Zero Punctuation: Portal 2

[NyuRena]

I think you might be helping Yahtzee's argument about the fans more than agreeing with Russian_Assassin. I love both games! Though I feel #2 is better for all the same story reasons Russian_Assassin laid out and more.

Remember who's reviewing it though. Of course he's going to find the bad parts, I often just assume the other parts are good. He seems to hate Fans and "game title">=#2 by default, especially when baited. =)

 

[sporkaganza]

They have to be taken with a grain of salt, but Yahtzee's complaints are definitely valid. In particular, the cavernous testing facilities in the middle bog down a little. I think they're really cool and kind of a fascinating look into the history of Aperture Science, but I'm not gonna lie, it got a bit bland after a while.

Wish he'd said something about Wheatley, though, if only just some offhanded comment that it's in contrast to how the British are usually characterized in video games. Although I guess it's not really that he's actually a Brit, more of just he has an accent, come to think of it.

 

[MaxwellEdison]

I agree with the fact that the puzzles are easier, and obviously there are long connecty bits, but I don't think this detracts from the game. I think it comes down to this - Portal 2 isn't Portal. It's different. Not better, but not worse - it's just different. The co op brings a huge amount of puzzle goodness, anyways.

I COMPLETELY agree with the bit about carrying co op though - We're gonna need continual puzzles to make that work well. I think Valve is capable of releasing a few Portal chambers now and then, though.

 

[rickicker]

If Portal 3 takes place in space, how would momentum work?

MAGIC! That's how!

I gotta agree with Yahtzee. The biggest, BIGGEST problems with sequels is that they gotta jump over that height the bar set into by its original incarnation. If the bar is low enough, like, say, Final Fantasy, well hey, no problems there. But "Portal" pretty much sets up a friggin' GOLD standards for the sequel to topple, and like every single nerds who screamed "HAN SHOT FIRST!" all over the internet, you just know how that particular story is going to end.

Also, I'm of the mindset of "smaller dev teams is better", in which that there will not be too much meddling in its planning and execution. A buddy of mine says it best: "too many cooks spoils the broth", and that's exactly what we're seeing here. Seriously, this game would've benefit much, MUCH more if they had decided to call it something else other than "Portal 2".

 

[wiiwiieddie]

Summed up my thoughts pretty well. Glad I got a refund.

You do realize that if you agreed with what he said, then you thought the game was good. Why would you get a refund if you thought it was good?

 

[head desk tricycle]

I don't get why anyone would complain that Yahtzee tends to be negative. Do they want him to lower his standards? Or do people actually think that this is some kind of golden age of games? That would require a very short memory.

 

[NermanQ]

Well, can't say I'm surprised, it's practically impossible to live up to the first Portal.

 

[mbug]

Portal 2 was just missing something for me... lets hope the dl content can make up for it.
that being said i really did enjoy the game and i think Glados is funnier in this one XD it was a hard thing to live up to though, so it did well imo

 

[Mauso88]

I like Portal, will have to give Portal 2 a go. Most likely rental, I've been burned with sequels before.

 

[Metalrocks]

it sure is a good game. i enjoyed it. but of course its not as good as part 1. but i also missed the cake in it and some of the humor we know from part 1. its still a good game and i can only recommend it. not every sequel is good but this one is.

 

[Nate-ndo]

Kinda surprised to not see Yahtzee call Portal 2 a rehash/money-grab. He rags on and on about Nintendo doing this with their franchises (iteration instead of innovation) but doesn't even pretend to mention it here.

To recap: Portal 2 is only marginally longer than Portal, costs significantly more, doesn't change the gameplay in any meaningful way, the puzzles have been dumbed down and linear-ized, and has a vanity DLC cash shop. Also, there was no good reason to bring back GLaDOS, and she sticks out like a sore thumb of mediocre when standing next to Wheatley and Cave Johnson. Oh, and the loading screens.

Oh, and I guess I should mention that I loved Portal 2 and would recommend it to anyone, but there is definitely more negative here than simply "It's not as glorious as the original."

 

[Nieroshai]

This seemed very much like the SotC review. He liked it, but it didn't live up to the first. I'd say it was the first but fleshed out into a full game instead of a demo, but that's just me. I feel it was what the first needed to really live up to the Half Life universe.

 

[Naturality]

I didn't realise quite how unnecesarily cynical Yahtzee is until now...

 

[superluser]

I can't think of any criticism for this video. Usually, I can at least say that there's some minor quibbling difference between Yahtzee's opinions and my own (OK, usually one big honking difference), regardless of how much I agree with the rest of the commentary, but I think he exactly summed up my own opinions of the game.

So this video:me:ortal:yahtzee.

 

[daxterx2005]

Cant wait for Port3l

 

[regalphantom]

There was one cake joke in it, but it's well hidden. Once you portal into the room which GLaDOS has set up as a trap to kill you, shortly before the roughly half-way point in the game, the door which falls down reads "blah blah blah and Cake Distribution Room".

And I'll say this, Portal 2 probably has the best writing in any video game ever.

 

[Random Fella]

I've never played any portal game, I may rent it but I can't imagine why people like it so much... Must be a you have to play to know thing so that's what i'll do

Please review Mortal Kombat 9? That would be awesome.

 

[nukethetuna]

Wow, this is the first time I've ever watched any of this... Yahtzee guy's videos, but what the heck! All he does is find ways to be unhappy!

Haha, ok ok just kidding. Mostly.

 

[CaptainCash]

I hope they make Half life 2 episode 3 FIRST before portal 3 if they decide to make another portal game.

 

[CaptainCash]

To be honest, I liked the second Portal better. Maybe because it let me explore the personality of my arch enemy some more, or maybe it was figuring out the story behind Aperture. All and all, I regard both Portals (the games, not the actual portals) as two of the best games I've played in my life.

Also, how could someone not like the turret opera?

I agree. This is the first time I have been really dissapointed with a ZP video. There really wasn't anything WRONG with portal 2, it was just DIFFERENT. So why did he complain because it wasn't small-scale? It was better in EVERY way!

Why are you so disappointed? he never said at all that portal 2 was a bad game he only said that portal 1 was better because of how utterly mind bending it was playing because it was the first time anyone had experienced such unique game play. I'm very happy that he brought up a point that no other person has so far, can't you respect that?