 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Portal 2
- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows, Mac
- Price: $59.99 ($49.99 for PC, Mac)
- Genre: Puzzle
Common Sense Media says
Inventive and enjoyable spatial puzzler with mild violence.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Portal 2 is a first-person action game but not a violent shooter. The gameplay is built around environmental puzzles -- how to get from point A to point B while avoiding C. Players have to figure out where to shoot portals, how to jump through them, and at what velocity and angle. There is some animated violence against enemy robots, and the player's character could get hurt by guns, turrets, and other objects, but the focus is on puzzle solving. Parents should note that cooperative play supports open voice communication, a feature that Common Sense Media does not recommend for pre-teen players.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn how to solve problems through observation, deduction, and hypothesis testing in this innovative puzzle game set in a three-dimensional world. Players solve a broad range of physics-based brainteasers that combine real-world laws -- such as gravity -- with novel science-fiction ideas such as teleportation. Problems generally have specific solutions, but players are allowed to arrive at them through an organic process of investigation and prediction. Kids use their understanding of the physical world to figure out solutions to physics-based conundrums.
Subjects
- Arts
- Hobbies
- Language & Reading
- Mathestimation, geometry, measurement
- Sciencegravity, momentum, motion
- Social Studies
Skills
- Collaborationcooperation, meeting challenges together, teamwork
- Communication
- Creativitybrainstorming, developing novel solutions, imagination
- Emotional Development
- Health & Fitness
- Responsibility & Ethics
- Self-Direction
- Tech Skills
- Thinking & Reasoningdeduction, hypothesis-testing, solving puzzles
What's it about?
Portal 2 continues the story of Chell, the silent female protagonist from the original 2007 cult classic Portal. After being asleep for many years, she's awakened by a robot companion, Wheatley (voiced by Stephen Merchant of The Office and Extras fame). This floating orb -- dubbed a “personality sphere” (you'll meet others, too) -- humorously explains that you have brain damage. Still, it needs your help to find the portal gun, rescue other test subjects, and rebuild the dilapidated facility. However, GLaDOS (pronounced "Gladys"), the intelligent but malevolent computer system from the first game, is accidentally revived along the way, and it isn’t thrilled you're awake. This highly enjoyable tale with well-written dialogue offers a few twists, new characters, and more backstory for fans of the franchise.
Is it any good?
If you liked Portal -- the relatively short experiment bundled with Valve's Half-Life 2: The Orange Box -- then you'll love Portal 2. As with the first game, players navigate dangerous environments using a portal gun, which shoots two connected time-space portals through which you (and objects) can travel. Momentum is maintained; therefore, you'll need to assess each situation differently -- often with a "trial and error" approach. You'll use these portals to redirect energy tractor beams, test your skills on "faith plates" that propel you through the air, and experiment with surface gels (such as a repulsion gel that allows Chell to jump from platform to platform). You'll also use special cubes, air currents, and other items to stay alive and unravel more of the story.
Once you finish the single-player game you can tackle a co-op mode with an online friend, which features a new story, characters, and maps. Truly, Portal 2 is a highly enjoyable first-person puzzler with a healthy dose of humor and sci-fi to keep you glued to the screen for many hours on end.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about online play. How do you protect yourself while playing online? What should you do if you think you have encountered an online predator?
Families can also discuss puzzle solving. What can you learn from solving puzzles in games? Do you think solving puzzles in games can better prepare you for problems encountered in the real world?
What kids can learn
Kids can learn how to solve problems through observation, deduction, and hypothesis testing in this innovative puzzle game set in a three-dimensional world. Players solve a broad range of physics-based brainteasers that combine real-world laws -- such as gravity -- with novel science-fiction ideas such as teleportation. Problems generally have specific solutions, but players are allowed to arrive at them through an organic process of investigation and prediction. Kids use their understanding of the physical world to figure out solutions to physics-based conundrums.
Subjects
- Arts:
- Hobbies:
- Language & Reading:
- Math: estimation, geometry, measurement
- Science: gravity, momentum, motion
- Social Studies:
Skills
- Collaboration: cooperation, meeting challenges together, teamwork
- Communication:
- Creativity: brainstorming, developing novel solutions, imagination
- Emotional Development:
- Health & Fitness:
- Responsibility & Ethics:
- Self-Direction:
- Tech Skills:
- Thinking & Reasoning: deduction, hypothesis-testing, solving puzzles
How kids will learn
Kids encounter scores of cleverly designed physics-based puzzles, which use a consistent, growing set of rules that allow players to make logical deductions and educated guesses as to the outcomes of certain actions. For example, players quickly learn that their momentum carries with them as they step through one of the game's portals. If they fall through a portal from a great height, they'll exit the other side of the portal with great speed –- perhaps enough speed to send them flying over a gap they need to cross.
How parents can help
- Ask kids if they've learned anything from the game's puzzles that can be applied to the real world. How closely do the game's physics mirror our own?
- Encourage kids to see if they can find more than one solution to any of the game’s carefully constructed conundrums.
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- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace!
This is a must-buy for any puzzle and comedy fans. The puzzles are hard but not hard enough to let you give up. The comedy is the best I have seen in ANY game AND movie. Each chapter I played I had to get off the computer and I had literally had to force myself to stop laughing. This game also states that even if you're adopted that you can be the best at what you do. The bad guys *spoiler* even learns a lesson that with great power comes great responsibility *end spoiler*. One thing is the language the world 'bloody' are commonly used. 'O my god' can also be heard multiple times. D*mn is used 2 times and 'hell' about 3 times. Also GLaDOS in the beginning insults you heavily. Another part is where GLaDOS screams. But you can hear she has pain. It was so bad it send shivers down my spine. But aside from that is i FANTASTIC.
BEST VALVE GAME EVER. A must-buy.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 28, 2011
AGE
Very Fun & Challenging
This is a Very Fun and Brain Teasing Game which is fun for all ages. Can be a Bit Tricky for Under 7 but besides from that should be a E no Violence maybe uses words like 'Hell' but nothing they wouldn't hear anywhere else.
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Kid, 11 years old
May 15, 2011
AGE
Perfect for Tweens and teens.
Good for tweens, But watch that 4 year old christmas boy for that language
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Kid, 12 years old
May 16, 2011
AGE
Perfect game for tweens in need of something new
This game is amazing. Each character is developed and expressive, and even if they're robots, they have more personality than many human characters in other games. The puzzles are challenging but never frustrating, and you have as long as you need to complete them without any interruptions (although to keep him in-character, Wheatley will make impaitient remarks from time to time during his tests. These are purely for comedy and don't add any pressure at all). The ending blew me away. Never before have I felt such a mix of satisfaction and sadness.
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AGE
Messages: 3/5- There’s a lot of talk of killing in this game. Both main characters attempt to kill you throughout the game and talk about it in violent ways. But by the end, things change, and you work together.
Violence: 2/5- You can get mashed by “mashy spike plates,” killed by poison gas, and shot by automatic turrets.
Sex: 0/5- Nothing.
Language: 1/5- Mild language, such as d-mn and h-ll, throughout.
Overall: Portal 2 is one of the greatest games ever made. It has a great story, amazing dialogue and fantastically crafted characters. It has a slightly disturbing and creepy atmosphere, and the ambient music perfects this. The game has an increasingly interesting and strange story, until the breathtaking, epic finale. After the 10-12 hour single player game is over, you can continue the story with co-op mode. Portal 2 is unbelievably good. Ages 11 and up should be ok, because of the mild language, creepy atmosphere and mild violence. (and sheer epicness) :D
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Kid, 12 years old
May 16, 2011
AGE
Really Good!
Very good game.
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AGE
Much more appropriate than other VALVe titles.
Given a lot of of VALVe titles are M, this is much different.
Your only real concern is the launguage. And while it is VERY MILD, it would be a slight concern if you have younger kids.
You may have noticed I picked "Good role models". Why I say this is because both Robot characters show regret thier threatening behaviour (GLaDOS realises that she should have done the easy option of letting you go, and wheatley wishes he could "Say Sorry" to Chell.). The exception are the turrets, although in one cutscene, they don't shoot you.
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AGE
A great game. Can be frustrating for young ones, though.
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Kid, 12 years old
May 12, 2011
AGE
Best game ever!
Better than ever Chell is stong. The puzzles are great.
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AGE
GREAT GAME!!!
If you liked portal 1 you will love portal 2 Its everything the old one had except better and longer.this game is great game.
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