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Portal
When The Orange Box launched, it offered Half-Life 2, its two episodes, and the long-awaited, destined-to-be-legendary Team Fortress 2, all at one affordable price. However, the real breakout of this package was an unknown puzzle game called Portal. Starring Chell, trapped in an Aperture Science test facility at the mercy of the AI GlaDOS, it posited a simple gameplay mechanic – one portal to enter through, another to exit. This straightforward mechanic resulted in one of the most inventive puzzle mechanics. Portal also deserves praise for telling a compelling story with only one speaking character, nailing the pacing and overall flow without overstaying its welcome.
