Zero Punctuation: Portal 2
- Thread starter Yahtzee Croshaw
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To me, just the fact that we can even have a game like Portal 2 in todays market, counts for a lot.
Technically, he wasn't a villain...Steve the Pocket said:
Don't read it if you don't want to be spoiled.
Just that as GLaDOS said he was designed to be a moron, and the power of being in charge of the facility probably went to his head.
I am so so glad he mentioned the fanbase and the fact that 90% of the game is just looking for white tiles in a big derped up room. Seriously both games are mildly good but fucking hell am I sick of hearing about them.
I definitely felt Portal 2 was better than Portal 1. Here I was wondering if it they could manage to follow up the original with something of equal caliber, and they did. Miraculously.
What's lost from Portal 1 would have been lost no matter what sequel you tried to make. Valve knew that, and compensated for it with so much more.
The humor wasn't as good, but I'm pretty sure the majority of that problem stems from expecting so much from it. A really good joke comes unexpected, and in contrast I was squeezing every last word for comedic value as if it were the last bit of toothpaste in the tube.
Also kudos to the co-op for making a light bridge level with the most awesome level design I've ever seen.
What's lost from Portal 1 would have been lost no matter what sequel you tried to make. Valve knew that, and compensated for it with so much more.
The humor wasn't as good, but I'm pretty sure the majority of that problem stems from expecting so much from it. A really good joke comes unexpected, and in contrast I was squeezing every last word for comedic value as if it were the last bit of toothpaste in the tube.
Also kudos to the co-op for making a light bridge level with the most awesome level design I've ever seen.
You win.HankMan said:
That's one ghetto desktop.EcksTeaSea said:
He's definitely right on the whole Too big thing and on the Humor.. Imean Cave and Wheatley were funny but not PORTAL pitch black stingy humor.. But when you wake glados SHE'S funny... also SSSPPPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCEE
I completely agree with Yatzee on most counts, however, I did find that the multiplayer feature had one redeemable quality as far as replay was concerned: when my boyfriend and I replayed it to get the achievements, we did excellently working together and managed to wrap them up nicely in a very short time. It was enjoyable and we worked well together because we had played it before. I know this is probably a small thing, and if you didn't have achievements, then you wouldn't have this luxury. Nor would I want to play co-op with someone who hadn't played (I have zero patience and the bf and I raced to solve puzzles before the other one did). I thought it was worth mentioning because I wasn't sure if Yatzee was a secret achievement hunter, or if he's jaded enough by games to not give a $h*t about little electronic trinkets and sound effects pronouncing his awesomeness... Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, he probably gets that enough by reading these posts.
That said: Portal 2 was great, not because of the puzzles, but because of the story development. I've wanted to know more about Glados since the first game came out, and Valve was kind enough to supply while giving us several other lovable characters to appreciate. I have to agree the single player sequence lacked quality, but it made up for it by giving us a story that fleshed it out and helped pave the way for a delightful Portal 3 that hinted at everything from Glados taking over the world with giant turrets, to portals in space, to freedom on a desolate planet with only a portal gun and your wits and I, for one, cannot wait!
That said: Portal 2 was great, not because of the puzzles, but because of the story development. I've wanted to know more about Glados since the first game came out, and Valve was kind enough to supply while giving us several other lovable characters to appreciate. I have to agree the single player sequence lacked quality, but it made up for it by giving us a story that fleshed it out and helped pave the way for a delightful Portal 3 that hinted at everything from Glados taking over the world with giant turrets, to portals in space, to freedom on a desolate planet with only a portal gun and your wits and I, for one, cannot wait!
like the little flameshield he put up at end ; still havent played the sequel but i dont think id be able to sit through it if it's much longer than the first
It seems like most people who already beat the coop just rush through when someone new joins in, thus ruining the fun the newbie. Am I only one who's not doing this? I already beat the whole coop at least 3 times already, but I just loooooooooooooooove being in the world of Aperture Science.
If I team up with someone who still hasn't finished all the puzzles, I just sit back and dance & let them figure it out. To me, it's whole lot more fun seeing someone stumbling around & only lending hands when they ask me to.
If I team up with someone who also beat the whole thing, I still try to sit back & watch-- so I can compare how he/she solves the puzzles, versus how I remember doing them.
If I team up with someone who still hasn't finished all the puzzles, I just sit back and dance & let them figure it out. To me, it's whole lot more fun seeing someone stumbling around & only lending hands when they ask me to.
If I team up with someone who also beat the whole thing, I still try to sit back & watch-- so I can compare how he/she solves the puzzles, versus how I remember doing them.
So the moral of the story is that Yahtzee likes short games with no story that aren't sequels. Each day I get closer to finding out exactly what kind of games he likes.
My one niggle with the review is Yahtzee mentioning that the original Portal's only fault is its fans. It's not like Valve purposely set out to market the game to fan boy twats, that's just how it fell. Valve marketed the game, then fan boy twats accumulated (not saying that every fan of Portal is a twat, just a collective of voices).
I think you might be helping Yahtzee's argument about the fans more than agreeing with Russian_Assassin. I love both games! Though I feel #2 is better for all the same story reasons Russian_Assassin laid out and more.
Remember who's reviewing it though. Of course he's going to find the bad parts, I often just assume the other parts are good. He seems to hate Fans and "game title">=#2 by default, especially when baited. =)
Remember who's reviewing it though. Of course he's going to find the bad parts, I often just assume the other parts are good. He seems to hate Fans and "game title">=#2 by default, especially when baited. =)
They have to be taken with a grain of salt, but Yahtzee's complaints are definitely valid. In particular, the cavernous testing facilities in the middle bog down a little. I think they're really cool and kind of a fascinating look into the history of Aperture Science, but I'm not gonna lie, it got a bit bland after a while.
Wish he'd said something about Wheatley, though, if only just some offhanded comment that it's in contrast to how the British are usually characterized in video games. Although I guess it's not really that he's actually a Brit, more of just he has an accent, come to think of it.
Wish he'd said something about Wheatley, though, if only just some offhanded comment that it's in contrast to how the British are usually characterized in video games. Although I guess it's not really that he's actually a Brit, more of just he has an accent, come to think of it.
I agree with the fact that the puzzles are easier, and obviously there are long connecty bits, but I don't think this detracts from the game. I think it comes down to this - Portal 2 isn't Portal. It's different. Not better, but not worse - it's just different. The co op brings a huge amount of puzzle goodness, anyways.
I COMPLETELY agree with the bit about carrying co op though - We're gonna need continual puzzles to make that work well. I think Valve is capable of releasing a few Portal chambers now and then, though.
I COMPLETELY agree with the bit about carrying co op though - We're gonna need continual puzzles to make that work well. I think Valve is capable of releasing a few Portal chambers now and then, though.