The first Portal was a true gem – a unique, physics-based puzzle game, much lauded for its originality. The sequel finds test subject Chell back in the malevolent clutches of Aperture Science, trapped in its underground lab complex with only unhinged artificial intelligence for company.
The portal gun, which fires a pair of openings onto suitable surfaces, is once again the key to escaping from Aperture’s now-dilapidated test chambers. This time, though, you must contend with the added complexity of bridges made of light and coloured gels that modify the bounce and slipperiness of walls and floors. These exotica make Portal 2 a longer, more diverse game than the original. A two-person campaign with its own story makes this sequel a more substantial offering still.
The test chamber puzzle designs are as superb as ever. They are fine-tuned to make you feel properly challenged but thoroughly clever.
The first game’s black comedy and pin-sharp writing also return in full force, as Chell’s journey through the research complex reveals piece-by-piece the history of Aperture’s ethically unfettered research. An exquisitely crafted, darkly funny science fiction puzzler.