Free Portal?

[tuftears]

I pre-ordered Portal 2, but it came with a free copy of Portal, which I already have. Is there anyone out there who'd like it? (you must have Steam)

Comments

[jordangreywolf.livejournal.com]

Whee! Portal was awesome. I've had a little bit of fun with some nonsense running a patch that let me play Half-Life 2 segments with the Portal gun, but it was (not surprisingly) buggy as all get out.

I look forward to Portal 2 ... but, goodness, I have so many other games I need to get through first! (I have Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2, and haven't even started the games yet. Plus, there's Halo Reach, which Digital_Rampage got for me. And I've hardly gotten very far at all through Rock Band 3. And then, I really ought to figure out how to properly set up a character in the Gloaming....)

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Well, are shooters really your thing? If not, then maybe don't try to force it? I more look for games with great story, and since Portal did well in that respect (the official 'you're being tested' is actually only half the game), I'm hopeful for P2.

[jordangreywolf.livejournal.com]

I like first-person games. I like exploring 3D environments, similar to how when I play tabletop games I am enthusiast about scenery and miniatures, and how in online RPGs I often get interested in drawing player icons or character portraits or even the occasional scene to commemorate the game (if I have the time). I'm big on visuals as part of my imaginary experience, and especially new landscapes and habitats.

I really enjoyed Myst 3D even though I'd already played through Myst (and I was wowed by the snowfall effect in the new area added for that version). I get a lot more game play out of Half-Life, Bio-Shock, and the like because my objective isn't to blast through, kill the aliens and rush to the ending. I like to spend some time poking around an area, looking into every nook, enjoying the ambient effects, etc. But then, I'm also the sort of person who kind of enjoyed sitting around on WoW fishing and chatting with random folks (even though said chatting occasionally resulted in me missing clicking on that bobber in time - oops!).

Shooters most often are the sort of game to give me that opportunity; I just have to clear out the area first before I can enjoy the scenery. (I hate games with endlessly respawning baddies, however. That detracted from my enjoyment of System Shock 2 and Bioshock. I cleared this area; now I want the freedom to WASTE TIME in it without these constant interruptions! Grr! ;) )

Portal was cool, but the scenery variety was limited (very claustrophobic, limited palette), and the most interesting visual area didn't give me an opportunity to look around freely (because something is trying to KILL ME, and if I defeat it, we go to cut scene). It looks as if Portal 2 is going to have a little more variety in "cool stuff to look at and walk around," judging from what few bits I've seen; I'm hoping, anyway.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

I see what you mean. };) Games with great settings. I'd guess American McGee's Alice would be an example of such a game then. Though I didn't play it!

As for Portal, well, you can save the game so you could always spend a few minutes just looking around, then reload. >_>

[jordangreywolf.livejournal.com]

American McGee's Alice: Exactly. It's not FPS (my preference, so there isn't a character blocking my view of the surroundings), but I LOVE the environment.

Portal: I have PLENTY of opportunities to look around. The problem with Portal (the original) is that there's not all that much to look at. There are points in the game where there ARE details to look at (especially when things "go off the rails"), but for the most part it recycles a lot of the same elements.

There were technical reasons for this; the team did a lot with very little in the way of resources. I ADMIRE what they did with their limitations, and I adore Portal ... but it's not the first to come to mind as a "cool place to explore." I like it, but not for the same reason that I enjoy most of the video games I consider my favorites.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Well, thought you were talking about the last fight in Portal - did you beat the game then, or have not yet done it?

Half the game gets spent in the test environment, but the other half gets spent 'behind the walls' as it were, so if you haven't gotten there, it gets better!

[jordangreywolf.livejournal.com]

The last fight in Portal takes place in an interesting environment. However, there is a time limit, a lot of running around trying to not be killed, and once the enemy is defeated, the game is over. It is not an ideal circumstance in which to stop and enjoy the textures.

Yes, I have beaten the game. No, I am not changing my opinion.

[jordangreywolf.livejournal.com]

Related to my notes above, I think that's one reason why I haven't been really big on getting far in Halo Reach or Left 4 Dead. Left 4 Dead is supposed to be big on the "Director" adjusting the threat level (I think this might be one where zombies keep respawning to keep me moving on; I'm not sure - I guess I'd need to re-install and actually play to find out for sure). I get the feeling that Halo Reach is pushing me to keep moving through a lot of the game; there's a mission to do, after all. I'm not some lone survivor only accountable to myself and hence fully justified in wasting some time sightseeing. ;)