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Cryptozoic Entertainment Portal The Uncooperative Board Game
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Cryptozoic Entertainment |
Material | Plastic |
Theme | Video Game |
Batteries Required? | No |
Color | Multi-colored |
About this item
- Designed by Valve staff, the makers of Portal & Portal 2!
- Includes a free Steam code for a copy of Portal 2!
- Fast and fun gameplay
- Modular board
- Includes miniatures of popular Portal game elements
Additional Details
Frequently bought together
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Product information
Product Dimensions | 3 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 1.9 pounds |
Country of Origin | China |
ASIN | B00TVQ00BI |
Item model number | 18236CZE |
Manufacturer recommended age | 15 - 16 years |
Best Sellers Rank | #305,388 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games) #10,390 in Board Games (Toys & Games) |
Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Release date | October 15, 2015 |
Manufacturer | Publisher Services Inc (PSI) |
Warranty & Support
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Product Description
With a grinding of gears and some uneasy rumbling, Aperture Laboratories has resumed testing! Your team of Test Subjects have entered the Lab and are ready to perform all sorts of important, dignified and dangerous testing procedures. all in the pursuit of Cake! It's a fun and funny fast-paced fight to the finish. And by finish, we mean your team probably died. The Lab is an ever-changing conveyor belt of death and dismemberment. But SCIENCTIFIC PROGRESS must be at the forefront of the mind of every good Test Subject. In this game of constantly shifting area control and cardplay, players move and Portal their Test Subjects to various Chambers in the Lab. At the end of each player's turn, one of the Chambers on the end of the Lab gives way, plunging all Test Subjects on it into oblivion. But, should your Test Subjects have numbered greater than all others in the falling Chamber, they earn you some wonderful parting gifts, which can include Cake. Yet, these moist slices of industrial-grade Cake must be stored in the Lab, where they are at risk of falling into said oblivion. Not to mention that your jealous opponents can pick up your Cake and move it closer to that precipice. He who has acquired the most Cake when a team has lost its last Test Subject is the winner. Do you risk gathering Cake early for a quick win? Or do you bide your time and wait until you can protect it better? Win the game and prove the Cake was no lie.
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, strategic, and fun of the board game. They say it's a great beer and pretzels game for 2-4 people. They also appreciate the gorgeous theme and unique board. Customers also like the strategic, speed, and difficulty. However, some are disappointed with ease of movement. Opinions are mixed on ease of use, construction, and difficult.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the board game amazing, strategic, and cool. They say it's a great beer and pretzels game for 2-4 people. Customers also mention that the game is littered with Easter eggs and flavor text that makes them feel like they are playing. They also say the strategies emerge that make the game very interesting.
"...As a board game, it is awesome, but it does not capture the experience of playing Portal (and it's not supposed to)...." Read more
"...of the award-winning video game's IP, Portal: the Uncooperative Cake Acquisition Game is very good...." Read more
"...bit to figure out the mechanic for evil but once you do, the game is hilariously fun...." Read more
"...This is a really fun directly competitive game, where you have lots of opportunities to screw over your opponent...." Read more
Customers find the illustrations in the board game gorgeous, unique, and cool. They also say the components are well illustrated and sturdy. Customers also say that the board itself is unique and fun.
"...match the look and feel from the videogame, and the colored cake pieces are a cool touch. The Aperture cards are interesting and thematic...." Read more
"...This is a great filler game. The components are well illustrated and of sturdy construction...." Read more
"...The Portal theme is a gorgeous touch!As much as I love the publisher, the 1st print of this game's inset tray is bogus...." Read more
"This stuff is pretty cool and the kids liked it. I liked it too, until I started finding it all over the house...." Read more
Customers find the board game quite strategic with two players. They say the strategy is top-notch and the uses are very situational.
"...run out (each player can only have 3 at a time), and their uses are very situational and they often interplay with one another...." Read more
"...I'm happy to relay that it's a lot of fun. With two players it's quite strategic, though can sometimes trigger long thinking turns for AP prone..." Read more
"...The strategy is also top-notch since players can find ingenious ways to win the game or they can do it slow and steady to the end, meaning the game..." Read more
"...It’s goofy and strategic all at the same time.However, I wanted it as a game we could play together...." Read more
Customers find the speed of the board game to be fast and easy to work with. They also say the turns are quick and the product arrived quickly. Customers also mention that the gameplay is fairly smooth.
"...There can be a fairly quick cycling, so it's possible to see the same Character come up again later in the game...." Read more
"...(even for a bunch of drunk people when we played it) and the turns are quick...." Read more
"...to learn the instructions, but once you've got them down gameplay is fairly smooth...." Read more
"...Fast pace and cutthroat." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of use of the board game. Some mention that it's easy to follow, learn, and clear things up after a few play-throughs. The gameplay itself is pretty simple when you get the hang of the rules. However, others say that the instructions aren't instructive, it'd be difficult to develop a strategy, and there's no puzzle solving.
"This was a great, chaotic boardgame that requires a lot of thought to play well...." Read more
"...It was rather complicated to learn, we muddled through the first time, then played again once we got the hang of it, and that was the end...." Read more
"...They can be quite powerful, but they are easy to obtain so other players aren't at a disadvantage...." Read more
"...My fiancee sort of hated it and was frustrated by the somewhat confusing rules. We had to watch some playthroughs...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the construction of the board game. Some mention that the pieces are well made and sturdy, while others say that the corners are damaged and the tiles are flimsy.
"...The only thing I'd improve is the quality of the tiles, most of the time they get stuck and you have to move them often, the material they're made..." Read more
"This is a very well designed board game. The pieces are extremely well made, though one or two pieces has a small chip of paint missing...." Read more
"...The corners are better but a little damaged still. It's frustrating paying $50 for a game and the outside damaged." Read more
"...Some of the game pieces are quality - other parts to the game - specifically the board - left me scratching my head...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the difficulty of the board game. Some mention that it's a great, chaotic board game that requires a lot of thought to play, has chaotic dynamics, and is pretty advanced. However, others say that it is definitely uncooperative, almost to the point of being not that fun, and disappointing.
"...A ton of replayability, in my mind. The randomized board prevents common openings, and then changes shape to produce some really bizarre dynamics...." Read more
"...It's the good kind of chaotic, especially with three or four players...." Read more
"...If you're a fan of Portal, the game is even worse. There's no puzzle solving, or anything of the sort...." Read more
"...This is most certainly a game of strategy, although circumstances change rapidly and you will have to adjust your plans often if you really want..." Read more
Customers find the board game awkward to move around. They also say the tab system is not elegant, and the board is physically shifting.
"...quality of the tiles, most of the time they get stuck and you have to move them often, the material they're made from isn't really suitable for all..." Read more
"...The board pieces are a bit ill-fitting, so it's often awkward moving them around...." Read more
"...pieces were difficult to fit together, making it difficult at times to maneuver things around." Read more
"...Meanwhile, the board is physically shifting and cards change the game state constantly." Read more
Reviews with images
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The first three games we played (all 4-player games) went as follows:
1) 20 Minutes. We learned the rules, read the cards, and then everyone started killing each others' test subjects like maniacs and generally not making much progress. I ended the game the first chance I had and won with 2 pieces of cake (out of 8 possible per player). No cake incinerated.
2) 15 minutes. Winner had 3 pieces of cake, took advantage of an opening to end the game very quickly. The opening came from how other players had selected test chambers to recycle - it gave them a short-term advantage, but ultimately let him recycle a test chamber with all his guys in it and end the game. One piece of cake incinerated, but it was by an Aperture card, not by recycling test chambers.
3) 80 minutes, and I only ended it because I had to go to bed. All four of us finally understood that, every turn, you needed to watch your opponents and see what their path to victory was, and then try to stop it. Twice, I had a significant lead, but was blocked from killing my subjects and ending the game. Eventually, 7 of my cake pieces had been dumped in the incinerator, so it was nearly impossible for me to win. Winner had 3 pieces of cake. There were 16 pieces of cake in the incinerator (half of all the cake pieces the game came with). I was the one who ended the game, but I did not need to - had I been so inclined, I could have begun working against the leading player, but it would have dragged the game out even longer. Another time, I probably would have done so. But not then.
As I said above, once we realized that we had to actively monitor the other players' strategies, the game became so much deeper. The first two games were like the 4-move checkmate in Chess; if your opponent isn't watching, you can quickly win. But if they are paying attention, you need to utilize a more complex strategy.
A ton of replayability, in my mind. The randomized board prevents common openings, and then changes shape to produce some really bizarre dynamics. I've seen some complaints that there should have been more Aperture/Character cards, but I think it's just the perfect amount, and I will address that with some specifics. There are enough that you will never run out (each player can only have 3 at a time), and their uses are very situational and they often interplay with one another. It's good that there are multiple copies of the 8 different Aperture cards, since you will want to be doing the same thing more than once. There's a good amount of Character cards, as well - some of them are great effects regardless, and some will only be useful in certain situations. There can be a fairly quick cycling, so it's possible to see the same Character come up again later in the game. For both kinds of cards, the complexity comes from interactions with other cards, and the cards available will affect the strategies of you and your opponents. An Aperture card that lets you move one test subject to an adjacent chamber plays very differently if a Character lets you freely move a Portal (giving you a straight shot to a test chamber you're about to recycle), if a Character says you cannot split groups of test subjects (since that card will effectively bypass the restriction), if you have an Aperture card that can move the test-subject-killing Turret (you thought your guy was at a safe distance? Think again!), or if you are trying to carry another player's cake away from the safe end of the board (I can take your cake and run twice as fast as you!). The Companion Cube is another good example - when you place it in a test chamber, no one gets rewards for that chamber. Usually, you place it to stop an opponent from getting rewards, but I would use it on myself to keep from accumulating test subjects when I was trying to end the game.
After that glowing review, I would like to issue a few words of warning. First, the similarities to the video game are solely aesthetic. If you are looking for unique puzzles, an engaging story, or eccentric characters, this is not for you. As a board game, it is awesome, but it does not capture the experience of playing Portal (and it's not supposed to). Second, there is a ton of Kingmaking potential, so if that's a recurring problem in your group, you might also want to stay away from this game. My gaming group is comfortable with everyone else "teaming up" on the winner, but I know a lot of people would consider that a point against the game.
Don't worry, it's good. A worthy use of the award-winning video game's IP, Portal: the Uncooperative Cake Acquisition Game is very good. For fans of the Portal series (like me), it's great. It would also be fun without the Portal universe supporting it, which certainly is the mark of a great licensed game. The videogame was groundbreaking; the boardgame isn't quite that but the core gameplay mechanics are still unique and interesting,
Positives
The game, at its simplest, works like this: use your Test Subjects to gain Cake and/or more Test Subjects. Once you have more Cake on the board than your opponents, you will try to end the game by getting rid of all of your own or one opponents' Test Subjects. However, if you're too slow at doing this, you leave your opponents with an opening to add Cake to the board with their own (dwindling) Test Subjects and turn the tables by taking advantage of your "help." This balancing act makes for a fascinating game.
The board itself is also unique. It is made up of fifteen interlocking tiles that create the Laboratory. Familiar Portal staples such as Test Subjects, Cake, a Turret, a Companion Cube, and portal tokens will be moved around on these tiles. Every turn, each player is required to choose a tile on the "old end" of the Laboratory to activate. The tile will give bonuses to Test Subjects on the tile and then flip over to the "new end" of the Laboratory, creating a constantly changing and recycling board. It's the good kind of chaotic, especially with three or four players.
The Aperture cards that players will use throughout the game are also a great addition. They can be quite powerful, but they are easy to obtain so other players aren't at a disadvantage. The cards are especially interesting because the other side of each card has a unique character from the Portal universe which alters the game for all players. So, you'll play one of Aperture cards that allows you to destroy a Test Subject, but which in turn activates "Chell." Chell allows the next player to freely move a Portal token to any Test Chamber, potentially a very powerful ability. More often than not, every decision in the game has these cause/effect scenarios and the board often changes quickly and dramatically.
I would be remiss to mention the inclusion of the Portal universe. The miniature Test Subjects, miniature Companion Cube, and miniature Turret match the look and feel from the videogame, and the colored cake pieces are a cool touch. The Aperture cards are interesting and thematic. The sardonic humor of the original game comes through even in the very premise of this game: doing whatever you can to gain Cake and often sacrificing your own Test Subjects in the process. The namesake portal tokens for jumping around the board are there but aren't the focal point. Which is fine.
Negatives
The concept of the interlocking tiles and the constantly recycling game board is a good enough concept to base a game on. However, it isn't perfectly accomplished. The pieces are smaller than Catan tiles, with additional tabs that are meant to lock into each other so that the board can be easily shifted on the table. Some tabs fit, but many others don't or they fit too well and make it difficult to pull the tile up. This isn't a game breaker but it's something you'll quickly notice as you play.
From a thematic perspective, GLaDOS doesn't really play any kind of role, which is a little disappointing since the Companion Cube, Turret, Cake, Test Subjects, and portals are used throughout in gameplay. She doesn't even have her own Aperture card. Still, a minor qualm.
Final Thoughts
When I heard that Valve was involved with developing a Portal boardgame, I knew that we would have to check it out. I'm happy to relay that it's a lot of fun. With two players it's quite strategic, though can sometimes trigger long thinking turns for AP prone players. Three and four player games are more chaotic and tactical, with the game board changing dramatically by the time it gets back to you for your turn. There is a ton of player interaction, both direct and indirect.
It's a special kind of fun to grab your opponent's Cake and march through a portal, activating a test chamber and incinerating their Cake piece in the process. You'll make constant risk/reward decisions like this, sometimes teetering on the brink of being eliminated until you have enough Cake to win the game by intentionally walking your Test Subject into a Turret. Games will usually end quickly and abruptly like this.
Overall, the game is one of the more unique ones that we've played. Portal fans or those who like puzzle-type games with a lot of player interaction will find a lot to like here.
Note: reviews of this game and others, including gameplay descriptions, more bad puns, and a lot more pictures available at playbegins.com
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2015
Don't worry, it's good. A worthy use of the award-winning video game's IP, Portal: the Uncooperative Cake Acquisition Game is very good. For fans of the Portal series (like me), it's great. It would also be fun without the Portal universe supporting it, which certainly is the mark of a great licensed game. The videogame was groundbreaking; the boardgame isn't quite that but the core gameplay mechanics are still unique and interesting,
Positives
The game, at its simplest, works like this: use your Test Subjects to gain Cake and/or more Test Subjects. Once you have more Cake on the board than your opponents, you will try to end the game by getting rid of all of your own or one opponents' Test Subjects. However, if you're too slow at doing this, you leave your opponents with an opening to add Cake to the board with their own (dwindling) Test Subjects and turn the tables by taking advantage of your "help." This balancing act makes for a fascinating game.
The board itself is also unique. It is made up of fifteen interlocking tiles that create the Laboratory. Familiar Portal staples such as Test Subjects, Cake, a Turret, a Companion Cube, and portal tokens will be moved around on these tiles. Every turn, each player is required to choose a tile on the "old end" of the Laboratory to activate. The tile will give bonuses to Test Subjects on the tile and then flip over to the "new end" of the Laboratory, creating a constantly changing and recycling board. It's the good kind of chaotic, especially with three or four players.
The Aperture cards that players will use throughout the game are also a great addition. They can be quite powerful, but they are easy to obtain so other players aren't at a disadvantage. The cards are especially interesting because the other side of each card has a unique character from the Portal universe which alters the game for all players. So, you'll play one of Aperture cards that allows you to destroy a Test Subject, but which in turn activates "Chell." Chell allows the next player to freely move a Portal token to any Test Chamber, potentially a very powerful ability. More often than not, every decision in the game has these cause/effect scenarios and the board often changes quickly and dramatically.
I would be remiss to mention the inclusion of the Portal universe. The miniature Test Subjects, miniature Companion Cube, and miniature Turret match the look and feel from the videogame, and the colored cake pieces are a cool touch. The Aperture cards are interesting and thematic. The sardonic humor of the original game comes through even in the very premise of this game: doing whatever you can to gain Cake and often sacrificing your own Test Subjects in the process. The namesake portal tokens for jumping around the board are there but aren't the focal point. Which is fine.
Negatives
The concept of the interlocking tiles and the constantly recycling game board is a good enough concept to base a game on. However, it isn't perfectly accomplished. The pieces are smaller than Catan tiles, with additional tabs that are meant to lock into each other so that the board can be easily shifted on the table. Some tabs fit, but many others don't or they fit too well and make it difficult to pull the tile up. This isn't a game breaker but it's something you'll quickly notice as you play.
From a thematic perspective, GLaDOS doesn't really play any kind of role, which is a little disappointing since the Companion Cube, Turret, Cake, Test Subjects, and portals are used throughout in gameplay. She doesn't even have her own Aperture card. Still, a minor qualm.
Final Thoughts
When I heard that Valve was involved with developing a Portal boardgame, I knew that we would have to check it out. I'm happy to relay that it's a lot of fun. With two players it's quite strategic, though can sometimes trigger long thinking turns for AP prone players. Three and four player games are more chaotic and tactical, with the game board changing dramatically by the time it gets back to you for your turn. There is a ton of player interaction, both direct and indirect.
It's a special kind of fun to grab your opponent's Cake and march through a portal, activating a test chamber and incinerating their Cake piece in the process. You'll make constant risk/reward decisions like this, sometimes teetering on the brink of being eliminated until you have enough Cake to win the game by intentionally walking your Test Subject into a Turret. Games will usually end quickly and abruptly like this.
Overall, the game is one of the more unique ones that we've played. Portal fans or those who like puzzle-type games with a lot of player interaction will find a lot to like here.
Note: reviews of this game and others, including gameplay descriptions, more bad puns, and a lot more pictures available at playbegins.com
Also: not sure if anyone else got this, but it seems like the box was designed to look like it is already weathered? The edges of the piece separation section have some painted-on scratches and weathering on the edges, which would fit the narrative of the game and don't seem to be unintentional weathering like you would get from a used copy. It made me really mad for a second, then we noticed it looked intentional.
Top reviews from other countries
En cuanto a lo del tablero, pues si, la misma queja de todos, NO embonan bien. Y la pieza de cartón de GLADos es inútil.
Pero si te gustan los juegos de estrategia. Éste es excelente. Si tú o tus amigos tardan porque le piensan qué van a hacer. Este juego puede demorar MUCHO.
El instructivo NO me pareció confuso como los otros reportan, pero yo vi una video reseña antes.
En general los comentarios que he recibido es "el juego es bueno, pero no es mi favorito" (Tengo más de 30 juegos que NO son de supermercado).
Aún con todo, a mí sí me gustó y si regresarámos el tiempo, lo volvería a comprar.
This is only about the quality of the materials not the game itself.
Improvements:
- artwork of the turret (kinda crappy, looking like a Chinese toy)
- rulebook (lacks "Portal" feel to it, quite PDF-like)
Also, two corners of the box were a little dented upon delivery. :(