There’s very little that hasn’t already been said about the original ‘Portal,’ as heaps of critical acclaim, fansites, and companion cube plushies collectively declared the 2007 puzzler an absolute winner. Thus, if you’re reading this review and haven’t yet played Portal (1), close this window...open another...and buy the damn thing.

The original Portal hit the gaming world like a ton of blue and yellow-colored bricks, a throw-in of sorts to the ‘Orange Box’ package renowned for ‘Half Life 2’ and ‘Team Fortress 2.’ The little puzzler that could, however, arguably emerged as the sleeper hit of the Collection, a simultaneously clever and hysterical offering that – while short – yielded an incredible gaming experience.

Simply put, the Portal system of connecting two opposite, well, portals, works astoundingly well. It capably tears up physics and environmental norms, forcing players to truly think differently amidst a slew of ‘a-ha!’ moments once solutions emerge seemingly from nowhere...but simultaneously obvious upon retrospection. Supporting obstacles/accessories – companion cubes, turrets, lasers – all compound the fun and challenge. The Valve development team are brilliant folks when it comes to level design.

While Portal was a very pleasant surprise, its sequel is anything but unsuspected. ‘Portal 2’ was much hyped and subsequently anticipated, a full priced title with the marketing to match.  Thankfully, however, the surprise aspect of the birthday party superseded an even better, fully publicized 2^nd affair.

While Portal 2 returns to Aperture Labs and test centre environs, the experience this time around is more about telling a story...with embedded challenges...versus the reverse relationship of the original. Chell is awakened from decades of suspended state within the Lab, on a repeat engagement of testing wits versus GLadOS...but this time with some help...well, sort of, in Wheatley. In the interest of keeping this review spoiler-free, let’s keep it at that.

Some new gameplay components are introduced in Portal 2, with gels, refraction cubes and advanced catapult dynamics now employed. Moreover – and as referenced above – plot evolution is comprised of a series of puzzles, meaning advancing through levels requires manipulating environs via portals to move things along. There’s also a multiplayer component to Portal 2, one M.I.A. with the PlayStation Network still staring at itself in the mirror.

Other critics clock Portal 2 in at 7-8 hours of gameplay time, that is – of course – if you’re a quantum physicist capable of beating levels in a few minutes’ time, sans any needed exploration. Likewise play uninterrupted, for days straight. For the normal among us and in advanced stages, expect 20-30 minutes of trial and error to discover solutions, even more in open environs where portal surfaces, exit points are not readily apparent. Truth be told, I found Portal 2 more challenging than its predecessor. Thus, there’s a fair amount of gameplay in Portal 2, despite whinging by elitist snobs of a game shorter than most bowel movements. For what it’s worth, these same yahoo’s lodged similar criticisms toward ‘God of War III,’ easily one of the best titles of next generation consoles, period. But I digress.

Let’s cut to the chase: for fans of the original, consider Portal 2 a must-purchase. The magic of the first iteration is alive and well in its sequel, another terrific foray into a puzzle system that is arguably unmatched. Moreover – and being a full release title – Portal 2 sports a wonderful plotline and dialog, the latter so ridiculously clever that it alone may be worth the price of admission.

Still, Portal (1) wasn’t a perfect game...and neither is Portal 2. For instance, the occasional irritant of endless searching for obscure surfaces to portal to and from does pop up on occasion. Also, the semi-simplistic graphics of Portal 2 tend to obfuscate needed progression points within a level, most notably in story progression stages. While I don’t mind wracking my brain to solve complex puzzles, ascertaining next steps stemming from graphic overlay limitations did irritate at times.

With this being said, it stands to reason that those uninspired by the first offering will find much of the same in Portal 2. Similarly, Portal newbies are probably best served playing through the original first. While  the earlier levels of Portal 2 are fairly accessible, they are likely a tad overwhelming for the series unfamiliar.

Finally, a healthy sceptic might reason that Portal was a steal as part of part of bigger gaming collection, but not worthy – cost wise – of a full blown price point. This, of course, is dependent on individual preferences. I would be quick, however, to challenge these notions, as methods of delivery and/or marketing shouldn’t diminish gaming value. This is a winning title, and easily one of the  best puzzlers to date.