Portal 2

BACKGROUND

Portal 2 far exceeds its predecessor, averaging a game play of over 10 hours as opposed to the hour or two in Portal 1. It is a much larger game and is available not only for PC, but also for PlayStation3, Xbox360, and Mac. This first person shooter continues the story of the first game after some time has passed. GLaDOS, your enemy from the first installment, has spent time repairing herself after you tore her to pieces…and threw every piece into a fire. Still, she was happy for you, even though you broke her heart and killed her. Even though she starts out an enemy, after a turn of events, she is on your side, trying to take down an even greater power-tripping traitor.

GAME PLAY

Portal 2 is recommended to everyone 10 and up. Beating the game is straightforward and simple; you must get through the door at the end of every level, unlocking achievements along the way and furthering the plot. What I like about the game is that there is usually one specific way to win. You do not have to search around every crevice to make sure that you picked up or pressed everything you were supposed to or else be out of luck later on in the game. Once you complete a level, you move on, and you’re at the same position as everyone else who is that far in the game. The simplicity is rewarding, and it’s nice to feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that you’ve done everything exactly as you were supposed to.

Valve, the developers of the popular franchise, took the challenge of making a longer version of the first game as a sequel and nailed it. The game is full of everything you’d expect from a Portal game: evil robot villains, lots of test chambers, intelligent puzzles, and strategic planning to get to the next level. In total, the game features 9 chapters that take you from inside the laboratory that you know so well from the first game, all the way to the outer space…literally. Of course, the game would not be complete without portals, companion cubes, and turrets. The turrets are just as kind as ever, often engaging in naptime and being sincere if they happened to kill you.

CO-OP MODE

The coolest addition to the game is its co-op mode. Many of the achievements of the game can only be unlocked by playing the game with a friend. Co-op mode is a great addition to the game and features different levels than the ones played in single player mode. You and a teammate must work together to get through each level by assisting each other through portals and using cubes. You and your Partner in Science should expect a new sense of amusement by playing co-op.