The game consists primarily of a series of puzzles that must be solved by
teleporting the player's character and other simple objects using the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device (dubbed the "Portal Gun", "ASHPD" or "Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device"), a unit that can create an inter-spatial
portal between flat planes. The player character is challenged by an
AI named "GLaDOS" to complete each puzzle in the "Aperture Science Computer-Aided Enrichment Center" using the Portal Gun with the promise of receiving
cake when all the puzzles are completed.
Portal has been acclaimed as one of the most original games in 2007 despite being comparatively short in length. The game has received praise for its unique gameplay and darkly humorous story (created with the assistance of
Erik Wolpaw and Chet Faliszek of "
Old Man Murray" fame), the character of GLaDOS (voiced by
Ellen McLain), and the final credits song, "Still Alive" (written by
Jonathan Coulton for the game). The game's popularity has led to official merchandise from Valve (incuding plush Companion Cubes) as well as fan creations (such as recreations of the cake) using elements of the game.
It has been praised for its unique gameplay and
dark,
deadpan humor.
[53] Eurogamer cited that "the way the game progresses from being a simple set of perfunctory tasks to a full-on part of the Half-Life story is absolute genius",
[54] while
GameSpy noted that "What
Portal lacks in length, it more than makes up for in exhilaration."
[55] The game has been criticized for sparse environments, and both criticized and praised for its short length.
[56]
Aggregate reviews for the stand-alone PC version of
Portal gave the game an average rating of 90% based on 20 reviews through
Game Rankings,
[51] and 90% through 21 reviews on
Metacritic.
[50] Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw, a reviewer known for his acerbic criticisms, stated in his
Zero Punctuation series that he "can't think of any criticism for it," also noting that this had never happened and will never happen again.
[57]
The game also generated a fan-following for the Weighted Companion Cube
[58]—while the cube itself does not talk or act in the game, fans have created
plush,
[59] papercraft for the cube and the various turrets,
[60] PC
case mods[61] and models of the Portal
cake[62][63] versions of the "character". Jeep Barnett, a programmer for
Portal, noted that players have told Valve that they had found it more emotional to incinerate the Weighted Companion Cube than to harm one of the "Little Sisters" from
BioShock.
[31] Both GLaDOS and the Weighted Companion Cube were nominated for the "Best New Character Award" on G4; with GLaDOS winning the award for having "lines that will be quoted by gamers for years to come."
[64] The phrase "the cake is a lie" has also become an Internet
meme[65][66] and has been the basis for unofficial
Portal merchandise such as t-shirts.
[67]
Portal has won several awards since its release:
- At the 2008 Game Developers Choice Awards, Portal won "Game of the Year", along with the "Innovation Award" and "Best Game Design".[73]
- IGN.com honored Portal with several awards, for "Best Puzzle Game" for PC[74] and Xbox 360,[75] "Most Innovative Design" for PC,[76] and "Best End Credit Song" (for "Still Alive") for Xbox 360,[77] along with overall honors for "Best Puzzle Game"[78] and "Most Innovative Design".[79]
- In its "Best of 2007" GameSpot honored The Orange Box with 4 awards in recognition of Portal, giving out honors for "Best Puzzle Game",[80] "Best New Character(s)" (for GLaDOS),[81] "Funniest Game",[82] and "Best Original Game Mechanic" (for the Portal Gun).[83]
- Portal was awarded "Game of the Year (PC)", "Best Narrative (PC)", and "Best Innovation (PC and console)" honors by 1UP.com in its 2007 editorial awards.[84]
- GamePro honored the game for "Most Memorable Villain" (for GLaDOS) in its Editors' Choice 2007 Awards.[85]
- Portal was awarded the "Game of the Year" award in 2007 by Joystiq,[86] Good Game,[87] and Shacknews.[88]
- The "Most Original Game" award by X-Play.[89]
- In Official Xbox Magazine's 2007 Game of the Year Awards, Portal won "Best New Character" (for GLaDOS), "Best Original Song" (for "Still Alive"), and "Innovation of the Year".[90]
- In GameSpy's 2007 Game of the Year awards, Portal was recognized for "Best Puzzle Game",[91] "Best Character" (for GLaDOS), and "Best Sidekick" (for the Weighted Companion Cube).[91]
- A.V. Club called it the "Best Game of 2007".[92]
- The webcomic Penny Arcade awarded Portal "Best Soundtrack", "Best Writing", and "Best New Game Mechanic" in their satirical 2007 "We're Right" awards.[93]
- Eurogamer gave Portal first place in its Top 50 Games of 2007 rankings.[94]
Too many games and too few picks. 
