Portal
| Developer: Valve | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Valve | Sound: |
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| Year: 2007 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Puzzle-platformer | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: 1 | Rating: |
8/10 | |
Curious to know what it feels like to be a rat trapped in a maze?
No backstory, no setup. You wake up in a sort of futuristic laboratory. A robotic female voice guides you through a series of “test chambers” with a stark, sterile design, filled with deadly traps.
You are tasked with solving puzzles using cubes that must be placed on buttons, or energy balls that need to be redirected to receivers (among other things) to open doors leading to the next test chamber. The mechanisms naturally become increasingly complex and dangerous as you progress.
To help you, you have a weapon capable of remotely projecting portals onto walls (including the floor and ceiling). These portals—one blue, one orange—act as entrance and exit points that let you teleport from one end of the room to the other.
You’ll soon realise that your hostess is utterly unhinged. Her formal instructions gradually turn into sarcasm and spiteful remarks. It becomes clear that she has no intention of letting you leave alive, and you’ll have to rely solely on your cunning to escape…
In summary: an innovative concept combined with a unique atmosphere, understated but polished execution, and a touch of dark humour. Success guaranteed!
I quite like the confined setting and being thrown in without any preamble, accompanied by a psychotic artificial intelligence. Only one criticism: the game ends far too quickly.
Its sequel, Portal 2, builds on the same elements but significantly expands every aspect of the game (especially the storyline). A two-player mode is also introduced.
Both titles are now sold together at a reduced price—you’d be foolish to miss out.
More pictures from Portal:
Pictures from Portal 2:
If you like the genre, I also recommend Antichamber (2013) and The Stanley Parable (2013).
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