When Valve first announced an in-game level editor would be coming to Portal 2, I was excited. Not because I am the type to ever mess around with such a feature — outside of TimeSplitters 2 I can’t think of an example of a map editor I have ever spent any extended period of time with — but because I’m intrigued to see what sort of test chambers others create. That functionality was already in place for those who are more technologically inclined, but the new in-game editor promised it would be “easy-to-use” and allow for levels to be shared with other players. Based on the few hours I’ve spent with the new Perpetual Testing Initiative DLC, both of those promises have been met and, much to my surprise, I now find myself more excited to see what others think of my level than I am to try out others’ creations.
Valve hasn’t included any new test chambers of its own in this release. It has provided more than a simple level editor, though: New Cave Johnson story content is wrapped around the levels players create. Following up on what’s laid out in the trailer above, the beginning of each test chamber features a new clip of the J.K. Simmons-voiced Aperture Science founder talking about alternate dimensions and passing along knowledge his new assistant has shared with him. Just as within Portal 2 proper, nearly everything he says is hilarious, and in GLaDOS’ absence his comments provide a welcome feeling of cohesion as you make your way through test chambers which otherwise lack any connection with each other.
