Portal Stories: Mel

1. Stawarski

   Sep 23, 2017

   10

   At least as good as the original game. Mooders did great job and I would certainly pay for this mod even 10$ but they generously decided toAt least as good as the original game. Mooders did great job and I would certainly pay for this mod even 10$ but they generously decided to make it free for everyone.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
2. spencerplewe

   Mar 12, 2020

   10

   If you got Portal 2 on PC/Steam, GET THIS IMMEDIATELY! I discovered this after it went through various updates and improvements, and in theIf you got Portal 2 on PC/Steam, GET THIS IMMEDIATELY! I discovered this after it went through various updates and improvements, and in the version I saw, it just wows me straight up and down! This is one fan mod that freaking blows my mind with its new story, new characters, new puzzles, and sheer compatibility with Valve's official canon!… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
4. MyHoused

   Dec 28, 2016

   9

   First came to this gamer thinking about an alternative story in the overgrown Aperture. What I discovered is that it' s even more than that.First came to this gamer thinking about an alternative story in the overgrown Aperture. What I discovered is that it' s even more than that.
   
   ---The Story and Plot---
   The game not only creates a great story, but also puts in it a scrapped character. Only 5 characters appear in the whole game, but they still are able to make their best with their personalities. You see things from a little guy that really wants to help you (differently from Wheatley) to an aggressive and scary supercomputer and security system.
   
   ---Playability---
   Almost same as Portal 2, quite friendly, but not 100% equal. The levels, even the first one, are very hard and are only for the pro players. This and other games like Shovel Knight prove that gaming without difficulty is nothing. If you thought that Portal 2 was too easy, play Portal Stories: Mel
   
   ---Final Evaluation---
   9.25/10… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
5. MrSnow32

   Dec 31, 2022

   8

   Overall: 7.7/10
   Recommended: yes
   Time to complete story+extras: 10.5 hrs (Med-Fast play speed, Advanced difficulty, 27/28 achievements,Overall: 7.7/10
   Recommended: yes
   Time to complete story+extras: 10.5 hrs
   (Med-Fast play speed, Advanced difficulty, 27/28 achievements, used guide for non-Story achievements)
   Time to 100%: 10.75 hrs
   (added replay of Chapter 5 on Story difficulty, 28/28 achievements)
   Controller compatible: only partially (for some reason) - I remapped the missing Portal 2 standard KB&M controls to gamepad in Steam (uploaded my config for others to use)
   
   Gameplay: 8/10
   Story: 7.5/10
   Characters: 7.3/10
   Graphics: 7.3/10
   Audio: 7.5/10
   Settings/UI: 7.5/10
   
   Score comparison:
   HLtB: 8.1/10 (147 votes)
   Metacritic: 8.4/10 (39)
   Steam: 96% positive (19,230)… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
6. mainzmom

   Jul 26, 2020

   7

   A nice addition to the portal games. Brings interesting additions to the lore with a few new gameplay mechanics and a good story. Right afterA nice addition to the portal games. Brings interesting additions to the lore with a few new gameplay mechanics and a good story. Right after the introduction passage of the game you are thrown right into puzzle solving and the story gets kind of forgotten. For an indie dlc the puzzles are great, but doing puzzles over and over again for 8 hours gets very boring. Which sucks because if there were more story passages in between the gameplay the great ending couldve had a good buildup.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
7. The8Bit

   Feb 22, 2023

   7

   Loved it so much that I played the game for a day with no breaks and now have permanent eye injuries.

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
8. kman5473

   Feb 5, 2017

   3

   I completely appreciate the effort that was put into this game, but for me it will always feel "less-than".
   
   Though I like that the moddersI completely appreciate the effort that was put into this game, but for me it will always feel "less-than".
   
   Though I like that the modders of this game chose to set the story to when Aperture was in it's golden age, they really did a bad job of setting themselves up to be critiqued in this light. Modders: you don't have JK Simmons to perform your script as Cave Johnson--that is acceptable and understandable. HOWEVER the script they wrote for his character is so clumsily written. What I mean is, the dialogue feels completely unnatural. If you're trying to allude to the face that Cave Johnson is lying, you only need one line that establishes an obvious cover-up. Repeatedly saying OVER, AND OVER, "Here in my 1950's computer, in my 1950's folder, because it's the 1950's," is insulting to your player. I would argue that even as talented of an actor as JK Simmons would have a hard time performing the dialogue and actually making it sound good and natural. It's just super awkward.
   
   My second big criticism is with the opening. We ride a train car for so long that even the dialogue of Cave Johnson's greetings ends before we reach the station platform. Then! It is only to walk to an elevator that we ride for a very, very long time. And to cap it all off: this loooooong ride on the elevator and train is TO BE PUT IN A CRYOGENIC SLEEP. This is the such a slow-paced beginning, that by the time I got to the part where I actually get to, oh you know, PLAY I was done. You lost me. I didn't care anymore.
   
   Either set something relevant up to the user during these long opening sequences, or just skip to the character waking up from a cryogenic sleep. Instead of referencing Half-Life/Half-Life 2, just go right to the Portal throwback. I'm not even sure if I'm going to keep this in my library anymore.… Expand

   • 1 of 5 users found this helpful

See all 18 User Reviews