Guides for the Portal table?

[Capra Irata]

Does anyone know of any guides for the new Portal table? I'm not a big pinball player but this table is making me rage, lol. Having issues completing even one test chamber, let alone all six. I've searched around but couldn't really find any guides, so I was wondering if anyone might know of any (or have any tips).

[foofaraw and Chiquita(ARF!)]

Here's something (not much. And from memory.)

I'm an average player, about 8 months. Over 100 Portal games.

Mission #1 only takes 4 actions. I've completed it several times.
Ratman (#2) takes more than 2 full cycles. An I've only gotten even that far once. HARD.
Mission #6 not sure of the details, but may be easier than #1. Completed twice in far fewer attempts than mission #1.
Mission #5. Maybe 8 actions, but I have come SO close at least once. Difficult, not impossible.
Missions #3 & #4. Perhaps 8 - 10 actions. Pretty hard.
Turret Factory - EASY. Completed over 50%. ALSO, offers extra ball on completion.
Co-op multiball- Atlas & P-Body. I HAVE completed, but only once. LOTSO fun!

THE money shot is the cross-ramp shot (upper playfield.) Practice, practice, practice that shot.

Skill Shot - pull back around 3-5 marks.

Lane rollovers - EASY, since the ball always launch-feeds to the same place. That's how you get MANY kickbacks.

Sorry so sparse.

[Chewable C++]

No third party guides yet for the table itself. ShoryukenToTheChin will make one eventually as he always does. The in-game table guide should do a good job of explaining things (although I haven't looked at it myself yet due to the crash issue with that - be careful).

It's a relatively difficult table. Completing all 6 is a very difficult task. I only about a half dozen players have done it so far. The free Sorcerer's Lair table is much easier in comparison.

You can also look here for difficulty ratings of various tables (Portal not rated yet, but I would preliminarily give it a 4 for overall difficulty and a 5 for WM):

http://steamcommunity.com/app/226980/discussions/0/624076027528927489/

You seem to be new, so you might find my general FX2 guide helpful:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=308089691

The main modes DO have checkpoints, so you don't have to complete them in one go.

I suggest working on one mode at a time. Keep repeating it til you get it. The first one is relatively easy.

I assume you know that you have to shoot for the lit shots. You either have to hit a specific shot, or 2 of 3 lit shots.

Here's a pair of videos I've uploaded that may help you, especially the first one:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=452318115

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=450749846

[Chewable C++]

Nice breakdown, @foofaraw. I think you've correctly identified the easier modes.

Rat Man (2) is reasonable but takes multiple tries. I've never done it in one attempt. You need 3 completions and it saves after each one. Basically take advantage of the long ball save.

[foofaraw and Chiquita(ARF!)]

Did NOT know that!

THANKS!!!

[Capra Irata]

Thanks so much for the tips, guys! I really appreciate it.

Originally posted by foofaraw:

Mission #1 only takes 4 actions. I've completed it several times.
Ratman (#2) takes more than 2 full cycles. An I've only gotten even that far once. HARD.
Mission #6 not sure of the details, but may be easier than #1. Completed twice in far fewer attempts than mission #1.
Mission #5. Maybe 8 actions, but I have come SO close at least once. Difficult, not impossible.
Missions #3 & #4. Perhaps 8 - 10 actions. Pretty hard.
Turret Factory - EASY. Completed over 50%. ALSO, offers extra ball on completion.
Co-op multiball- Atlas & P-Body. I HAVE completed, but only once. LOTSO fun!

This is really helpful! I've been focusing on #4 because I thought it was the easiest (I guess I just happened to fail quickly on the others). I'll give the easier ones a go before going on to the tougher ones from now on.

For Turret Factory, I feel like the mode is pretty hectic. Is it better to time shots as they roll back down to the flippers, or to trap the balls and then set up the shots? I kind of assumed everything was moving to fast to trap easily so I sort of winged that mode the few times I got to it.

Also, omg yes, the co-op multiball is easily one of my favorite parts of the table. :D

Originally posted by foofaraw:

THE money shot is the cross-ramp shot (upper playfield.) Practice, practice, practice that shot.

By this, do you mean the shot with the upper-right flipper, that loops around GLaDOS and feeds the left inlane? (Sorry, I'm not 100% familiar with all the terms yet).

Originally posted by Chewable C++:

You seem to be new, so you might find my general FX2 guide helpful:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=308089691

That was actually one of my first stops when I was completely clueless! That guide was a HUGE help, so thank you so much for putting so much effort into it! I did glance over a few parts so I'll be sure to give it a more detailed look.

Originally posted by Chewable C++:

Here's a pair of videos I've uploaded that may help you, especially the first one:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=452318115

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=450749846

I'll give these a look too, thanks so much! :)
Edit: Wow that kickback trick is so amazing. I didn't know the lights rotated when you used the flippers.

[foofaraw and Chiquita(ARF!)]

If I'm not mistaken, this should be my review of the Portal table. It's rather long, and I go into detail on several features that makes this table so special and unique. Might help (can't hurt.)

If not found, go to the Store Page.

http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198140299850/recommended/368840/

[Capra Irata]

Originally posted by foofaraw:

If I'm not mistaken, this should be my review of the Portal table. It's rather long, and I go into detail on several features that makes this table so special and unique. Might help (can't hurt.)

If not found, go to the Store Page.

http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198140299850/recommended/368840/

Oh, I actually read this review earlier today when I was looking for other peoples' opinion on it. :)

[foofaraw and Chiquita(ARF!)]

Yes, the cross-ramp is the shot you describe. The timing is TOUGH, especially through the "lock" lane. I discuss it in some detail in my review.

We always tend to think of multiballs (#4) as being more productive, and that's true. But for that very reason they are often MUCH harder. That's one thing that makes this table harder. Generally a player can do well enough in multiball mode by focusing on the flippers, and keeping the ball(s) in play. NOT Portal. Portal is different in requiring that the TOP of the table is watched during multiballs (at least during part of them. See "cross-ramp shot".)

[Capra Irata]

Oh... I remember why I do so poorly at the easy test chambers. I hate that they're timed. >.< I have such a difficult time already just setting up shots, let alone setting them up properly while under a time limit.

[Chewable C++]

I do 4 last because of the kickback trick. And even if it were not for that specific trick, MB can be generally useful for relighting kickbacks, so I save MB main modes for last on most tables.

To me, the main modes feel relatively balanced in terms of difficulty. I guess 3 and 5 are somewhat harder than the rest and 1 is likely the easiest.

You can softly nudge up after a weak cross ramp shot for a second chance at it. I do it a lot in my long video. I may eventually cut a clip out and stick it in the guide as an example of that nudging technique.

[Chewable C++]

Originally posted by Gordy the Pirate! ❤:

Oh... I remember why I do so poorly at the easy test chambers. I hate that they're timed. >.< I have such a difficult time already just setting up shots, let alone setting them up properly while under a time limit.

The strange and unusual thing about this table is that the main mode timer actually increases for incorrect shots. I don't know exactly how it works, but if you make a shot that is close to the shot you need, your timer goes up generously.

So, I would normally not recommend this anywhere else, but on this table you may want to consider spamming shots rather than taking (too much) time to aim them.

[foofaraw and Chiquita(ARF!)]

Another good thing about this table is that it's not essential to play the missions. You can just play it as what I call a "clobberin'" table while you acclimate. Still have fun, still get respectable scores. NO rush, friend.

[Chewable C++]

And really try to learn the elevator shot. That tends to be the hardest (for me, at least). You can hit it from either flipper, but the left is easier. The big tip there is that the only reliable way to hit it is from a trap. Otherwise from a lane feed you will have too much momentum and generally shoot past it.

[Capra Irata]

Originally posted by Chewable C++:

The strange and unusual thing about this table is that the main mode timer actually increases for incorrect shots. I don't know exactly how it works, but if you make a shot that is close to the shot you need, your timer goes up generously.

Oh wow, I didn't know this! That makes it feel like there's a lot less pressure now. And yeah, I have issues with the elevator shot too. For some reason I tend to hit the elevator a lot accidentally, but then when I need it for a mission I can never get the timing quite right.

Originally posted by foofaraw:

Another good thing about this table is that it's not essential to play the missions. You can just play it as what I call a "clobberin'" table while you acclimate. Still have fun, still get respectable scores. NO rush, friend.

Very true. :) I have fun just working towards the co-op mode and the personality cores so maybe I'll focus on that while I get a hang of everything. Is it essential to play the missions on other tables? Portal is the first I've owned.

And okay, last question I swear (sorry for asking so much): what can you do with the conversion gels? I know if you redirect the lasers just right you can get either the blue, jump gel to cover the top-right ramp or the orange, speedy gel to cover the left, but what can they actually do for you?

[Chewable C++]

Orange gel allows you to get a free cross ramp shot if you hold the right flipper.

Blue gel allows you to jump up to the cross ramp from the right orbit if you press launch at the right moment.

This is explained on the DMD, but it's hard to read while playing :p (I imagine it's mentioned in the Table Guide also, but haven't looked yet)