When comparing Portal vs Neon Shadow, the Slant community recommends Portal for most people. In the question“What are the best Android games for Nvidia Shield?” Portal is ranked 2nd while Neon Shadow is ranked 15th. The most important reason people chose Portal is:
The main mechanic of the game revolves around solving different puzzles using a handheld portal device - a device that can bend space and time to create a wormhole through which you can move.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Requires solving spatial and physics based puzzles using portals
The main mechanic of the game revolves around solving different puzzles using a handheld portal device - a device that can bend space and time to create a wormhole through which you can move.
Pro Humorous telling of a dark story
Portal is known for its humor. Even years after it's been out in the world people are still quoting and referencing it in everyday situations.
Pro The game leaves clues to a deeper story
Throughout both Portal games there are hints left in various forms that fill in more of the story, including information about Chell's personal history.
Pro Innovative gameplay
Portal has won multiple awards for innovative design. Using a first person view and portals that allow one to traverse a room through one placed in one location to the other placed in another location to solve puzzles was and still is a very unique game design.
Pro Created one of the most memorable characters in gaming history - GLaDOS
GLaDOS, or Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System, is the main antagonist of Portal games. She is voiced by Ellen McLain with the voice later processed to sound closer to how a text-to-speech program would synthesize a voice.
GLaDOS initially functions as a guide to the player and is only later revealed as a manipulative, narcissistic, sinister and passive-aggressive character that wants to kill the protagonist.
GLaDOS is the main force that moves the humorous yet dark narrative of Portal series with her remarks being simultaneously hilarious and terrifying.
Pro Character-driven
Even though the only organic sentient being in this game is the player's character, this game features some of the most memorable and intriguing characters in fiction or in gameplay. GladOS obviously, but also the drone robots that sweet-talk the player to a sudden death (and then forgive you when you dismantle them), the clues left behind by former test subjects, the abandoned hints of what the lab used to be like. It tells a story without telling a story, and immerses you more than most other games can ever hope to achieve.
Pro Made people fall in love with an inanimate, virtual object
The game made people emotionally attach to The Weighted Companion Cube and feel uncomfortable when later forced to incinerate it.
Pro Merges first-person shooting mechanics with platforming and puzzle-solving
Portal uses an engine that was meant for a first person shooter and creates puzzles that need solved through various stage with the use of platforming. While not the very first game to merge platforming with and FPS the puzzle aspects make it unique in that no other game had done this specific combination yet.
Pro Making it halfway and completing unlocks new content
Getting to the halfway point in Portal will unlock challenge maps and finishing the main story will unlock advanced chambers.
Pro The sequel contains an AI powered by a potato
If that is not funny, then nothing is.
Pro Diverse multiplayer allows you to easily play locally or online with friends
Neon Shadow supports local area network multiplayer as well as online multiplayer support for death-match play.
Pro Familiar and classic FPS and arena gameplay that is easy to understand
Core gameplay mechanics are of old-school first person shooter. Players move room to room finding objects called nodes to shoot before being allowed to leave to the next room. While trying to find the node players will of course be facing off against AI controlled enemies.
Pro Great controller support that allows a wide selection of different controllers to work
Neon Shadow has built in HID controller support, SHIELD Games support and MOGA controller support. So no matter what type of Android controller you own, it should work out of the box.
Pro Anyone can pick up the game and figure out the intuitive touch controls
There is no jump button, reload button or an interaction button, keeping the touch controls interface quite simple. Left side of the screen moves the player, right side looks around, and there is a fire button. This makes the controls simple to understand and use.
Pro Varied powerful weapons keeps the gameplay entertaining
Each weapon in game gives a sense of differentiating power. There is a good selection of guns that all have different shooting abilities and power. Each one allows the player to feel as though they are well equipped for the task at hand.
Pro Tablet split screen same device multiplayer allows 2 players to easily play on a single device
Neon Shadow allows 2 players to play multiplayer on a single tablet device using split screen. Controllers would be ideal for this.
Cons
Con Somewhat short
Portal takes 2-3 hours to complete which means it can be completed in one sitting. This may not be enough game for the money for some people and should be considered before purchasing.
Con Portal mechanics not used much to their best ability
Certain parts of the game sees the player using portals to manipulate sentry guns that fire rockets in order to progress in that stage, Mechanics like this make for a really enjoyable way to manipulate ones environment but sadly are not used too often.
Con Outdated graphics
The game was released in 2007, making it somewhat of an older title, because of this the graphics will not be on par with modern releases.
Con Shallow gameplay
While the story and game mechanics are serviceable one has to wonder how much better the game could have been if more attention was focused on these areas during development.