V is for Vortex is a puzzle game inspired by the groundbreaking game, Portal. You control a character that is trapped in a facility, and the only way out is to utilize your vortex gun and your brain. The game is a nice attempt at replicating one of the best games of all time, Portal. However, there really isn’t much here to make it a real winner.

The object of the game is simple; get out of the room you’re trapped in. You do this by firing a gun that creates vortexes to transport you from one side of the room to another. You’ll need to create two vortexes, one to enter in and one to exit from. One is orange and the other is blue. The vortexes will be necessary in order to get around the obstacles placed around you. It may be as simple as getting atop a high ledge, or as difficult as figuring out how to hold the exit door open while you walk through it. Each level presents a unique puzzle that must be solved in order to proceed.

You have two options for controls. One method is to utilize the accelerometer to move your character around the room. This method makes controlling your character very difficult and will frustrate you more than anything else. The second method, and the preferred one, is to utilize the onscreen controls to walk and jump. Even though the onscreen controls work well, I did experience a slight lack of response when touching the left/right arrows. You can fire your gun and open a vortex by simply tapping on the screen. After firing one vortex, you’ll need to tap on the vortex icon on the bottom of the screen to change the next vortex’s color. This way, you can identify which vortex you are controlling if you have to fire again to reposition one of them.

The puzzles start off very easy and gradually become harder as you go. There are only eighteen levels to play through in this release, but the developer promises eighteen more for each new update of the game. Even though the levels are challenging enough to make the game last a while, there really isn’t that much more to sink your teeth into. There aren’t any items to collect, there are no time limits or point values and there isn’t much variety when it comes to obstacles and enemies. The game just lacks a bit with regards to content. It’s the same idea for each level, so it gets a bit boring after a while.

The hand-drawn art style, as well as the ambient noise and sound effects throughout the game are all adequate for this type of game. Overall, it’s a descent puzzle game that is mildly entertaining. V is for Vortex is a game I would only play once just to experience Portal on my iPhone. Unfortunately, it definitely won’t last long on my device.