Games

Best of 2009 | 08 |07 | 06 | 05
Advanced Search

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Portal: Still Alive

EMAIL PRINTxbox360

7.0 User Score:

Universal acclaim

Based on 21 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 58 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >

Game Info

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Valve

Genre(s): Action, Puzzle

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: October 22, 2008

Summary

[Xbox Live Arcade] Portal: Still Alive features the full award-winning Portal single player game from Valve, plus a new challenge mode. Designed to change the way you approach, manipulate, and surmise the possibilities in any given environment, Portal has earned over 70 industry honors for its innovative gameplay, with more than 30 "Game of the Year" awards. Break the laws of physics using "portal" technology to solve puzzles and survive in this darkly comic story weaving adventure with brain-bending puzzles. Experience the first first-person puzzle-action-adventure game with hours of single player gaming. The game includes fourteen brand new bonus puzzles to challenge even the most skilled test subjects. And, get a glimpse into the making of Portal: Still Alive with commentary from the developers. [Valve]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

1UP

By making the game available to a broader audience and including several excellent challenges (along with all-new Achievements), Portal isn't merely alive -- it's stronger than ever.

Read Full Review >

100

Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

A flawless two hours of fun, made all the better by the extra challenge stages. [Jan 2009, p.102]

Team Xbox

I can’t imagine the emptiness your life has been up to this point without having experienced the joys of the Companion Cube or the awesome song over the end credits. Portal: Still Alive is your chance to set your life right.

Read Full Review >

IGN

Part of what makes the main Portal experience so successful is that the game draws you in quickly, subtly creates a believable world with every new room and then begins to slowly draw back the curtain. Much like a fine malt liquor, Portal sneaks up on you.

Read Full Review >

Talk Xbox

At the end of the day, as I've said many times before, this is an amazing game.

Read Full Review >

Eurogamer

Portal remains an absolutely fantastic game, a wonderfully constructed vignette of puzzles and gallows humour that everybody should play.

Read Full Review >

GamePro

If you've never played Portal before all you need to know is that it's a must buy, plain and simple. Quit reading right now and download it.

Read Full Review >

VideoGamer

The simple ideas are often the best, and Portal, quite simply, is one of the best ideas for a game we've ever seen. It's fantastically realised, brilliantly executed, and had me wrapped around its computerised finger for two-and-a-half unforgettable hours. This is gaming in its purest form.

Read Full Review >

Cheat Code Central

Portal's blend of first-person, action, and puzzle elements marked by wry psychology and facetious dialogue make for a one-of-a-kind experience. Bolster this package with Still Alive's 14 new, more difficult levels and this is a game that shouldn't be missed.

Read Full Review >

Official Xbox Magazine

Clever humor that'll have you chuckling for months. [Dec 2008, p.93]

Read Full Review >

X360 Magazine UK

It's easily the best puzzle game to come along in quite some time and arguably up there with some of the best we've seen within the world of videogames. [Issue#38, p.114]

GameDaily

The graphics look terrific, and the GLaDOS computer system has plenty of insane banter. You owe it to yourself to check this out, even if you beat the original.

Read Full Review >

Console Monster

Those yet to play Portal, this is the perfect opportunity to play possibly one of the sweetest games ever.

Read Full Review >

Gamer.nl

For only 1200 Microsoft Points you will get one of the best, most original and humoristic puzzle games ever to be constructed. But keep in mind that the game takes a big chunck out of your hard drive and that The Orange Box is also available for a very decent price. Nevertheless, Portal: Still Alive is an absolute must-buy for anyone that hasn't played the game on the PC.

Read Full Review >

Hardcore Gamer Magazine

The only downside is that GlaDOS has no new speaking parts, making the challenge levels feel lifeless. [Dec 2008, p.56]

3DJuegos

Simple, addictive and brilliantly executed. One of the best puzzle games we've seen in a long time.

Read Full Review >

Meristation

GlaDOS is back in this XBLA game. Last year's greatest puzzle game is back with all of its basic features, but it adds 14 more chambers to extend the gameplay; they are more difficult than the story mode, but both together form an incredible title, an almost compulsory download for those who haven't played the game yet.

Read Full Review >

GameSpot

Portal: Still Alive adds some sugar to the hugely successful recipe, but it's not enough to entice veterans back for a second serving.

Read Full Review >

NZGamer

So are you a diehard nut who can’t get enough Portal action? Then you’ll probably already own this one. And if you’re new to the whole thing, Still Alive is easy to recommend. But everyone else in between, you may be better off saving your pennies for the inevitable Portal 2.

Read Full Review >

Gameplanet

Portal: Still Alive is ideal for Xbox 360 owners who want the Portal experience without any hassles. Log in, download, and play - but beware, it's not exactly a small file.

Read Full Review >

Official Xbox Magazine UK

None of this package is new, which is why we've deducted a point. Still Alive is a pricey luxury for Portal fans. But hey, if you've never played it before, feel free to slap that point back on and enjoy one of gaming's tastiest treats from the last few years.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 58 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Hagen M gave it an8:
Portal is still fantastic and the new Still Alive rooms are nice as well. However, me being a huge Valve fan is why I purchased this. While the Still Alive rooms are very good, they aren't worth 1200 msp if you have The Orange Box, which EVERYONE should own. If you're a huge fan of Portal, pick this up. If you haven't played Portal, buy it now. If you didn't really care for Portal on The Orange Box, this won't change your mind.

Ryan S gave it a9:
Don't want to buy the Orange Box because you don't want/have Half Life and Team Fortress? Well this is for you. Portal is the best arcade puzzle game to hit the 360 this year. Get it.

J DUB gave it a9:
Portal rocks. anyone having problems with not being able to load your saved portal game from the Orange Box? I'm having to redo the original portal puzzles before getting to the new puzzles b/c of this problem. BUT, portal is such a cool game that I don't really mind.

Tj The gamer gave it a5:
If you've already played this game in "The Orange Box", don't buy this game. It's the same game other than 14 easy challenge rooms. If you never bought "The Orange Box" and wondered about "Portal"... then buy "The Orange Box". You'll get 4 other amazing games for an extra $30. This is just a sad attempt to milk the money out of the "Portal" bandwagon. 1,200 Microsoft points for a game I already played, and some extra stuff that took me maybe 2 hours to complete. 1,200 Microsoft points for this is a joke. Go buy "Psyconaunts" or "San Andreas" they're much longer and funner games for the same price.

Will B gave it a9:
To Perse Pappa: Braid? Geometry Wars? Banjo-Kazooie (to some, but i am a fan)? Arcade game are certainly in the same league as normal games at least. Hense Microsofts huge dashboard change with prime time. For this game however, its basically just more of the same. Which is fine by me (as i loved the gameplay), but for those who didnt like portal, dont think you will find solitude in this game. just more portal.

Endymion U. gave it a10:
I'm mostly posting this to respond to Perse Pappa's comment. This game was originally released as part of The Orange Box, next to Half-Life 2 and Team Fortress 2, although this is much added content that was not included with that release. It is a game deserving of a full release in and of itself. The game is innovative and invigorating. It is nothing like the majority of XBLA games out there. Production quality is that of a full release game. Furthermore, just because games on XBLA are normally "lousy" does not mean that there is not a minority worth purchasing (especially for the price). Braid is a shining example of this. N+ and World of Goo (available to Wii owners as WiiWare) are worthy purchases as well. Perse, you should play the game before you post.

Lance S. gave it a10:
This is simply an expansion onto my favorite game of last year, and i bought it because i adore portal. And dont listen to that idiot Perse Pappa. My guess is the only thing he plays are twitch shooters and Madden (not that thats a horrible thing or anything) but seriously, if you think size is what makes a game good, you need to open your f**kin eyes!

Games

Sony

Microsoft

Nintendo

Other Platforms

Upcoming &Recent Releases

Portal: Still Alive

Game Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases