NicholasBuck

Simply put, Portal 2 is a fantastic game. Making Portal look like the simple tech-demo it was, Portal 2 adds to the game's universe a much more rich and in-depth story, and a multitude of new in-game elements that I thoroughly enjoyed. The story is one the most well written I've ever seen in a game. The plot twists and character developments kept me entertained the whole way through, and the ending of the game was mind blowing. The new characters like Wheatley and Cave Johnson were very well written, masterfully voice-acted, and had hilarious dialogue. The new puzzle elements were a huge improvement. Replacing high-energy pellets with lasers, and adding configurable panels, aerial-faith plates, excursion funnels, and hard-light bridges was a great choice, shifting the game focus from avoiding hazards and timing movements properly, to figuring out the puzzle. i was skeptical about the new paints in the game, but just one puzzle with them I realized how well they fit into the game. Graphically, while Portal too makes some improvements to it's original engine, it's not exactly breathtaking. No Valve games are. However, the design of the levels and virtual destruction of the old test chambers seemed very well built. Some may complain that the game is too short, being only about 5 to 10 hours, depending on how long you take to solve each puzzle, and how much of the game you stop to look at. But I found that the game seemed to be the exact right length, as I felt that if it were any longer, I would get tired of solving puzzles. The co-op aspect is truly a great experience. It's only real downfall is that playing with a complete stranger, or with someone at a different point in the co-op campaign can get tiring. Other than that, I thought that the co-op was a very fun experience. Overall, I though Portal 2 was a great game. The story was fantastic, and the new gameplay elements were very engaging. If your looking for a game exactly like the original, with little story and simple, time and hazard based puzzles, than Portal 2 might disappoint you. However, If you are at all interested in the story, solving test chambers with a friend, or a just plain fun experience, I would absolutely recommend Portal 2.

Graphically, From Dust is absolutely mind blowing. The realism of the physics when interacting with water, sand, and lava really add to the immersive experience. Gameplay-wise, it plays well for the most part. The controls are simple, easy to get acquainted with, and very unique. The game increases in difficulty quickly, but once you complete a stage, you can go back to it and play with the level like a sandbox. There are a million ways to solve each stage, so no two playthroughs are alike. Being both a tense battle with nature, and a relaxing god-game, I felt From Dust to be worth much more than I paid for it. I recommend this game to anyone who enjoys physics-based games, or sandbox god-games. Not for someone who want's an action-packed thrill ride.