Am i the only one that doesn't "get" Portal? : Othor Games

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 10:16 am

I haven't played Portal 2, but the first game had the best ending credits ever made by humans for any form of entertainment. The song alone was enough to make me like the game.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:11 am

Don't feel too bad, I've never played either of them.

From the outside looking in I don't feel like I'm missing anything, despite the high praise it receives. I do have it from when I bought the Orange Box but I haven't had the time or inclination to install it yet.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:57 am

I've never played either game so I don't know what all the fuss is about wither... all I know is that the cake is a lie.

All I know is that joke should've died a long time ago, even the guy who wrote it says he hates it now, well done everyone...

Anyway, Portal is great because it's different. It's an FPS where you don't shoot people, you make quantum space-holes to move around in way that would make your brain melt if you tried to think to hard about how it works. It's a very fresh twist on the whole genre, not to mention that the portal mechanic was incredible when it came out. On top of that, the game was hilarious, always a nice bonus. And Portal 2 is more of the same plus new fun stuff as well.

In short, the games are amazing to me, easily among the best ever made and I don't say that lightly. To top it off it's also among the funniest, if not the funniest game I've ever seen.

I can see how it's not for everyone, but I love both Portal games.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 11:58 am

Play Portal 2, it's much better.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:33 am

I'm finally getting Portal 2 this weekend and I can't wait.

I loved the first one, and posters before me have already given most of the reasons why. I'd also not really played a game like that before - I mean a puzzle game that was really engrossing.
I will say that I have a hard time convincing anyone to pick it up though - maybe I'm just crap at explaining it, as everyone just says it sounds boring (even my Mum, who usually loves puzzles and brainteasers).

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 10:41 am

Portal and its successor have incredible writing. And I don't just mean the humor; I can sympathize more with the series' robotic characters than I can with (almost) any living video-game character, and that's a pretty big deal, I think.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:39 am

I don't do puzzle games. I tried Uru years ago and shelved it after a couple hours. I guess I'm just too lazy.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:05 pm

I don't like Portal series much. All that platforming and puzzle solving is not that fun for me. Sure the humor and all is great but that wont
redeem game which has core gameplay elements which I don't like.

But hey, that is my opinion.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:03 pm

Portal 1 is usually praised for mainly three things:
1. Accessibility. The game is pretty much one long tutorial that doesn't require any great deal of familiarity with video games or the FPS genre to play. And none of this detracts from the game, on the contrary it works in the game's favor.
2. Storytelling. Portal 1 tells its story entirely in game with no cut-scenes and doesn't force any details on the player letting them find the details beyond "I'm in a weird laboratory and some computer lady is trying to kill me" themselves.
3. Pacing. No part of the game overstays its welcome, leaving the game fresh and exiting at all times.

Portal 2 lost some in 1&3 but had tons of more 2, supported by excellent writing and voice-acting.

Both are also pretty much unique in today's gaming market, combining FPS, puzzles, quirky storytelling and interesting characters. Portal 1 was a breath of fresh air and that gained it a lot of praise from gamers.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:51 pm

Sure i like puzzle games, i was just under the impression that portal was considered by most to be above most games of any genre, being considered special, great, awesome, incredible!

The writing is very good, also just the whole atmosphere of the game is excellent. Plus the whole portal mechanic is very cool.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 10:03 am

It is without a doubt the funniest and best written game ever created.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:13 am

I don't do puzzle games. I tried Uru years ago and shelved it after a couple hours. I guess I'm just too lazy.

Uru, the Myst spin-off? I hope that game doesn't make up your opinion of the series, because Myst I II and III are amazing games.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:29 am

Well Portal is massive, and so is Portal 2, my friends all like it, everyone raves about it, Todd Howard himself said he clapped in admiration when he finished the game, everyone loves Portal, and yet i played the game (haven't played Portal 2) and was left feeling like someone having fine art explained to them, not really understanding the concept at all but nodding furiously in agreement in the hope my ignorance on the subject will not be discovered, because i just can't see what all the fuss is about.

It's a puzzle game, sure it's pleasant, polished, it's short, and then uhm...thats pretty much it, i don't see it's difference to quite a few other puzzle games, i certainly don't see it's greatness compared to many other video-games that i do consider to have been greats over the years, it just seems so lightweight in comparison, yet the hype and expectation for Portal 2 was colossal, so Portal must be considered by todays gamers as one of the greatest games ever made, yet to me it's just a decent little game that killed off 8-10 hours of my time, once, and then i never looked back.

Anyone else feel the same? or i am the lone caveman staring at a priceless vase, unable to see it's true value?

Now I liked Portal. However, I I feel the way about the Beatles the same way you feel about Portal. I don't see the magic there the same levels as everyone else does. Sure, teh white album and Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Clubb band had some catchy tunes, but it doesnt define my musical tastes. Like Portal doesnt profoundly affect your gaming Id.

So you aren't alone in being meh about something that a large proportion of people find fantastic.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 12:08 pm

I myself have been eying both games for a while. Reason why I haven't pulled the trigger on them is because, A) I may not like them. B) Don't really have a reason.

But this thread has made me want to go buy both for the 360. I don't see them being a PC game for me. So, I think I'm going to stop after work on the way home and pick them up. Worst case scenario my son will play them and as my daughter gets older she may enjoy them.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:09 am

The fuzz is that Valve made it. If it had been developed by someone else than Valve or Blizzard, noone would have noticed it.

Well, not really, the puzzles are well designed and there is plenty of humor in the game. It doesn't really lock itself in and a very large audience can enjoy it, and not only those who are "gamers".

You pretty much nailed it right there. It is a great game, but the only reason it is so popular is because of Valve.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:24 am

It's the humor.

I find the game hilarious.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:22 am

The thing is that the portal games are probably the most unique, mainstream video games that are out there at the moment.

It's a physics puzzle-based, non-violent, FPS with excellent writing(!) and a sense of humor on par with the old Lucas Arts adventure games. The fact that it's become successful is a HUGE breath of fresh air for a lot of people.

And it doesn't hurt that, at least IMO, they've hit upon the best way to present their story(no cutscenes, and having lots of the story told by the environment and by what's going on around you; it's the video game version of the old "show don't tell" adage).

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:24 am

I didnt like it at first either. I never really gave it a chance though until the second game came out. 3 days before Portal 2 came out, I played and loved the original. Then went through and loved P2 as well. They were both really fun games once I gave them a chance.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 11:37 am

They're both fun games, but I definitely would not call either one the "best game ever". (or even close to that)

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:06 pm

I kinda don't really get it either. A game just full with puzzles seems weird but anyway..

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 12:36 pm

I kinda don't really get it either. A game just full with puzzles seems weird but anyway..

They have a whole genre of games like that: point-and-click adventures.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:50 am

Yes and nobody plays them

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:52 am

I loved Portal, but I didn't really like Portal 2 as much. It dragged out a lot. The premise seems perfect for a 3-4 hour game, like they did in the first one. Portal 2 was too long for my liking.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:10 am

Yes and nobody plays them

I raise you Monkey Island.

» Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:30 am

I raise you Monkey Island.

Seconded.

It's important to note that there's a whole LOT of people out there that like different games from what any given person does. Sure, first person shooters reign supreme. Myself, though, I like the first part ("first person") but abhor shooters. Too twitchy for me. First person puzzle games like Portal, or first person RPGs like Elder Scrolls, or first person creative games like Minecraft, though... These are right down my alley.

Personally, I can't understand why anyone of sound constitution actually enjoys (American) football video games. But I digress.