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Thinking with Time Machine

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Thinking with Time Machine
Developer(s)Stridemann
Publisher(s)SignHead Studio
EngineSource
Platform(s)Windows, OS X
ReleaseApril 18, 2014
Genre(s)Puzzle-platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Thinking with Time Machine is a single-player mod for Portal 2 developed by Stridemann, and released by SignHead Studio. It was initially released to Steam in April 2014, for Microsoft Windows, and OS X systems, available freely to existing owners of Portal 2.

Gameplay

Main article: Portal (series) § Gameplay
A screenshot of Thinking with Time Machine showcasing the time machine tablet
Chell holds a clipboard in her left hand, allowing her to use the game's time travel mechanic.

Like the Portal series, Thinking with Time Machine is a puzzle-platform modification for Portal 2 played from the first-person perspective, in which the player must solve puzzles in "test chambers".[1][2][3] Throughout the game, the player controls Chell, the protagonist of the Portal series.[4] The player uses the portal gun that can create two ends of a portal, colored orange and blue.[1][5]

In addition to the portal gun, the player is also given a tablet-like "time machine" in their left hand.[3][4] Looking down at the tablet allows the player to record and control their movement, including walking, jumping, and picking up objects.[1][3] After recording themselves, the player user can playback the recording, which summons a double who would perform the selected motion.[3][4] Only one recording can be played at a time, although it can be replayed infinitely.[3] This allows the player to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.[6] Recordings can perform all the actions a normal player can, and the player can also stand on their double, allowing them to reach higher surfaces.[3] After performing a new action, the previous recording is deleted.[3] Another feature of Thinking with Time Machine is the ability for the player to see their own legs by looking down, which is not available in the Portal series.[3][6]

The campaign starts at the end of Portal 2, after which the player is introduced to the time machine concept through a series of tutorials.[3] There is no custom voice acting in the mod.[7]

Development

Thinking with Time Machine was developed by Ukrainian Ruslan "Stridemann" Rybka and published by SignHead Studio.[8][9] Stridemann said that the development of the mod began after the release of Portal 2.[7] Initially, the mod was published on the ModDB website in 2013.[7] "It took two years... there were ups and downs... I felt depressed and inspired... I wanted to give up so many times... but the desire to complete this miracle won out", Stridemann said.[7] The mod later went through the Steam Greenlight process and was accepted due to the mod's concept.[7][10] The mod was released on Steam for free on April 18, 2014.[11][12] Considering that it is a modification, users must own Portal 2 to play Thinking with Time Machine.[3][13] The game was one of the top 200 on Steam in 2014.[8]

Reception

Christopher Livingston of PC Gamer praised the mod, saying that "it's very cool watching the past version of Chell appear and run through her recording".[3] He commended the functions of the tablet, comparing the time machine concept to the cooperative mode, the ability of the player to see their own legs, and the tutorial puzzles.[3] However, Livingston noted that certain puzzles, in which the double cannot be directly seen, "can get a little weird", while he also complained about the lack of usage of the portal gun.[3] Phil Savage of PC Gamer praised the time machine concept and stated that the mod "dramatically expand[s] the complexity" of the Portal series.[11]

Alice O'Connor of Rock Paper Shotgun also rated the mod positively, especially complimenting the ability to view legs in-game.[6] Rock Paper Shotgun also listed Thinking with Time Machine as one of the best mods for Portal 2.[14] Bo Moore of Wired praised the design of puzzles but noted that some puzzles lacked "Valve polish".[1] He, however, criticized the mod for its short length and for not featuring many puzzles where the portal gun is used.[1] Nobuki Yasuda of Automaton noted that the mod lacks a clear plot.[7] Moore and Livingston compared the time machine mechanic to the 2010 The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom game.[1][3] Becky Chambers compared it to the Braid video game.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Moore, Bo (April 28, 2014). "This Portal 2 Mod Lets You Play Against Yourself". Wired. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  2. ^ "Thinking with Time Machine". Kotaku. 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Livingston, Christopher (April 27, 2014). "Mod of the Week: Thinking With Time Machine, for Portal 2". PC Gamer. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Good, Owen S. (April 26, 2014). "Mod adds time travel to Portal 2". Polygon. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  5. ^ Ocampo, Jason (July 11, 2007). "The Orange Box E3 2007 Preshow Hands-On - Portal". GameSpot. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c O'Connor, Alice (April 23, 2014). "Portal 2 Mod Adds Time-Travelling Legs". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Yasuda, Nobuki (April 25, 2014). "『Thinking with Time Machine』 Greenlitも納得、貫禄のファンメイドMOD" ["Thinking with Time Machine" A fan-made mod that Greenlight is conviced of]. Automaton Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Orland, Kyle (May 3, 2015). "Steam Gauge: Measuring the most popular Steam games of 2014". Ars Technica. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  9. ^ Torrejón, Rocío (April 19, 2021). "Portal 2: 10 años de la penúltima obra maestra de Valve" [Portal 2: 10 Years Since Valve's Penultimate Masterpiece]. Meristation (in Spanish). Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  10. ^ Svetlichny, Sergey (April 27, 2024). "Thinking with Time Machine: добавляем в Portal 2 четвертое измерение" [Thinking with Time Machine: Adding a Fourth Dimension to Portal 2]. ITC.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Savage, Phil (April 22, 2014). "Portal 2 mod Thinking With Time Machine now available on Steam". PC Gamer. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  12. ^ "Découvrez le mod Thinking with Time Machine avec Portal 2" [Check out the Thinking with Time Machine mod for Portal 2]. Syfantasy (in French). April 23, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  13. ^ Hurley, Leon (April 25, 2014). "New Portal 2 Mod Adds Time Travel". Kotaku. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  14. ^ Pearson, Craig (December 20, 2021). "The best Portal 2 mods". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  15. ^ Chambers, Becky (April 27, 2014). "This Portal 2 Time Travel Mod Lets Chell Solve Puzzles With Her Past Self". The Mary Sue. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
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