Introduction

This was a triumph.
I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.
It's hard to overstate my satisfaction.
Aperture Science
We do what we must
because we can.
For the good of all of us,
except the ones who are dead.

Little-known development studio Nuclear Monkey Software was responsible for a similarly obscure PC game called Narbacular Drop. Released in 2005, it was created as a senior project for the Digipen school of game design, and its innovative portal mechanic won several awards. Valve took notice of this, hired every one of those graduates, and Portal was born. The first game was a short but sweet bonus game, unassumingly packed in with The Orange Box bundle that also included Half-Life 2: Episode 2 and Team Fortress 2. Its sequel, however, is a full-fledged, stand-alone release that includes a full-length single-player campaign, as well as a separate two-player cooperative mode.



Contrary to the resolution of the first game, you’re once again playing the role of Chell, the unwilling test subject enlisted during Aperture Science’s “Take Your Daughter to Work Day.” Indeed, Portal 2 sees you return to the Enrichment Center for another round of puzzle-platforming that requires you think with portals . GLaDOS is very much alive, but quite upset over what you did to her last time. Luckily, you’ll find she’s a reasonable sentient AI, wanting to make amends for the sake of science. Newcomer Wheatley, a rogue personality core, needs your help to escape the facility, though, and shenanigans ensue. How well does it live up to expectations? Read on and find out!