"Oh. It's you. It's been a long time. How have you been? I've been really busy being dead. You know... after you murdered me."
These are the first words the murderous computer GLaDOS speaks after being accidentally revived by the player in "Portal 2." While the original game was bundled in developer Valve's "Orange Box," "Portal" became an internet sensation. With such a rabidly devoted fan base, a sequel would have mighty big Long-Fall Boots to fill. Luckily, "Portal 2" is an absolute triumph.
The story begins a few months after the events of the previous game. Chell, the game's protagonist, awakens in a small room resembling a motel. We learn that after surviving the tests she was put through by GLaDOS at Aperture Science and escaping, Chell was dragged back to the facility and put in a state of cryogenic sleep. When she awakens again, the room appears to have deteriorated due to several years of neglect. Before players have a chance to get their bearings, a small robotic orb named Wheatley (voice by comedian Stephen Merchant) bursts into the room and announces his intentions of helping Chell escape.
And so begins one of the most hilarious and challenging games in recent memory. Before long, players reclaim their portal gun and set off to escape the massive underground labyrinth that is the Aperture Laboratories. Of course, escape is no easy task when faced with a psychotically brilliant super-computer with a love of neurotoxin and running experiments on human test subjects.
The basic mechanics of "Portal" have not changed from the previous game. Players are armed with a single "weapon," a gun that creates orange and blue portals. Whatever goes through one comes out the other. While explaining how the portal gun works is a simple task, using it to navigate the devious test chambers and beyond is another matter.
The puzzles from the original game were challenging, but they are child's play compared to what "Portal 2" tasks players with. In order to proceed to the next test chamber, the player must figure out how to get to the room's impossible to reach exit using only their wit and portals. The puzzles get increasingly harder to solve, and far more deadly the further players progress.
To make things more interesting this time around, the game introduces several new elements to aid in Chell's escape. Three types of gel can be found in various parts of the facility. When poured on a surface, these gels allow Chell to do things such as jump incredibly high or place portals on previously unusable surfaces.
The addition of these new mechanics, along with the game's stellar level design and devilishly clever puzzles, make for an amazing experience.
While the first game was fairly light on story, the sequel delivers narratively in a big way. A good portion of the backstory is told not through cut scenes or dialogue, but through clever use of the environment. Sharp eyed players can stumble upon old news clippings and other pieces of information scattered throughout the facility. These snippets allow the player to piece a great deal together for themselves, rather than have things explicitly spelled out for them. This type of storytelling is one of Valve's specialties, and makes for a more deep and immersive experience.
One of the things that made the original "Portal" such a runaway hit was its dark humor and brilliant writing. Not to be outdone, "Portal 2" features some of the funniest dialogue ever featured in a video game. Every line, from GLaDOS' malicious taunts ("Your test results say you are a horrible person. That's what it says. You're a horrible person. We weren't even testing for that,") to Wheatley's charming, inept ramblings ("They told me that if I ever turned this flashlight on, I would die! They told me that about everything!") are perfectly delivered and insanely quotable. Despite how good the rest of the motley cast is, J. K. Simmons as Aperture Science founder Cave Johnson steals the show. His instantly recognizable voice and amazing comedic timing make the sections of the game featuring him stand out above the rest.
On top of a lengthy single player campaign (about three times larger than the original) Valve has included a surprisingly deep cooperative mode. Adding a second player to the mix changes the gameplay dramatically as the players now have two sets of portals to play with. The experience is somewhere between euphoric and moving a couch up three flights of stairs. At times it becomes frustrating to get your partner's actions coordinated with your own, but the feeling of accomplishment is deeply satisfying.
While the "Portal" series sprang from humble beginnings, it evolved into a genre defying juggernaut, destroying everything in its path. "Portal 2" is one of the best games of the year thus far, and sets the bar for its competitors impossibly high. All in the name of science.
"Portal 2," available on PC, Mac, Xbox 360, and PS3, receives a 10 out of 10.
Content was previously published in the Purdue University Calumet Chronicle
