bit-tech Shopping: Electronic Arts Portal (PC)

• First Person Shooter (FPS)
• Puzzle

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows Vista
• Microsoft Windows XP

Rating: 8

Time with product: 3 Months

Strengths: Interesting and Unique storyline/gameplay

Weaknesses: None

Summary: Great game, the storyline and gameplay is very unique, challenging and creative. Some of the puzzles are very challenging. Music at end is great...check out Leo Laporte's rock band rendition of it on youtube.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Years

Strengths: End song

Weaknesses: Your mind

Summary: The simplicity of this game is what makes it so brilliant. I originally played it as part of the Orange box collection and bought this version for a friend's birthday. I had been playing the other games in the Orange box and never paid much attention to Portal. When I discovered it, I was immediately hooked. The strategy is great and the humor LOL funny. GLaDOS was awesome and to hear her sing the end title song along with the clever lyrics had me laughing throughout the rolling credits. If you haven't picked up this title yet, do it now and thank me later!

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Truly innovative gameplay, fast and fun graphics, inexpensive, excellent soundtrack

Weaknesses: Perhaps a bit short (a few hours)

Summary: If you consider yourself "a gamer" and you haven't played Portal, someone should take away your Gamer ID card! Portal is the kind of game you MUST experience at some point!

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1

Strengths: Good graphics, innovative, price

Weaknesses: short

Summary: You get to solve the very basic puzzles at the beginning, and then the complexity becomes quite high later on. This is a very original game that gives you unique experience, it is for experienced and no gamers as well. It is short but given the price, it is well worth it.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 4

Strengths: (1) A very unique and innovative experience (2) Presentation and story are great motivation to keep solving the puzzles

Weaknesses: (1) None

Summary: Portal is truly one of those suprising and unique experience that almost transcends the medium and makes you think about what is possible interactively and creatively in a game world. The game presents itself as a sparse puzzle-game, but you quickly learn of the extra presence that becomes apparent in the gameplay challenge and game environment. The puzzles themselves will challenge a well-versed adventure gamer but they are never contrived or obscure. Once you figure out the solution, it makes perfect sense and you get ready to step up for the next obstacle. The narrative itself seems sparse on the surface, however, the mood is carried quite well by the feeling of isolation and the sterility of the environment and mechanical observer. Many reviews of this game remarked that it is great but overly short; I was surprised to find that there is a good third (at least) of the game left after I thought it would have ended. If you have not played this game, I believe it appeals to everyone and offers something truly unique and memorable.