[PC, PS3, X360] Review Roundup - Portal 2

[PC, PS3, X360] Review Roundup - Portal 2 GameSpot - 9/10 - "As you journey through the massive Aperture facility, it becomes clear that Portal 2 does not merely come after Portal. Instead, it radiates outward from its predecessor, simultaneously illuminating the world that gave rise to Portal and continuing the adventure that began there. The sense of novelty is diminished, but the thrill of exploration and puzzle-solving is still intoxicating, and it's amazing how Portal 2 manages to tell a better story with disembodied voices and spherical robots than most games can with full-on humans. Your return to Aperture Science is a joyful one in this immensely appealing, laugh-out-loud funny, and thoroughly satisfying sequel."

VideoGamer - 10/10 - "I think you knew all along this was going to be great. Fantastic, even. All the same, I don't think you'll be prepared for it being this good. I may have buttoned my lip in terms of concrete spoilers, but a mere ten minutes here will yield more memorable moments than you're likely to squeeze out of the entirety of most other games this year. In all aspects of its design, Portal 2 is genius."

Game Informer - 9.5/10 - "Portal 2’s puzzles are more varied thanks to the fact that you can send lasers, tractor beams, and energy walkways through your portals, and I absolutely loved how the gels affected the world around me. The game’s simple, portal-based mechanics are so addictive that you’ll probably catch yourself placing imaginary portals all over your house. Thankfully these mechanics never feel overdone and neither does the game’s humor; I would often hang around completed puzzles just to see how the game’s ambient dialogue would progress. Playing co-op changes the game quite a bit, as having two sets of portals allows Valve to craft a unique set of challenges that are often more mentally stimulating that anything in single player. It doesn’t matter which order you play them in, but make sure you experience both modes. Portal 2 isn’t just one of the best games of the year – it’s two of them."

IGN - 9.5/10 - "Portal 2 makes the original look like the prototype it was. It's filled with a larger cast of characters vividly brought to life through brilliant writing and some of the best voice acting in video games. Its puzzles are challenging without being unreasonable, and, once you're finished with the single-player mode, one of the best co-operative experiences on the market awaits. Valve cuts no corners and finds ways to make you care about everything from the major characters to the cubes used to solve puzzles. From the beginning of the single-player story to the end of the co-op mode, Portal 2 is a novel, unforgettable experience."

GameTrailers - 9/10 - "Just like its predecessor, this sequel manages to wring every last ounce of enjoyment out of seemingly simple core concepts. If you're strictly into action its slow, plodding, calculated pace will be a turnoff. Yet, somehow Valve has managed to make a puzzle game that will make your pulse rise with a never ending daisy chain of positive reinforcement. It's bigger, more polished, and feels like a full-fledged game instead of an experiment, and we highly recommend it to any player ready to leave their comfort zone and feel smart in the process."

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