Portal with RTX

Yes, Portal with RTX is what you think it is. It's the original game enhanced with the ray-tracing capabilities of the RTX graphics card. Are we going to play this classic puzzler again with only enhanced graphics?

The sad fact is that although we've played Portal a thousand times, a simple visual adjustment will continue us from playing Portal with RTX. The game is a simple rework testing the capabilities of RTX. At least we get to see how it works in a shiny new environment. Regardless of your suspicions of Portal with RTX, the upgrade to the game is free. It's a sigh of relief when we thought that the publisher would be charging again to play the title that's probably one of the most replayed action puzzle games in history.

Blinding Lights

If you've been living under a rock and don't know what Portal is, it's arguably one of the most famous puzzle games of all time. Players use a Portal gun to figure out ways to escape a laboratory, where a psyche-bending narrative develops under the supervision of AI, GlaDOS. It's a cleverly designed, minimalist title that you should have played if you haven't - no excuses.

So, let's look at what Portal with RTX adds to this magnificent experience. As mentioned earlier, all it offers is a graphical upgrade that will require some hefty hardware to get a decent frame rate. There's ray tracing in the environment, making everything shinier, defined, and represented well in a 4K-capable device. So does this all contribute to the game in any way?

Not in the slightest. Portal with RTX looks fantastic for those with a heavy rig running your games, but it doesn't add anything to the gameplay. If you have a typical gaming rig, this upgrade detracts from the experience. The environmental enhancements mean that the game will suck up your processing power and more, where players will struggle to get a semi-decent frame rate.

Those who can make the game work say that the models are all the same, where only the lighting and texture surfaces seem to improve. Again, Portal with RTX is likely an experiment showcasing what the RTX overhaul could do for older games. The result is satisfactory and cool, but is this something we need?

Happy Shiny People

So it's evident that Portal with RTX is hardly worth it unless you want to make your game look shinier or see the capabilities of RTX. It's different than a complete rework of gameplay mechanics and models like Resident Evil 2. But let's remember, this is a free upgrade, so you're not losing anything by getting this enhanced game edition.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A free upgrade showcasing RTX abilities in a classic game
• The environments do look nice
• Another reason to replay one of the best puzzle games of all time

Cons:

• Most machines won't be able to get it running well
• Nothing much added to the game besides better lighting and textures
• Getting 60 fps is very difficult