games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


Game Debate to the Death! Portal VS The Longest Journey photo

Last week's debate started off the final odd debate brackets with the first of three PC rounds for the Dtoid Army to vote on. I don't think I could have picked a better rivalry to kick things off with, and the two titans didn't disappoint, with each bringing massive amounts of support. It sure as hell wasn't as chaotic as the recent Iran riots, but it still made for a good group of comments to read through. Here are the results:
  • Counter-Strike (61 votes) -- "Terrorists. Win." -- Winner!
  • World of Warcraft (30 votes)

This week I honestly wanted to go with a different pair of games, but because I had a feeling it would turn into a massacre (a larger one than this one will most likely turn out), I decided to hold off on Portal VS Myst for a few more weeks. So this week we get two vastly different gameplay experiences. It's hard to compare any game to Portal, but back in the day, The Longest Journey had plenty of praise as well. Both can be bizarre and addicting, but with their game lengths and art styles being so far apart, I'm hoping for some polarized comments.

Which game do you think is better, and why? Give it some serious thought, get some PC friends to share their opinions as well, and check back next week for the winner.

Bonus Question: What is one thing you don't like about the game you voted for?


Continue: More Valve stories





prev 50 comments
next 50 comments

102 comments | showing # 51 to 100

exodus1925's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 03:38
exodus1925
Urm... Portal?
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 03:38
ArrestedDeveloper
TLJ.
ZenHK's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 04:18
ZenHK
haha.. being on the back foot certainly brings the best sweeping generalisations out of TLJ fans.

If this were Gears of war versus TLJ half of the anti-portal assumptions seen above might have credibility. Simpletons? circle-strafing? pfft.
Nictel's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 04:37
Nictel
The Longest Journey. Cause all these kids don't know what's good for them!

At base level Portal is an incredible fun humorous puzzle game.
At base level TLJ is a deep moving story.

What I didn't like? The puzzles that didn't make sense. "Use an inflatable duck and combine it with a washing line and tongs to grab a key 30cm below you." OF COURSE!
Freefall's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 04:39
Freefall
This is hardly fair, an over-popular, incredibly short game known as portal (I do really enjoy it by the way) compared to the greatest adventure game of all time? This is just plain wrong!

When I think back to portal I think of some dry humor and intriguing puzzles, but when i think back to The Longest Journey, just the sense of adventure is amazing.

Also, I would dare to say that about 70% of people who vote have never played The Longest Journey all the way through.

My vote clearly goes to The Longest Journey, even though it is in vain. IT is a sad day when One of greatest stories ever told in gaming loses to a 4 hour puzzle game.

I'm going to cry in a corner now. Also, everyone who voted for the Longest Journey is forever my friend!
Solozaur's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 04:40
Solozaur
The Longest Journey! that games was amazing, one of the best adventures i ever played!
Snidesworth's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 04:43
Snidesworth
The Longest Journey. Portal was great and fun, but TLJ has stuck with me as a fond memory for years. Portal I enjoyed, TLJ I loved.
linuxguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 04:47
linuxguy
I have to go with portal.
de BLOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 05:10
de BLOO
Portal.

Why? That isn't up for disscussion.
Im OK's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 05:18
Im OK
The Longest Journey, by far.

That said, I somehow suspect that Portal will win this though. It's an awesome little game in its own right, so it wouldn't be too bad a thing for TLJ to lose to it I suppose. *shrug*
Im OK's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 05:27
Im OK
Also @ Holiday

Uh, this isn't Dreamfall vs Portal, it's The Longest Journey vs Portal. Dreamfall is the sequel to the far superior TLJ, you do know that right? Right?

Honestly, if it had been Dreamfall vs Portal, I'd most likely have voted for Portal myself. I mean, I really like Dreamfall and all, but it's not TLJ (or Portal).
the Golden Avatar's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 05:55
the Golden Avatar
I love The Longest Journey; great atmosphere and setting, great writing, interesting story, but some real hit-and-miss voice acting, but, eh, who's counting?

That said, Portal gets my vote? How could it not? The game is flawless.
garrfunkel's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 06:11
garrfunkel
Portal all the way.

To be honest I cant think of anything I dont like about it. Everything it does it does perfectly. Length might be a bit of a n issue but its shortness adds to its charm. Portal is pretty much perfect at what it does.
Quistnix's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 06:22
Quistnix
Portal is great. The Longest Journey is just better.
grasslunatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 06:59
grasslunatic
Portal.
GabrielMobius's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 07:36
GabrielMobius
@ZenHK: Are you crazy? By 0:15 I've closed the video in a rage. And let me tell you why. The millions of people who hopped on the Portal meme bandwagon and started quoting random shit from that game ruined it for me, completely and utterly. Every time I hear Still Alive, I grit my teeth and find some way to tune it out.
I loved the hell out of Portal, but the idiots who kept quoting that game because the lack some inner sense of originality killed it.

I'm giving my vote to The Longest Journey, because even taking out the dumb fans of Portal, I just love me some adventure games. Now I want to play it again, damn you.
Jakysan's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 07:46
Jakysan
It's hard to compare AnYTHING to Portal. Not much can on it's same high held pedastal. Portal changed the way I felt about puzzle and FPD games.

The Longest Journey however was an entirely forgettable adventure game. Blah.
Freefall's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 08:44
Freefall
I've realized that this is pretty much Old School vs New School.
Both are kind of puzzle games. Portal is really short but sweet and The Longest Journey is literally The LONGEST journey, sure it has some stupid puzzles, but overall it is just a fantastic story; which portal doesn't have, it doesn't really have a story, only snippets of back-story.


Here's a fun fact, I've re-played The Longest Journey 5 times. I've replayed Portal 3 times. How does that work out? I don't know

And The Longest journey is ANYTHING BUT forgettable.
Cough's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 09:05
Cough
Longest Journey gets my vote.
NukaCola's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 09:34
NukaCola
This is such a tough choice! The Longest Journey was really good, but there were times when the item-related puzzles would get confusing, I'd basically think "wow, how was I supposed to know to combine a duck with a wrench?" or something ridiculous like that. Also the ending was quite a letdown..nevertheless the dialogue was incredibly clever and there were many likable characters you could get attached to, especially April Ryan and Crow. Portal was great too, glaDOS was an incredible villain and the humor was awesomely crafted. I think I'll pick Longest Journey just because it's losing so very badly :P
bluemeep's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 09:37
bluemeep
TLJ, please. The game was a love note during a time when adventure gaming was laying in a gutter by the roadside like so much flattened squirrel.

Shame that Dreamfall couldn't do it justice.
Projectexodus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 09:44
Projectexodus
This is almost an unfair battle. Very few people played The Longest Journey compared to Portal.

But I also choose Portal.
ShadowMoses's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:06
ShadowMoses
The Longest Journey, hands down. Anyone who says Portal is wrong. WRONG.
Montag's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:18
Montag
The Longest Journey has one of my favorite settings/stories so it's getting my vote.
Insanity Warden's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:18
Insanity Warden
Vote: Portal

Bonus Answer: LACK OF A SEQUEL.
Kpax's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:24
Kpax
I never played The Longest Journey, but I actually just finished its sequel, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey, last week, and I really didn't like it all that much overall. I get the feeling that it may have been great when it came out, but it really hasn't aged well. Portal, on the other hand, is fucking fantastic, and I imagine it will still be fantastic in 5 years. My vote goes to Portal.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:33
Holyetheline
My vote is for Portal... I love puzzles that involve teleportation. =)
Freefall's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:54
Freefall
I have just created the best game in the world.
Seriously.



This is what should happen when two brilliant games go against each other.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 10:56
Dexter345
Uh, what is The Longest Journey? I vote for Portal, unquestionably.

As for the one thing I didn't like about Portal, the Achievements were too ridiculously hard to pull off, especially with a dual analog setup as opposed to a mouse/keyboard. I'm only missing 2 of the original 97 Achievements in The Orange Box, and they're both from Portal.
Monte's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 11:19
Monte
Longest Journey
Really, people who have not played the game really damn well should
Agent Raz's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 11:29
Agent Raz
The Longest Journey actually kind of annoyed me. It had a good story and characters and what have you, but the interface and game engine were clunky even by 2000 standards.

It goes without saying that Portal takes the cake (ha!) in my book. Its greatest fault is that it was too short.
The White Light's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 11:52
The White Light
I love both games, but I'm gonna say The Longest Journey.
Woverine's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 12:05
Woverine
is this a joke? I have never heard of this game. Portal FTW!
Mirax's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 12:05
Mirax
Portal... god, that game was amazing.
Zeushbien's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 12:07
Zeushbien
Portal was fun the first time through but I never really became interested in returning to it. The Longest Journey however I've replayed tons of times already so I guess that decides my answer. TLJ it is.
Digigage's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 12:30
Digigage
The Longest Journey since it had a great, decently long and intriguing story. GladOS's humor was the only saving grace for Portal.

Also, most of the "features" in Portal had been done before, so I was not too impressed with its lackluster gameplay.
Freefall's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 12:40
Freefall
"I never played The Longest Journey"

"Uh, what is The Longest Journey? I vote for Portal, unquestionably."

"is this a joke? I have never heard of this game. Portal FTW!"


These comments tear me up inside...

Seriously, buy TLJ, Play TLJ (All the way to the end) and you'll understand why it is a gem.
Flo's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 13:14
Flo
The Longest Journey

As much as I enjoyed Portal, I'll always take a good adventure over a puzzle game.
Velt's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 13:44
Velt
Ok, one for the nostalgia and because is not going to win: The Longest Journey.
Cyber Altair's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 16:04
Cyber Altair
Portal.

It was short but fun as hell.
817539's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 16:19
817539
Portal all the way.

Bonus: I really, REALLY WANTED A F***ING PIECE OF CAKE!
StMcDuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 16:21
StMcDuck
Not even sure what The Longest Journey is, but Portal is in my top 20 games evar, so Portal.
Anus Mcphanus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 16:53
Anus Mcphanus
It's gotta be Portal.

I've a feeling this is going to be a record breaking landslide victory.
Im OK's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 17:09
Im OK
I find it amusing how a lot of the people voting for Portal are saying "The Longest Journey? WTF is that? I've never even heard of that before so I'm obviously voting for Portal" and a lot of the people voting for TLJ are saying "Even though TLJ is definitely better and I'm voting for it, Portal will probably still win because apparently not that many people have actually played it."

Yet even so, TLJ is still getting far more votes than I would have expected, which is very heartening to me. I think this one may be closer than the crushing victory for Portal that I first suspected it would be. Whichever one ends up winning doesn't really matter because they are both awesome games which should be played by everyone.
Electro Lemon's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 17:27
Electro Lemon
I never vote in these, but Dreamfall: The Longest Journey. What a fucking astounding game.
Im OK's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 17:34
Im OK
@Electro Lemon (and others that have confused this)

Again, this isn't between Dreamfall and Portal, it's between The Longest Journey and Portal. "Dreamfall: The Longest Journey" is the sequel to "The Longest Journey". They are not the same game. Seriously.

TLJ > Dreamfall, even though Dreamfall was awesome enough as well.
feliponz's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 17:44
feliponz
ARGH! I can't vote. Not when I've only played one of the games in question. Portal was awesome....BUT, I must go play TLJ as soon as possible!
DaedHead8's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 17:57
DaedHead8
This one is a no-brainer. Portal.
Im OK's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/17/2009 17:57
Im OK
Oh, and I just realized I haven't answered the bonus question yet.

What I didn't like about TLJ... hmm, tough one. I guess I have to go with the previous comments and say I didn't care for some of the more "out there" puzzles.

Alternatively, I could go with "not enough Burns Flipper" because The Flipper was awesome. But... he's best in small doses anyway, so that's something they probably got right.
SRCisFriday's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/18/2009 18:26
SRCisFriday
Portal
prev 50 comments next 50 comments

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos

    Win this!
    Dive in! meetup+play for a chance to win a PC

    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Assassin's Creed 2 review
    Crossfire Remote Pistol review
    Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles review
    Left 4 Dead 2 review
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex review
    more reviews
    Driver
    Avatar
    GT Racing Motor Academy
    Bad Company 2 beta dishes out meaningful experiences
    Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 51142 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing
    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Joseph Leray: Revisited: Gears of War 2, Pinocchio, and masculinity





















    More Destructoid Originals



     Popular now more






















    Team Destructoid   tips@destructoid.com
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief    		 Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor    		 Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Dale North
    News Editor    		 Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor    		 Colette Bennett
    Tom Fronczak Brad Nicholson
    Ashley Davis Ben Perlee
    Conrad
    Zimmerman    		 Chad Concelmo
    Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Will Maddock Matthew Razak
    Dyson Joseph Leray
    Topher Cantler Samit Sarkar
         
      Dexter
    Adam Dork
    Daniel Lingen
    Hollie Bennett
         		Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Stella Wong
    Josh Tolentino




     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    		 support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    		 keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online     		seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap     		our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?



    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006