A Portal Here. A Portal There.

Going up the stairs, my mind wrapped around the idea and stopped me. Why do I have to go up one step after the other? Why don’t I open an inter-spatial portal besides me, aim my portal gun to the floor I am going to, fire it to create a portal in any of its walls in sight, enter from the one besides me, and voila, I am there at my destination!

This uncustomary way of thinking went on with me for a day or two after finishing the videogame Portal. Throughout the years, a few games have managed to capture my interest, and more importantly, patience, to follow through to their end, and it was always only those that brought unique ideas, or sported unique visuals that had me going, inhaling every pixel they throw at me.

I am no fan of puzzle games, but if Portal were to be the first of a new genre of puzzle games, then count me in for the lookout. The game has a lavish setting, a profound story that grows and complicates with you, and puzzles that are just way too fun to solve. Although the story is obviously inspired by a classic science fiction film, its screenplay is beyond what I have ever came across in a videogame before - besides of course the few lines Duke Nukem uttered in the mid 90s. And despite some moments of the game feeling too much of a Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones, causing distraction from the mood of the game, it is easy to say that every tidbit of the game is as fun and intriguing to play as the other.

I like them short - videogames that is, and Portal falls right into my taste when it comes to game length. I didn’t keep count of the hours I spent on it, but I would say they were close to five, and this little time compared to most games make me want to go and play it all over again. It does not happen a lot, which why it is quite refreshing when one watches a film that has a new narrative, or when he plays a videogame that redefines a genre. Portal has already made its mark, and I am excited to find how strong its aftershock will be.

Posted December 2nd, 2007. Filed under: Posts.