The Portal/Portal 2 thread [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

LimeiBook86

04-19-2011, 10:55 AM

I loved the first one, I may pickup the 2nd one. I read that all Playstation 3 copies of the game come with a PC version of it if you link your PSN ID and Steam ID. If that's the case I may get the PS3 version, kinda like a 2 for 1 deal. :)

Update: Just picked up the PS3 version via Amazon, $20 gift card plus free shipping and no tax made it for me. :)

Gooch3008

04-19-2011, 11:19 AM

Its a must buy.

heybtbm

04-19-2011, 01:51 PM

I wasn't going to get it so soon, but I was able to pick it up at Best Buy today for $20 and get a $10 gift card. Portal 2 for essentially $10. Thank you CAG!

8-bitNesMan

04-19-2011, 03:07 PM

I wasn't going to get it so soon, but I was able to pick it up at Best Buy today for $20 and get a $10 gift card. Portal 2 for essentially $10. Thank you CAG!

I looked at CAG but don't understand. How did you get it at BB for $20?

Robocop2

04-19-2011, 03:26 PM

What 8 bit said

Zama

04-19-2011, 04:40 PM

I just got my copy earlier today ^_^

Jorpho

04-19-2011, 07:00 PM

I would buy it for $10, too. But $50? When I have so much else to play? Especially since it will probably be $5 at some point between now and the end of the year!?

(Yes, yes, supporting the developers of quality products is all well and good, but if they're going to chuck around discounts like that, they don't seem to need the support that badly.)

heybtbm

04-19-2011, 08:07 PM

I looked at CAG but don't understand. How did you get it at BB for $20?

$44.99 (Best Buy Online-only price)*
-$25 reward zone certificates (have had these laying around forever)
=$19.99 + tax.

Bonus $10 GC code from pre-ordering online (in-store purchases get a physical gift card)*

*directly from the CAG thread.

Best Buy is just trying to replicate the Amazon deal of $54.99 + a $20 gaming credit. Both essentially come out to $34.99. My $25 certs took it down to $10.

exit

04-19-2011, 08:35 PM

I picked it up at Gamestop since I found a $20 gift card that's been floating around my room for who knows how long and so far I'm having a blast. Been playing it for about 3 hours straight and decided to take a break, since I don't want to rush through it too fast.

c0ldb33r

04-19-2011, 08:37 PM

I bought it full price, and happy to do so. The original is one of my favorite games of all time. :)

kafa111

04-19-2011, 09:58 PM

yes so far ive only done coop which is amazing!

kupomogli

04-20-2011, 06:05 PM

If you own a PS3 look for like new copies on Ebay that have been opened and used only for the Steam code. Cheapest game you can get close to release day.

CDiablo

04-20-2011, 06:14 PM

If you own a PS3 look for like new copies on Ebay that have been opened and used only for the Steam code. Cheapest game you can get close to release day.
You can do the opposite for PC as well, a few copies are going for $20 with Buy it now.

kainemaxwell

04-20-2011, 07:06 PM

Why's the original so much for the non-orange box edition?

portnoyd

04-20-2011, 08:50 PM

The game is so awesome. My favorite part is when the PC version crashes every time I hit Single Player Campaign.

exit

04-21-2011, 11:22 AM

Cornelius

04-21-2011, 11:59 AM

The game is so awesome. My favorite part is when the PC version crashes every time I hit Single Player Campaign.

The part I like is how I got it on PS3 planning to play mostly on my PC (if it'll run okay). But I have to link my PSN and Steam accounts, which I don't mind, but can't do, because PSN is down for maintenance.

kupomogli

04-21-2011, 01:47 PM

Just beat the game this morning and I am more than satisfied with it. I don't understand some of the hate the game is getting, it's twice as long as the first game and a little more than just a small expansion as some are trying to say.

I've read that some people think Valve made the 360 version look worse than the PS3 version just to push Steam on the PS3. I highly doubt it, but people still crying about it. Like PS3 only owners haven't had bad ports. Or since you can play it on PC as well by just buying the PS3 version making 360 owners and some PC owners feel ripped off.

zektor

04-25-2011, 11:22 PM

The game is so awesome. My favorite part is when the PC version crashes every time I hit Single Player Campaign.

Wow, not here dude. You have some other problem I would think....

Been playing the PC version literally straight all day. What an awesome game..really.

Actually, awesome is too light of a word to describe Portal 2. I have never played the first game, so keep in mind I am completely new to the whole Portal thing. But I must say that this game is outragous. After just one day it has gone down in my own personal list as one of the greatest games created...ever. And I rarely ever say that about any game.

exit

04-26-2011, 12:08 AM

Actually, awesome is too light of a word to describe Portal 2. I have never played the first game, so keep in mind I am completely new to the whole Portal thing. But I must say that this game is outragous. After just one day it has gone down in my own personal list as one of the greatest games created...ever. And I rarely ever say that about any game.

You never playing the first one is what's outrageous! It's been on sell for a few dollars plenty of times on Steam and they were even giving it away for free at one point. Hell I ended up picking it up on Steam during a sale and I own the Orange Box for my PS3, I just couldn't pass it up for $3. You're missing out on some of the references and believe it or not, some of the things GlaDOS says are even more hilarious when knowing what went on in the first one.

In fact with the PSN down, I may just go back and play the first one again.

zektor

04-26-2011, 01:38 AM

You never playing the first one is what's outrageous! It's been on sell for a few dollars plenty of times on Steam and they were even giving it away for free at one point. Hell I ended up picking it up on Steam during a sale and I own the Orange Box for my PS3, I just couldn't pass it up for $3. You're missing out on some of the references and believe it or not, some of the things GlaDOS says are even more hilarious when knowing what went on in the first one.

In fact with the PSN down, I may just go back and play the first one again.

True. I actually got ahold of it today as part of the Orange box, so I plan on getting to the original soon. But now I am near completion of part 2, so I might as well keep going there. Guess I'll be one of the very few (if any) that will be playing the parts in reverse ;)

Phantar

04-26-2011, 06:03 AM

Got it, played it, and finished it in a span of 3 days... Not because it's so short, but because I was so taken in that I simply couldn't stop playing! It's been a long while since a game last had that effect on me.

I also tried the coop-multiplayer, and I'd highly recommend it! The puzzles are great, and playing together with someone else is even more entertaining than the singleplayer mode...

Dobie

04-26-2011, 10:50 AM

I finished single player and plowed through the first 4 chapters of co-op over the weekend. Fantastic game. I initially was going to buy the PS3 version, but ended up on the 360 since that's where my friends ended up getting it--initially I was ticked, but now I feel like I dodged a bullet with the PSN difficulties.

The single-player puzzles didn't give me too much trouble, save for one level late in the game that turned out to be a glitch that made it impossible for me to progress. Its hard to convey the humor of the bug without spoilers, because the story actually fit what happened to me perfectly. I didn't realize that a bug was the problem until I had spent over an hour in the room, turned off the game in frustration and came back to it later to find that the bug had cleared.

Spoiler explaining bug in greater detail (highlight)...

At the start of chapter 8, when you reunite with Wheatley, who is conducting a (failed) test with his robot boxes, and glaDOS attempts to hit Wheatley with the paradox... you walk in the room, put a box on the button, and Wheatley appears. Eventually the door opens after some story elements. Well, when I went through for the first time, I put the box on the button... and nothing happened. I spent the rest of my time trying to find another portalable wall, stacking boxes into a pyramid to try and escape, stacking boxes into a tower on the button.... until I gave up. Came back later, and the button worked as it should have the first time. Grrr.

Graham Mitchell

04-26-2011, 11:10 AM

My preorder copy finally showed up over the weekend. This is one of the funniest games I have ever played. I laugh out loud constantly all the time while playing it. I guess Wheatley is voiced by somebody from the Ricky Gervais podcast (?)...anyway, he does an amazing job. And GladDos is deliciously evil. I do have some concern that the puzzles are rather easy, but I think I actually appreciate the fact that with some time and experimentation, I can figure things out without resorting to an FAQ.

I think this is gearing up to be on of my favorites of this console generation, if not my absolute favorite. My only gripe is that they went for an E rating and got rid of the blood. Not a big deal, but the blood splats in Portal 1 really contributed to the horror of the whole thing.

I've really gotta hand it to Valve. A lot of people in the Redmond area make fun of DigiPen graduates, but these guys have really done well for themselves. They've made many amazing worlds to play around in, but I think the Portal franchise is their best showing. To me, it's one of the most ingenious things around in the world of video games, or entertainment in general.

c0ldb33r

04-26-2011, 01:28 PM

First issue

There was a thread a few weeks ago about how long a game should be. A lot of people (myself included) said that they'd prefer a short but good game over a long mediocre one.

Time to put your money where your mouth is.

How much did you pay for the game? How long did it last? Is it worth the asking price?

For me, it was about $60, lasted about 7-8 hours single player and YES, my God yes.

Second issue

What parts of the game did you not like? For me it was a level later in the game that required a LOT of blue/orange and white goo. It drove me batshit insane. Keep your answers spoiler free if possible :)

Spoiler (highlight to read):

I absoluely LOVED the levels when it was 1960-70s Aperture. It really reminded me of Venture Bros. :)

Phantar

04-26-2011, 07:21 PM

NayusDante

04-27-2011, 12:28 AM

I just finished it. This was one of those games where I just sat there with a smile on my face the whole time. For a first-person game, I think it's the right length. I like long RPGs and such, but shooters are difficult to drag out beyond about ten hours.

I don't think I can say very much without spoiling it, so I guess the rest of this post will be black text.

The test subject storage units have expiration dates of 1996. What year is it again?

I wasn't expecting 50s Aperture. While I enjoyed it, I couldn't help but think I had just portaled into Rapture. I mean, it's underground, the distant lighting is kinda blue, everything's in disrepair...

As you progress to the 70s and 80s test chambers, I wish they had updated the visuals a bit more. You see a few 70s color posters, but the 80s section is pretty bland and not much different from the present.

Cave Johnson still may or may not be the G-Man. Thank you for teasing us with those portraits. I seriously expected the ending to consist of walking out of the present-day Aperture lobby and seeing him sitting at his desk or something, but not this time.

Fun end boss, even though it was pretty easy.

Still Alive was a better ending song. This one was good, but lacked everything that made Still Alive what it was. I notice that Still Alive is referenced in the credits, but where is it used in the game?

That's quite a nice field of wheat that Chell has found herself in. Is this before or after the Combine invasion?

I picked up the PS3 version thinking I'd play it on PC and maybe give it a shot with gamepad controls. I've yet to actually play it on my PC. I'm the type that absolutely can't stand console shooters, but this was goooood. If there were more first-person console games that played like this, and weren't shooters per se, I wouldn't miss my mouse.

c0ldb33r

04-27-2011, 06:31 AM

I think still alive is coming out of a radio at one point.

NayusDante

04-27-2011, 08:07 AM

Speaking of music, I particularly liked the soundtrack. The catapult pad sound effects were a nice touch, almost like improvised accompaniment. Portal 2's futurepop is a big improvement over the sparse ambiance of Portal.

Manhattan Sports Club

04-27-2011, 08:16 AM

I am really looking forward to trying the Portal series for the first time after seeing the charming characters and weapons this game has to offer in addition to the unique gameplay. I will likely play the PC versions, as this is not available on the Wii which is the only current-gen console I own, but I would be glad to get more current PC games that I'll enjoy anyway, so it's no biggie.

NayusDante

04-27-2011, 08:58 AM

You know that low-fi effect on the "corrupted" audio announcements in the early test chambers, and in the wake-up sequence? My Audigy 2 ZS has been doing that. Is this a sign of an animal king takeover, or should I just go back to the relaxation chamber for a while?

Phantar

04-27-2011, 01:32 PM

By the Way, did anyone else notice the plothole at the end?

Spoiler:
When defeating Wheatley the roof had collapsed, so the last Fight took Place somewhere near the surface. However, when GlaDOs sets you free, what follows is a long elevator Ride UP! How is that possible? Did She Drag you down while you were unconscious, relocating her Core, before Setting you free? That doesn't make any Sense!

NayusDante

04-27-2011, 01:41 PM

Spoiler:

It's hard to say just how far down Aperture is to begin with. We know GlaDOS has been moving things around, and Wheatley made a right mess of it as well. The commentary even states that they linked areas together with "portals," and that one "impossible area" was still in the game.

c0ldb33r

04-27-2011, 01:48 PM

Spoiler:
Why doesn't it make sense that GlaDOS would drag you down further after the Wheatley battle?

Maybe she was originally planning on keeping you there and continuing testing.
Maybe she was going to torture and kill you.
Maybe she didn't know what to do, and decided after some thought to let you go.

We don't know how long you were unconscious.

kupomogli

05-01-2011, 03:14 PM

I'm thinking of picking up Portal 2 for PS3 if anyone who wants the PC code to go half with me? You'd have to borrow a friends PS3 copy or rent the game and make a PSN account to use the code though so I'd say less than half. $15 for whoever is interested and I'd PM the code once I get it. I'd even be willing to create a PSN account for whoever and link your Steam account to it if you don't have a PS3 and no friends who own one.

Nebagram

05-01-2011, 06:42 PM

Just finished it for the fourth time today. Easily the best game of the year so far, and in all likelihood the best writing in any videogame, anywhere, ever. Ellen McLain and Stephen Merchant are perfect in their roles. I've seen early Wheatley footage when it wasn't Merchant and it just seems... wrong. His Bristol twang really makes the character come alive.

And the final action you take to defeat the end boss is, in all likelihood, the most awesome way any end boss has ever been beaten. This is seriously as close to gaming Nirvana the industry has come in the last fifteen years.

WCP

05-01-2011, 10:11 PM

Did anybody out there hold onto their receipts? Shouldn't you be able to get price matched at this new low price? I mean... has it even been 30 days since release? That's why it's best to buy your games at Target, because Target has a 90 day return policy. I just buy the game at Target, set aside the receipt in a safe place, and then in that 90 day period, watch the prices. If I find it super cheap somewhere, just buy it there, and take the brand new copy back with your Target receipt. If Target has it at that price, I don't think you need to even worry about buying a new, just get an adjustment.

Or buy it at Costco, even better.

NayusDante

05-04-2011, 08:18 AM

I played it through again yesterday, this time on my computer. It felt a little easier with proper controls, but this is still the first game that I think really works well as a console shooter. I don't know if it's my computer (power supply is failing, GPU certainly is being underpowered), but I get "load stutter" with some dialog and cutscenes. PS3 was a lot smoother. Also, the conversion gel lags my system like crazy, while on the PS3 I could tell frames were being skipped. Regardless, the game looks nice cranked up to maximum AA and AF on 1080p.

I'm a little sad that the ending is pre-rendered. I would love to look at everything in the editor to get a better look at some of the areas.

I played Portal through last night, and I'm surprised at how different Portal 2 is. Portal feels like an extension of the Half-Life universe, especially with the recycled HL2 assets. Portal 2 really steps away from that and solidifies the visual style that Portal started.

Trumpman

05-10-2011, 04:31 PM

Beat the game yesterday. One of the greatest games of all time, for sure. It is so rare that a game combines an intelligently clever game mechanic with excellent level design. It is even more rare that such a game has some of the best voice acting in any game, ever. Wheatley was absolutely hilarious. Can't wait to play through for the developer commentary and achievements.

I've played half the co-op as well; it maybe even better than the single player.

NayusDante

05-19-2011, 10:47 PM

Has anyone figured out if the number in the credits is significant? It's a ten-digit number, which makes me wonder if we're supposed to dial in to a BBS or something. It's 267 100 2456.

PapaStu

05-20-2011, 02:22 AM

Has anyone figured out if the number in the credits is significant? It's a ten-digit number, which makes me wonder if we're supposed to dial in to a BBS or something. It's 267 100 2456.

Google search brings this thread up as #1 hit. Good luck w/ that. 267 is a Pennsylvania area code. Give em a call and see what happens

c0ldb33r

05-20-2011, 06:35 AM

I called. "this call cannot be completed as dialed. Please check the number and dial again. "

Cornelius

05-21-2011, 12:05 PM

This game is so fantastic. I have perma-grin on whenever I'm playing. Just got to the first several blue gel tests. Good times.

Nz17

05-25-2011, 04:13 PM

Portal 2 -mysteries- and Easter eggs:

1) The above mentioned ten digit number, 267-100-2456.

2) JoCo's song "Still Alive" being credited in Portal 2's end credits. I played through the single player and cooperative modes and I don't remember hearing the song anywhere. Subtle background music at some point?

3) The painting which must be stared at in the beginning of the game changes between the first and second time you can look at it. The first time it is a day painting with a house and a landscape, the second time it is in a dilapidated condition but the painting itself has changed to a night scene with the moon. Foreshadowing?

4) The environmental wallpaper in the "hotel room" has a small man at the bottom, next to the dresser drawer. Symbolism of the massive environment which Chell has to traverse?

gamedude45

05-25-2011, 04:43 PM

Portal 2 -mysteries- and Easter eggs:
2) JoCo's song "Still Alive" being credited in Portal 2's end credits. I played through the single player and cooperative modes and I don't remember hearing the song anywhere. Subtle background music at some point?

I don't know about the rest of the stuff on your list but in test chamber 6? there's a radio that comes out with some other "garbage" from the tube were the weighted cube is supposed to be and it's playing Still Alive just like the radios in the original.

Ok I hate to ask this but can someone please help me out with this game online? I'm two trophies away from the plat I need Professor Portal and Friends List with Benefits. so if you haven't played co-op yet or have a back up psn account that you'd be whiling to use to help me out shot me a pm I'd appreciate it. also if you need help getting some of the co-op trophies I'd be more than willing to help. thanks!

P.S. if asking something like this is against some forum rule that I don't know about I'll edit it out.

Nophix

05-25-2011, 08:26 PM

I just got the game today, and threw it in after work.

My god, is this game warped!! I thought the first one was twisted!

The environment and level design are nothing short of brilliant, and the voice acting is some of the best I've heard in a game.

LaughingMAN.S9

12-17-2011, 07:38 PM

i finally picked up portal 2 yesterday and just beat it 15 minutes ago....lol jesus christ HOW did this game NOT win goty?!

i loveeeeeeee this shittttt! one of the funniest games i've ever played

how does portal 1 on the orange box stack up? is it still worth getting if all i really want to play is just portal 1 and maybe team fortress assuming its still relatively alive?