In 2007, veteran PC developers Valve released The Orange Box, a collection of five games. Portal, a game in which users play nameless characters who run tests with portal guns, was one of the five.

The portal gun can be easily described as a gun that shoots two color-coded circles; players enter one and come out the other. It's simple in that respect. But when gravity is added, things turn insane and become unforgettable.

Portal 2, the sequel, largely lives up to its predecessor. Portal 2 offers more puzzles, a longer single-player campaign and twice the hilarious robots.

I don't know when I've laughed as much while playing another game. To go along with the laughs, there are new additions to the gameplay such as jump pads, gels and tracker beams.

Portal 2 is built on the source engine, and although it is four years later, it doesn't stop Portal 2 from looking and playing like a dream.

My favorite stylistic features include the use of characters who say little blurbs at players and characters that only exist in recorded audio diaries. One of the best characters is Wheatley, a British robot, voiced by Stephen Merchant.

This game is the best of the year; for any other game makers to come close, they'll have to make a game just as astounding.

Ben Montoya is a freshman at Santa Fe High School. He can be reached at booga274@gmail.com.