The Bridge Constructor series has always been a bit of an odd one for me. On the one hand, there’s something appealing about its simple puzzle mechanics masquerading as bridge design trappings, but on the other hand there was always something about the visuals that never quite grabbed me. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what the issue was, but it was the type of game my eyes always seemed to slide off of as my attention drifted.
All of that changes with the Portal edition, however. Gone are the semi-cartoonish trappings and backgrounds, jarring UI designs, and overall appearance of the previous games. Portal has all the spit-shine of a proper Valve release, complete with Glados constantly around to mock and prod you. Gameplay remains the same, however, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all. The goal is to get a single vehicle or fleet of vehicles from the starting point to the end point through the construction of bridges across an ever-more-challenging set of distances.
Additionally, Portal adds… portals. Go figure. This one additional mechanic makes the puzzles infinitely more interesting, as you now have to logic your way across multiple points all at once, as opposed to focusing on just one bridge at a time. Additionally, the game drops turrets into the mix, making things even more complicated as you have to take evasive routes and knocking them over from behind into consideration. It’s a great mix of elements that complement each other surprisingly well.
The UI and overall presentation of the game is strong and charming. It feels like it fits right into the world of Portal without coming off as gimmicky or ham-fisted. The animated test-subject intros are cute and funny, giving you a chuckle and making you want to play through the ensuing levels.
On the negative side of things, if there’s one thing that holds Bridge Constructor: Portal back, it’s the very nature of the game itself. At a certain point, just like in previous Bridge Constructor titles, you feel like you’ve seen everything the game has to offer. It’s not that the game grows tiresome or is bad in any specific way- it just becomes routine. How soon you reach that point will vary, and is mostly dependent on your interest level, enjoyment, patience, and tolerance.
Overall, Bridge Constructor Portal is a fun title that serves as a great distraction between play sessions on bigger titles, or as the perfect mobile game should you take your Switch out into the world. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it’s easily the most enjoyable entry in the series thus far. Check it out.
