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The existing portal threads are really about the pre-portal stuff, and the DLC, and neither allow open discussion without heavy use of the spoiler tags. This thread is about the game and gameplay, and you don't need to spoiler anything. This first post won't have any spoilers, but anything goes after this.

So if you read past this point, you are in a world of hurt if you don't want anything spoiled.

I finished in 10 hours (according to steam). It was awesome. I'm going to let it all percolate and then give my thoughts on it later.

Consider this an early request wondering about the approximate time of game of the co-op game stroy...

I probably won't be able to get to the co-op campaign for at least a few days. I wanted to play the single player immediately because I knew I wouldn't be able to resist reading spoilers, and I was excited about the storyline.

First impressions:

- The storyline was really good. It wasn't as filled out as a book, but they gave you the broad sweeps of the history and progression of Aperture Science which, taken together, form an interesting history. I now know the backstory behind Glados.
- The twist where you swap one AI for another that immediately becomes aggressive was unexpected and provided the main motive force for the rest of the story. When I was contemplating 10 hours of the same AI that I dealt with in Portal 1 I was scratching my head wondering how they would make it compelling. Well, they did a good job of changing the actors in the story so it was interesting.
- Similar to the storyline, the significant change in pace of the puzzle elements - changing the environment (Love the attention to detail from the 50's and onward!) gave a fresh visual perspective that made sure it wasn't just the same boring puzzle room with a different solution each time.
- The new game elements (accelerant gel, jump jel, and moon dust) added a new aspect to the puzzles that was very fun.
- I never saw a the sucking tubes that were displayed in one of the teasers. Perhaps they are part of co-op? Tubes played a part of the game, simply not as vacuums.
- The humor throughout the game was chuckle worthy, but got few strong laughs. It was varied enough (Glados, Cave, Wheatley) in style and substance that it didn't bore.
- I rarely play FPS style video games, though I do play a lot of puzzle games on mobile devices. From my perspective it was not a difficult game. There were a few times where I made mistakes and died, there was one chamber where I had to get an irritating timing based puzzle solved that wasn't trivial, and of course like Portal 1 the last chamber was more difficult than the preceding chambers due primarily to the time limit. I don't think there was anything as bad as test chamber 18 in Portal 1(where you had to time pressing the button with the energy ball release while managing to shoot another set of portals before the energy ball hit the wall and/or the door closed) so the frustration level was surprisingly low.

I made the mistake of saving the game with 31 seconds left to get and attach the last core, and rather than going back and re-doing the earlier cores to give me time with this one I just played those 31 seconds over and over again until I finally attached it in time. Of all the rooms, the final chamber was the most frustrating because it wasn't clear what was expected at first, and I had to try several things before I finally figured out the 3 aspects of this puzzle (how to get Glados to deliver a core, where the cores were going to appear, and where and how I needed to place them). There was a generous enough time limit though, and it extended a few times, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been
I suspect that this was watered down a bit since it was play tested and intended for a more diverse audience. I feel as though they took more risks with Portal 1 than Portal 2.

The ending wasn't as satisfying as Portal 1. After Portal 1 the ending just gave me chills, but this one didn't. Not sure if it's because I was expecting it (and they did a reasonable job changing it up a bit so it was different than the first one) or if the song didn't leave the impact I was expecting, or if the gameplay simply didn't put me in the right space mentally to enjoy it, or if it was simply that I'd been playing for nearly 10 hours straight, it was 5am, and what did I really expect? I'll probably play that last level a few more times to see if there's something else there I missed due to the late hour, but I strongly suspect that people are going to be complaining that it didn't live up to Portal 1 in this regard.

Overall the game was fun. I enjoyed playing it, and I will be replaying it a few times (paying more attention to the story, exploring the nooks and crevices that I skipped the first time through, doing the commentary, and gathering a few more achievements).

I don't know when I'll get to the co-op mode. I'm curious if there will be as much there in terms of story line and verbal assault as there is in the single player mode. It appears that there's no split screen mode for the PC, which is expected, but disappointing, so I'll be bumming around trying to find partners probably next week.

What was your favourite part?

Mine was

There were a lot of good zingers throughout. Going through the commentary I did find that they toned Glados down for the beginning levels because play testers reported that it was overbearing.

She's supposed to be overbearing!

I'm gonna use commentary for my second play through.

...Which I'm trying to convince myself not to start right now.

Yeah. My computer is great for development (quad core i7, 6GB ram) but it's got an old vidja card (geforce 6200) so portal 2 is playable at 640x480... mostly... if I turn all the video settings to low...and don't mind the audio track going out of sync with the video...

So I play it on my wife's computer (which isn't state of the art, but the geforce 9300 works well enough). That, however, limits the time I can play, so I'm taking the commentary a little bit at a time whenever I can sneak in.

My husband and I played through co-op over 3 nights (about 2 and a half hours the first night, where we stayed up till 2am and were really stupid with some of the puzzles because our brains were asleep), maybe 2 hours the 2nd night, and finished it up in about an hour and a half last night. So I guess all told, co-op was 6 hours for us? I'm kind of estimating because I didn't have a timer running or anything, but that's my best guess.

Gusto said:

I'm gonna use commentary for my second play through.

...Which I'm trying to convince myself not to start right now.

Click to expand...

I'm going to do commentary soon myself. Only I'm not having a hard time not starting right now. I'm too worn out to pay attention to the commentary, and Valve really has good stuff to say.
Added at: 14:12
Oh, and now that I'm finished I get to watch X's playthrough of the game, yay!

Fantastic. It was my reward to myself, having finished this semester. Resisting playing it during finals week was difficult.

"So, how are you? Because I'm a potato."

I was actually surprised to see them work the Potato thing into the story, and being able to do it without it being utterly stupid.

I think my favorite part of the story was Cave Johnson's rant about flaming lemons. It was then it hit me that they'd told a really good story with his pre-recorded announcements. They were more than just funny backstory for the tests, the progression of Cave from idealist to bitter defeat was really well done.

<3 the companion cube!

figmentPez said:

I think my favorite part of the story was Cave Johnson's rant about flaming lemons. It was then it hit me that they'd told a really good story with his pre-recorded announcements. They were more than just funny backstory for the tests, the progression of Cave from idealist to bitter defeat was really well done.

Click to expand...

Also, notice how their props and decor got cheaper and less elegant as time progressed. Aperture Science started going down the drain once Black Mesa stole something from them, and never quite recovered until Caroline was given life everlasting.

Well, that was fun.

And for our google searchers, you attach cores by getting close enough to the red lights on Wheatley's body while holding them. The way you get close enough is by jumping on the blue gel on the floor around Wheatley.

Ladies and gentlemen, Cave Johnson:

Also, anyone up for co-op sometime?

Allen who is Quiet said:

Also, anyone up for co-op sometime?

Click to expand...

Most. Definitely. Dunno if you're on my Steam or not.. I have some forumites. I'm Garbledina on Steam.

I've replayed large sections of the game looking for achievements I missed the first time around and listening to dev commentary. Most recently I've attained the Smash TV achievement, for which I had to replay chapter 8 multiple times. Worth it for those extra bits of dialogue.

AGH I smashed 10. TEN. There must be one that I can't figure out how to destroy. Vexing!

Chad Sexington said:

AGH I smashed 10. TEN. There must be one that I can't figure out how to destroy. Vexing!

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Keep in mind that there are TWO monitors in the test chamber with two aerial faith plates facing each other.

Chad Sexington said:

"So, how are you? Because I'm a potato."

Click to expand...

Awesome.

Okay, added you to my friend list, Chad. I'm the guy with Aquaman on top of C'thulu for an avatar.

I'm chibibar. I have been playing L4D2 lately on lethal-injection server pretty awesome stuff.

One thing that still bugs me. Why not just let Aperture Science blow up? Take out the whole stinking place, even if you have to die with it.

That's giving up on making it to the surface, and Chell never gives up.

Want You Gone is not as awesome as Still Alive, but it is definitely growing on me. Just because I like to belt out "YOU WANT YOUR FREEDOM TAAAAAAAAAAKE IT."

Screw Want You Gone AND Still Alive. Exile Vilify is where it's at:



...why this song was buried in an obscure secret room is beyond me.

I listened to that radio for as long as I could, and tried to take it with me before I remembered it would be destroyed in the emancipation field.
Added at: 08:23

Wait... Where is that song hidden...?

I visited that room, but didn't notice the song playing.

You have to pick the radio up and move it to the other side of the room I believe.

In the videos on youtube, it looks like you just have to get close - the volume is low. I probably heard the song, I just didn't notice it.

Huh, totally missed that. Thanks, Gusto!

Quick question: when Wheatley is "good" and is leading you along, there's a point where he first lures you away from the puzzles - and Glados puts out a puzzle, trying to get you to come back. Did anyone follow her advice and leave Wheatley to see what happens here? I've been curious, and might try to fire it up to see what happens.

Do it! (You won't regret it.) I know this thread has spoilers anyways, but I'll let you discover it on your own.

I did.

The deer is a lie.

At the beginning of The Part Where He Kills You, once you escape the crusher, you can COME BACK. Wheatley will then be surprised you did and ask you to JUMP IN THE PIT. If you do, you die...and also get an achievement.

...I got both of those trophies because I like to see what happens when you take the most retarded options given. :-P

Overflight said:

...I got both of those trophies because I like to see what happens when you take the most retarded options given. :-P

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Ha, yeah, me too. I also got the Scanned Alone achievement for the same reason.

Dei said:

Want You Gone is not as awesome as Still Alive, but it is definitely growing on me. Just because I like to belt out "YOU WANT YOUR FREEDOM TAAAAAAAAAAKE IT."

Click to expand...

I love the turret opera at the end.

Some industrious YouTube folk translated it and it's really kind of a sweet sendoff from the turrets.

Italian;

Cara bella, cara mia bella!
Mia bambina, o ciel! [pun: Chell = It. "Ciel" = Sky"]
Ché la stimo...
Ché la stimo.
O cara mia, addio!

La mia bambina cara,
perché non passi lontana?
Sì, lontana da Scïenza, [personified]
cara, cara mia bambina?
Ah, mia bella!
Ah, mia cara!
Ah, mia cara!
Ah, mia bambina!
O cara, cara mia...

English;

Dear beautiful, my beautiful darling!
My child, oh Chell! [pun: "oh heavens!"]
For I hold her in esteem...
For I hold her in esteem.
Farewell to my dear!

My dear girl,
why do you not walk away?
Yes, away from Science,
my dear, my dear girl?
Ah, my beautiful!
Ah, my dear!
Ah, my dear!
Ah, my child!
Oh dear, my dear...

Gusto said:

Ha, yeah, me too. I also got the Scanned Alone achievement for the same reason.

Click to expand...

Did you also kill yourself in the crusher when Wheatley told you to hoping you'd get another achievement and feel stupid when you didn't? :-P

...I did. :-/

Overflight said:

Did you also kill yourself in the crusher when Wheatley told you to hoping you'd get another achievement and feel stupid when you didn't? :-P

...I did. :-/

Click to expand...

Ha, sorta! I stayed on the crusher for too long just because I wanted to hear the end of his conversation.

Valve has just announced the first round of DLC: new chambers and challenge modes...for free.

http://kotaku.com/#!5797142/free-po...test-chambers-and-challenge-modes-this-summer

I guess only those robot gestures and shit were "premium" enough to warrant an actual price :-P

Well, learned how to fly. I hope Valve doesn't fix this.

Allen who is Quiet said:

Well, learned how to fly. I hope Valve doesn't fix this.

Click to expand...

Whaaaaaat.

Allen who is Quiet said:

Well, learned how to fly. I hope Valve doesn't fix this.

Click to expand...

Ooooh, that is an interesting glitch. I hope it sticks around at least long enough to get some awesome speed runs out of it.

Chad Sexington said:

Whaaaaaat.

Click to expand...

Yep. It's amazing.

Added at: 14:01
Did Valve do this on purpose? The name Caroline is a feminine form of Charles, which means "free man".

BURNING PEOPLE! He says what we're all thinking!

I wonder how long until the people who pre-ordered/own Portal 2 on Steam get Combustible Lemons as a weapon for their Pyro in TF2...

AshburnerX said:

I wonder how long until the people who pre-ordered/own Portal 2 on Steam get Combustible Lemons as a weapon for their Pyro in TF2...

Click to expand...

Well, there was a new version of the flare gun being tested in the TF2 Beta...

figmentPez said:

One thing that still bugs me. Why not just let Aperture Science blow up? Take out the whole stinking place, even if you have to die with it.

Click to expand...

Because that would be a very dull game?

Biannoshufu said:

Because that would be a very dull game?

Click to expand...

Well... yes. Now that you mention it, sitting still and waiting for the reactor to blow would be kind of dull. However I just wondered why it's never mentioned as an option, but I guess that could be explained by GlaDOS's obession with living forever. It wouldn't occur to her to choose to die, even to take out a hated enemy.

No, it wouldn't occur to her because she still has science to do. The entire reason she built a pair of immortal, easily replaceable robots to do her tests is because she knows she's going to run out of test subjects long before she's tested every variable.

AshburnerX said:

No, it wouldn't occur to her because she still has science to do. The entire reason she built a pair of immortal, easily replaceable robots to do her tests is because she knows she's going to run out of test subjects long before she's tested every variable.

Click to expand...

I haven't played the co-op mode yet, but I understand that there's a very different reason she built the pair which is revealed when they complete their tasks...

The testing results do not get recorded unless humans are the test subjects, if I recall.

Dmn, this is some awesome Portal 2 art:

via Kotaku

“I thought you were my greatest enemy, but all along you were my best friend”
Ellen McLain and Alésia Glidewell, aka GlaDOS and Chell

The beta for the mod tools was released today too.

Offical Soundtrack
No "Want You Gone" yet.

SWEET.

And it's free.

SWEET^2.
Added at: 18:43

figmentPez said:

Offical Soundtrack
No "Want You Gone" yet.

Click to expand...

Given that this is volume 1, and it's free, my expectation is that volume two will contain the the jonathan coultan song, and the song in the side room, and cost money in part to pay royalties on songs valve doesn't own outright.

stienman said:

SWEET.

And it's free.

SWEET^2.
Added at: 18:43

Given that this is volume 1, and it's free, my expectation is that volume two will contain the the jonathan coultan song, and the song in the side room, and cost money in part to pay royalties on songs valve doesn't own outright.

Click to expand...

Coulton has said a few times on Twitter that all the rights to the song are owned by Valve, so I'd be surprised if there was a different deal given for the other songs. They won't have to pay royalties, because they do own the songs outright.

XD XD XD

Well....I just finished it. I thought I'd not be able to play it until July 1 when I got my profit sharing, paid all the bills, bought a lawn mower and mugged a little old lady. But on these boards there is a man who is a God. He gifted me his extra copy and I was able to enjoy it.

And enjoy it I did. I had stayed completely away from spoilers. I had NO idea about the game AT ALL! I knew nothing about it. I loved the shit out of it!

On to the multiplayer!

I finished it, and I didn't find out what happened first from that new-fangled interwebnets!

Dave, if you're looking for someone to go through the co-op with, feel free to add me...I've done a handful of them with random partners, but nowhere near the complete campaign...

I finally got my grubby little paws on Portal 2 and beat it just a few minutes ago. I thought it was amazing. I love JK Simmons in everything and he was awesome as Cave Johnson. Awesome. Now I need to get into the co-op at some point.

Very good good fan music video for Want You Gone:

Necro'ing the thread to say level building is fun.

Built my first ever test chamber. It sucks, but I'll be damned if I'm not proud of making something myself.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=71267649

Here's the result of me dicking around with the editor for an hour:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=70789671

All 25+ minutes of Cave Johnson's new dialog from the Perpetual Testing Initiative

All hail the Sentient Cloud!

All hail Michigan Slim, the Hobo King!