Portal 2

Game review by Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media
Portal 2 Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 10+

Inventive and enjoyable spatial puzzler with mild violence.

Mac, PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360 2011
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Parents say

age 8+

Based on 33 reviews

Kids say

age 9+

Based on 218 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

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.

Community Reviews

Firprophet08
Firprophet08 Adult
June 20, 2020
age 9+

Great game!... Except for two small things

don't get me wrong on this it is a amazing game and i enjoyed it so much! 1. There are certain parts of the game which can be scary for example there is one easter egg where if you find this secret room you hear creepy cackles and... thats it just that. there are plenty of things like this if you look hard enough but if your kids can handle this type of stuff i think they will be fine. but if they are sensitive i would recommend sitting next to them while they play or just play it yourself first. 2. there is minor language such as one use of bastard which is muttered and about three or four uses of bloody and a couple of what the hell's also one scene they used flipping for comedy purposes this is what he says "well if she see's me and about 2,000 flipping dead corpses i'm toast she will fry my circuits so please keep quite about this" but overall its a great game with a good message about using your brain instead of just killing everything in site i would recommend this game for ages 9 and up!

This title has:

Great messages
Easy to play/use
1 person found this helpful.
Christina B.
Christina B. Adult
October 15, 2020
age 10+

My favorite game ever!!

The story for this is phenomenal. The plot twist especially makes the story more epic and a lot more fun and motivating to play through. Excellent puzzle platformer that really gets you thinking about physics and techniques to solving puzzles. It's also what makes playing Co-Op so fun. GLaDOS is the best video-game antagonist with hilariously snarky dialogue which makes me fangirl over her. No other video-game villain has made me laugh this hard. There are a few mild language instances, particularly in the last half of the story mode. The worst it gets is h-ll and d-mn. There's also slight blood that can be visible on the floor and walls after you get shot by turrets, but it's not disturbing enough to terrorize my young child-like mind.

This title has:

Great messages
Easy to play/use
See all 33 parent reviews

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: E10+ for Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
  • Last updated: August 30, 2016

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