I have been a fan of the Portal franchise for about as long as I have been at the computer. The tricky puzzles, satisfying mechanics, and sharp writing have consistently got me coming back for another round of tests. Naturally, Portal Reloaded seemed like a good next step to take for me.
Portal Reloaded is a fairly simple set-up: 25 chambers, a disembodied voice, and one new mechanic. The storyline of Reloaded is nothing groundbreaking, and the characters are practically nonexistent. The announcer (or at least I think that's the announcer) is a perfectly serviceable director for the player, aided by Harry101UK's fairly accurate impression.
This game truly shines in its introduction and usage of the time portal mechanic. Utilizing a whole new dimension brings in a... whole new dimension to the puzzles, literally. This game had me scratching my head constantly, but the solutions were always very satisfying. Planning out a complicated series of portal placements in two different timelines and then seeing everything work is a cathartic experience. Obviously, the time portal is the main draw of Reloaded, and it's clear that lots of effort was put into making it fun and interesting to use. The dichotomy between the future and past environments were very fun and the care put into the level design was appreciated.
One criticism I do have of this game is that the chambers were a bit too open for my taste. The chambers were large and oftentimes sparse, leading to the puzzles not feeling particularly tight. The puzzles themselves were fun and challenging, but they felt a bit too big for me.
Overall, I highly recommend Portal Reloaded for anyone who is a fan of the first two games and is looking for something a bit more challenging.