Somewhat Nerdy Gaming: Portal Review

Overall Score: 9/10

Genre: Puzzle
Systems: I played it on PC, it's also on Xbox 360, PS3, and Mac
Release Date: October 9, 2007
Publishers/Developers: Microsoft Game Studios and Valve Corporation/Valve Corporation

Microsoft Game Studios is known for: Halo series, Fable series, Gears of War series

Valve Corporation is known for: Half Life series, Counter-Strike, Left 4 Dead series

Gameplay: 10/10

You get a gun that shoots portals.
You start out shooting one side of the portal and the other side is stationary.
Not too far into the game you'll get access to the upgraded portal gun, with this you'll be able to shoot both sides of the portal. The two portals act like a tunnel that you can walk through.
You need to use portals to find your way through the test chambers. Test chambers consist mainly of finding a way to a cube, grabbing the cube, and placing it on a button. The button then opens a door so you can proceed to the next test chamber.
Solving test chambers is very satisfying
Takes a lot of quick thinking and/or trial and error
Test chambers get pretty tricky toward the end
Some puzzles blew my mind
Can be frustrating
19 test chambers total
Game is about 3-4 hours long

Story: 9/10

You start the game in a room with a pod looking bed, a toilet, and a desk.
A robotic womans voice, her name is GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System), tells you that they're going to do an experiment and serious injury may occur.
GLaDOS is constantly telling you all the different ways you could die or be injured and she is hilarious!
She tries to keep you motivated with promises of cake after the experiment is over.
Name of testing facility is Aperature Laboratories
I don't want to spoil any of the story because it's way better to experience yourself, so go play it!

Graphics: 8/10

My PC is well above the recommended specifications and it had average looking graphics.
Detail on the portal gun is very good
When looking through a portal at yourself, very weird the first time, the detail on your character isn't very good
A little grainy at times
Awesome physics!

Sound: 9/10

The eerie, ambient music is really good and sets the mood perfectly.
The portal gun has a really cool futuristic sound when fired.
GLaDOS has the funniest dialogue I've ever heard in a video game.
All the sounds combined with the music is amazing!
If you don't plan on playing this game, you at least need to listen to the credits song. It's fantastic! Although it will make more sense if you play the game.

Replay Value: Medium

Advanced Chambers: Can replay the test chambers but they've been twisted to be more advanced
Challenge Maps: Test chambers with an extra layer of goal-based puzzles

I thought it would be relevant to review this game since portal 2 comes out April 19 (tomorrow). I love this game and know a lot of people who feel the same way. It's really easy to get into but toward the end you'll be racking your brain. Valve got really creative with this one. You can get Portal with the purchase of the Orange Box, it comes on the disk already. Or on STEAM, steampowered.com, for $10.

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