I’ve just finished Valve‘s Portal, and I’ve got to say wow. This was on my radar to pick up and look at (I mentioned it a while ago), but it has exceeded my expectations and then some. The trailer shows off some of the core mechanics, but its the way that they are chained together on later levels is breathtaking (the first 16 of the 18 levels are basically a tutorial, the last one is far longer but the whole game is only 3 hours long). I’ve been flitting between this and Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass, and while the puzzles in Zelda make me exclaim “Aha! Great puzzle” and perhaps pat myself on the head, some of the ingenuity paraded by Portal makes me want to hold some sort of festival in Trafalgar square, with me on a big throne and pictures of the game’s designers on huge spinning billboards. Its that good.

And its not good in a “this is the best game I’ve ever played way”. Its good in a “look what a beautiful thing a small, dedicated and ferociously creative team can make way”. Its original, charming, funny, and has introduced mechanics we’re going to be seeing in games for years to come, no doubt. Time to open up the Hammer level editor and make some puzzles!

If you have a PC, buy the Orange Box (this plus 4 other AAA games) now from Steam. RIGHT NOW! If you have a 360 buy it tomorrow. Damn it, this collection of 5 games is simply unmissable.