Portal: Still Alive

A flawless two hours of fun, made all the better by the extra challenge stages. [Jan 2009, p.102]

I can’t imagine the emptiness your life has been up to this point without having experienced the joys of the Companion Cube or the awesome song over the end credits. Portal: Still Alive is your chance to set your life right.

Part of what makes the main Portal experience so successful is that the game draws you in quickly, subtly creates a believable world with every new room and then begins to slowly draw back the curtain. Much like a fine malt liquor, Portal sneaks up on you.

At the end of the day, as I've said many times before, this is an amazing game.

Clever humor that'll have you chuckling for months. [Dec 2008, p.93]

It's easily the best puzzle game to come along in quite some time and arguably up there with some of the best we've seen within the world of videogames. [Issue#38, p.114]

Portal remains an absolutely fantastic game, a wonderfully constructed vignette of puzzles and gallows humour that everybody should play.

The simple ideas are often the best, and Portal, quite simply, is one of the best ideas for a game we've ever seen. It's fantastically realised, brilliantly executed, and had me wrapped around its computerised finger for two-and-a-half unforgettable hours. This is gaming in its purest form.

The graphics look terrific, and the GLaDOS computer system has plenty of insane banter. You owe it to yourself to check this out, even if you beat the original.

Those yet to play Portal, this is the perfect opportunity to play possibly one of the sweetest games ever.

Portal's blend of first-person, action, and puzzle elements marked by wry psychology and facetious dialogue make for a one-of-a-kind experience. Bolster this package with Still Alive's 14 new, more difficult levels and this is a game that shouldn't be missed.

If you've never played Portal before all you need to know is that it's a must buy, plain and simple. Quit reading right now and download it.

For only 1200 Microsoft Points you will get one of the best, most original and humoristic puzzle games ever to be constructed. But keep in mind that the game takes a big chunck out of your hard drive and that The Orange Box is also available for a very decent price. Nevertheless, Portal: Still Alive is an absolute must-buy for anyone that hasn't played the game on the PC.

The only downside is that GlaDOS has no new speaking parts, making the challenge levels feel lifeless. [Dec 2008, p.56]

Simple, addictive and brilliantly executed. One of the best puzzle games we've seen in a long time.

GlaDOS is back in this XBLA game. Last year's greatest puzzle game is back with all of its basic features, but it adds 14 more chambers to extend the gameplay; they are more difficult than the story mode, but both together form an incredible title, an almost compulsory download for those who haven't played the game yet.

Portal: Still Alive adds some sugar to the hugely successful recipe, but it's not enough to entice veterans back for a second serving.

So are you a diehard nut who can’t get enough Portal action? Then you’ll probably already own this one. And if you’re new to the whole thing, Still Alive is easy to recommend. But everyone else in between, you may be better off saving your pennies for the inevitable Portal 2.

None of this package is new, which is why we've deducted a point. Still Alive is a pricey luxury for Portal fans. But hey, if you've never played it before, feel free to slap that point back on and enjoy one of gaming's tastiest treats from the last few years.