Portal

Platform: PC
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Valve Corporation
Publisher: Valve Corporation
Release: 9 October 2007
Rating: Teen
Price: $10

I personally find it astonishing that there are still people who haven't played this amazing game, which is why I am taking the time to review it. Given its memetic status, you have almost certainly heard of it if you've had any contact with the internet whatsoever in the past three years.
Portal is a difficult game to classify. While it uses a first-pirson perspective, and the engine of a first-person shooter, there is very little combat, and your main tool is a gun that creates wormholes (up to two at a time). Whatever goes in one comes out the other, be it enemies, items, or even you. While this isn't your only tool (you will also use boxes and switches), it is a unique mechanic that you will have to master in order to reach the end of the game and the frankly amazing final boss (which I will not spoil here).
As for the plot, there really isn't a lot. Portal is set in the Half-Life universe, though it has nothing to do with the Half-Life games. You are Chell, a silent test subject in the Aperture Science Laboratiores, where the insane Artificial Intelligence known as GLaDOS guides you through the test chambers (while simultaneously trying to get you killed).
There really isn't anything else I can say about Portal. There really isn't much to it. My one complaint is that it's really short, only about three hours long. But you're only paying $10 for it on Steam, so it's not that big a problem. (There's also a sequel now, but it's best to play this one first.) Regardless, if you're one of the few people out there who hasn't yet played Portal, play Portal, and you will see why the internet was so obsessed with it when it first came out.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.

--Kotaro

Pennypincher's Corner II: Irisu Syndrome

Platform: PC
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Katatema
Publisher: Katatema
Release: 5 October 2008

Irisu Syndrome is a very difficult puzzle game starring the bunny-girl/witch Irisu. As you play the game, a story of three college students on a camping trip unfolds, told with both images, and text files that slowly appear in the game folder. The ending differs based on the scores you get. I cannot say anything more, for fear of spoilers (and trust me, you do not want it spoiled) For reference, here is how the game works:
-Colored blocks slowly fall from above and pile up on the ground. You can left-click to shoot up a white block, or right-click to shoot up a faster white block. Your goal is to destroy the colored blocks to get points and replenish your slowly-emptying life bar. You can do this in two ways:
     1. Knock them into same-colored blocks already on the ground, destroying both.
     2. Knock them into same-colored blocks still in the air, causing them to fall and explode.
-Be careful, though, as each block that falls to the ground damages your life bar, and if your life bar empties, the game is over.
-There is also an unlockable "Metsu" mode, which adds some new twists to the gameplay, and expands the story.
Irisu Syndrome, as well as a fan-made English patch, can be downloaded here.

--Kotaro