TheGirl is away on business this week, so CigDangle will be filling in.

Last November, shortly after posting my review of Portal, a comment was appended to the end of the article:

I would like to personally thank Evilburn for posting this comment.  Although it has been a long time coming, it is just as heart-felt now as if I had said it the day I was introduced to this amazing flash adaptation of one of all-time favorite games.

If you have had the pleasure of playing Portal, the five-hour physics romp included with The Orange Box, then you will most likely enjoy this trip down memory lane, again navigating your way out of the Aperture Science Laboratories.  If you haven't yet ran the gauntlet and faced off against GlaDOS, then here is your chance.

Portal: The Flash Version is a near perfect two-dimensional flash translation of the console classic.  Everything from the original game is lovingly recreated here.  The portal gun, test chambers, automatic turrets, pressure switches, weighted storage cubes, and material emancipation grids are all represented perfectly. Even Chell, the games protagonist, is wearing her trademark jumpsuit (although she does appear sans her long hair).  The only thing missing is the voice of the ever-present GlaDOS, although the sound effects are identical as the game's inspiration.

Controls are simple.  Curor keys to move (up to jump), and the mouse aims and controls the portal gun.  Click once to place the blue portal; a second time for the yellow (orange) portal.  Although this control scheme will work well on the simple levels, learn the keyboard controls early.  The allow you more precise control.  W, A, and D all have their usual function.  Q will launch the blue portal, E will launch the yellow, and R closes both portals.  The specific placement of portals will be necessary as you progress, as will the ability to pick up objects with the Portal gun (the F key).

The early levels are very simple, as the game introduces you to "portal logic".  As you progress, more elements will appear, and the levels will take more and more time.  I seem to be stuck at level 32, but I'm sure with a little determination, I'll overcome.  I'm bound and determined to see if something similar to the final battle of the original title is replicated here.  If you are new to the game, just remember, "The Cake is a Lie".

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