Portal 2 Review
Originality: Portal (the first one) was one of the most original gameplay experiences I have ever… well… experienced! The fact that this game (the sequel) is, particularly for the first half of the game, just an extension of the first game speaks more to the original game’s appealing originality rather than the 2nd games lack of something new and unique. And that’s just for the first half of the game. Once the ink blobs (which hilariously got me MORE excited for Splatoon) showed up (all three glorious colors) and I figured out the different functions of them all that opened up Pandora’s box. I felt an even greater desire to explore and figure out different ways to solve the puzzles than even the first game tempted me with. Truly an original experience, but not quite revolutionary like the first game.
18/20
Graphics: Just like the first game, this game looks breathtaking today compared to other, more modern “triple a” games. I suspect the lack of having explosions and bullets flying everywhere allowed them to really focus on the beauty of the world.
10/10
Art Style: Same as the first one; “I kind of felt this was a blend between Team fortress and something more realistic looking. It wasn’t the most amazing art style I’ve ever seen, but it also was not even close to bad.”
10/15
Story: They took the mediocre story of the first game (which I awarded a 22/30) and kept that same style up for the first half of the game but then blew the door open in the second half. The overall introduction of a hilarious comic relief in the beginning of the game (as your trusty sidekick… that isn’t so trusty…) the revenge of Gladus (or however she is spelled), and a bunch of other familiar voices that are introduced alongside plot reveals actually makes the story of this game a decent amount superior to that of it’s predecessor.
25/30
Game Interface: No problems!
5/5
Controls easy and fluid or difficult and rigid?
I used a 360 controller instead of a mouse this time and still loved it!
5/5
Is it fun? Delightful, except for the puzzles that stumped me. However, that wasn’t the game’s fault lol.
15/15
Total - 87 / 100 + 5 charm points = 92 /100
Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition – 100 + 5 = 105
Shovel Knight – 95 + 10 = 105
Shadow of Mordor = 95 + 5 = 100
Zelda Skyward Sword-98
Hyrule Warriors – 93 + 5 = 98
Batman: Arkham Asylum - 93
Zelda Minish Cap – 92
Portal 2 – 87 + 5 = 92
Portal – 87 + 5 = 92
Assassin’s Creed 4 Wii U – 86 +5 = 91
Zelda Windwaker HD – 86 + 5 = 91
Bayonetta 2 = 91 NR
Bayonetta (Wii U) – 91 NR
Zelda Oracle of Ages – 91
Metroid Fusion – 91
Mario and Luigi: Bowsers Inside Story – 86 + 5 = 91
Zelda Twilight Princess – 90
Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon - 90
Guildwars 2 – 89
Mario and Luigi: Dream Team – 89
Animal Crossing New Leaf – 84 + 5 = 89
Pokemon X – 88
Zelda: A Link to the Past – 78 + 10 = 88
Kid Icarus Uprising – 88
Darksiders 2 - 88
Fire Emblem Awakening – 88
Dishonored - 84
Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark - 84
Paper Mario Sticker Star – 83
Rome 2: Total War - 83
Zelda: A Link Between Worlds-83
Super Mario 3d land – 72 + 10 = 82
Batman: Arkham Origins - 81
Trine – 80
Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze* - 68 + 10 = 78
Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D – 74
Black Ops 2 - 74
Rome: Total War-74
Paper Monster Uncut (Wii U) - 70
Red Alert 3 - 70
New Super Mario Bros. U - 66
New Super Mario Bros.Wii – 57 *
Assassins Creed 3 – 57 NR
Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition – 53*
Kirby Squeak Squad – 43
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3d – 42
Project X Zone - 18
* Means it was more fun than the score indicates. Scores judge the overall quality of the game (how fun it is only counts for 15% in my reviews)
NR means Not Recommended based on inappropriateness.
^Charm is rewarded to games that have an undefinable quality to them that makes them amazing and have high replayability value.
