Aperture Desk Job

At some point, I’ve probably said that I would play anything developed by Valve, and Aperture Desk Job seems designed to test that statement. It’s a tech demo for hardware I don’t even have, but it’s also a prequel to Portal, so it’s getting a spot on my SSD without a second thought. Although in truth, its use of the Portal setting and imagery is odd. It uses plot points and references that would only make sense to established fans, but then it’s apparently set in an alternate continuity of some kind for no reason. Of course, judging a tech demo for its plot is expecting far more than was ever promised. On its own merits, Aperture Desk Job is solidly presented, impeccably voiced, and darkly hilarious. It’s also free, so there are certainly worse ways to spend thirty minutes. However, it will make you even more frustrated that Valve refuses to make full games without caveats anymore.

Note: this score was changed from 6.0 to reflect the author’s changing opinion.