Originally Posted Apr 20, 2011 3:13 pm
Valve has experienced massive backlash from consumers for their release of Portal 2. Metacritic has been flooded with PC gamers giving irate reviews of the game. But let’s address their complaints, shall we?
“4 hours of gameplay”
The original portal was short, and pitch perfect in its brevity. Portal 2 offers a longer single player campaign, in addition to a 5 hour co-op campaign. Without any replaying (and I will be replaying with friends) the game sits around 10 hours. Pretty much every triple A title (outside of JRPGs) shoot for 10 hours.
“Little innovation”
It’s a puzzle game. The original had one real “new” mechanic; launching portals. This game now includes gels that cause bouncing a speed momentum. To say that they don’t innovate is patently false. Co-op presents and entirely different set of puzzles mandating the use of 4 portals. That’s far more innovation than pretty much any AAA shooter sequel does.
“Console Port”
Portal 2 was released simultaneously on PC, Xbox 3, PS3. PC gamers are always quick to cry foul when that happens especially if they feel that graphics aren’t capable of exceeding their hardware. The real reason Portal 2 may not be on the cutting edge graphically is the engine. The Source engine is starting to show its age, but it manages to give a clean, colorful, and competent presentation, impressive for an engine that has been relevant for over 10 years.
“$80 day one DLC”
I for one, am not a fan of day one DLC, especially if its locked on the disc. But let’s look at what this store is selling: hats, skins, and gestures for your Portal 2 co-op robots. That’s. About. It. This is what you’re whining about? That they are selling sparklies? I won’t dignify this complaint further.
“ARG was a ruse to steal our money and did nothing to release the game early”
This criticism bothers me more than anything. Why? BECAUSE IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GAME. Valve decided to promote some indie games with marketing for Portal 2, and included portal content in each of these games. For the efforts of the masses, the game was unlocked on the PC 9-10 hours early. Valve never promised it would be released days ahead of schedule. Valve gave indie developers a chance to raise more money and allow them to continue being the innovation that drives the industry forward. Bashing this move in a game review smacks of a basic lack of basic professionalism since it in no way interferes with the game proper.
Valve has always been one of the most generous developers, going above and beyond what others would offer in terms of content, both in-game and DLC, and they are constantly striving to innovate. The biggest criticism leveled against them is that they perpetually work at their own schedule and refuse to rush out a game. Whining about their attempts to generate innovative ways to market their games while promoting indie developers further reinforces the stereotype that we are petulant children, and prevents our pastime from getting the respect it deserves in the world.
Let's have some cuteness to conteract all the bile
There we go.
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