Portal 2
Genres: Puzzle, Sci-Fi, Story Rich
Play modes: co-op, multiplayer, singleplayer
Release Date: 18-4-2011
Developer: Valve
Our verdict
9.5/10
- Difficulty: Medium
- Players: 1–2
- Playtime: 10–15 h
Portal 2 is Valve's first-person puzzle game built around the portal gun: place two linked portals and use them to move yourself, cubes, lasers and light bridges through test chambers in the decaying Aperture Science lab. Besides a story campaign with GLaDOS and Wheatley, it has a separate two-player co-op campaign for robots Atlas and P-Body. It suits nearly everyone: solo puzzle fans and pairs who want a co-op puzzle night.
Steam reviews are overwhelmingly positive (about 98% of over 174,000). Players praise the dark humour, the voice acting and the steady way each chamber teaches a new idea, and many wish they could wipe their memory to play it again. The co-op mode is a recurring highlight, for working together and for laughing at a partner's mistakes.
There is little to fault. The physics puzzles are logic rather than escape-room clues, and co-op needs a second player who is up for it. Both campaigns together take roughly 10 to 15 hours, and the price is low. If you have not played it, buy it.
Pros
- Portal gun puzzles that keep adding new physics ideas
- Funny, well-voiced story with GLaDOS and Wheatley
- Separate two-player co-op campaign built for teamwork
Cons
- Co-op campaign needs a partner
- Physics puzzles, not escape-room clue hunting
About
Portal 2 draws from the award-winning formula of innovative gameplay, story, and music that earned the original Portal over 70 industry accolades and created a cult following.
The single-player portion of Portal 2 introduces a cast of dynamic new characters, a host of fresh puzzle elements, and a much larger set of devious test chambers. Players will explore never-before-seen areas of the Aperture Science Labs and be reunited with GLaDOS, the occasionally murderous computer companion who guided them through the original game.
The game’s two-player cooperative mode features its own entirely separate campaign with a unique story, test chambers, and two new player characters. This new mode forces players to reconsider everything they thought they knew about portals. Success will require them to not just act cooperatively, but to think cooperatively.
Product Features
- Extensive single player: Featuring next generation gameplay and a wildly-engrossing story.
- Complete two-person co-op: Multiplayer game featuring its own dedicated story, characters, and gameplay.
- Advanced physics: Allows for the creation of a whole new range of interesting challenges, producing a much larger but not harder game.
- Original music.
- Massive sequel: The original Portal was named 2007's Game of the Year by over 30 publications worldwide.
- Editing Tools: Portal 2 editing tools will be included.
