Portal

     Reviewed By: Colonel Link
     VOLUNTEER GUEST REVIEWER

Overall Rating:
Genre: First Person Shooter / Puzzle
Christian Rating: 4 of 5 (good)
Gameplay: 5 of 5 (excellent)
Violence: 4 of 5 (barely present)
Adult Content: 5 of 5 (none)

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.

The game is designed to change the way players approach, manipulate, and surmise the possibilities in a given environment; similar to how Half-Life® 2’s Gravity Gun innovated new ways to leverage an object in any given situation.

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

Story:
You are a test subject in the Aperture Science facility, in an unknown location, but somehow related to the Half Life universe. The story is never really developed, the only real reason to play the game is for the puzzle action.

Violence: You never use any actual weapons in the game, and you never see any other living being. The only time blood will be seen is if you get shot by a turret, which will result in a bit of blood spattering on the walls. Very mild.

Language: None

Sexual Content: None

Gameplay: This is where the game truly stands out. Unlike most FPS, Portal is not about mindless violence and killing. Rather, you must think your way through a variety of test chambers, using only you wits and the portal gun. You must think of gravity, and use momentum to help you achieve these goals.

The gameplay is challenging, and although not overly difficult, you will feel very “satisfied” once you figure out a puzzle.

Sound: The soundtrack is forgettable but good, the portal sound effects are perfect, and everything sounds very realistic.

Positive Material: The game is one of the cleanest to come out in a long time, the lines are witty and fun to listen to, you assume that your character is a moral person.

Overall: Portal is truly one of the best, funniest, and most original games to ever come out. Easily recommended from ages 10 up to 100.

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Year of Release — 2007