Portal 2 isn't a case of "more is better." It's a case of "better is better."
Portal 2 puts you back in the maniacally designed labyrinth of Aperture Science. After the events of the first Portal, test subject Chell wakes up in the same creepily isolated test chambers as in the last game. However, she makes a new companion in Wheatley, a scatter-brained computer core who proves to be much more trouble than he's worth. But things take a serious turn once mad artificial intelligence GLaDOS makes her triumphant return. The game can't be discussed any further without spoiling, but rest assured that the entire storyline is deeper this time around. Trust is tossed about like a rag doll; you never know what will happen next in Portal 2. From the humble beginning to the harrowing ending, Portal 2's single-player campaign takes the franchise to new levels beyond anything Valve has ever created before.
The Portal series' signature mechanic of generating portals to pass through remains unchanged. You still shoot out individual portals using the triggers. You still can use them to cross gaps and manipulate pathways. You can still use different environmental elements like momentum for long or high jumps. To be fair, not too much has changed in the world of Portal 2. The core mechanics remain consistent. While this may seem like a re-hash, Portal 2 still sneaks in a few enticing new ideas to keep the gameplay from getting stale. Different-colored gels offer trampoline-style jumping or frictionless dashing, depending on the color, and there are many moments when you really need to think out a puzzle before making a move. The setup factor is still a big part of the Portal formula; figuring out a puzzle is one thing, but getting each environmental entity in place is another story. Portal 2 doesn't change that dramatically. Very few elements in Portal 2 feel like revolutionary brain-busters to introduce. To anyone who thought Portal's core mechanics were a bit too simple, Portal 2 will feel less like a step forward and more like a step to the side.
What Valve has done is make the game's pacing less about chamber after chamber. Instead, they've decided to heighten the tension a little and add just enough dynamic elements to keep the game from feeling too straightforward. The actual puzzles branch out from the archetypal white rooms and into the guts of Portal 2's true essence. Once the first major twist in the story occurs, the entire game becomes less about solving a puzzle and moving on to the next room and more about really examining the environment and using it to a distinct advantage. Portal 2 merges the intricacies of the test chambers and the creativity in getting to know Aperture Science's heart. Valve breaks up the tests with some stellar design. The puzzles in Portal 2, simply put, are perfect. Valve has nailed that challenge level without missing a beat; it's just hard enough to keep you playing while also keeping you from frustration. The sense of reward after completing a puzzle in Portal 2 never comes with the "oh, that was a fluke," moment. Tackling the puzzles in Portal 2 holds a refined, but inviting sense of accomplishment, something that everything piece of game design should have. Portal 2 hits the nail on the head and hits it hard.
The first Portal was an experimental piece of software to many, tagging alongside Half-Life 2 and Team Fortress 2 in Valve's Orange Box. Portal 2 expands the Portal formula considerably, but it still is a bit short compared to other games in its class. If there's one thing that Portal 2 just doesn't have is longevity in its single-player campaign. The game is unforgettable, to be sure, but having more to not forget is something that will linger for many gamers. Fortunately, unlockable challenge rooms are present and offer some serious brain-teasers for starved puzzle hounds. Even better is a very well established cooperative campaign. Portal 2's co-op modes are brilliantly original and take full advantage of the portal gameplay in ways that only a cooperative mode could. It doesn't feel tacked on; it feels right. If you're a single-player-focused gamer, Portal 2 could use a bit more meat on its bones. Still, while the ride is a bit brief, it's one hell of a ride that should be played by any gamer.
Portal 2's graphic design strikes a phenomenal balance between old and new. The white-paneled rooms will immediately harken back to the days of the original Portal, but just when you think things are going to settle down, a brand new aesthetic bursts onto the scene. The disarray seen in the aged Aperture Science background labs is a stark contrast to the world of the first Portal and witnessing how the facility became what it is turns out to run just as deep aesthetically as it does story-wise. The only way the voice acting can be described is flawless. Stephen Merchant's role as the new drone Wheatley is performed with such polish that you'll want to replay Portal 2 again just to hear his nervous stuttering. Aperture Science mogul Cave Johnson is performed pristinely by J.K. Simmons, but recurring voice actress Ellen McLain returns for an even greater performance as the one and only GLaDOS. After stepping through Aperture Science again, it's easy to see how much refinement and creativity that Valve put into Portal 2. With a one-two punch of graphic diversity and an unforgettable voice performance from its cast, Portal 2 is able to make a name for itself without relying on past tropes too much.
Portal 2 isn't a case of "more is better." It's a case of "better is better." The nuances and additions are meaningful, but aren't the core of why Portal 2 tops its predecessor. Instead, it's the pacing and the urge to know more that makes Portal 2's design so fluid and creative. The design of Aperture Science's rugged interior will make you fervently continue, even when the gameplay begins to lean towards frustration. Whether you play single-player or cooperatively with a friend, the portal mechanics still have plenty of life in them, and Valve knows it. The puzzles are stellar, pristine, and never tip the scale in terms of challenge. Portal 2's story isn't the icing on the cake. It could very well be its own cake. The new and old characters all make contributions to Portal 2's narrative in amazing ways and you will not forget the ending. Ever. Portal 2 manages to make very few changes to its core mechanics and still feel shiny and new. Valve's creative franchise continues to mature, but Portal 2 has all of the right moves to make it one of the most memorable puzzle games released this generation. Unless you have a distinct hatred for cake (you fiend), Portal 2 deserves a reserved spot in your game library.