As long as we’re on the topic of video games and such, I thought I’d post about one game that I’m definitely looking forward to: Portal 2.
If you haven’t played the first installment, well… you should. I played it a while back when Steam came to the Mac, and Valve released it as a free promotion. It turned out to be one of the most engaging, innovative games I’ve ever played. It’s basically a single-player platformer consisting of a series of puzzles that must be solved by teleporting the player’s character and simple objects using the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device (ASHPD, aka “the portal gun”). Simply put, you create portals wherever you want, and transport around a completely 3D environment. At first it can be a bit confusing, as you have to start thinking in terms of multiple dimensions (for example, walk through a wall and fall out of the ceiling… sounds cool, right?). The concept itself is mind-boggling, but Valve has done a great job at creating extremely intuitive gameplay. With its intelligent wit and humorously dark storyline, Portal definitely left me wanting more. The next installment is scheduled for an April 19th release date (on PC/Mac/PS3/Xbox360), so be sure to check it out!
