Joystiq's Top 10 of 2007: Portal
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Jan 1st 2008 at 12:00PM }
Out of all the superb titles released in 2007, Portal most effortlessly takes the cake. The true star of The Orange Box saw a talented team from DigiPen snatched up by Valve and ultimately transformed from students into teachers. Gamers and designers alike must play Portal, not only because it's so sublimely designed from start to gripping finish, but because there's so much to learn from it.
The game is phenomenal in every sense of the word, its deviously delirious guide and antagonist, GlaDOS, already running rampant online as a fully fledged and infinitely quotable meme. It certainly speaks volumes of its witty writing when the game's other widely recognized star is nothing more than a vaguely endearing block. The intelligence isn't merely confined to the game's dialogue either -- it permeates every aspect of Portal's "Aha!" puzzles and perfectly paced progression. There is no filler here.
When the seemingly unconnected room-based challenges give way to a daring escape attempt and a climactic showdown, the game's genius is not only revealed, but heard in the form of Jonathan Coulton's "Still Alive" ending song. Inescapably catchy and completely cognizant of its audience, it marks the perfect conclusion to this year's smartest and most focused game.
Please accept our cake, Portal, but for the good of all of us, don't eat it! We don't want you getting fat like all those other games.
The game is phenomenal in every sense of the word, its deviously delirious guide and antagonist, GlaDOS, already running rampant online as a fully fledged and infinitely quotable meme. It certainly speaks volumes of its witty writing when the game's other widely recognized star is nothing more than a vaguely endearing block. The intelligence isn't merely confined to the game's dialogue either -- it permeates every aspect of Portal's "Aha!" puzzles and perfectly paced progression. There is no filler here.
When the seemingly unconnected room-based challenges give way to a daring escape attempt and a climactic showdown, the game's genius is not only revealed, but heard in the form of Jonathan Coulton's "Still Alive" ending song. Inescapably catchy and completely cognizant of its audience, it marks the perfect conclusion to this year's smartest and most focused game.
Please accept our cake, Portal, but for the good of all of us, don't eat it! We don't want you getting fat like all those other games.
Gallery: Portal
Joystiq's Top 10 of 2007
Please leave your comments below!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Devine @ Feb 5th 2008 6:48PM
Kudos. Many of these top 10 games I dropped partway in or stopped for awhile and finished much, much later, but Portal had me in its grip every minute and I finished it in one sitting (admittedly because it might be the only game on this list for which that's realistically possible). I just thought it had a lot of atmosphere for being such a simple, spare game. Scratch that: I just thought it had a lot of atmosphere, period.
Super Mario Galaxy is the other game on this list that I obsessed about playing...I'd go to work and be thinking about playing SMG all day.
Kesh @ Jan 1st 2008 12:17PM
let the dissection commence
Jerk Face @ Jan 1st 2008 12:17PM
Ha ha.. I can't believe Peggle got above Mass Effect. Holy Hell is that going to start some flames! Yay for Portal, though!
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 1st 2008 12:18PM
Don't let just hear you say anything nice about Mass Effect. Apparently, it killed all of his family members and is his kryptonite.
Korova @ Jan 1st 2008 2:52PM
OFFTOPIC:
Joystiq, Chris!
Can you please make a link to the comments page from the first post? Its not too much fun klikin through all the post again to see the new comments and responses.
Thanks.
Korova @ Jan 1st 2008 6:23PM
Oh, the last paragraph of the first post has a link. I found it, everybody, I found it! ktnxbye
Magetto @ Jan 1st 2008 8:51PM
Heh. I don't know if it's just me, or am I one of the few people that actually felt Mass Effect should have ranked higher in most GOTY list? Sure it has its flaws, but I found it to generally be a great game. Meh maybe I'm just a sucker for Bioware games.
I generally agree with the list other than that bit. I maybe would have removed either God of War II or Peggle (and yes I've played it) and put Bioshock up there.
Jake @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:36AM
Mass Effect should have been much higher. Since when do we rate RPG's on their combat gameplay? It is like the game had too good of combat for an RPG, so had to therefore be compared to superior shooter combat.
Anyways...I loved Portal. But how does a 3 hour mini-game take GOTY? It had some humor and about 4 challenging puzzles. Talk about most over-rated experience of this century.
Bioshock I also loved, but the last half or third of the game was disappointing. I was glad when the game was over and won't play it again. The ending sucked.
Mass Effect left me wanting more. The ending was awesome. The story and presentation in that game just kicked so much ass. I hope they make a mini-series on TV based in that universe.
And seriously, just leave Peggle off the damn lists. Please. Just leave all casual titles to Time magazine or something to pick through.
tmacairjordan87 @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:09PM
i'm glad someone agrees with me. i was starting to think i was the only real gamer left that wasn't brainwashed by this garbage casual game movement
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 1st 2008 12:19PM
Peggle > God of War 2
Vidikron (FU) @ Jan 1st 2008 1:14PM
Yeah, right. GoW2 is better than at least half the rest of the top ten.
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 1st 2008 6:03PM
sarcasm
Fin @ Jan 1st 2008 12:21PM
HUGE SUCCESS
sheppy2.0 @ Jan 1st 2008 12:23PM
Looking forward to the reaction for Mario being No. 4. This will be entertaining for me.
mr nimblewick @ Jan 1st 2008 1:27PM
The games above it were good games. Even though SMG is my top game of the year, it's fair for joystiq to like these others more.
Now, if Halo 3 had been above it...
anghus @ Jan 1st 2008 12:25PM
a good list. glad assasain's creed made it. after all the bitching i've seen, i still think it's a great game.
rv @ Jan 9th 2008 3:20PM
Im very disappointed with ac. I got bored and have been playing mass effect and cod4 and halo 3 since.
Shagittarius @ Jan 1st 2008 12:25PM
I LOVE PORTAL!!! LIKE NOTHING ELSE!!!
But it is no way a better game than Bioshock, sorry, your only fooling yourself and trying to be hipper than thou with other websites to select it as #1.
As for Peggle and Rock Band, they shouldn't even count as games, they are more like time wasters or distractions. Neither of those games do anything to drive the medium forward and shouldn;t be on the list.
I enjoy Rock Band and I played peggle while they are fun, they are not really games that push the medium forward in anyway and don't deserve to be on this list.
Everything else I'm ok with although I might dissagree with its position on the list.
Johnny Bloom @ Jan 1st 2008 1:04PM
But does every game need to "push the medium forward"? Granted, games are currently trying to push the envelope, and have artisitic merit, but games should be fun. Rock Band and Peggle are, as a general concensus, fun, and PUSH THE MEDIUM FORWARD as far as how gamers derive fun. Ergo thusly, they are worthy of notice.
Have a pleasent day.
Shagittarius @ Jan 1st 2008 1:07PM
The "Best games" and Award winning games of the year should always push the medium forward. If they don't it wasn't a very good year for gaming.
If you just want to honor games that are fun theres a lot to choose from.
Poisoned Al @ Jan 1st 2008 1:08PM
Simple question: Did you ever play System Shock 2? If the answer is no, then Bioshock would seem like the mutts nuts, and you'd be right. However, if you're one of the sadly few people that did play System Shock 2 then you've seen it all before, only prettier and not as hard. Hell, they even used the same bloody plot "twist." Not knocking Bioshock at all, but I had been there and done that and got the T-shirt. One with SHODAN on it, becuase she was a much better baddie then the ones in Bioshock. Portal was a totally new experance for me and I believe it should be #1
Poisoned Al @ Jan 1st 2008 1:15PM
Also, Bioshock lost points for the lack of telekinetic monkeys, but gained them back for not having weapons made from balsa wood.
Johnny Bloom @ Jan 1st 2008 1:16PM
I understand what you're saying. Allow me to use (an oft overused and admittedly poorly fitting) a comparison: there are two types of good films; movies which change the way movies are made, and fun movies. I appreciate the artistic merit of Danny Boy; I enjoy the movie The Ex.
Besides, the point I attempted to get across is that Rock Band and Peggle use a formula for experiencing fun that is very rarely used, and thus, pushes the medium of fun in games forward.
However, I absolutely agree with you that there should be awards for games based on how they push the medium as a whole forward. This, however, are several bloggers listing their favorite games for a blog no one at AOL-Time Warner actually realizes they own.
I bid you, adieu.
Vidikron (FU) @ Jan 1st 2008 1:19PM
Portal was very fun, IMO. But way too short. You can blitz through the first 12 or so levels in mere minutes. The song at the end is what really made the game stick in people's mind. Not sure it's worthy of #1 myself.
Shagittarius @ Jan 1st 2008 1:21PM
I've played all the 'Shock' games and enjoyed them all yes, the RPG elements were dumbed down in Bioshock, yes the shooting action was acceptable at best, but the way the game used the medium as a whole was more mainstream than previous shock games, and the presentation of the game itself is miles beyond either of the previous shock games.
As for me dissagreeing with the list why do I need to be reminded that this list was written by a couple of bloggers and that excuses them from my critisizms? it doesn't, its a blog and were all invited to post our opinions.
The internet is nothing but a 24/7 shouting match.
Jerk Face @ Jan 1st 2008 1:31PM
I actually agree with Shags on this one. A game like Peggle is great and all, but to set it as a "Game of the Year" is pretty controversial.
I see the side of the Joystiq panel too, though. A game shouldn't have to be a huge multi-million dollar effort to be considered of Merit.
But when Peggle, a casual time-waster (if excellent, which it is), knocks out one of the other really great games that came out this year? That's kind of rough.
But overall I have to give respect to the editorial staff of this blog for having the rocks to put that up there despite what the feedback would be from some of their readers.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go play some Peggle.
Johnny Bloom @ Jan 1st 2008 1:43PM
You must forgive my grievence. I think I misread your post in such a way that I thought you were saying that you were right, and Joystiq was wrong. I appologize for not thinking before I type.
And Jerk Face, you're very right.
Have a nice day, everyone.
hdhrant @ Jan 1st 2008 12:29PM
Very nice list.
XanthouS @ Jan 1st 2008 12:31PM
Pretty solid list. AC definitely deserves a spot up there, Portal is some of the most fun I've had gaming in a long time.
Personally don't believe Halo deserves a spot above Mass Effect or God of War.
...or Peggle.
XanthouS @ Jan 1st 2008 12:32PM
That looks confusing. Meant to say Peggle should have been above Halo :P
Game is addicting as heck.
Donald @ Jan 1st 2008 12:32PM
This was a triumph
Jerk Face @ Jan 1st 2008 1:50PM
I'm making a note here..
sheetman @ Jan 1st 2008 2:35PM
HUGE SUCCESS!
CanadianZero @ Jan 1st 2008 5:23PM
It's hard to overstate my satisfaction
Neebs @ Jan 1st 2008 8:49PM
Aperture science
Eldorian @ Jan 1st 2008 10:55PM
C-C-C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!
UltimateQ @ Jan 1st 2008 11:24PM
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
mikeshea @ Jan 1st 2008 12:33PM
im just glad COD beat halo
Obie @ Jan 1st 2008 12:37PM
Yup, Joystiq got my respect just for that.
TonyB @ Jan 2nd 2008 10:22AM
HEY HEY!!! Let's be careful what we say about PAIN... Not just a time waster, when yer fighting it out over a game of horse with your pals, it is a great test of skill, stamina and a little luck...
Zeouterlimits @ Jan 1st 2008 4:10PM
Not a terrible list, I enjoyed all the games there...
I don't know if Portal in No.1 is terribly justified, but cool otherwise!
Giddieon @ Jan 1st 2008 12:35PM
what a krap list... Ratchet and Clank should be in the top 5... no uncharted no Heavenly sword... I mean come on...
I am more pissed that Ratchet and Clank was not there... that game is awesome and should be on every gamers list...
even if you don't like the ps3 rent one for a weekend and play this game it is well worth it... if you are a fan of games this is a must play...
No way AC should be on this list...
Shagittarius @ Jan 1st 2008 12:48PM
I agree, drop peggle, which is not really a game, and add Uncharted in its place.
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 1st 2008 12:58PM
Because uncharted has revolutionary gameplay too right? I've never seen that cover mechanic, or platforming style before!
Shagittarius @ Jan 1st 2008 1:03PM
Had you actually played the game you would understand why it should be on this list vegnatard.
mr nimblewick @ Jan 1st 2008 1:32PM
Peggle is more a game than R&C ever was. Seriously, I've clocked more hours into Peggle this year than any other game.
Korova @ Jan 1st 2008 1:49PM
If you listened to the podcaysts, you would know that they all played Uncharted and it did not pop any balloons. What was memorable about it? Explosive barrels in an ancient tomb. That's just lazy developers, as Jeff Gertzman woul say.
why not the LS2/LS7? @ Jan 1st 2008 2:26PM
I like R&C, but I can't see it in the top 10.
Uncharted should definitely be there. And as to Jeff Gertzmann, just because crappy games have barrels doesn't man all games that have barrels are crappy. Even though Uncharted does overuse barrels, it doesn't mean they are lazy. If you can reuse the entire System Shock 2 plot and not be called lazy, then you can throw in too many barrels and not be called lazy.
Justin McElroy @ Jan 1st 2008 2:32PM
Shag,
How the fuck is Peggle not a game? Seriously. Justify your existence.
tmacairjordan87 @ Jan 1st 2008 3:12PM
what was memorable about peggle? you fire a ball at a bunch of other balls/bricks and it bounces everywhere. WHOOPIE what a complex idea i've never seen anything like it. That game and the others like it are time wasters, not meant for actual fun. I put it in the ranks of a dynasty warriors, any of the 100 that are out there, and Pain from the PSN.