Borrowed the game from a friend and started it late last night and I'm on Chapter 8 already. The part where you're underground and have to use the gels - is it just me or is it insanely tedious?I feel like a lot of the strategy from the original game gave way to more annoying puzzles this time around, or just more boring tasks over and over. Like they use the same trick a lot and while the story is keeping me going I feel like if the story wasn't as strong the game would suffer terribly from boredom.
What I love about this game is mainly GlaDOS, or w/e. She's a freakin brilliant character and most of what kept me playing for so long last night.

Anyway does anyone else feel me on this? I think so far I'm actually liking the original game more, but the ending of P2 could change that for me.

I think it it is a felling that you have and not many others. I thought the puzzles were just fine.

This game was better than the original in every way possible (excluding the lack of challenge maps). Could have been slightly more challenging, but can't really hold that against it.

Nope, I didn't have this feeling at all. I loved the puzzles.

" Borrowed the game from a friend and started it late last night and I'm on Chapter 8 already. The part where you're underground and have to use the gels - is it just me or is it insanely tedious?I feel like a lot of the strategy from the original game gave way to more annoying puzzles this time around, or just more boring tasks over and over. Like they use the same trick a lot and while the story is keeping me going I feel like if the story wasn't as strong the game would suffer terribly from boredom. What I love about this game is mainly GlaDOS, or w/e. She's a freakin brilliant character and most of what kept me playing for so long last night. Anyway does anyone else feel me on this? I think so far I'm actually liking the original game more, but the ending of P2 could change that for me. "

I kinda felt the same, something missing from the puzzles 

The only problem I had with Portal 2's puzzles is that large percentage require momentum. I enjoyed solving most of them though.

not at all.. they felt diverse enough for me to enjoy each one

That 2nd arc where you're playing at old school Aperture with the Goo is actually my favourite part of the whole game. Mechanically, I think Portal 2 trumps over Portal 1 in every possible aspect with the exception of no challenge levels like someone said above.

" @xyzygy said:

" Borrowed the game from a friend and started it late last night and I'm on Chapter 8 already. The part where you're underground and have to use the gels - is it just me or is it insanely tedious?I feel like a lot of the strategy from the original game gave way to more annoying puzzles this time around, or just more boring tasks over and over. Like they use the same trick a lot and while the story is keeping me going I feel like if the story wasn't as strong the game would suffer terribly from boredom. What I love about this game is mainly GlaDOS, or w/e. She's a freakin brilliant character and most of what kept me playing for so long last night. Anyway does anyone else feel me on this? I think so far I'm actually liking the original game more, but the ending of P2 could change that for me. "

Honestly, if you take out the parts I've bolded you could be describing the first game. Could you be a little more specific? What about the gels feels tedious? And I'm not sure what you're referring to by "strategy from the original game".

I liked both Portal 1 and 2 BTW.

"

Portal 2 is amazing, but like Super Mario Galaxy 2, it didn't wow me like the original.

Use more skill. The pacing is fine when you're not getting stuck on puzzles. Maybe excersize that part of your brain more.

No problem with it. Loved it. Only thing that felt a bit weird was the turret opera.

I don't feel that way at all. I enjoyed the hell out of every single puzzle in the game, and I found them to have just the right amount of challenge for my feeble mind. The only downsides I can think of are that there aren't any challenge maps and there are far too many co-op achievements/trophies. Other than that.. Loved it every part of the way.

I do agree that the game's pace lagged around Chapter 8. Could have used a bit more trimming around the edges.

I liked those parts quite a lot since it was the first time I really had to think to solve the puzzle. Before that it felt like business as usual even with the energy bridges. Good stuff.

I played the game in one sitting so I admit I was a little burned out by the end. But that's my own fault. I thought the puzzles were pretty great across the board.

While it's still a great game overall, I thought the pacing was pretty bad at times as well. You feel too disconnected from the main events when going through the Cave Johnson levels, and even though he's a fun character, it felt like a sideshow forced into the spotlight. After a while the puzzles stopped being fun and just felt like obstacles blocking me from the far more interesting story.

It's a hard balancing act. The original made it feel great because you went in with zero expectation, not even realizing that there was story, as it slowly ramped up, getting better and better. Naturally, that's a trick they couldn't pull for the sequel and while the writing is still sharp, the arc is too drawn out.

was the pacing bad because most of us were RUSHIN TO DA FINISH TO LISTEN TO SPOILERCAST or was it just plain bad?

I feel you exactly. When that british robot took over and you went underground, it was just so annoying having to spend long periods of time trying to figure out what to do, and the atmosphere was kind of unpleasant. 

So I just beat the game and here are my thoughts about the pacing. I'm just gonna break the game up into the story sections, based on where I started liking it and not liking it:

Just beat it last night, I have to say I didn't feel that way at all. I was thoroughly impressed by both the puzzles and the story. The ending was so so awesome. Words cannot express how brilliant it was.

" @xyzygy: You and me, we understand each other. "

The white gel didn't add anything in terms of complexity or fun, those parts dragged the most for me. The blue and orange gel were neat and consistent with the momentum puzzles though.

I totally disagree. If anything, I felt that way about the puzzles in the original.

" I do agree that the game's pace lagged around Chapter 8. Could have used a bit more trimming around the edges. "

" was the pacing bad because most of us were RUSHIN TO DA FINISH TO LISTEN TO SPOILERCAST or was it just plain bad?

"