Portal

I have been trying a new game, and just recently finished it. It is called Portal. Created by Valve the makers of Half-life, I think it is the only activity that can make you enjoy being nauseated, and even make you try to become more so... because its cooool. Also for a puzzle game it has a great storyline.

As it starts out you are a test subject (volunteer perhaps? it never makes that clear) at the Aperature Science Enrichment Center which is supposedly helping enrich your mind and help you become a better problem solver, but it seems obvious your real purpose is to test the cool portal gun they invented. After a couple tutorial segments you have the portal gun which shoots out a blue and an orange portal. If you walk through one portal you come out the other. So does any other object. So you play through a series of fun puzzles which have rather awesome solutions involving these portals. They can also be severely disorienting. :)

However the computer guiding you through the challenges is acting rather strange. Sometimes it even sounds sarcastic and sinister. Suddenly on one level she informs you the challenge you were supposed to do is under maintenance and you will be placed in a military android testing area instead. Sorry for any inconvenience. The Challenges become increasingly... real, even with the Computer's assurances that everything is perfectly safe and following testing protocols. Then you find a broken section of the testing area inside which are scribbled messages calling for help the floor littered with empty emergency rations, and marks representing a long length of time. Something is wrong. I don't want to spoil the ending for those who want to play the game but I will leave one last clue. The Cake is a lie.

The music and graphics were excellent at creating mood, one thing Valve excels at. The gameplay was also original and very fun. In fact sometimes I would just play around and not complete the levels because goofing with the portal gun is super entertaining. Probably the only thing I didn't like was the length. It was really short in its storyline mode. It does include many bonus levels as well, but I would have liked to have the storyline be a little longer than 2 hours on my first try. I will give the game a 9 out of 10 Excellent job Valve. If you want the game I suggest buying the Orange Box set by valve, it is one of the best values for PC games including some of the best titles ever made for the PC for $30.

As another sample here is the trailer for the game it captures a good part of the gameplay. Enjoy!