An amazing experience
Portal 2 expands and improves on its predecessor in almost every way, by moving away from the clinical looking test chambers of the original to more organic looking enviroments, the game is fare more varied and always seems to have a new exciting enviroment awaiting.
While the 2004 vintage Source engine lets its age show in some blurry textures here and there, the fantastic visual design and above all the amazing care in the animation elevates the visual experience above what might be expected of the engine. Valve's fantastic feel for the weight and mechanical properties of it's assets, which are exemplified most noticeably in the rebuilding of GladOS and the turret construction sequence are small works of industrial art in their own right.
Valve has not been inclined to tamper with the basic two portal based gameplay, and the game is all the more enjoyable for it, however the gameplay is kept fresh throughout with the inclusion of several new objects for you to manipulate, yet always with the basic crate on button and portal making as a basis.
The story is also far more present, while it was kept in the background for most of the first game, here it is front and center from the very start. Fantastic new characters are introduced, and the fantastic voice acting shows a timing and delivery that is without equal in the game industry at present, an appearance by prolific voice actor Nolan North towards the game's ending is especially memorable.
Portal 2 is a full length single player experience and is rewarding and enjoyable all the way trough, it would have been a great game with just the pure gameplay, but the storytelling, visuals and audio elevates the experience to a truly remarkable game.
