18
June
"Portal 2" brings puzzle platforming to new heights
A ustin C ummins
After being awakened
from cryostasis you re
enter the now dilapidated
Aperture Science Facility.
Through a series of
events you accidently
revive a twisted Artificial
Intelligence and are forced
to participate in testing a
strange device. In order
to survive and hopefully
escape you will need to
think in new ways; you'll
need to think with portals.
In the sequel to Valve’s
critically acclaimed "Portal"
which was released (more
or less) as an experiment
on the Orange Box.
"Portal 2" builds on
the precursor's award
winning game play with
new features and an
added storyline to create
an excellent sequel that
doesn't disappoint.
As a stand-alone, "Portal
2" has a more in-depth
storyline than the prequel.
"Portal 2" begins with the
player controlling Chell
(the main character from
"Portal 1"), as she is being
woken up from cryo-stasis
some time after the events
of "Portal 1." You soon
come across a personality
core (basically a mobile
Artificial Intelligence)
named Wheatley, who
tries to assist the player
in escaping the facility
but instead accidently
re-activates GLaDOS (an
!
>
artificial intelligence that is
obsessed with testing). She
then puts you back into the
testing facility, where you
have to finish a new series
to shoot two different
portals (one orange and
one blue) which can be
traveled between to cross
long distances or obstacles
of puzzles.
The main event that
"Portal 2" revolves around
is the Aperture Science
Handheld Portal Device
(or Portal Gun). The
Portal Gun has the ability
that would be otherwise
impassable. Besides simply
traversing between the
two portals, they can be
used for more complicated
puzzles, such as falling
from a high ledge into
a portal on the floor at
high speed, to exit from a
second portal on a nearby
wall and fly across a wide
gap in the floor.
Besides using the
Portal Gun, "Portal 2"
has several new features
including: Lasers (which
must be redirected using
special blocks or portals),
Excursion Funnels (funnels
of light that let the player
ignore gravity and travel
in whatever direction the
light is going), different
kinds of paint-like gel
which can speed up the
player or make surfaces
bounce, and several other
new features vyhifh really
add to the postal shooting
experience without taking
away from wl|at rr\ade the
first game great.
One of the best new
features of "Portal 2" is
the Cooperative Testing
Initiative (Co-6p mode),
where two players must
work together to solve
more complex puzzles.
Instead of taking control
of the human test subject
Chell, the two players
control two different
testing robots (Dubbed
Atlas and P-body). This
mode does a really great
job of making both players
participate equally,
needing both players to
cooperate with each other
to solve difficult puzzles
and move on to the next
room. While not as in
depth as single player, the
Co-op mode also features
a storyline with the same
dark humor that made
both single player and
"Portal" great.
There are only a few
gripes that I had with this
game. The first would be
the obvious increase in
the number of loading
screens between levels.
Unlike "Portal" which had
a loading screen maybe
once every three stages or
so, "Portal 2" had a loading
screen almost every time
you finished a stage.
Also, some of the more
challenging game play
elements in "Portal" were
not included in "Portal 2",
which was disappointing.
The last complaint is about
the purchasable accessories
for your co-op robot, such
as different hats, antenna
flags and a variety of paint
jobs to make your character
stand out from the rest.
While some of the content
is free with purchase of the
game, most of the content
must be purchased with
real money.
Despite these few
problems, I think that
"Portal 2" is a great game,
and would definitely
recommend it to anyone. I
give "Portal 2" a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Portal 2" is Rated T
and is available on PC,
Xbox and PS3 for $39.99 at
Gamestop (among other
video game stores).
Boys'Tennis Team find success for doubles teams at Districts
Is is ' Teams_________
" .
continued from page 16
"Going to State feels good
because not a lot of kids get
to go," Tsuruta said. He and
To were the fifth seeded team
at State
Tsuruta and To went
to Districts as first seeds
and were expected to
move onto State with little
4
!
V-
•
afe»»»
difficulty. The two stepped
up to expectations, winning
Districts without dropping a
single set.
The doubles team that
exceeded all expectations
was the tandem of Wiard and
Rattle. They were not seeded
going into Districts but
defeated the fifth and second
seeds to come in second at
Districts. Ward Lewis, Boys'
Tennis coach, describes
Wiard's and Rattle's success
as a "Cinderella story".
Competitors who did not
go onto State but had success
at Districts were Jonathan
Macemon, junior and Craig
Wright, sophomore as well
as Anthony To, junior. These
competitors came within one
Dwight «und M eredith
Dear Dwight and Meredith,
I am a freshman and
I've never been on a date
or had a boyfriend. I'm not
bad looking or weirdly
obsessed with manga like
some people, but a lot of my
friends have had boyfriends
and say it's weird that I
haven't had one. Even my
mom agrees! I really want
one, but how?
Sincerely,
Freshman Alone
Dear Freshman Alone,
The best way to start
relationships is through
friendships. Try to branch
out your friend group and
meet more people. Not only
will it help you to find a
potential boyfriend, but it
will also help your social
life. Remember, it is not your
fault that you have not had
a boyfriend, and it is not
necessary to have a boyfriend
to be happy. Enjoy life, and if
you meet someone who you
like and seems to like you,
just go with it.
Sincerely,
Dwight and Meredith
Dear Dwight and Meredith,
I recently moved to West
Linn a year or two ago. I
have made many friends,
but no real, super, amazing
friends with whom I have
a connection. I know you
would say to join clubs or
play sports but I'm doing
match of qualifying for State
play. Others who performed
strongly at Districts were
Andrew Brown and Kabir
Samra, seniors, who won
the consolation bracket in
the doubles category. These
competitors came within one
match of qualifying for State
ptey.
West Linn was undefeated
with a 14-0 record throughout
the season and also went
undefeated in the Three
Rivers League with a 12-0
record. West Linn has at least
had a share of the league
championship for three
consecutive years. Lewis
attributes the team's success
this season to the incredible
depth of the team.
MISSINfi ROMFTHINfì IM YOI IR I IFF?
that and still haven't found
anyone. I just want someone
who I can talk to without
being judged. How do I get a
best friend?
Sincerely,
Needing a Good Friend
Dear Needing a Good Friend,
It is good that you are
being proactive about
participating in activities
that will enable you to meet
more people. Do not be
discouraged, high school
is a great time for making
friends. There are plenty of
very good people out there.
The best thing that you
can do is to find a group of
people that have common
interests with you and see if
you connect. Be very open to
new people, and eventually,
you will have a great group
of friends.
Sincerely,
Dwight and Meredith
Dear Dwight and Meredith,
Living in West Linn, I have
trouble branching out from
the norm. There is nothing
to do in this town, and I
find that every weekend I
am stuck doing the same
monotonous routine. I want
to spice up my life, but I'm
not sure how. What should
Ido?
Sincerely,
Bored in the Linn
Dear Bored in the Linn,
A good way to spice
up your life is mixing up
your routine. Trying to do
something different every
weekend can be a great
way to ease your boredom.
Spending time with nature
and enjoying the simple
things in life are great ways
of truly appreciating what
you have. If you get bored
within the city limits, you can
always travel outside of West
Linn and visit the great city
of Portland or you can take
a day trip to the beach. Your
boredom is only a mind set
that you need to overcome
in order to thrive in your
environment.
Sincerely,
Dwight and Meredith