Have I lied to you? I mean, in this room?
The gameplay complements the aesthetic style in its simplicity. You take charge of a silent protagonist wielding a portal gun which, when fired, creates portals which allow you to traverse the various stages unhindered by the laws of physics. Your very simple task is to successfully complete a number of increasingly devious, physics-based puzzles, avoiding turrets, reaching seemingly out of reach locations and shifting various items.
One of the game's main draws however lies not with its gameplay, nor with its wonderful visual style, but with its writing. Keeping with the minimalist approach, it features only two characters - one of whom never speaks. The other takes the form of artificial intelligence unit, GlaDOS. It would be easy to list the numerous nuggets of gold you'll hear GlaDOS reel off throughout the game, however to do so would spoil one of its key selling points. Needless to say, GlaDOS makes stellar company as you complete the various puzzles and challenges, issuing line after line of dry, sarcastic, unadulterated genius.
Where Portal arguably falls down is in the age old category of bang for your buck. If, as gamer, you find your money best spent on the title which will provide you with the longest experience, you may perhaps wish to look elsewhere. Portal is a short game, weighing in at just a couple of hours' enjoyment. Once finished, there's also limited replay value, given the game's wonderful, unique experience naturally loses its shine once you've seen and heard it all before.
Its inherent value lies with the sheer quality on offer however. While it may not last as long as standard retail releases, Portal is an experience which will most certainly stick with you in much more profound a manner as any blockbuster, big-budget release. It's the very definition of a must-play title, and an instant classic to be fondly remembered for years to come.
To conclude, Portal is easily recommendable, worthy of both your time and money. Indeed, the cake is a lie.