More Portal, Please

Portal, while a fantastic game, is guilty of committing one of video games’ greater taboos: it left players wanting more. Not due to how mind-blowing the experience was, but because it was too short. Sure, you could play through it again and again. But after the 80^th time, redundancy sets in.
 
Chasing yourself in the corner loses its fascination. Euthanizing your Weighted Companion Cube may grow to become second nature. And dealing with GLaDOS may become no more irritating than working with Vista. All that once captivated, seemingly loses momentum.

That is, unless you know where to look. And no, it’s not next to the cake.

We Create Stuff, as tribute, created Portal: The Flash Version. (Catchy, huh?) Everything you love from Portal is miraculously flattened into what I can only refer to as an impressive 2-D flash game. Released just prior to Portal, the only thing missing is GLaDOS’s malevolent words of discouragement. The objective however, remains essentially the same: get from point A to point B by navigating each level using your Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device to its fullest extent. Oh, and don’t die.

If the 2-D version wasn’t enough, We Create Stuff was kind enough to convert the entire flash version into a 3-D expansion pack for the PC version of Portal. Effectively adding over three hours of gameplay, it’s ideal for those who want more levels, but don’t want to take advantage of the level designer. Whether it’s due to laziness, the desire for instant gratification, or just sucking at designing levels.

PC owners can further rejoice knowing that not only is the expansion available now, but that it is also completely free. Xbox 360 owners can expect to see it later this fall as Portal: Still Alive, though “free” will no longer be a descriptor. As for PS3 owners; sorry, but an expansion has yet to verified (though Valve has announced “something” Portal). Until then, feel free to seek comfort from your friend, the Weighted Companion Cube. He’s all heart.

Portal 2 is no lie, but expect some time before we see a release for what can already be assumed as a highly anticipated title. In the meantime, there are still plenty of other portals in need of opening to help keep redundancy from setting in and your spatial navigation skills well-honed. Unless you prefer to just sit around and wait for some delicious cake…