It's hard to believe that Portal and Portal 2 were released over a decade ago. One third of Valve's landmark Orange Box, the original Portal started out as a senior game design project created by students at DigiPen Institute of Technology. Recognizing its potential, however, developers at Valve subsequently hired the team, and they continued working on their project until it became Portal as we know it today. The puzzle platformer and its sequel were unlike anything that came before them, redefining gamers' understanding of what a first-person shooter can be. So naturally, there’s great anticipation regarding Portal 3 and what features it may bring to the table.
Recently, there’s been renewed interest in the elusive, third Portal game. Notoriously averse to completing trilogies, Gabe Newell, who recently launched the Steam Deck, and the rest of the time have yet to release a title with a 3 in the name for both Half-Life and now Portal. Erik Wolpaw, in an interview with New Zealand podcast Kiwi Talkz, called on Valve to rectify this and develop Portal 3. Wolpaw, one of Portal and Portal 2’s writers, pointed out that the team wasn't getting any younger and that they should take action sooner rather than later. Should Valve heed this call to action, there are more than a few features Portal fans will want to see again.
The Best of Levels and Test Chambers
For all of its expert writing and interesting characters, the gameplay of Portal is where it truly shines. Levels, broken up into different "test chambers," challenge the player in new and unexpected ways. Whether it's relying purely on the inertia of portals or utilizing different tools available within each level, test chambers are at the heart of what makes Portal so great.
Fans will absolutely be expecting these features to return in a sequel. Whether it's Repulsion Gel that bounces the player around (or a gel that lets the player walk on walls), or the Thermal Discouragement Beam and its corresponding Redirection Cube, these sorts of mechanics amplified the fun of the base gameplay. Moreover, the meme-worthy companion cubes and all their variations ought to make a return; the versatility of adding a block to a puzzle-platformer cannot be understated. Creating physics-based puzzles that utilize inertia was fun enough, but every one of the mechanics added since the original Portal are now essential to the series.
Portal’s Different Game Modes
However, it's not just the mechanics that players love, but the different game modes as well. With Portal 2 came a fitting co-op mode where players could complete test chambers with a friend, and a map editor that's regarded as one of the best level creators ever. This took what was an already incredible game and gave it staying power, so much so that levels are still being created some eleven years later. This feature is an absolute must for Portal 3, and it could even benefit from an expansion. Playing through Portal levels with four portals shared between two players is fun, but imagine the hilarity of doing so with eight portals shared between four friends.
Portal is a game that seemingly came from nowhere and shook the gaming world to its core. Unbeknownst to the team at DigiPen, the game they created would redefine both storytelling and gameplay in first-person shooters. For this reason, Wolpaw's plea for Valve to hurry up and make Portal 3 is more than understandable. Valve continues to innovate and surprise gamers with each of their ventures, and may have teased a new game in Aperture Desk Job. An overwhelming portion of its player base, however, would be satisfied with a new entry into one of their franchises — any of the franchises at this point.
Portal and Portal 2 are available now for Linux, Mac, PC, PS3, Switch, and Xbox 360.