes more of a backseat role in comedy compared to Whatley and Cave Johnson. Unfortunately, Wheatley drops out for a long time after the first...uh...confrontation with GlaDOS (no spoilers are hard) and never really appears again until the end. Cave Johnson fills most of the gap, guiding you through the underbelly of the once great Aperture Laboratories.
If you have the money, then buy Portal 2. Its a hell of a game and deserves all the money we can throw at it. Its funny, the story is good, and the portal-dependent gameplay is more fun than ever.
Story- 4/5 - Surprisingly deep but its not being focused on or explored
Characters- 5/5 - Not counting the silent Chell, Wheatley, Cave Johnson, and GlaDOS (not to mention the turrets) are all very amusing and surprisingly interesting
Gameplay- 4.5/5 - The same as Portal but with a few new abilities, some of which fall flat
Humor- 5/5 - I'd give it higher if I could
Overall- 9.5/10