Everyone wanted a 3rd Portal game, and this is certainly not what they expected.
Released in 2017, Bridge Constructor Portal isn’t developed by Valve. ClockStone developed this game and it is a continuation of their Bridge Constructor series.
Is the game good enough to live up to Portal 1 & 2?
This review will be split into Storyline, Gameplay, Visuals and finally, Personal Thoughts sections. Without further ado:
Table of Contents
Storyline
We don’t know whether the game takes place after or before the events of both Portal 1 and/or 2.
However, GLaDOS is present and sarcastic as ever!
Judging by the lab’s condition, it’s probably safe to assume that the game happens at least before Portal 2.
Anyway, you are an applicant for a job in Aperture Science. The game is practically GLaDOS testing you with various puzzles to see if you are fit for the job.
Gameplay
I don’t know if you’ve played any of the previous Bridge Constructor games, so I’ll keep this as detailed as I can.
For each level, your ultimate goal is to reach a truck from its starting point to the endpoint.
Usually, the game will have hazards, such as ledges with acid on the bottom, or aggressive killer Turrets that shoot anything that passes by their sight radius.
In order to avoid all that, you can build various bridges. You have 3 materials to choose from.
The first is the bridge material, which, as the name implies, is the bridge that trucks can go over.
The second is the supporting material called strut. Simply put, the supporting material is used to support the weight of the bridge and anything that passes it (or gets thrown at it).
It can also be used to help a bridge not fall from gravity when you can only start building from one side of a ledge.
Finally, the cables are elastical(-ish)… cables that help you create vertical powers and hold bridges and constructions better.
Everything must begin by specific points attached to walls or extensions of bridges and struts.
Also, everything but the cable has a maximum length you can use.
The game uses many elements from the portal series like the aforementioned turrets, portals (duh), the weighted companion cube and others.
While your goal is to get 1 truck to the end, you get a better evaluation for passing a convoy of 3 or more vehicles (the exact number differs among levels).
That means that to truly finish the game, you must also pass the convoy tests.
You’ll notice in the first puzzles that passing a convoy isn’t as hard. If your construction can last through 1 truck without collapsing, what’s the problem with 3 or more?
2 issues can arise with convoys. They both have to do with timing.
The first is that sometimes, each truck begins shortly after the previous. This can cause problems to your bridges, as they might not be able to handle the weight of 2 or 3 vehicles at the same time.
The second issue is that sometimes, the trucks may bump into each other through the use of portals.
Portals are essential to finish a level, and sometimes lead you back, causing a truck to hit another and put everything of course.
You will also see how much money you (wastefully) spent on each level. The more materials you use, the more costly the construction.
Money spent doesn’t affect gameplay, nor is it used in achievements. It’s there for you to compare with other players on who can find the most optimal (economical) solution.
There is also a DLC for this game called Portal Proficiency. It just adds more levels.
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Visuals
The visuals in this game are nothing spectacular, but that’s not to say they aren’t great.
It’s what we’re used to in Portal 1 & 2. That said, the game can run on most PCs.
Personal Thoughts
I asked in the beginning whether this game can live up to its spiritual predecessors.
First things first, it’s unfair to outright compare the games, as they are of different genres within the puzzling world.
However, that question was not a simple clickbait; the game won’t offer you any of the feelings or the excitement you get from Portal 1 & 2.
Don’t get me wrong, the game is a perfectly good puzzle game to pass your time. But, Portal 1 & 2 are legends.
Ellen McLain is back to reprise her role of GLaDOS (and the turrets), so there’s also that.
In the end, I recommend this game to anyone looking for a good puzzle game to play. But if you’re expecting to get into this and play Portal 3, forget about it.
Final Verdict
Storyline: –
Gameplay: 7.8
Visuals: 8.8
General Rating: 8.3
That’s it for my review. Did you like the game? Do you have anything to add? If so, leave a comment down below.
The image(s) I used are from the following site(s):
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