 Portal 2 's additional gameplay elements , like light bridges , lasers , and the gels , were praised as appropriate additions to the game . Reviewers were pleased with the difficulty of the puzzles throughout the game , which appeared visually complicated at first but had uncomplicated solutions . Time 's Evan Narcisse said that he feared the addition of new gameplay elements would " dilute the purity of the experience , but everything 's still executed with Valve 's high level of charm and panache . " Tom Hoggins of The Telegraph praised the manner with which these elements were introduced through a " brilliant learning curve of direction , rather than instruction " , and considered it a " design ethos that is supremely generous , but dealt with marvellous economy " . Chris Kohler of Wired wrote that the game 's puzzles " never require excessively complicated solutions " , and that much of the puzzle solving is " filled with moments that will have you slapping your forehead and thinking , ' Oh my God , I 'm such an idiot — why didn 't I see that before ? ' " . Stapleton was not as pleased with the gel additions as with the other new mechanics , calling it " difficult to control " . He felt that they have " only a couple of uses at most " . Bright felt that Portal 2 was easier than its predecessor , in part that he felt much of the game was effectively tutorials for the new gameplay additions , requiring " careful use of the tools provided " , leaving him with the impression that " the game was on rails " . 
