We knew that original Portal lead and new creative head at Airtight Games, Kim Swift, would be debuting her latest project at PAX Prime. However, those who won't be in attendance at the show can have themselves a little sneak peak at her latest first-person puzzler, Quantum Conundrum, courtesy of GameSpot.

The new title certainly seems to draw a bit of influence from Swift's Portal days, albeit with a new, original art style and an all-new tool: a glove that allows you to shift into multiple different dimensions to solve puzzles contained in each level. The game puts you in the role of a youngster sent off to spend some time with their crazy inventor uncle, Professor Fitz Quadwrangle. Unsurprisingly, your visit is interrupted by something going terribly wrong, and you're forced to navigate his labyrinthine mansion using the glove and its dimension-shifting capabilities.

GameSpot's preview showcases about seven minutes of video as well, narrated by none other than Swift herself. She shows off a couple of different puzzles, as well as the first dimensional shift you receive, a fluffy, pink dimension that makes all objects in the area 10 times lighter. The preview also mentions other dimensions, such as a slow-motion dimension that cuts back the pace of time, and a reverse gravity dimension, which, naturally, reverses gravity. There will be four different dimensions in all, and as the levels progress in difficulty, you'll have to use various combinations of them in increasingly harried fashion to succeed.

While the game's basic similarities to Portal are pretty obvious from the video (which I've gone to the trouble of embedding for you below), the multitude of mechanics and Swift's general talent for creating challenging, if not overly labyrinthine puzzles can't help but inspire a bit of excitement for this latest title. Square-Enix will be publishing it for PC, Xbox Live Arcade, and the PlayStation Network sometime in early 2012. With any luck, one of our dudes will be able to check it out on the PAX show floor and report back accordingly. And now that I've said that out loud, they pretty much don't have a choice but to do so, since I've now raised all of your expectations. You're welcome, everyone.

We knew that original Portal lead and new creative head at Airtight Games, Kim Swift, would be debuting her latest project at PAX Prime. However, those who won't be in attendance at the show can have themselves a little sneak peak at her latest first-person puzzler, Quantum Conundrum, courtesy of GameSpot.

The new title certainly seems to draw a bit of influence from Swift's Portal days, albeit with a new, original art style and an all-new tool: a glove that allows you to shift into multiple different dimensions to solve puzzles contained in each level. The game puts you in the role of a youngster sent off to spend some time with their crazy inventor uncle, Professor Fitz Quadwrangle. Unsurprisingly, your visit is interrupted by something going terribly wrong, and you're forced to navigate his labyrinthine mansion using the glove and its dimension-shifting capabilities.

GameSpot's preview showcases about seven minutes of video as well, narrated by none other than Swift herself. She shows off a couple of different puzzles, as well as the first dimensional shift you receive, a fluffy, pink dimension that makes all objects in the area 10 times lighter. The preview also mentions other dimensions, such as a slow-motion dimension that cuts back the pace of time, and a reverse gravity dimension, which, naturally, reverses gravity. There will be four different dimensions in all, and as the levels progress in difficulty, you'll have to use various combinations of them in increasingly harried fashion to succeed.

While the game's basic similarities to Portal are pretty obvious from the video (which I've gone to the trouble of embedding for you below), the multitude of mechanics and Swift's general talent for creating challenging, if not overly labyrinthine puzzles can't help but inspire a bit of excitement for this latest title. Square-Enix will be publishing it for PC, Xbox Live Arcade, and the PlayStation Network sometime in early 2012. With any luck, one of our dudes will be able to check it out on the PAX show floor and report back accordingly. And now that I've said that out loud, they pretty much don't have a choice but to do so, since I've now raised all of your expectations. You're welcome, everyone.

My expectations have been lowered actually.

Oooh.

That looks pretty neat. I like the art direction. And it looks like they are playing on the PC :)

Could be good. Hoping there is a cool story to back up the puzzles.

a gamespot linked video on giantbomb?? someone somewhere is gonna cause all sorts of hell (and/or conspiracy theories) about this

I guess first person puzzle games with test chambers are her thing.

@RTSlord said:

a gamespot linked video on giantbomb?? someone somewhere is gonna cause all sorts of hell (and/or conspiracy theories) about this

(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

Interesting game, but she's not a very good presenter.

@RTSlord said:

a gamespot linked video on giantbomb?? someone somewhere is gonna cause all sorts of hell (and/or conspiracy theories) about this

(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

Not really excited for this.

Physics puzzles, hrm.

Seems neat. Definitely some weird contrivances for the gameplay.

@gpbmike said:

@RTSlord said:

a gamespot linked video on giantbomb?? someone somewhere is gonna cause all sorts of hell (and/or conspiracy theories) about this

(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

Perfect.

Ooooh.

Looks really cool actually. Could get crazy complex.

I'm looking forward to this. Also, it reminded me of Despicable Me.

@gpbmike said:

@RTSlord said:

a gamespot linked video on giantbomb?? someone somewhere is gonna cause all sorts of hell (and/or conspiracy theories) about this

(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

That is mad impressive

a gamespot linked video on giantbomb?? someone somewhere is gonna cause all sorts of hell (and/or conspiracy theories) about this

Looks awesome.

Badass. Hope it's on Steam! 

I'm assuming she means that the safe maintains its speed, not momentum. Come to think of it, I think Glados makes a similar mistake in the original portal...

I really like this, the whole different dimensions thing can make room to some pretty interesting puzzles. And I love puzzles ^^

I'm getting some Psychonauts vibes. The difference in the portrait from "regular" to "fluffy" when she changed dimensions reminiscent of when you'd look through other campers and see the world in their perspective.

Seems awesome.

Fist time I re-visited Gamespot after tuning into Giant Bomb (circa 2008). It was worth it. Quantum Conundrum looks freaktastically great and I can't wait to get my hands on yet another first person puzzle game!

Wow, she is nervous as all hell.  Soo... um... well... oh.
 
Game looks like it could be fun, though. I like how the art style is almost Saturday morning cartoon-ish.

GAAAME DEMO!

looks nice! gonna buy this :)

I don't know, I still need more convincing.

Looks like Portal without the portals.

Will there be a companion safe or companion sofa in this game? :D

The art style is neat but they should have gotten someone else to narrate. Also, too much Portal. If science is the only thing she can do then I can't say much about Airtight's future projects.

"Premises of the game is that you this/the kid...." No thanks.

Wait what? I thought this was supposed to be announced at PAX.

Maybe i'm alone on this one.  It looks cool, but I am no way impressed or interested in actually playing that game.  It looks cool the ideas are interesting, but 
 
 it does not look fun to play. 
 
portal was portals and walking, and this seems like moving boxes and walking.....except with some high precision parts which look frustrating as hell if they aren't tested properly..I'm cautiously optimistic.

She go aheads.

@MEZwaan said:

Will there be a companion safe or companion sofa in this game? :D

I can support this.

Maaan you're short. 
Also Gamespot videos take forever to buffer >:|

This looks hella Portal. 
 
Seems alright. The art style lends itself to giving a little character to the game. But really, it's so very Portal...

Why is there an image with a gamespot watermark on it on the front page?

Definitely digging the art style and concept. Look forward to seeing more info get out of PAX hopefully.

Why did you leave Valve?! This could of been a perfect companion piece to Portal!

It was funny when the painting on the wall changed.

This game has the vibe of like-- an educational kids game, which I don't think is really anyone's favourite genre :/

I can see some potentially really awesome puzzles in this game, looks really interesting. I'll keep an eye on this.

Am I the only one freaked out by the crosshairs being not in the center of the screen? (They look like they're to the left of center)