UPDATE: Uber Update for TF2 Announced

Oh, hello. I didn't see you there. Do you play the PC and Mac video game developed by Valve Software known only as Team Fortress 2? Yes? Well, let me introduce myself.

My name is Chris "Colossal" Marshall. And I am here to talk to you about a new update for the PC and Mac video game developed by Valve Software known only as Team Fortress 2. The Uber Update has been announced today with day one being Mobster Monday. Months ago, me and my ol' chap Benjamin Henry created digital firearms and head decorative devices for the PC and Mac video game developed by Valve Software known only as Team Fortress 2.

Today, on the announcement page for the Uber Update for the PC and Mac video game developed by Valve Software known only as Team Fortress 2, the items that I created alongside Benjamin Henry were officially announced for release on the upcoming Thursday.

If you are an owner of the PC and Mac video game developed by Valve Software known only as Team Fortress 2 and would like to support me and my chap Benjamin Henry, the items will be up for sale in the in-game Mann Co. Store (in the PC and Mac video game developed by Valve Software known only as Team Fortress 2), and all money shall go towards us.

REVIEW: Edifice

Edifice is a semi-new Portal 2 map (my fault for not reviewing in a while, was having game issues) created by Omnicoder. Omnicoder is actually a good friend of mine, so this review is going to be a little hard to do.

The map features three main puzzles. The first one actually took me a long time to get right because when Omni makes a puzzle... It's brutal on the brain. The second room is a lot better. It's challenging in that you have to think, but easy enough that you don't constantly screw it up.

Finally, at the third and final puzzle, things get a lot harder. It starts out simple, sure, but the end can really confuse people who don't know what's going on. There's also a small world portal problem that sometimes occurs in the hallway. He uses world portals to make the hallway shorter than it really is so that the player doesn't have to spend too much time. But due to the error, you can sometimes see your whole portals through the walls.

All in all, this was a very good map with really nice puzzles. The only real problem with it is that there's no true "Aha!" moment that gives the player a satisfying result, making it seem not as fun as some other maps.

This map earns itself an 8/10 in my book and I can't wait for a new map by Omnicoder. Maybe one with a unique visual theme...

Additional Media:

001

002

003

Download Edifice right now over at Thinking With Portals!

REVIEW: Old Faithful

Old Faithful is another map created by Flobster for Portal 2. Just like his other map, Sphere of Roundness, this map was amazing.

Old Faithful starts where Sphere of Roundness (SoR) left off. But now you're in a new enrichment sphere dedicated to aerial faith plates. But not normal aerial faith plates. Old-school faith plates, thus the name Old Faithful.

The map starts off simple, you step on a faith plate and the test starts. You solve some simple tests and soon you're in more advanced faith plate chambers. One of the tests requires some fast portalling to get yourself to another room, then more fast portalling to get a cube to where you are.

The map ends with a simple launch-into-the-air-and-grab-a-box-before-it-goes-back-down puzzle and you put the box on a button at the beginning of the puzzle and you're done.

Overall, the map was just great. Neat puzzles, neat ideas, and just fun to play. Flobster should really consider submitting this to the Portal 2 mapping contest happening at the moment. Anyway, Old Faithful gets the first 10/10 on my blog.

Additional Media:

001

002

003

Download the map at myApertureLabs!

REVIEW: Colours 1-2

The Colours map series is a new series of levels created by Ian Boswell. You may know him as "that guy who made that really long mod with the funny name and non-linearality" (Hetzchase Nailway).

The two maps I played are actually maps created for the cooperative game mode included with Portal 2. So I grabbed my friend WinstonSmith and played the first two maps (we had some trouble with the third, will review later).

MAP ONE

Map one started out... Well, different. You were on an exploding train thing with tons of pointless buttons. You leave the train and you're in a very yellow test chamber. Unfortunately, this map suffers from something all of IanB's maps suffer from. It doesn't have enough guidance. You have to basically hunt the cube in the map. And the fact there's a lady man thing screaming at you for the first ten minutes doesn't help.

But the puzzles were still nice. Flinging and blockers and pretty textures that look a little familiar... Map one gets an 8/10.

MAP TWO

Map two started out with me being face-to-face with some old textures I made a long time ago for Skinnycap's "Portal 2" map. It's fine, though, as these were just edited version of other people's textures.

So you move on into a giant room. The thing about this level is that it has too much going on. There's a whole wall with opening and closing doors that are there for no reason. Anyway, after me and W.S. solved the complicated flinging and moved into the next part, it was suddenly a lot easier. Stand on two buttons, fall through the floor. Solve a gel puzzle, go back up. Map two gets a 9/10.

Additional Media:

001

Download map #1 at ModDB!

Download map #2 at ModDB!

UPDATE: Retrospective Released

Today marks my first Portal 2 release. For this release, I helped out Omnicoder with his new map, Retrospective. It's a fairly long map with tons of new puzzles, some new testing elements, and some... Old things.

The map starts out simple. Light bridge puzzle. Then a twist; you fall. Not just a normal fall, you have to solve a puzzle while you fall. After landing from solving the puzzle, you once again find yourself in a test chamber. This one brings back everyone's favorite friend from the first Portal.

The energy ball! Combining the energy ball and the light bridge can lead to some interesting stuff. After completing that fairly simple chamber, you return to a location from the first game. Chamber 16. This time with gel and even more turrets!

After completing that, you go to another energy ball puzzle and walk across a giant pit on a light bridge. Excursion funnel after that. Takes you up and you soon find yourself in yet another familiar place. Sort of.

Chamber 17 Advanced from the first Portal. A pre-recorded GLaDOS message plays over the intercom and you're soon given a Weighted Companion Sphere (that's where I come in). You solve a few tests, some involving a testing element creating by Omnicoder for his Portal one maps- called the physwall- and you find yourself in a small room with a core and your Companion Sphere.

The map will be concluded later in an unannounced project.

Download the map at myApertureLabs!

REVIEW: Portal Practice

Portal Practice is another map created for Portal 2. It was created by Groxkiller to test all the new stuff included in Portal 2. Because Groxkiller is my friend, I'm going to be a little more... Brutal.

The map is just looks. The puzzles are all there, but they can be bypassed with very simple Portal placement. I was able to complete this map without even using the funnel that's humming and buzzing in the main room.

But the map is still beautiful and can show that just because Aperture is overrun by testless plants, it doesn't mean the facility is ugly.

This map gets a Colossal review of 7.5/10. Keep up the good work!

Additional Screenshot/s:

001

Download the map at myApertureLabs!

REVIEW: Sphere of Roundness

Sphere of Roundness is a new Portal 2 map created by Flobster. Judging by the somewhat idiotic name, I thought this map was going to be horrible. I was completely wrong. The map has everything desirable in a Portal 2 map; funnels, lasers, gels... Birds. And not only does it have the newer elements, but Flobster brings them together in a very professional way.

But the map has one downside: It's old Aperture with newer Aperture aspects in it, like the funnels. Look at the design in the old Aperture co-op maps. The new Aperture stuff isn't just there. It's being held there by giant robotic arms that stretch down from new Aperture, thanks to GLaDOS.

This map gets a Colossal review of 9.5/10.

Download the map at myApertureLabs!