Portal 2 - The Final Hours | Game Brain

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Portal 2 - The Final Hours is a single player action game. It was developed by Geoff Keighley and was released on May 17, 2011. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Portal 2 - The Final Hours" is a digital book that provides an in-depth look at the creation of the game Portal 2. It includes a 15,000 word multimedia experience with exclusive photos, videos, and interviews, offering a behind-the-scenes look at Valve's creative process. The book reveals the original concept for Portal 2 as a prequel without portals or GLaDOS, and the development of Directed Design Experiments after Half-Life 2: Episode Two. A free bonus chapter covers the making of the 'Peer Review' DLC and future plans for Portal 2.

Genres & Tags

Casual

Play Modes

Single-Player

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78%

Audience ScoreBased on 499 reviews

story17 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The Final Hours provides an insightful and immersive look into the development of Portal 2, showcasing the creative processes and challenges faced by the team at Valve.
The multimedia presentation, which includes videos, concept art, and interactive elements, enhances the reading experience and makes the content engaging.
The book offers a personal touch by highlighting the stories and backgrounds of the developers, making it a valuable resource for fans of the Portal series and those interested in game development.

Many interactive features and links are broken or outdated, leading to a frustrating experience for users who expect a fully functional digital book.
The reliance on Adobe AIR for the interactive elements has resulted in compatibility issues, making it difficult for some users to access the content.
The overall presentation and navigation can be cumbersome, detracting from the enjoyment of the informative content.

story
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
42%
9%
The reviews highlight that the story aspect of "Portal 2" is primarily focused on its development journey, offering an insightful look into the creative process behind the game. Geoff Keighley's presentation combines interviews and multimedia elements, making the behind-the-scenes narrative engaging, though some users note that the interactive experience can detract from enjoyment. Overall, while the development story is praised for its depth and intrigue, it is suggested that it may appeal more to dedicated fans than to casual players.
- “Geoff Keighley’s work invites you not to play, but to understand—and in doing so, it transforms the making of Portal 2 into a story every bit as fascinating as the game itself.”
- “This story offers a rare glimpse at the talent, the culture, and the decisions behind a multi-award winning product.”
- “It's only a re-reading story... no game!”
- “Just a virtual book with some backstory of Portal 2; I recommend this to the super fan but not the average user.”
- “The story of how Portal 2 came to be is actually more interesting than the story of the game itself.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The music in the game is highlighted for its emotional depth, particularly through Jonathan Coulton's closing song "Want You Gone," which ties into the narrative's resolution. While the original soundtrack features modifications to fit the game's themes, some interactive music elements in the accompanying e-book have become non-functional. Overall, the music is praised for its integration into the game's atmosphere and storytelling, with additional insights into its creation and inspiration.
- “The feature even delves into the creation of Jonathan Coulton’s closing song 'Want You Gone,' drawing connections between the music and the emotional resolution of the narrative.”
- “There is also music that you can listen to, like the songs that inspired the soundtrack of Portal 2, and lots of pictures.”
- “It covers all aspects of the game, from how the story was developed, the artwork, animation, music, and even marketing.”
- “There are various work-in-progress versions of the song that you can play from within the book.”
- “A very well done ebook, however many of the interactive elements, such as the music and polls have stopped working, as I'm guessing the URLs have changed.”
- “Be forewarned, this only contains a small clip of the ending song and some bits of its evolution.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The gameplay aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with users criticizing the lack of meaningful interaction and gameplay loops, describing it as more of a reading experience than a game. Many noted that it feels incomplete and rushed, with some even likening it to a PDF rather than a playable title, leading to disappointment over its brevity and lack of engaging mechanics. While there are interesting anecdotes about early design concepts, they do not translate into a satisfying gameplay experience.
- “Chell, Pendleton (a purple-eyed Portal 1-style core with a single mechanical arm and the ability to float around like the robot in Baby in Yellow) and the cybersquad must dodge hazards such as laser turrets that speak, as well as cyberstatic energy pellets, all in a pocket dimension similar to what TickTockia is in the original show. The original music from Portal 2 has slight and heavy modifications to sound more like a Cyberchase episode, and GLaDOS may have some sort of family connection with Motherboard.”
- “It was interesting to read some of the design ideas and game mechanics during the early stages of Portal 2 (it didn't even have portals!).”
- “There are no gameplay loops in this software, no 'gameplay', no meaningful game-like interaction.”
- “There's no gameplay... it's just a damn PDF...”
- “Lacks achievements, completed it in 10 minutes, too short and gameplay feels half-baked.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The graphics of the digital book are praised for their timeless quality and effective presentation of the game's artwork, animation, and concept designs. However, some users noted that certain graphics appear pixelated when viewed in fullscreen on higher resolution screens. Overall, the combination of various media elements enhances the visual experience, despite minor resolution issues.
- “I love this fantastic e-book, the graphic design and pictures seem never aged, looks pretty timeless, like the game itself.”
- “Plus for me personally, it’s nice to be able to look at some of the artwork put into it.”
- “The combination of photography, video, interactive panoramas and graphic elements makes this a solid digital magazine.”
- “Some of the graphics are a bit pixelated when in fullscreen mode on my 1080p screen.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highly praised, with fans noting its clever dialogue and memorable moments that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the interactive elements that showcase the behind-the-scenes artistry of Portal 2, adding a layer of hilarity to the exploration. Overall, the humor is seen as a key component that deepens the appreciation for the game's design and storytelling.
- “For fans of Portal, it deepens appreciation for the artistry behind every puzzle, every line of dialogue, and every moment of humor that makes the game unforgettable.”
- “It's a good interactive way to show behind the scenes of Portal 2, as you explore panoramic lobbies and see hilarious things!”
- “If you are a fan of the Portal franchise and the Valve universe, you can buy this little instructive digital book to learn more about its conception, with funny interactive tools.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the narrative focuses on the highs and lows experienced by the development team of Portal 2, highlighting their determination to innovate while reflecting on the creative journey behind the game. It also emphasizes the connection between Jonathan Coulton's closing song "Want You Gone" and the emotional resolution of the story, showcasing the project's aim to convey the emotional depth rather than just technical aspects.
- “The narrative opens during the late stages of Portal 2’s development, capturing the emotional highs and lows of a team determined to follow up a modern classic with something even more innovative.”
- “The feature even delves into the creation of Jonathan Coulton’s closing song 'Want You Gone,' drawing connections between the music and the emotional resolution of the narrative.”
- “Yet the project’s goal is less to teach programming than to capture the emotional and creative journey behind a landmark game.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of "The Final Hours" is characterized by a chaotic yet brilliant depiction of Valve's offices, effectively immersing readers in a creative environment that thrives under pressure. Reviewers praise the sequel for its compelling story and engaging atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
- “From the very beginning, the final hours sets itself apart by drawing the reader into the atmosphere of Valve’s offices, described as both chaotic and brilliant—a place where creativity flourishes under pressure.”
- “An awesome sequel with one heck of a story and atmosphere.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy is heavily criticized for being intrusive, with frequent and persistent ads that disrupt gameplay and lack an option to close them, leading to a frustrating user experience.
- “Barely readable, ads keep popping up and there's no way to close them.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, including lag without clear cause, lack of widescreen support, and numerous broken features such as polls and interactive elements, leading to a frustrating user experience.
- “There is a lot of lag for no discernible reason; it is not optimized for widescreen, polls are broken, interactives are broken, everything's broken.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been rated 8/10, with users noting a lack of replayability; however, it is still considered an enjoyable experience.
- “8/10, there's no replayability but it's a good read.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Portal 2 - The Final Hours is a action game.

Portal 2 - The Final Hours is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

Portal 2 - The Final Hours was released on May 17, 2011.

Portal 2 - The Final Hours was developed by Geoff Keighley.

Portal 2 - The Final Hours has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its music.

Portal 2 - The Final Hours is a single player game.

Similar games include Half-Life: Alyx - Final Hours, Tomb Raider - The Final Hours Digital Book, The Basement Collection, Indie Game: The Movie, Game Dev Tycoon and others.

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