Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inventive and enjoyable spatial puzzler with mild violence.
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Why Age 10+?
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Portal 2
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 39 parent reviews
Based on 220 kid reviews
Kids say this game is an incredible puzzle experience suitable for ages 8 and up, featuring fun characters like GLaDOS and Wheatley and offering engaging gameplay without any blood, only mild language and dark humor. The co-op mode is particularly praised for promoting teamwork, making it an excellent choice for players looking to challenge their problem-solving skills in a creative atmosphere.
- fun gameplay
- mild language
- teamwork emphasis
- appropriate age
- dark humor
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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.
Talk to Your Kids 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?
Game Details
- Platforms : Mac , PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
- Subjects : Math : estimation , geometry , measurement , Science : gravity , momentum , motion
- Skills : Creativity : brainstorming , developing novel solutions , imagination , Collaboration : cooperation , meeting challenges together , teamwork , Thinking & Reasoning : deduction , hypothesis-testing , solving puzzles
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Valve
- Release date : April 19, 2011
- Genre : Puzzle
- Topics : STEM
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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