Portal, the upcoming puzzle-based game included with Half-Life 2: Episode Two, will last only about four hours, according to an interview with level designer Kim Swift. Swift also revealed that the game’s tutorial will be significant enough that anyone will be able to get the hang of the game. "In the game we take you very step by step in terms of being able to use your portals." The game will be strictly a single-player experience where you’ll use a portal gun to go through a variety of environments and puzzles.
In a related story, Planet Half-Life compiled some interviews together confirming that Portal, which takes place within the Half-Life universe, will be separate from the action in Half-Life 2. In other words, the portal gun was originally conceived for use within Half-Life 2 but the decision was made to keep the game and gun apart. Swift said, "Doing something new can be a really big risk and adding something innovative to something already exists can often disrupt and create new games." Nevertheless, Swift doesn’t rule out seeing crossovers between the two games, but that probably won’t happen for quite some time.
Half-Life 2: Episode Two will ship in two retail packages this fall, following several delays. The Black Box will ship for PC and will include Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Portal and Team Fortress 2 for $39.99. The Orange Box will ship for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 and will contain the contents of The Black Box along with Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One for $59.99. It’s also safe to assume that each title will be made available individually and as a package on Valve’s broadband delivery system, Steam.
