For a company that has produced two games, Valve has done quite well in dominating the hearts, minds and column inches of the gaming world. Not that it isn't deserved.

Their latest plan is to further endear themselves to the public by releasing further episodes of Half Life 2, to chronicle the further adventures of Gordon Freeman, following directly from the end of the game proper. The Orange Box includes three games - the massively delayed Team Fortress 2, Half Life 2: Episode 2 and Portal.

Portal is undoubtedly the most innovative of the games and offers a very different experience to the usual FPS. This is essentially an exercise in spacial puzzles - courtesy of the hand held portal device. Guided by a slightly unnerved AI who clearly aspires to be SHODAN. The novelty is that at no time do you ever have anything more than your portal gun and some handy spring heels that make it impossible to take damage from falls.

There isn't much of a story, it's just good wholesome fun... that will likely make you feel a little confused as to how space works... but the fun of simply being able to fly is fantastic. Or rather, fall out of a portal... The game is hilariously short and even the most slow witted of gamers should be able to finish it in an afternoon at most... this is probably for the best as there are only so many puzzles that one can do involving Portals before they become repetitive or simply too difficult to be enjoyable.

Also hilarious is the dialogue of the game... TF2 is very slapstick but Portal has a subtle, adult humour that is rather dark... doubtless it will go straight over the heads of the dullards but then, what doesn't.

As a single player experience - it's a fun afternoon but really given the wait for Episode 2, it should have been more than just a single afternoon.