System: Xbox 360
Genre: Puzzle
Another last minute addition to this list, Portal was such a pleasant surprise. I turned it on "to test it for a few minutes" after buying The Orange Box and ended up playing it pretty much non-stop until I got to the end. The gameplay is absolutely amazing, the portal mechanics are ingenious and using the Portal gun is a genuinely exciting feeling. I've never wanted a gadget from a game in real-life so badly. Not only is the gameplay top notch but the slowly unfolding, cutscene-free story is excellent as well. GlaDos is hilarious and really adds to the ever-growing feeling that something is very wrong at Aperture Science.. Also, "Still Alive" is one of the best songs ever, game-related or otherwise.
