Now you're thinking with portals!

I recently purchased the Orange Box for Xbox 360. While this blog isn't really about video games, this game in particular has something of a universal appeal, I daresay.
Though the Orange Box includes 5 games, Portal is the game I'm speaking of in particular. I'd heard bits and pieces of information about this game for the past few years, having seen an early preview of the game quite awhile ago. I must admit, I've been intrigued by this game for some time. I knew that the Orange Box was released in early October, so Sunday whilst I was strolling through Best Buy, my urge to play Portal prevailed over the ever present tug to experience Guitar Hero III (I'm a fan of the series), and I left with the Orange Box in tow.

Let me say, after finishing the game in a single afternoon, this game is amazing and innovative. The basic premise of the game: You are a woman named Chell who wakes to find herself in a white cell with glass walls. After taking a moment to orient yourself, a computerized female voice begins to speak to you, and introduces herself as GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System). She greets you and introduces you to your surroundings, known as the Aperture Science Enrichment Center. Oddly, there are no other people save GLaDOS, and something seems very odd about the things she says to you. She then guides you through a series of puzzles, giving you the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device i.e. the portal gun. This device allows you to shoot entrance portals on appropriate walls and floors, and then place an exit portal through which you can move. GLaDOS promises cake as a reward for completion of the tests, and cheerfully mentions a party. In fact, she cheerfully mentions
everything, including sometimes lethal obstacles. I don't want to spoil anymore of the plot, but below is a quick video showing how the game basics work.



As you can see, it's pretty neat. What really impresses me about this game is that it is a first-person puzzle shooter, which at first may seem a strange mix. The truth is, the game is appealing to all types of gamers. I'd predict that hardcore shooter fans will appreciate the first person nature of the game, while more casual and infrequent players can pick it up to play through a test or two at a time. There are also more advanced courses outside of the normal mode of play, as well as time trials, for those seeking an extra challenge. Also of note, the banter of GLaDOS is downright hilarious at times, and makes the loneliness of the game easier to bear.

The biggest drawback is that Portal is short. A few hours for a determined player will do it. If the game were a bit longer, it would be worth the cost of a standalone game for the 360 ($60). I haven't even really played Half-Life 2, because I honestly bought the whole package just for Portal, and so far I'm not disappointed.

Portal also has some interesting replayability with the neat little tricks you can do. For example chasing yourself in a circle through portals. In any case, here's another quick video showing some of the neato fun you can have.




This wasn't really meant to be a review, but I guess it turned into that. What I'm basically trying to say is, this is an impressive game that all sorts of folks can enjoy. I was interested in the story and extremely so in the nuanced gameplay. You should be too. Portal has my endorsement, and that means something. So go forth, my fellow Portal-ers! Get that cake!