Portal 2 – A Feast for Trolls
Genre: Puzzle | Release: 18.04.2011 | Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360 | Developer: Valve | Model: Buy-To-Play
What kind of game is this? Portal 2 is a highly complex puzzle game that you play from a first-person perspective. The goal of the game is to solve complex puzzles on the map and escape. You primarily use a “portal gun” for this.
This generates a portal at one location and an exit at another. When you go through one, your character appears at the exit with the same speed and direction. This leads to complex maneuvers as you joyfully jump through floors and get shot out of vertical walls.
The maps are filled with additional elements such as trigger-happy robots, acid lakes, massive fans, and tractor beams. To get through, you must carefully consider which action triggers a corresponding reaction. It is clearly a game for those who can think abstractly and plan far-reaching event chains.
There is a solo mode in Portal 2, but it can also be played in a co-op campaign. The puzzles there are not found in the solo campaign, as they are designed for full co-op gameplay. But this can truly destroy friendships and relationships. This video demonstrates it:
Why is this game dangerous for relationships? As mentioned before, Portal 2 requires perfect coordination as a team and clear instructions that must be implemented exactly by the teammate. If that works, Portal 2 is an extremely satisfying experience that certainly brings you as a couple closer together. But woe if this is not the case!
Nothing is more annoying than when you have already devised the perfect plan, but the teammate just cannot grasp it. Or when you try to do everything right but your partner constantly confuses left and right or rambles incoherently instead of giving precise instructions.
It doesn’t take long before the round degenerates into endless trolling, where you manipulate each other into acid, lasers, or shredders with portals.
What should be considered? If you want to play Portal 2 with close friends or a partner, agree in advance on how to proceed and establish a clear hierarchy and methodology. Or state from the outset that you only want to troll around and cause mischief. Then it can be fun and won’t lead to frustration and anger.
