#oneaday Blog 24 – This Was A Triumph

Those of you ‘in the know’, as it were, will have seen my title and instantly continued singing the rest of the song. Good on you! I am, which is going to make writing this blog quite tricky. …I’m making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS!

Anyway, those of you not in the know are probably wanting an explanation. Portal. That’s what. Yes. Portal. I’m glad we’ve got that cleared up.

You want more of an explanation? Demanding!

Portal is a game by groovy developers, Valve. It is also one of the most enjoyable games I have ever played. Ever. More bold italics!

Portal is a new single player game from Valve. Set in the mysterious Aperture Science Laboratories, Portal has been called one of the most innovative new games on the horizon and will offer gamers hours of unique gameplay.

Players must solve physical puzzles and challenges by opening portals to maneuvering objects, and themselves, through space.

A brief run-down would go something like this: The game works off a level system with each level becoming increasingly difficult – as it would. In these levels you’re presented with obstacles or seemingly impassable problem areas…if you were to walk or jump through. But that’s where your nifty Portal gun comes in handy. With the ability to create two portals you’re able to pass through one and emerge out of the other…thus making the obstacles much less impassable. Passable, as it were.

You can also, and will need to, pick up objects with your Portal gun in order to complete various levels, one of these objects is the, hugely popular, Weighted Companion Cube. It’s a cute little thing which, in one level, you must get from the start to the end. Hence being your companion I suppose.

If I hadn’t mentioned it, I love Portal. I love the puzzle aspect of the game, I love the narration and interaction from GLaDOS (the computer guiding you through) and I especially love Jonathan Coulton’s “Still Alive” song. Oh and if you like cake, the game is a must. I love it so much I made a background for my Blackberry, which is at the top of this post.

I really want to try it out on the Xbox360 so I might try to get hold of a copy of The Orange Box at some point, just to see what it’s like after playing through on the PC.

It doesn’t cost much so if you like puzzles I really recommend Portal. …Look at me still talking when there’s Science to do…

(Portal song with cool kinetic typography below)



5 Responses

  1. I’m too tempted. Especially since it can be dowloaded. My poor credit card.

    • As games go it’s not very long but it is reflected in the price. Steam client is brilliant too. If you do decide to get it let me know and I’ll add you.

  2. I may or may not have found a free flash game :D
    http://portal.wecreatestuff.com/portal.php
    Not the same I know, but I’m trying to save for a trip to Enger-land.

    • I would check that but I’m in bed and replying from my phone lol. The trailer does give you a good idea of what goes on. I’ll check that link when I wake up lol. Coming to England? On purpose? :D

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