The Cake is a Pie » Video

Indirect Actuality (UCC)

TK — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:01:06 +0000

Indirect Actuality, the second map reviewed specifically for the UCC. A charming, retro concept unfortunately tainted by various gameplay issues; though the environment was classically beautiful, as ‘classical’ as computers go anyway.

Breaking Boundaries (UCC)

TK — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:24:30 +0000

Breaking Boundaries is the first review candidate for the myApertureLabs User Created Content Contest, created by Kizzycoca before his absence. A map by Anyxius, this fills the brief by immersing us in a world exactly 90% different from the original Portal. No more, no less.

Welcome to Aperture Science

TK — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:43:53 +0000

I don’t know what can really be said about Aperture Science that doesn’t involve me swearing violently and breaking something of value, so I’ll say this: If you want to see a dedicated game player lose his nerve and cheat his way through most of the last puzzle through frustration, this is the video for you. Also, if you want to make a map and want an example of what not to do; this is the video for you.

Just watch it.

Of course it’s also excessively long, another 38 minute wonder. Hope you enjoy it.

Claustrophobia

TK — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:00:58 +0000

Claustrophobia is another small map by the geniuses behind Autophobia, their second release. As a prequel, Claustrophobia does well to again introduce the power and possibility of custom mapping on a grand scale; with moving chambers rising to your death, it feels oddly familiar of Rentest, if only in a prodigal sense.

Flux

TK — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:34:23 +0000

This map tries just a little too hard to be everything at once. A wonderful conceptual environment, spoiled by a lack of playtesting and puzzle structure. An excellent first effort, however, for the new mapper Omnicoder.

At 38 minutes, this is also the longest review we have ever done, so make sure you’ve been to the bathroom and have some snacks and drinks with you before you hit play. It’s a useful watch for any aspiring map-maker.

Underground Complex

TK — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:28:43 +0000

The Blue Portals time trial is challenging, exhilarating and fast-paced: the perfect speedrun map, with a piercing, visual focus on the clock as it methodically counts down vital seconds.

Autophobia

TK — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:19:08 +0000

This trio of developers have crafted a beautiful if eerie chamber, so finely detailed and virtually impeccable in its creation. Autophobia presents what maps should be in a small, infinitely playable package.

My apologies for the sound in this video, I will do a re-encode at a later date to improve it.

The Blue Portals

TK — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:53:39 +0000

The Blue Portals are a saga of brilliant maps. Reepblue takes the player on a new experience, a voyage where our previous experience of Portal is turned on its head. By featuring new environments and gameplay aspects everyone will find something they love in this series, although it is imperative the whole series is played; the shallow but progressive difficulty curve will otherwise become a wall.

Special Feature

The Blue Portals was the first map we were asked to review after launching the site. We’ve done the best job we can with it, with five different chambers melded into one video.

Buddy System

TK — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:41:16 +0000

Buddy System’s Carl is like the annoying relative who keeps walking up and asking you how you are. Except this relative is blind and can’t walk very well. Suffice to say that by the end of this puzzle-less map we were thinking of ways to kill him; Chell turned violent and for good reason. And it received second prize on the first mAL contest, seriously.

This map would have been remotely meaningful if Carl helped you through a puzzle, but in reality he just stands around, staggering around the slightest corner, a waste of space and time. His death would be pure natural selection – survival of the fittest, or those who can navigate a simple maze.