Portal
- October 9, 2007
- Valve
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Portal is a single-player game set in the Aperture Science Laboratories, where players solve physical puzzles and challenges by opening portals to move objects and themselves through space. It offers innovative gameplay that challenges players to manipulate their surroundings in unique ways, providing a fresh and engaging experience."
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Reviews
- story6,187 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of Portal is characterized as intriguing yet minimalist, often described as simple but effective in its delivery. Players appreciate the dark humor and clever writing, particularly from the AI character GLaDOS, which adds depth to the gameplay experience. While the main narrative is relatively short—typically completed in 2 to 4 hours—many reviews highlight its engaging nature and the way it sets the stage for the more expansive story found in its sequel, Portal 2.
“The story is amazing and the personality of the characters makes them feel more alive.”
“Portal is a fantastic puzzle game that has so much more content after the main 'story line'.”
“The story is both entertaining and thought-provoking, and it's sure to leave you thinking long after you've completed the game.”
“The story is quite linear and there isn't exactly much to say about the difficulty of the game (except for the sometimes absurd challenges) either.”
“The only problem is that you can finish the story mode in 3 hours.”
“The story is really short (beat it in around 3 hours), and a lot of the levels are in Portal 2.”
- gameplay3,655 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Portal is widely praised for its innovative mechanics centered around the portal gun, which allows players to create linked portals for solving puzzles. Reviewers highlight the game's clever level design that gradually introduces new mechanics, ensuring a satisfying challenge without overwhelming players. While the campaign is relatively short, typically lasting around 2-4 hours, the engaging puzzles and dark humor from the AI character GLaDOS contribute to a memorable experience that many consider a classic in the puzzle genre.
“The gameplay is simple yet addictive, with the portal gun serving as the ultimate tool for puzzle-solving.”
“Portal's innovative gameplay mechanic is genuinely generation-defining.”
“The gameplay is a clever mix of FPS and puzzles, but instead of shooting enemies, you shoot orange and blue portals to navigate a testing center.”
“The gameplay is straightforward, the puzzles are great.”
“The gameplay is simple, yet captivating, and the story adds a level of intrigue to the mysterious test chambers you occupy throughout the game.”
“The gameplay is too short for £7, but if you can get this game on -80% sale - go for it.”
- humor2,452 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Portal" is widely praised for its clever, dark, and often sarcastic tone, primarily delivered through the character of GLaDOS, the AI antagonist. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and absurd situations that blend seamlessly with the game's challenging puzzles, creating a unique experience that balances tension with laughter. Overall, the game's humor is considered a standout feature, enhancing its appeal and making it a memorable classic in the gaming world.
“With its minimalist design and quirky sense of humor, this game packs a punch that's far bigger than its humble size would suggest.”
“Glados is one of the most memorable villains in gaming history, with her snarky and often hilarious comments providing a constant source of entertainment throughout both games.”
“The addition of new characters like Wheatley and Cave Johnson adds even more depth and humor to the already excellent story.”
“Finally, after all these years, I can see for myself just how unfunny the 'cake is a lie' jokes have been.”
“If you refer to the cake, you're not funny and you should leave the internet forever.”
“The 'cake is a lie' is not funny anymore.”
- graphics1,494 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of Portal, released in 2007, are generally praised for their quality given the game's age, with many reviewers noting that they still hold up well today. While some players find the visuals somewhat dated compared to modern standards, the minimalist aesthetic and clean design effectively complement the game's atmosphere and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the graphics are considered decent to good, especially for a game of its time, and contribute positively to the overall experience despite not being the primary focus.
“The graphics are excellent for its atmosphere and are still good by today's standards.”
“Even now with the RTX version, these graphics still hold up to today's standards.”
“The graphics are unbelievable!”
“It's short and the graphics suck, but it's truly one of the best games ever.”
“The graphics are starting to suffer a bit with time, but the original mechanics and how well they are implemented really pay off.”
“The graphics are a bit dated, but other than that, this game is perfect.”
- music1,191 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in Portal is characterized by its minimalistic and ambient approach, enhancing the game's eerie atmosphere and sense of isolation. While the soundtrack is sparse throughout most of the gameplay, it culminates in the iconic ending song "Still Alive," which has received widespread acclaim for its catchy melody and humorous lyrics, making it a memorable highlight for players. Overall, the music effectively complements the game's narrative and emotional tone, contributing to its status as a classic in gaming history.
“The game features some haunting and mysterious gentle electronic music, alongside a couple of action tracks, before finishing the game off with one of the best credit songs in gaming.”
“The music, while absent for 90% of the game, is still awesome, just because of the ending song.”
“The ending song is so good please play this game if you don't I will steal your left kidney.”
“Too bad there’s essentially no music to accompany your efforts and it took only 7 hours to complete, along with the 6 extra (tweaked for advanced difficulty) areas.”
“The soundtrack provides only minimal ambiance and doesn't really signify rising or falling action until late in the game.”
“The music is not the strongest point of this game.”
- atmosphere644 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Portal is widely praised for its unique blend of eerie isolation and dark humor, effectively immersing players in the sterile yet unsettling environment of the Aperture Science facility. The game's minimalist graphics and haunting soundtrack contribute to a sense of loneliness and tension, while the witty dialogue from GLaDOS adds a layer of dark comedy that contrasts with the oppressive atmosphere. Overall, players find the atmosphere to be a standout feature that enhances the puzzle-solving experience and deepens the game's narrative intrigue.
“The atmosphere is by far its strongest suit as traveling both inside and outside the test chambers is a surreal experience of isolation, loneliness, and oppression from the many mechanical dangers that are omnipresent within Aperture Science.”
“The music and sound effects create a tense and immersive atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere, the story, the gameplay... all are thoroughly enjoyable.”
“The atmosphere of this game is really creepy and eerie, as there are windows with chairs and computers in every level, as if someone is watching you.”
“The atmosphere built by desolation, ambiance, and the omnipresent AI GLaDOS is something I have yet to experience in any other game.”
“The atmosphere is subtly chilling and its use of physics and momentum is brilliant.”
- replayability484 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The replayability of Portal is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate its engaging puzzles and the ability to tackle them in various ways, the game's short length and the predictability of solutions limit its long-term replay value. Some users highlight the inclusion of bonus levels and challenges as a means to extend playtime, but overall, the consensus is that once the puzzles are mastered, the incentive to replay diminishes significantly. Despite these limitations, the game remains a beloved classic, often revisited for its unique mechanics and humor.
“For a puzzle game to have this much replayability was unheard of not only at the time but even now. Just like Half-Life 2, this game has truly stood the test of time and will always be remembered fondly as one of the greatest games of all time.”
“The best part is that some of the puzzles have different ways of solving them, providing more replay value and making each solution feel like it was your own.”
“The game is short but very replayable because of the fluidity of the game once you memorize the levels.”
“Once you're done, you could play another save from start for some achievements, do some advanced chambers and the challenges, but once you're done, the game lacks replayability.”
“The only downside is, once you've solved the puzzle, there is little replay value.”
“The game doesn't really have replayability even if my playtime may state otherwise.”
- emotional178 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with players expressing deep connections to its characters and story, particularly the companion cube and GLaDOS. Many reviews highlight moments of nostalgia, heartwarming scenes, and the impactful ending song that evokes strong feelings, often leading to tears. Overall, the game is described as a unique blend of humor and emotional depth, making it a memorable experience that resonates with players long after they finish.
“I can't remember the last time a game made me feel like this, and I'm astounded the feeling has come from a 2007 release - it obviously had enough of an impact to make me want to write a review.”
“Emotionally devastated from breaking a robot's heart, but this game will always be near and dear to me.”
“The ending song almost made me cry.”
“The story is not developed or absorbing; and that's kind of all there is with this game. Innovative puzzles, but a kind of boring story—at least compared to other games.”
“The emotional depth of the characters is lacking, making it hard to connect with their struggles.”
“I expected a gripping narrative, but the emotional moments felt forced and unconvincing.”
- grinding164 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The reviews overwhelmingly indicate that grinding in the game is extensive and often feels tedious, with many players suggesting that it requires an excessive time commitment, likening it to needing "a second life." While some acknowledge that the grinding can lead to rewarding achievements, others find it frustrating and overly repetitive, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the grinding aspect is a significant point of contention, with mixed feelings about its impact on gameplay enjoyment.
“One long, tedious grind.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Achievement hunting is alright, most of them are reasonable but others like 'transmission received' are very grindy and overall not fun to do without a guide.”
“Fully enjoyed the mental exercises the game provided, but the experience was overshadowed by the need for nauseously repetitive attempts at overly tedious, time-critical, coordination-intense tasks.”
- stability149 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Overall, the stability of the game is generally well-received, with many players reporting minimal bugs and glitches that do not significantly impact gameplay. While some users noted occasional freezes and minor issues, the game is often described as running smoothly on various hardware, including older systems. A few glitches are acknowledged, particularly in relation to speedrunning, but they are often seen as adding charm rather than detracting from the experience.
“Issues and bugs: the game runs 'straight out of the box' and appears to be bug free.”
“Its a classic, runs well on anything and has next to no glitches.”
“The graphics have held up surprisingly well over the years, and the game runs great on almost any system.”
“Now it locks up/freezes all the time and I have to restart the game numerous times, even within a single level.”
“There is an issue with it running on Windows 7 64-bit; frequent freezes and audio glitches make it frustrating to play, mostly works fine but is annoying enough and frequent enough to cause issues.”
“The hardest achievement 'Aperture Science' literally requires you to cheat, use portals and other glitches.”
- optimization101 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users noting that it runs smoothly on a wide range of hardware, including older systems and low-end PCs. While some players experienced minor issues like stuttering on older hard drives or occasional screen tearing, these were generally considered negligible compared to the game's solid performance. The optimization is particularly commended for its ability to deliver high-quality graphics and gameplay without significant bugs or performance drops.
“The game is very well-optimized, so running it shouldn't really be an issue for most players.”
“Optimization is perfect; I can assure you this will work on all potato PCs.”
“Portal has very optimized performance.”
“My only complaint is that this game seems to have a stuttering issue with older hard drives. While the game remains playable on them, it definitely doesn't like them. I just wasn't expecting my hard drive to struggle because this game is somewhat ancient.”
“I had to put map_noareas 1 in the console to stop the constant freezes with audio stuttering.”
“There are some performance issues, from regular screen tearing to occasional freezing, but I've never experienced a crash or anything like that, so there are just nitpicks.”
- character development27 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with standout elements primarily revolving around GLaDOS, whose design and monologues are praised for their depth and engagement. While the protagonist, Chell, lacks significant development or dialogue, this choice enhances the player's connection to GLaDOS, creating a unique dynamic. Overall, the game is noted for its intriguing story and character design, though some reviewers feel that character development could be more pronounced.
“Intriguing story and interesting character development will keep you in; it's a short game but very well done.”
“In conclusion, this is a good game with good puzzles, nice character development, and a solid few hours of playtime to get through the whole thing.”
“Character development is strong and interesting.”
“The main character Chell has literally no character development or dialogue, but that is arguably good because it makes it feel like GLaDOS is talking directly to you, not just a character you are controlling.”
“Little to no character development.”
“The sequel had better storytelling and character development, but the original is where it all started.”
- monetization9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its origins before the prevalence of cash grabs and ads, while others criticize it as a cash grab despite its unique gameplay. Players appreciate the humor in the advertising elements, but express disappointment over the increasing presence of ads and monetization tactics in what was once a beloved series.
“After all I fought for, I just got more ads and acne.”
“Very unique idea, especially for a game of its age, but in the end, it's a cash grab for the content that you get.”
“This message has been a paid advertisement by Aperture Science.”
