Getting from A to B soon requires stops at C, D and E.

Developer Valve’s, most notable for Half-Life 2 and Counter Strike, newly-released “Portal” is an interesting puzzle game.

The objective of the game is relatively straightforward: Get from point A to B. Set in the Aperture Center, the player is a newly awakened test subject.

The player uses a portal gun to make two separate portals that are linked together. This allows the player to enter and exit from either one. Simple enough to start off with, but as the levels progress farther the player will come across more and more obstacles. Getting from A to B soon requires stops at C, D and E.

Any movement carried through the portal will be carried over upon exiting the portal or as the AI likes to put it, "Portals conserve momentum. In layman's terms, speedy thing goes in, speedy thing comes out."

There’s something unnerving about the robotic female AI that instructs the player through the levels. She typically speaks of how certain levels may cause bodily harm to the player. The dark humor adds to the feeling that all is not what it seems.

At first it is an amazing feeling to have a portal gun at the player’s disposal. Sadly, this quickly begins to fade once the player becomes aware that they are pretty much a guinea pig.

Slowly, the game reveals slight clues that place it within the Half-Life universe.

An original concept, properly developed, makes for an addictive gaming experience. Each level is unique in how the player might use the portal gun.

Two additional modes are available upon completion of the game. A challenge mode, which tests the player with how quickly and efficiently they can complete a level, and an advance mode with more obstacles and hazards added to the more challenging levels.

If there is anything to draw criticism to, it’s the overall brevity of the experience. With only 19 levels, it can take a player around two to three hours to complete the game if they are adaptive to logic solving and reasoning.

“Portal” is one of those games that is easy to jump into, easy to pick up, and quite easy to become addicted to. It can be purchased separately, or it comes bundled with the “Orange Box” which includes, “Half-Life 2,” “Episodes One and Two,” and “Team Fortress 2.” Casual gamers don’t have to be into the Half-Life universe in order to enjoy this game. The design of the game has a very fresh feel that hasn’t been seen in a puzzle game to date and certainly raises the bar.

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