Get your Portal guns ready people, Valve's Portal 2 released yesterday. Is it better than the original? Lets find out. Don't worry either, no spoliers ahead. Don't forget about the Midweek Madness sale either!

Gaming News starts now.

 
 Portal 2:

 
God lord how the time passes so fast. Just 4 years ago we were amazed by what Valve did with the orginal Portal. Up to that point I don't think there was ever a first person puzzle game. To say that they blew us away would be an understatement. From the voice of GLaDoS to the nature of the puzzles that were thrown our way, Valve made a whole new genre of game. This time things really haven't changed. Sure, there are still levels that you need to complete and obsticles that need to be conquered but in whole its much of the same game with some new mechanics thrown in. Don't worry, it's not a bad thing at all. In fact, I think its what every gamer out there wanted.

The look and feel of the game has changed. The Enrichment Center is now falling apart. And this is very prevalant in the game. Panels aren't were they are supposed to be. Tiles are missing on the floor. Grass and weeds are coming through the cracks. It looks old and rusted to a point. The gravity works just the same as in the first game. You go in one portal you come out the other. If you are falling you gain speed as you pass through them. There are new items to deal with also but I don't want to spoil them. Lets just say that they make the game more interesting.

The Source Engine is back to work in Portal 2. This is the most versitile engine in all of gaming. The Unreal Engine does come close but this is so old and it still looks wonderful. Kinda weird how Valve can get it so right and others get it so wrong. Like other Valve titles this isn't going to smash you computer. Even on low end hardware you are going to have a great experience. I am playing on the main rig and its pulling 200fps with everything on High and a resolution of 5980x1080. It's also good to see that Portal 2 didn't give me any complaints when I set it to that resolution. Some games will do some crazy things. Like, move desktop shortcuts around and move windows to different monitors. Not many people have three monitors but for those of us that do you won't have to jump through hoops to make it work.

Other things to notice in Portal 2 is the sound. The voice over work is some of the best in video games. GLaDOS is a trip just like in the first game. There is more to say on this front but I think it would be a bit of a spolier so i'll leave it alone. The ambient sound in the game is also great. It's not so much a Jeopardy music but it does make you think better without becoming annoying.

Without a doubt there is so much to do, see and hear in Portal 2 that it's going to take a couple of play throughs just to see it all. If you are even thinking about buying it, do it. You will not be dissapointed. Its very hard for me to laugh out loud at video games but I can already remember a couple of times of doing so. This is where Valve really shines. In making games that draw their audience in and keep them entertained througout the game. Portal 2 is great in small bites. That is the way that I played the first and how i'm doing the second. Take it one chamber at a time.

Either way you do it, by all means, enjoy your playthrough. I will talk about it more in coming weeks after more of our community has played it.  

Midweek Madness: Grotesque Tactics: Evil Heroes

 

Already bought Portal 2 and have an extra $5.00 laying around? Pick up this week's Midweek Madness game. Get your Strategy, RPG and Indie nerd on. Remember all Midweek Madness game sales end at 7pm EST on Thursdays.

LanOC V8.0:

I would like to thank the entire LanOC community for a great LAN. I hope everyone had as much fun as I did. Thanks again for everyone coming out. Look for a picture post this coming week. The staff is working hard at getting some videos and pictures up. We took some great shots! Thanks again everyone and we'll see you at LanOC V9.0

Well i'm gonna get back to playing Portal 2. I still haven't finished it yet. In the meantime, have fun with whatever your doing this week. Wingless is OUT!!!