Testing focus: Lasers
Difficulty: Medium / medium-hard
Expected play time: Half an hour

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This is the third Portal 2 map I have released on ThinkingWithPortals.com, and an advanced variant of my second map, sp_fr_lasers_01. I hope the map is not too hard, but still poses a challenge to players that have (most likely) already played the original. This map is in the clean map style, with a unique elevator design. I hope you'll like it.

I wish you a happy playthrough. Please report any bugs and glitches to me if deemed nescessary, and don't forget to rate and post feedback.

Changelog:

Version 1.1.000000001 (rounded down):
- Made the map compatible with the workshop.

Version 1.1:
- Added cube fizzler in the corner of the second chamber, replacing the slanted floor. // Prevents players from solving the map through placing a cube there.
- First part of the second chamber now requires prolongued activation. // Another thing to prevent wrong solving.
- Second turret bay now closes upon defeating the turrets inside. // The doors were annoying.
- Autosaves slightly modified:
> Added one after the first part of the second chamber.
> No more autosave on the water platform if turrets are still alive.
- Slightly better texturing and reflection on the pool in the second chamber. // Arguably prettier.

Version 1.0:
- Map Release

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Credits:

FourthReaper - for design and creation
Valve - for making the Half-Life/Portal universe a better place

Baca25 - for feedback on bugs and nuisances.
Jamesf141
josepezdj

Feel discredited? Want in? Contact me at the topic for this map on ThinkingWithPortals.com

Click here to download sp_fr_lasers_01_advanced

Click here to download sp_fr_lasers_01_advanced

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And of course, here are some screenshots to check out the map in advance. Click them for the fully sized version.

In the laser puzzle genre, this is better than most. While the portal placements and angles aren't hard to figure out (almost obvious to me), the other puzzle elements make it a challenge to set them up. For comparison's sake, if this were Jonatan's map, it would have been called One Gate, not Seven Gates. It took me about two hours to solve it the first time, and maybe 10 the second.

I hope the design was intentional, because I found that even though you might be placing portals at oblique angles and long distances, there were texture lines that allowed perfect alignment every time.

The place I screwed up multiple times in a row was the jump to the last small platform. It's a completely makeable jump, yet I fell short over and over again. Then, I was ticked when I finally solved it the first time, only to be killed when the first door closed on me. OUCH!

Very well done clean style map, moderate puzzle difficulty, moderate execution difficulty, and definite AHAH! moments. 4/5 from me. I'll go record a playthrough, before Djinndrache makes mincemeat of this.

EDIT: Here's my slowstumbling playthrough:
http://youtu.be/c9oomt1xlDg

@ KennKong: Ha, that was slowstumbling? Your solving is really fast-paced, just seems like Portal is lagging. Anyway, thanks for the feedback. Strange that my rating says "1 vote, 5/5" but I'll take it.

Unfortunately, I missed a 'non-intended solution'. In the first chamber you were supposed to laser through the same portal twice. Then again, this solution is not game-breaking.

Also, thanks for reminding me to play Seven Gates. I still haven't done so, and I'd like to fully understand the reference...

Also, did you play sp_fr_lasers_01? Just wondering, since you reacted quickly to some parts.

FourthReaper wrote:
@ KennKong: Ha, that was slowstumbling? Your solving is really fast-paced, just seems like Portal is lagging.

Well, it certainly doesn't qualify as speedrunning, does it?> FourthReaper wrote:

Unfortunately, I missed a 'non-intended solution'. In the first chamber you were supposed to laser through the same portal twice.

I went back and looked for a reentrant solution, and couldn't find one. Post a screenshot?> FourthReaper wrote:

Also, did you play sp_fr_lasers_01? Just wondering, since you reacted quickly to some parts.

No, I haven't played the original. I'm working my way through the SP maps from the back; when I finish a page (last week I finished what was then p. 10), I go back to the first page and play the new ones. As far as my reactions go, it was my third playthrough. Even so, I forgot what I was doing for a minute in the second chamber. And I died

@ KennKong: Wow, you really try to play each map?

As for the solution, here's a picture. Spoiler sensitive, naturally.
SPOILER INSIDE

And yes, looking at it I realized this solution seems very hacked and chaotic. That's why yours stays.

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Also, to anyone else, I really would recommend before playing that you play the 'normal' version of the map, right here. Not only because it looks better, but because I think it would be more fun...

My first room solution - I think it is the same as KennKong's video.

Screenshot-10.jpg
And this is the method I used to get through the final room with no hop-scotch over the water:

n7M2uWPlI80

@ PCdoc: Can't believe I didn't think of that solution in the second chamber! Ah well, lets hope not too many people consider this game-breaking, 'cause I'd hate to have to paint the room black. I like open walls as much as possible. Thanks for the video, though.

I just wanted to check if my solutions were correct.

Mine for the first room looks the same as your intended version above.

2012-03-18_00001.jpg

I think I kind of hacked the first part of the second room, considering you have the emancipation grid in the corner, but you never can be sure.

2012-03-19_00001.jpg

I know my solution for the third part isn't correct. It's pretty much the same as PCdoc's, with a slight variation. Instead of pulling the blocking cube out of the way, I shot the orange portal offline, then reset it once inside the first door.

2012-03-19_00002.jpg
In any case, quite a fun map. I don't normally go for laser puzzles, and it thinks it's because they usually tend to be in small, cramped rooms. The big open spaces of this map set it apart. I've enjoyed all of your maps, and look forward to more.

TaiMai wrote:
Mine for the first room looks the same as your intended version above.

Yeah, that's the one.

TaiMai wrote:
I think I kind of hacked the first part of the second room, considering you have the emancipation grid in the corner, but you never can be sure.

Well, I can. It's not the right one. I hoped I fixed that, but I guess I can't. Lets hope it cost you a lot of time.

TaiMai wrote:
I know my solution for the third part isn't correct. It's pretty much the same as PCdoc's, with a slight variation. Instead of pulling the blocking cube out of the way, I shot the orange portal offline, then reset it once inside the first door.

Not correct, but I don't mind the solution, as it can only be prevented by completely remaking the room. (In black, probably.)

TaiMai wrote:
In any case, quite a fun map. I don't normally go for laser puzzles, and it thinks it's because they usually tend to be in small, cramped rooms. The big open spaces of this map set it apart. I've enjoyed all of your maps, and look forward to more.

I understand your contempt towards laser puzzles, I don't really like 'em myself. You won't find me making any more puzzles with lasers being the main component.
Also, nice to hear you played all my maps! Appreciate it!

FourthReaper wrote:
Lets hope it cost you a lot of time.

HaHa, it sure did!!

I'm tempted to go back and try to find the correct solutions, but I get this type of gamer's block where I simply cannot see another solution once I've found one. I'll have some time away and readdress it in the future.

TaiMai wrote:
I'm tempted to go back and try to find the correct solutions, but I get this type of gamer's block where I simply cannot see another solution once I've found one. I'll have some time away and readdress it in the future.

Heheh, get what you mean. No rush.

Today I uploaded both this map and sp_fr_lasers_01 to the workshop, and corrected the downloads here at TWP to link to those pages. Not much else is changed, though.

Just wanted to let y'all know...