Opening the Valve: Portal, The Key To Success.

When Valve released the Orange Box way back in 2008, I doubt they realised the future popularity of their new puzzle-platform game, Portal. We can all agree that it was thanks to Portal, the Half-Life franchise and Team Fortress 2 that Valve became the well known corporation that they are today. The quirky first person shooter consists of escaping from a facility that challenges you with various puzzles that require, well, common sense and a lot of patience.

You play as the “dangerous mute lunatic” test subject called Chell who battles through Aperture Science's 20 test chambers, designed purely to leave you questioning your sanity. Your only weapon is the hand-held portal gun which can shoot portals onto the white “moon rock” painted walls. And if that doesn't seem confusing enough, you also have to fight against turrets, avoid acid pits and most importantly try not to get killed by deadly neurotoxin. Seem interesting enough yet? Well don't forget the main antagonist GlaDOS. Her job is to lead you through your pleasant testing experience and guide you to the so called end of testing.

The game is fast moving, clever and witty and can be at times simply sadistic. It's no surprise that all those who have played cannot seem to get enough of it. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be too fast. By the time you finally get into the game, it seems to be all coming to a unwanted and premature end. The first 15 levels are a piece of cake and can be finished within the hour if you take your time. You are left feeling unsatisfied, an unquenchable thirst for more demanding puzzles.

Despite Portal primarily beginning as a mere add-on for the Orange Box, it has expanded and developed a name for itself, quickly becoming one of the most creative and original games of its time. It has certainly pushed Valve into the limelight and the popularity of the game allowed them to create the well-known sequel, Portal 2 which helped to answer the questions that players were left asking themselves upon completing the first game.

All in all, it's an excellent stepping stone into Valve's vault of awesome games and I hope that there will be many more like it in the future.