Portal: Still Alive Review

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(More customer reviews)Portal has won many awards since its launch in 2007, and when you play it, you'll agree that it deserves them.It's ingenious and compelling, a masterpiece easily at home in an all-time greatest games hall of fame list.

Despite many recommendations from friends, I initially avoided getting this game for two reasons.Don't make this mistake!It's a fantastic game, and neither of my concerns proved to be important.

First, I thought Portal was a first-person shooter (FPS), and I don't like FPSs or games requiring lightning fast reflexes, so I almost skipped it.Portal was originally released as part of "The Orange Box".The Orange Box was a disc-based game for Windows, Xbox 360, and PS3 which bundled 5 games in 1.The other 4 games in the bundle were well-known FPSs which had been released previously (Half Life 2, 2 add-ons for Half Life 2, and Team Fortress 2).In that company, one might assume that the 5th game in the bundle, Portal, was also an FPS.In fact, Portal is not an FPS at all, but a first-person 3D puzzle game, and one of the most original and ingenious puzzle games in years.Each level introduces you to new game elements and increasingly difficult puzzles, with many wonderful "aha!" moments.Fast reflexes aren't required, but brains definitely are.Others might assume that, as the "fifth wheel" in The Orange Box bundle, Portal would be a give-away title not worth trying to sell or advertise.Nothing could be further from the truth.Despite the obvious success of Half Life 2, many game players and critics alike would argue that Portal is the strongest game in The Orange Box bundle.

Once I knew I wanted to try Portal, I again delayed my purchase because I wasn't sure which version to get.Should I get "The Orange Box", which costs more, comes on disc, and contains 4 FPSs that I probably won't play?Or should I get "Portal: Still Alive", which costs less, is downloadable, and comes with a few extra puzzles but no bundled games?The answer is:it doesn't matter, either choice is great, and it's up to personal preference.If you also like FPSs, The Orange Box is definitely a great value.I personally prefer not having to keep a disc in the drive, and will gladly take even a small amount of extra puzzling content over an FPS, so this downloadable version was best for me.See my comment on this article for a detailed list of differences between the two versions.Regardless, don't let indecision about the platform/version hold you back, like it did me.You can't go wrong with either one!

Now, I want to briefly describe the game and what makes it great.The premise and basis of all the puzzles is that there is a new technology that allows you to open "portals" between virtually any two flat surfaces.Imagine opening a magic door that connected the wall in front of you with the wall behind you -- you could look through this door and see your own backside.Now what if you opened a magic portal connection between the floor and ceiling -- and stepped through.Now what if you open a portal connection between walls at different angles and jump through -- your momentum will carry through but gravity will shift your ballistic trajectory.The possibilities are endless and mind-boggling.Fortunately, the game eases you into the concept, along with other game elements, and by the end you're an expert, ready for the major challenges ahead.(Once you solved the game, try looking at online videos of pros playing the game; you'll be blown away by what experts can do with portals.)

But the other great thing, which isn't common for puzzle games, is the understated but excellent plot and backstory.Throughout the levels, you get a few hints that something bigger is going on here, and that maybe beating the levels shouldn't be your first priority.I'll avoid spoiling it and leave it at that.But I can't help but mention the superb cherry on top, which is a very gratifying end credits scene with a catchy original song, which you'll probably want to view/listen to over and over again.You can find this song and its lyrics online (and in games like Rock Band 2), but they won't make sense or carry any emotional weight until you've solved Portal.I'm also told the plot ties in with the larger Half Life universe, but as I don't like first-person shooters, I didn't catch those references.

I can't recommend this game highly enough.If you haven't played it yet, run, don't walk, to enjoy this treasure.

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Product Description:
5.1 Surround Sound, HD (High Definition). Winner of over 30 'Game of the Year' awards, 'Portal' now comes to the Xbox LIVE Arcade! As unwilling test subjects in a sinister laboratory, players must break the laws of physics using 'portal' technology to solve puzzles and survive. Unlock the full game to experience the complete singleplayer story, gain access to all 14 new bonus maps, and get a glimpse behind the scenes with developer commentary! This game requires the Xbox 360 hard drive. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

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Half-Life: Counter Strike Review

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(More customer reviews)I got Counter-Strike around August 2000 or 2001.It was and still is the greatest game I have ever played. Very addicting, fun, and original.
A while back they changed Counter-Strike so now, to play it, you would need to have this program Steam. It can be a bit hard to set up, but once it's set up anybody who plays it will be addicted.
Oh and if you don't have DSL or Cable, the download times are going to be ridiculous. DSL or Cable is definitly a plus when playing.
Through Steam Counter-Strike gets updated at least once every month, so most of the time it's a fresh bug-free game. I've probably spent hundreds of hours playing this.

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Product Description:
Half-Life: Counter Strike lets you get armed and get online for some of the hottest Half-Life multiplayer gaming out there!

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Portal Review

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(More customer reviews)The game is a blast to play, if you are into physics-based puzzles. I'm not going to describe it, because it's well-described elsewhere (Wikipedia, for instance). So the question comes down to, "Is it worth buying?" And the answer is a qualified yes.

The game is short. Yes, really short. Compared to the typical puzzle game ("Myst", etc.), you blast through this in half the time (or less). But what is cut out is all the "envirnoment exploration". It has just as many puzzles as the typical puzzle game, but none of that walking around and looking at the scenery stuff. No bits where you have to go to island A to get the key that opens a lock in island B, which gives you the answer to a puzzle back on island A again, etc.

But it's not sudoku, either. GLaDOS is hilarious and menacing at the same time. Even with no other visible characters to interact with, the plot is a surprisingly important part of the experience. You start to get emotionally attached to the idea that you are a lab rat trying to get out of the maze before you get euthanized.

So, yes, it's worth the money. It's short, but intense. In the same way that an hour-long movie might be better than that same movie stretched out to three hours, I'm not sure the game would have worked if it was much longer than it is. In fact, I bought the whole "Orange Box" just to try this game, and I'm happy with the purchase. (That doesn't mean I'm not also going to play Half-Life, eventually.)

If I want to just kill hours on the computer, I can play solitaire. What I wanted was what I got -- an exciting and challenging set of puzzles with a surprisingly compelling plot as a bonus.

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Product Description:
Portal is a new single player game from Valve, creators of Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike.Set in the mysterious Aperture Science Laboratories, Portal has earned over 15 Game of the Year Awards and offers gamers hours of unique gameplay.The game is designed to change the way players approach, manipulate and surmise the possibilities in a given environment; similar to how Half-Life 2's Gravity Gun innovated new ways to leverage an object in any given situation.Players must solve physical puzzles and challenges by opening portals to maneuvering objects, and themselves, through space.

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The Orange Box Review

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(More customer reviews)The Good:
The Orange Box for PS3 is an outstanding purchase for any Half Life fan or for those that wanted to play HL2 but didn't have a PC that could run it. This package comes with 5 games which give roughly 30 hours of single player gameplay and infinite online multiplayer.

Included are the titles: Half Life 2, HL2: Episode 1, HL2: Episode 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2. I have played through all five titles and can say that, on the whole, this is a very good port to the PS3. It has enhanced Hi-Definition graphics and the whole package has a very cool vibe to it.

Half Life 2 and the two expansion episodes are basically intellectual First Person Shooters with a huge emphasis on puzzle solving. HL2 was named game of the year by over 50 gaming publications when it was released. This version is better looking and is almost like playing the game for the first time. Portal is an insanely fun puzzle game where you shoot two portals onto walls and then warp between them to clear levels and reach objectives. It is easily the best puzzle game I've ever played and even better, my wife loves playing it as well. Team Fortress 2 is a fast cartoonish team-based online FPS. You use one of eight character types (engineer, scout etc.) to work together to defend your team's objectives. The game is a blast and has a crazy style to it.

The Bad:
There have been many complaints about this game having longer loading times and worse framerates than the other versions. But, I am here to tell you that these issues are WAY overblown and that in over 15 hours of playtime I have experienced only one substantial framerate drop and the few that popped in were gone within a few seconds and were barely noticeable. In fact, the framerate issues are no worse than they were in Heavenly Sword, or Assassins Creed.

Also, the loading times are longer than the other versions, but only by a few seconds and this is outweighed by the PS3 exclusive console ability to quick save at any point during the game. Loading times are also much worse on other highly praised games like Oblivion. But it does get annoying if you start dying a lot!

The Verdict:
If you're like me, you heard the bad press and got really worried about getting the highly anticipated and acclaimed orange box for PS3. I'm here to tell you that on its own merits as a game for PS3, this game is simply OUTSTANDING. The issues are minimal, and the overall fun and value of this game outweigh any of the negatives. If you only have a PS3, like Half Life, and want the best puzzle game of 2007 (Portal is incredible), then get this now. It may not be the best version available, but it's definitely a version worth getting and is an awesome addition to any PS3 library.

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Product Description:
The Orange Box PS3Half Life 2Half Life 2 Episode 1Half Life 2 Episode 2PortalTeam Fortress 2

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