Portal is a game that a lot of people would like.  It's a people pleaser because it is safe on one hand, but quirky and unique on another.

If you look at the game, it is really a hybrid game with the stronger part being adventure.  It essentially uses puzzles and works a story through those puzzle challenges.  Before you lose interest, as many don't have interest in that genre, it is also a platformer with a twist.  You must jump through hoops and skill challenges in order to get to the next level.

These two types of games aren't always huge draws, but when Portal mixes them together they excel.  It isn't just the mixture.  This game is well made and well thought out.  The developers used simple and tried and true gameplay, tweaked them with a different idea and then polished their ideas.

The game revolves around the ability to use portals.  You walk into one wall and come out another.  You're not passing trough walls but instead teleporting. 

It is done in first person.  The player starts out with maximum helps, getting more and more control of the game as they go.  The first couple of levels are more like tutorials than real levels.  That isn't a knock.  It works very well in this instance.  About half way through the game, you can create an entrance portal, and the reciprocal exit portal.  You would think that this is too long, but again, it works.

What doesn't work well is the control of the action.  I played this on a PC, and using a mouse was way to loose to do a lot of the later action.  At first, the levels are brain teasers.  "How do I get to the other side?" type of problems are used, and you are asked to creatively toil through said problem.  Later, you are shooting portals as you are falling out of a portal.  This requires a good controller.  Unfortunately, there is a little lag and the first person view seems to overshoot the mouse and then re-corrects.

Luckily, the designers may have left room for error.  First, they do keep the controls simple.  I didn't feel like I could master the mouse in Portal's situation, but at least I wasn't pouncing hot keys for a combo move.  They also don't make the individual levels with only hair's width of target success.  The only issue is when you go back and play the extra levels when time limits are included.  Those extras tended to be more annoying then fun.

The portals are one of the original pieces of the game, but the use of physics can also be counted.  A lot of games use physics, but then again they also use teleporters and portals, too.  It's is how these things are used which make Portal more unique.  Physics becomes part of the puzzle.  Falling, turning, momentum, angular velocity, all come into play when solving the more advanced puzzles.  This keeps you looking around ... and up.  They do cheat a little with actual reality to prevent some ways of solving problems, but we forgive them.

As with any puzzle games, a much needed and underrated component is sound.  Portal gives great sound indications, which in turn helps you solve the problems or run the solution correctly.  Overall the effects and music are very good, as well as have a great ending song which will make you laugh.

And what about the story?  It's there.  It's good, quirky and fun, but could have been embellished and revealed more.  It is almost up t o the player to interpret what is happening. 

Portal lays pieces of what has happened, or better said what has gone wrong, around the levels as you travel through them. .  This is similar to the gameplay itself, as all is not revealed and all you are empowered slowly with more and more.  The game also uses the device of having someone(s) having gone before you.  This person will give you clues as you go.  This can cramp the feeling of breaking new ground, but adds to the plot as well as helps you solve puzzles.

They wrap it up at the end as far as the main villain, but nothing is explained about people, those who went before you, and the ending...?  Yep, sequel engaged.  I can't fault the ending too much.  In fact, the games last level is the most enjoyable.  It plays a couple of tricks to break the conventional norm, a staple of this game on the whole.

There are some secondary attributes to the game that benefit the overall good.  One in particular is the save system.  The autosave almost never forces you to redo an accomplished puzzle.  So, you can pretty much pick up where you last died.  You have your own ability to save which is convenient. 

The game has received great marks from all that are heavily involve in gaming due to its fresh feel and well polished output.  Remember though, these people are knee deep in games and have seen it all.  Refreshing gets higher marks than crafting. I would say that it breaks new ground and does it in an enjoyable way.  It has a short length which makes it hard to get bored with, but you still have to consider it when comparing it to the amount of play of other games.  That plus a few aforementioned weaknesses, keep it from being a true great.  I wouldn't place this as a top tier game, but boy it's close.

Recommended: Yes