Good Game Get! Portal 2

I suppose this is an obvious GGG!, what with the amazing reviews, the constant buzz and a pedigree that few games can boast. But none of it is hype, Portal 2 is just that good. It seems redundant to say anything else except go buy and play this game.

What I want to suggest though, once you have played through the single player campaign, is for you to explore the extraordinary amount of media accumulating in Portal 2’s wake. Valve Software has been surprisingly accessible, and the creator, writers and developers have hit some strange cross-breed of lecture/publicity circuit to share insights and behind-the-scenes secrets, offering gamers a unique look into the creative process.

The first place to start lies within the game itself. Once the single game is beaten, a commentary playthrough is unlocked, allowing you to return to the game to hunt for floating dialogue bubbles which play audio clips once clicked on. The clips are sometimes funny, sometimes personal and often reveal information you would never be privy to from the developers of such a high profile game.

Many podcasts have been talking about the game, with some trying really hard to remain spoiler-free. I’d skip those. Giant Bomb’s Portal 2 Spoilercast has a great and informal interview with the game’s writers and they don’t bother to protect any secrets. The Weekend Confirmed podcast spent the first half hour of last week’s show digging into the game, with the host actually claiming that Portal 1 is better than Portal 2 which led to an interesting discussion. A quick Google search will net you a long list of media featuring the game.

Portal 2 writer Erik Wolpaw’s recent lecture at the New York University’s Game Center adds additional insight into the creation of the game (here’s an interview with Erik about his career as a writer) and he’s also featured in this generous NPR feature, a rare, “positive” mainstream news-piece on a video game. Even more behind-the-scenes info can be found in Geoff Keighley’s Final Hour of Portal 2 app for the iPad.

As for my take on the game? I could hardly stop playing it. I wrote in my private journal that “… although not as technically difficult as the first, it’s just as brain-bending and far more amusing — and you get to [REDACTED]! …” Sorry about the redacted part, sort of a spoiler. As for the rare complaints that it’s too short, too easy or too expensive, well, no game is for everyone, but Portal 2 is so well balanced and expertly constructed that I wouldn’t want it to be longer or more difficult (though free “challenge” DLC is coming for all you detractors) and since the game is widely available at $35 price should be no issue, either.

- Andy