Cake for Two

Game: Portal 2

System: PC, Xbox 360, PS3


Release: April 2011

Portal 2, and the original, brings thinking to the first person shooter. A puzzle game at heart that succeeds where others have failed--I'm looking at you Mirror's Edge. The run n' gun formula is set aside, but Valve keeps the Half-Life universe. Players are given a portal gun. It fires two connected way-points that are used to solve various puzzles and eventually escape your prison aka Aperture Laboratories.

Portal 1 was a quick side project that was tossed out to the masses. A two hour jog through a series of test chambers guided by a sadistically  sarcastic AI named GLaDOS. It was an excellent experience that I highly recommend. The game is currently free on Steam and was apart of the Orange Box package on Xbox 360.

The sequel expands the lore and offers a co-op experience like no other. The campaign continues the story of the human Chell--destroyer of GLaDOS. She awakes to Wheatly the robot ball instructing her not to die. He wants to replace the rebooted GLaDOS, and does so with the help of Chell. Of course Wheatly is a dumb-ass and betrays you. Thrown into a vent you and GLaDOS--now hooked up to a potato--discover the original Aperture Laboratories.

J.K. Simmons--aka awesome actor--plays Cave Johnson the founder of all this crazy shit. His recorded instructions lead you through the old school facility with some hilarity. Eventually you return to Wheatly, kick his ass via lunar shenanigans, and return GLaDOS to her former self. Ya ya nerd purest. I left some details out. Can't spoil everything after all.

Gameplay is enhanced with goo. Specifically goo that increases your speed, is bouncy, or smears surfaces white for portal usage. There is also gravity tread mills and light bridges that can act like shields. Add to this the portal gun, and you have a fantastic variety of puzzle based entertainment.

Not impressed? Well how about co-op! That's right. P-body and Atlas are on the case. They do GLaDOS's biding, solve puzzles, and annoy said GLaDOS with human mannerisms. To enjoy this feature I highly recommend starting with a rookie from the get go. Nothing worse then being dragged through a game by someone who's been there before.

Portal 2 is an excellent game. All signs point to Full Price! Yet I'm hesitant to recommend such a purchase. Yes free DLC is on the way, but the puzzles loose their entertainment value quickly. Already knowing the answer to the test hinders the joy found in the journey. Snerts Snazzy Score is On Sale!

Detect This!

Game: L.A. Noire

System: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

Release: May 2011

Rockstar's claim to fame is the Grand Theft Auto series. It generated the buzz and the bucks that transforms a studio into something legendary. Recently the developer has stepped out from their safety bubble with hits like Red Dead Redemption and more recently L.A. Noire. Fans have gone from the wild west to the wild--geez that's fucked up--streets of post WWII Los Angeles.

L.A. Noire is a unique game. Do not expect the typical experience, but anticipate Rockstar's uncanny ability to tell a good story. Some gameplay features are of the cut and paste variety. Players will run, gun,  drive, and take cover. The meat of the game, however, lies in its interrogation system.

Colen Phelps (fans of Mad Men will recognize the actor Aaron Station) spends most of his time gathering clues and interviewing P.O.I's (people of interest). During questioning the player often has to decide if a character is lying, in doubt, or telling the truth. To illustrate their intent Rockstar has developed a fantastic motion capture system that portrays the actors expressions vividly. Liars will dart their eyes back and forth. If they're a pro, then their tell will be more subtle like the biting of a lip. It's an effective original system that is both fun and challenging.

Too bad the same can' t be said for finding clues. Ever play Zelda: Ocarina of Time? Of course you have. Recall the groundbreaking rumble pack? Why wouldn't you? Remember the feature where secrets would make said rumble pack do its thing? Uh, maybe? If the answer is yes, then you have already experienced the clue discovery system of L.A. Noire. Walk around the crime scene and wait for that sweet sweet vibration. Then if you aren't too tuckered out press the A button (or X for those PS3 chaps) and move the analog stick around and around. Volia you have just found a clue.

Rockstar also provides the typical open world filler. There are secret cars and landmarks to discover, and random acts of violence that must be stopped. After all street crime must be kept to a minimal. Some of the crime scenarios and secret cars are fun. They weren't, however, worth going out of your way for.

I can really appreciate Rockstar's first attempt at the detective thriller. The writing and acting were solid. The game was fun and original. I really enjoyed the combination of run & gun with interrogation. I'd also be lying if I didn't mention my appreciation for the setting and attention to detail. Snerts Snazzy Score is On Sale! Find the game on the cheap so you can afford the DLC content. I'm personally jealous of anyone who's gone through Refer Madness.