Difference between revisions of "Portal"

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[[Image:Portal - W32 - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|Windows box.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = Portal
 +
| Image           = Portal - W32 - USA.jpg
 +
| ImageDescription = Windows - USA - 1st edition.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Valve}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Valve}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 2007
 +
| PublishedMonth  = 10
 +
| PublishedDay    = 10
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|Android}}, {{Platform|Linux}}, {{Platform|Macintosh}}, {{Platform|Windows}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Active puzzle video game|Active puzzle}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Comedy puzzle video game|Comedy puzzle}}, {{VideoGameGenre|First-person shooter|First-person shooter}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Physics video game|Physics}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Puzzle video game|Puzzle}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Shooter|Shooter}}
 +
| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|Artificial Intelligence}}, {{MediaTheme|Comedy}}, {{MediaTheme|Science Fiction}}, {{MediaTheme|Suspense}}
 +
| Series          = ''[[Half-Life (universe)|Half-Life]]'', ''[[Portal (universe)|Portal]]''
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}
 +
}}
  
'''''Portal''''' is a [[first-person shooter]] puzzle game developed and published by [[Valve]] for [[Windows]] on 2007-10-10 in the ''Orange Box''. It was distributed solo and then ported to [[Macintosh]], [[Linux]], and [[Android]]. The game was followed up four years later with a sequel, ''[[Portal 2]]''.
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'''''Portal''''' is a [[first-person shooter]] [[puzzle video game]] developed and published by [[Valve]] for [[Windows]] on 2007-10-10 in the ''Orange Box''. It was distributed solo and then ported to [[Macintosh]], [[Linux]], and [[Android]]. The game is the first in the [[Portal (universe)|''Portal'' series]], followed up four years later with a sequel, ''[[Portal 2]]''.
  
In the game, you control Chell, a test subject at the Aperture Science Enrichment Center who is being monitored as she performs various logic puzzles involving a new technology using portal teleportation. As you progress, the puzzles become more difficult, but it also becomes clear that the people testing you don't mind if you're killed in the testing process! Various clues from the game show that it takes place in the [[Half-Life (universe)|''Half-Life'' universe]].
+
In the game, you control Chell, a test subject at the Aperture Science Enrichment Center who is being monitored as she performs various logic puzzles involving a new technology using portal teleportation. As you progress, the puzzles become more difficult, but it also becomes clear that the people testing you don't seem to mind if you get killed in the testing process! Various clues from the game show that it takes place in the [[Half-Life (universe)|''Half-Life'' universe]].
  
 
==Personal==
 
==Personal==
 +
{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      = Yes. On Steam.
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      = Yes. Main game and expert levels. 9/15 achievements.
 +
| CantWin  =
 +
| Finished = 2011-03-14.
 +
}}
 +
 
I had heard about ''Portal'' shortly after it became popular, but I wasn't that interested in the game because I assumed it was one of those puzzle games that starts interesting, but quickly becomes tedious because the puzzles exist in a vacuum. Even after a couple friends suggested it, I didn't bother. I don't remember when I got it, or if it was a gift or I bought it, but I played it and very quickly fell in love with it!
 
I had heard about ''Portal'' shortly after it became popular, but I wasn't that interested in the game because I assumed it was one of those puzzle games that starts interesting, but quickly becomes tedious because the puzzles exist in a vacuum. Even after a couple friends suggested it, I didn't bother. I don't remember when I got it, or if it was a gift or I bought it, but I played it and very quickly fell in love with it!
 
==Status==
 
I own ''Portal'' on Steam and have beaten it as well as the expert levels and got 9/15 achievements.
 
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
* '''Overall:''' 9/10
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{{Video Game Review|10|9|7|6|8|Windows}}
* '''Best Version:''' Windows
 
  
 
{{Spoilers}}
 
{{Spoilers}}
Line 27: Line 45:
 
* The designer's commentary is a wonderful addition.
 
* The designer's commentary is a wonderful addition.
 
* The hidden caches of Rattman really add to the ambiance of the game.
 
* The hidden caches of Rattman really add to the ambiance of the game.
* The ending is pretty sweet, with a great song by [[Jonathan Coulton]].
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* The ending is pretty sweet, with a fantastic song, ''[[Still Alive]]''.
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
Line 37: Line 55:
 
==Media==
 
==Media==
 
===Box Art===
 
===Box Art===
All regions use this box art. Although I like how the artist modified typical signage to be about portals, it doesn't really convey what the game is about. Still, it's striking enough to cause people to want to pick it up and see what it's about.
+
All regions use this art. Although I like how the artist modified typical signage to be about portals, it doesn't really convey what the game is about. Still, it's striking enough to cause people to want to pick it up and see what it's about.
  
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Line 62: Line 80:
 
Portal - W32 - Quote - Yesterday, I saw a deer.png|Quote.
 
Portal - W32 - Quote - Yesterday, I saw a deer.png|Quote.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Pass
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = Chell and GLaDOS are both strong characters.
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Fail
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = No females ever speak to each other.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Pass
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = Although her race isn't described, Chell's facial model has a Brazilian-American father and a Japanese mother.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
  
 
===Videos===
 
===Videos===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2YRVWZupwo youtube.com/watch?v=c2YRVWZupwo] - Postmortem.
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{{YouTube|c2YRVWZupwo|Postmortem.}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLUy9DH7V2M youtube.com/watch?v=CLUy9DH7V2M] - Interesting facts about the Portal series.
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{{YouTube|N8AJ3bcBktc|Leadhead - Cracks in the system.}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B19nlhbA7-E youtube.com/watch?v=B19nlhbA7-E] - The physics of moving portals.
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{{YouTube|CLUy9DH7V2M|Interesting facts about the Portal series.}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtWS8v20YS4 youtube.com/watch?v=WtWS8v20YS4] - The physics of long-fall boots.
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{{YouTube|B19nlhbA7-E|Physics of moving portals.}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK1mRhyeCzA youtube.com/watch?v=yK1mRhyeCzA] - Boundery Break.
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{{YouTube|WtWS8v20YS4|Physics of long-fall boots.}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcy1NPZVT3w youtube.com/watch?v=rcy1NPZVT3w] - Longplay.
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{{YouTube|yK1mRhyeCzA|Boundery Break.}}
 +
{{YouTube|O69LktEvTfg|Speedrun progression.}}
 +
{{YouTube|rcy1NPZVT3w|Longplay.}}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
Line 75: Line 108:
 
{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(video_game)}}
 
{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(video_game)}}
 
{{Link|StrategyWiki|https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Portal}}
 
{{Link|StrategyWiki|https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Portal}}
 +
{{Link|GameFAQs|https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/934386-portal}}
 +
{{Link|TVTropes|https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/Portal}}
 
{{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/Portal}}
 
{{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/Portal}}
  
  
[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
[[Category: 2007 Video Games]]
 
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Strategy, Adventure, Action]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Strategy, Adventure, Action]]
[[Category: Video Game Genre - First-Person Shooter]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Shooter]]
 
 
[[Category: Game Mechanic - Playable Female Character]]
 
[[Category: Game Mechanic - Playable Female Character]]
 
[[Category: Game Mechanic - Unlockable Difficulty Levels]]
 
[[Category: Game Mechanic - Unlockable Difficulty Levels]]
[[Category: Android Games]]
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[[Category: Video Games I've Beaten]]
[[Category: Linux Games]]
 
[[Category: Macintosh Games]]
 
[[Category: Windows Games]]
 
[[Category: Puzzle]]
 
[[Category: Artificial Intelligence]]
 
[[Category: Trope - Strong Female Character]]
 
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
 
 
[[Category: Favorite Games]]
 
[[Category: Favorite Games]]

Latest revision as of 17:26, 7 March 2024

Portal

Portal - W32 - USA.jpg

Windows - USA - 1st edition.

Developer Valve
Publisher Valve
Published 2007-10-10
Platforms Android, Linux, Macintosh, Windows
Genres Active puzzle, Comedy puzzle, First-person shooter, Physics, Puzzle, Shooter
Themes Artificial Intelligence, Comedy, Science Fiction, Suspense
Series Half-Life, Portal
Distribution Commercial

Portal is a first-person shooter puzzle video game developed and published by Valve for Windows on 2007-10-10 in the Orange Box. It was distributed solo and then ported to Macintosh, Linux, and Android. The game is the first in the Portal series, followed up four years later with a sequel, Portal 2.

In the game, you control Chell, a test subject at the Aperture Science Enrichment Center who is being monitored as she performs various logic puzzles involving a new technology using portal teleportation. As you progress, the puzzles become more difficult, but it also becomes clear that the people testing you don't seem to mind if you get killed in the testing process! Various clues from the game show that it takes place in the Half-Life universe.

Personal

Own?Yes. On Steam.
Won?Yes. Main game and expert levels. 9/15 achievements.
Finished2011-03-14.

I had heard about Portal shortly after it became popular, but I wasn't that interested in the game because I assumed it was one of those puzzle games that starts interesting, but quickly becomes tedious because the puzzles exist in a vacuum. Even after a couple friends suggested it, I didn't bother. I don't remember when I got it, or if it was a gift or I bought it, but I played it and very quickly fell in love with it!

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
10 9 7 6 8

Best Version: Windows

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The game's art style is really great.
  • It's very challenging without ever becoming obnoxious. Though a lot of the puzzles seem impossible at first glance, when you methodically pull them apart, they become solvable.
  • GLaDOS is a wonderful character; hilarious and oh so intimidating.
  • The game's voice acting is great.
  • The twist is quite shocking and really makes the story interesting.
  • The turrets are very creepy.
  • I like the addition of the expert levels.
  • The designer's commentary is a wonderful addition.
  • The hidden caches of Rattman really add to the ambiance of the game.
  • The ending is pretty sweet, with a fantastic song, Still Alive.

Bad

  • The test chambers are very dull. Only a few textures are used and then repeated for most of the game.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Media

Box Art

All regions use this art. Although I like how the artist modified typical signage to be about portals, it doesn't really convey what the game is about. Still, it's striking enough to cause people to want to pick it up and see what it's about.

Documentation

Graphics

Screenshots

Fan Art

Representation

Strong female character?PassChell and GLaDOS are both strong characters.
Bechdel test?FailNo females ever speak to each other.
Strong person of color character?PassAlthough her race isn't described, Chell's facial model has a Brazilian-American father and a Japanese mother.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

Videos

Postmortem.
Leadhead - Cracks in the system.
Interesting facts about the Portal series.
Physics of moving portals.
Physics of long-fall boots.
Boundery Break.
Speedrun progression.
Longplay.

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-StrategyWiki.png  Link-GameFAQs.png  Link-TVTropes.png  Link-TCRF.png