Let’s test again
MODS EXTEND YOUR PORTAL 2 ADVENTURES WITH
THESE PLAYER-MADE MAPS
Portal 2 hasn’t been out long, but already modders have created a variety of new maps. They might not
be as fiendish as GlaDOS, but they’re certainly smarter than Wheatley when it
comes to puzzle design.
Portal maps are a great way to learn to
use Valve’s editing tools, as they’re such
small and simple environments. If you want
to try your own hand at Portal 2 modding,
download the SDK from the tools section of
your Steam account.
You’ll find more maps at Thinking With
Portals, a Portal 2 community site (
bit.ly/
mMUkw W). Here are three of the best. TW
Old Faithful
The aerial faith plate is one of Portal 2 ’s simplest
yet most fun additions, letting you fly though the
air with the greatest of wheeeeeeeeees. This map
combines them with the old ’60s-style Aperture
Science test chambers to create a roomy level
with a lot of big jumps.
10MB bit.ly/jpP6pB
W hat would games be like if they were designed by five-year-old
girls? When Cassie Chreighton’s father Ryan took her to Toronto Game
Jam, the world found out.
While Ryan coded, Cassie drew,
designed and voice-acted this point-and-click adventure about a girl in
search of ponycorns (yup, a cross
The logic of five-year-olds and adventure
game designers isn’t
that far apart
between a pony and a unicorn).
Turns out the logic of five-year-old
girls and adventure game designers
isn’t that far apart. We’re expecting
big things from this upcoming auteur
in 20 years or so. LS
Diportals One
This is set in a small chamber that requires careful
manipulation of a single laser beam to open and
close path ways. It confirms that nearly every
puzzle mechanic in Portal 2 is strong enough to
create a fascinating environment by itself.
Synchronicity
Consider this the abridged version of Portal 2:
it’s an incredibly versatile map. Instead of
focusing on one idea, Synchronicity takes you
step by step through every Portal mechanic,
with short but smartly designed puzzles.
2.65MB bit.ly/k7PaL5
17MB bit.ly/lDtxy1
WEBGAME CHILD’S PLAY ENTER THE MIND OF A CHILD IN SISSY’S MAGICAL PON YCORN ADVEN TURE 4SIZE Browser-based SIZE Browser-based LINK bit.ly/i T3ltK
Heaven sent
WEBGAME TEST YOUR MIGHT IN THE TOWER OF HEAVEN
Do you have what it takes to scale an impossibly-high tower while a not-so- benevolent god burdens you with frivou-lous commandments? It’s time to prove it in this
awesomely retro bite-sized platformer, which
strides on the fine line between frustration and
fun with the proficiency of a tightrope walker.
As a brave, nimble, and inquisitive soul, you’ll
traverse through progressively-difficult levels
drawn in a picture-perfect Game Boy palette,
with some ear-tickling chiptunes to boot. It’s not
long before you’re forced to pick up the Book of
Laws, a tablet filled with commandments from
your maker that make seemingly-simple level
designs turn diabolical. Like a text-based
GLaDOS, the tower’s deity will taunt you with
each passed test, and some of your new direc-
tives are hilariously cruel. For instance, one law
dictates that walking to the left will result in
an instantaneous smiting. Immediately after-
ward, you spawn to the right of an exit with a
sawblade inching towards your face. How you
escape alive is up to you; as the god would say,
“may heaven grant you fortune.” LS
www.pcgamer.com
NOVEMBER 2011
