I just played Portal last weekend. I didn't have a problem with the game's length, or most of the gameplay, but I somehow expected it to have more...humor? More stuff going on, I guess.
This is the problem with hype; ZP and Penny Arcade give Portal the best game (for example), and best writing type accolades and so I went into this experience expecting a lot more.
Stepping back from what I expected, it's a fantastic piece of work. Slowly getting creepier and creepier, with a mechanic that really could only be done in a videogame, as far as I can tell. There were only a couple troublesome points for me, as far as puzzles go, and I take slight issue with some of the more difficult puzzles that ask you to orient yourself in midair. I felt that sometimes I had to fight the controls to see what I wanted to see, or just flat out get lucky; these moments were few and far between thankfully, but glaring.
The dark humor though sparse it was spot on when it was there.
I say all this not to bash Portal per se, or even make a review of it, I say this because I got caught up in some of the very generous praise of the game, and then wanted more than the game was offering. Stepping away from that, I can see Portal for what it is, and it's damn fine.
So I'm wondering if other people have had similar experiences; games that just couldn't live up to your expectations, but upon reflection were still well done.
This is the problem with hype; ZP and Penny Arcade give Portal the best game (for example), and best writing type accolades and so I went into this experience expecting a lot more.
Stepping back from what I expected, it's a fantastic piece of work. Slowly getting creepier and creepier, with a mechanic that really could only be done in a videogame, as far as I can tell. There were only a couple troublesome points for me, as far as puzzles go, and I take slight issue with some of the more difficult puzzles that ask you to orient yourself in midair. I felt that sometimes I had to fight the controls to see what I wanted to see, or just flat out get lucky; these moments were few and far between thankfully, but glaring.
The dark humor though sparse it was spot on when it was there.
I say all this not to bash Portal per se, or even make a review of it, I say this because I got caught up in some of the very generous praise of the game, and then wanted more than the game was offering. Stepping away from that, I can see Portal for what it is, and it's damn fine.
So I'm wondering if other people have had similar experiences; games that just couldn't live up to your expectations, but upon reflection were still well done.