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The Final Dakar · Apr 19, 2011, 02:28 PM

Opening the thread for business since 'kenna is likely too busy playing the game.

My copy is probably waiting for me at home, but I won't be able to pick it up until Thursday.

sek929 · Apr 19, 2011, 03:08 PM

Didn't pre-order, but I still need to bring back Homefront so I'll likely do that tomorrow and start playing P2.

Stogieman · Apr 19, 2011, 03:09 PM

Yeah, my copy should be waiting for me when I get home tonight. Anyone up for some multiplayer?

The Final Dakar · Apr 19, 2011, 03:13 PM

Multi or co-op?

Dibs on sek

sek929 · Apr 19, 2011, 03:15 PM

Not that the notion of co-operative problem solving doesn't intrigue me, but the Portal experience, to me at least, is the last place I'd want to feel rushed by another player.

I'll give it a shot, but only after I experience it a bit by myself first.

The Final Dakar · Apr 19, 2011, 03:16 PM

I'm in no rush to play this game, so you can take your sweet-ass time.

Stogieman · Apr 19, 2011, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

Multi or co-op?

Dibs on sek

No! You get Bogues... and like it!

The Final Dakar · Apr 19, 2011, 03:28 PM

...and he won't have a mic!

Kevin Bogues · Apr 19, 2011, 08:22 PM

Got my copy today after work, also not rushing to put this in the xbox (honestly I think this is the longest my xbox has been off since I've owned it)

Side note: for co-op dibs on your mom

Stogieman · Apr 19, 2011, 09:52 PM

The dialog and humor in this game is top notch. There's this one section with Smooth Jazz playing in the background to help calm your nerves. LOL!

I was sad to see the little orb guy die so early in the game. That dude was hilarious.

lpkmckenna · Apr 20, 2011, 01:14 AM

Regarding your spoiler, Stogie,

things may not be as they seem

Just sayin'.

EDIT: what platform is everyone playing on? I bought for Mac via Steam. Has anyone bought the PS3 version which permits a free Mac/PC license?

Stogieman · Apr 20, 2011, 11:51 AM

xbox 360 here.

Yeah, you're right. I posted that spoiler before I reached Chapter 5. I'm now at the part were you're introduced to the blue repulsion gel.

sek929 · Apr 20, 2011, 12:01 PM

Probably going to wait until tomorrow to pick this game up (Xbox 360) since I'll be taking Friday off.

I'm brimming with excitement.

sek929 · Apr 21, 2011, 04:02 PM

Already laughing at the hilarious dialogue.

"Good work, here's the test results...

You're a terrible person...

That's what it says, we weren't even testing for that."

When GladOS rebooted and starting talking it gave me chills, god I love this game.

lpkmckenna · Apr 21, 2011, 06:51 PM

Finished the single player campaign a few hours ago. Some of the later puzzles are really perplexing. At least three times I found myself thinking: "This level is broken. There's no solution. I can't see how this can be solved." Then five minutes later, I solved it. I'm proud to say I didn't look up any solutions on the net (which I've had to do with Amnesia recently), but it's really amazing how quickly things can go from "this is impossible" to "that's was kinda obvious, really." When I solved such a level I felt a strange combination of "I'm so clever" and "how could you miss that for so long?"

The voice acting is awesome, of course, but it was marred by the all-too-common Source engine audio hiccups.

The levels can be short, with many loading screens in a short period of play time, but the level loading is also really quick; only a few seconds. This is quite unlike other Valve games like Half-Life and TF2, where loading times can be really immersion killers. Many quick loads is way better than fewer but longer loads.

Speaking of levels: they are awesome, even by Valve standards. I was constantly surprised by how huge some of them were.

The end boss battle was kinda lame, but it was immediately overshadowed by the incredible end game sequence. Smiles for miles, here.

I've noticed that I only have 11 of the 50 achievements, and there seem to be about 18 more in the single player mode. I don't generally bother with achievements, but a few of them really interest me, like "find the missing experiment."

sek929 · Apr 22, 2011, 12:00 PM

Are there any challenges like Portal 1? My favorite part of the first Portal was doing the 'least portals' challenges, which were so amazingly hard to figure out.

I'm also loving the game so far, but nothing has stumped me much yet.

Stogieman · Apr 22, 2011, 01:44 PM

I don't remember any 'least portal' challenges in single player. However, there might be some in Co-Op. What chapter are you on sek?

I beat single player last night and l agree with lpkmckenna, the end boss battle was kinda lame, but the end game sequence was incredible. I was grinning from ear to ear the whole time.

There's a few more achievements I want to finish up before I move on to Co-Op. That Smash TV achievement on chapter 8 is quite challenging.

sek929 · Apr 22, 2011, 01:46 PM

No idea really, 5?

Also, if there aren't any challenges after you beat the game then I'm going to be pretty shocked. Portal 1 had advanced versions of the maps, and three different challenges for each regular map. To not include that seems odd.

Stogieman · Apr 22, 2011, 01:59 PM

I really do need to go back and finish Portal 1.

Stogieman · Apr 26, 2011, 12:10 PM

Let me know when guys decide to pop your co-op cherry. I need help with the achievement below.

We can top it off with a bro hug.

(Oh BTW, co-op is amazing in this game. I played for 8 hours straight on Saturday.)

seanc · Apr 26, 2011, 06:18 PM

I've got it on PC - not finished single player yet.

Brien · Apr 27, 2011, 03:19 PM

I have it on PS3 and finished both single player and co-op on Sunday. I found the co-op levels to be much harder. My only 'issue' was that a lot of the time, solving the co-op levels involved switching places with Player 2. But hey, it was a blast. I hope they release more levels as DLC soon, though. No challenge levels means I'm at their mercy.

lpkmckenna · Apr 29, 2011, 09:57 PM

VALVe announces free DLC coming this summer for Portal 2. Awesome.

Speaking of The Escapist, Zero Punctuation will review Portal 2 next week. Yahtzee loved the first Portal, saying he couldn't think of ANY criticism for it. Do you this will continue, or is there something that he will bitch about?

KCrosbie · May 1, 2011, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Stogieman

Let me know when guys decide to pop your co-op cherry. I need help with the achievement below.

I was just looking at the Sunday fliers and saw that K-Mart of all places has Portal 2 for $34.95. I may end up getting this. If I do, I'll help you out with your cheevo.

ibook_steve · May 2, 2011, 01:03 PM

Argh. Why did the price drop on this so fast? Picked it up the day after launch on Steam for $50.

Steve

The Final Dakar · May 2, 2011, 01:16 PM

Probably because it's so short. Sounds comparable to the original, only that was part of a 5-pack.

sek929 · May 2, 2011, 01:35 PM

It's longer than the original, but not by an enormous amount.

Half of Portal 1 was letting you wrap your head around the mechanics, then they finally let you have some fun for the last hour.

The Final Dakar · May 2, 2011, 01:38 PM

Still, the point remains that the sequel is devalued in relation to the first one.

Not that I mind. I'll reward a good developer, such as in this case.

sek929 · May 2, 2011, 01:40 PM

Also heard the first round of DLC is %100 free.

I like Valve.

Stogieman · May 2, 2011, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by sek929

It's longer than the original, but not by an enormous amount.

It is if you count the co-op levels (which are quite fun btw.) It took me around 7 hours to beat co-op. Add the 8 hours I spent on single player and I'll say it was well worth the $40 I paid.

Originally Posted by sek929

Half of Portal 1 was letting you wrap your head around the mechanics, then they finally let you have some fun for the last hour.

Did you beat single player of Portal 2 yet? How long did it take you?

lpkmckenna · May 4, 2011, 11:22 AM

Speaking of The Escapist, Zero Punctuation will review Portal 2 next week. Yahtzee loved the first Portal, saying he couldn't think of ANY criticism for it. Do you this will continue, or is there something that he will bitch about?

Well here it is. I don't really agree, and this review wasn't particularly funny either.

Kevin Bogues · May 9, 2011, 09:10 AM

Finished up the single player, i thought the level design was great, i was worried all of the gimmicks of the first portal and still alive would make the levels feel similar but Valve really outdid them selves with the different aspects of the facility. (no spoilers from me)

The overall voice work, storytelling, new gameplay elements make this a definitive experience. Although short (at least single player) i was more than impressed with game. I never thought a full retail release could work for portal.

Really need to get some co-op in,

Leonard · May 9, 2011, 01:38 PM

I see Portal 2 is $39.99 at Futureshop in Canada. Strange Bestbuy doesn't have it on sale. But at $39.99, I think I'll grab that, if they still have it in stock.

After I'm done playing Fable III, I can start on Portal 2.

The Final Dakar · May 22, 2011, 01:11 PM

Wow, I forgot the reviews mentioned loading screens. They're practically a crime against humanity. At least 5 seconds each, 20+ times. Incredible.

Stogieman · May 23, 2011, 03:57 PM

The load screens in single player are not THAT bad. Just wait until you play co-op.

The Final Dakar · May 23, 2011, 04:02 PM

They really are. And I have played co-op. They're more tolerable by the fact that i can turn to the person next to me and go, "Is this for real?"

Brien · May 23, 2011, 04:55 PM

Gotta say, the wait for that summer DLC is a very long wait... there really isn't much else to do after co-op/single player are finished.

The Final Dakar · May 25, 2011, 11:00 AM

Well, I finally got stuck last night. Had been in a room 20 minutes before I realized...

Of course, I wasn't technically stumped by the puzzle, I did much better and just didn't see a key surface.

Oh, and I'm quite tired of the "Find a way to hit a Portal at terminal velocity so you can fly across a room to a far away ledge" mechanic. Seriously.

The Final Dakar · May 31, 2011, 09:36 AM

Beat the game. Good quality length IMO. Kinda sad story.

Stogieman · May 31, 2011, 05:39 PM

The story in general or the ending? I did feel bad for Wheatley at the end. Poor little guy.

The Final Dakar · May 31, 2011, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Stogieman

The story in general or the ending? I did feel bad for Wheatley at the end. Poor little guy.

Gladys – I mean Caroline – getting deleted.

Brien · May 31, 2011, 07:44 PM

Yeah that sucked but
A.) If there's a sequel...
B.) That is part of the 'humor' of Portal.

The Final Dakar · May 31, 2011, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by Brien

Yeah that sucked but
A.) If there's a sequel…

Actually, I was wondering if it was coincidence that Gabe said Valve was done with single player games when this came out.

Originally Posted by Brien

B.) That is part of the 'humor' of Portal.

I understood that in the moment. For some reason it struck me as mellon collie.

lpkmckenna · May 31, 2011, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

Actually, I was wondering if it was coincidence that Gabe said Valve was done with single player games when this came out.

He didn't really say that. See: Valve and the Single-Player Experience | Couch Athletics

Valve games will probably be less like Portal 2, with separate single and multiplayer experiences, and more like Left 4 Dead, where the same game story can be played single or multiplayer.

BTW, the Portal 2 soundtrack and ringtones are available for free at Official Portal 2 Website - Music

The Final Dakar · Jun 1, 2011, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

Valve games will probably be less like Portal 2, with separate single and multiplayer experiences, and more like Left 4 Dead, where the same game story can be played single or multiplayer.

If they release a Portal game where the levels can be played solo, any extra players then become superfluous.

lpkmckenna · Jun 1, 2011, 01:15 PM

I don't think there will be any more Portal games. Portal 2 will become like Team Fortress 2, a platform for endless updates, but no sequel. No, there will never be a TF2 sequel either.

Half-Life 3 will play like Left 4 Dead, a single/multiplayer combo with players controlling Gordon, Alyx, and maybe Barney or a new character. And of course we will get a Left 4 Dead 3 sometime in the future too.

The Final Dakar · Jun 1, 2011, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

I don't think there will be any more Portal games.

Then my point stands.

ibook_steve · Jun 1, 2011, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

I understood that in the moment. For some reason it struck me as mellon collie.

"Mellon collie"? I'm hoping you mean melancholy.

In any case, I finished single player this past weekend as well. Very good game! I want to play co-op, but I don't have anybody to play with. So it's single-play trophy time for me!

Can't wait for the DLC.

Steve

The Final Dakar · Jun 1, 2011, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by ibook_steve

"Mellon collie"? I'm hoping you mean melancholy.

Yes, I did. I tried to google search the correct spelling, but when you're off by that much it just returned the Smashing Pumpkins album so I just went with it.

ajprice · Jun 2, 2011, 03:32 AM

Life after Portal 1 - http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/po...n-the-outside/