# V is for Vortex — user reviews > 32 indexed App Store user reviews of V is for Vortex by Jonathan Mulcahy, rated 3.51/5 from 41 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/v-is-for-vortex/id336604785/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/v-is-for-vortex/id336604785.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 15 · 4★ 10 · 3★ 6 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 9 ## Newest reviews (12 of 32) ### 3/5 — Watered down portal *2011-07-25, version 1.3* More accurately a watered down portal the flash version ### 4/5 — Dude. Seriously. *2011-05-12, version 1.3* It's been a year. UPDATE. We need new levels, bug fixes, and, if nothing else, an end to the story. You know what? Make a sequel app to finish this thing off, I don't care anymore. Just FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED. ### 3/5 — Finally, Portal goes portable *2011-03-13, version 1.3* I love the aspect of the game, and can't wait to have Game Center added. Though I thought I should mention levels that have the fields to prevent portaling are easily bypassed if you do not step though them at first; and a glitch that if you die, occasionally it will cause the app to crash. I just wanted to let you know, since I see potential in this game, and want it grow. ### 4/5 — Awesome puzzle game with great potential & active developer! *2010-04-20, version 0* Yeah, there's a little bug on level 16, but no biggie. Version 1.01's new on-screen controls allow much better control than v1's tilt control. The developer is very active on the Touch Arcade forums - get it now before he realizes this game is worth more than a buck! ### 3/5 — Has potential to be great *2010-03-06, version 0* Fixed bug is nice and developer has mentioned 36 more levels on a forum. Four stars now. Old: Not a lot of content yet, but I'm gambling that this will be worth my dollar. Three stars for now, will update as time goes on. ### 4/5 — Thank You! *2010-01-13, version 0* Thank you so much for the update. I am a huge Portal fan as well as half-life series. This update has made the game much more fun to play. ### 4/5 — Fun game lots of promise! *2010-01-13, version 0* I will first say if you like portal at all this is a great game! The load time seems like it should be a bit better and I think it needs some general bug fixes. All in all its a solid game that I had alot of fun playing! ### 2/5 — Almost Good but no cigar *2009-12-17, version 0* This update adds some good stuff like touch controls instead tilt ones. The game still has a few too many bugs though for it to be enjoyable. Throwing objects into the portal sometimes does not transport the object to the other portal. Overall the game mechanics are still too tedious for repeat tries. I gave up due to annoyance of having to do whole part over again just because the game did not react correctly when I threw a block into a portal which was needed for me to open a door with. Keep working on it and it will be a good at some point but its not there yet. ### 3/5 — Almost *2009-12-16, version 0* Long load times. Buttons don't seem to work. Room for improvement ### 4/5 — Good start, needs work *2009-12-15, version 0* Need a way to identify levels completed. I also should be able to get anywhere I see somehow ### 3/5 — Not Portal! *2009-12-14, version 0* Portal is waaaay better. You shoot the vortexes into mid air instead of at walls and it takes away a lot of the strategy to the game. In an update add a restart button please. ### 4/5 — Finally! A portal clone! *2009-11-30, version 0* Love the graphics in this game. Very original. The bugs are annoying, as well as accelerometer controls, please put onscreen contols in the next update. Looking forward to see how well this game turns out. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Awful *2012-12-19, version 1.3* Poor controls and constant crashes, waste of time! ### 1/5 — Stupied *2010-02-21, version 0* It wont let me play it says how i hate the night ### 1/5 — Worst game don't buy *2010-01-07, version 0* if you were to buy this game your a complete idiot. Your gun does not even even do anything and you move really slow ### 1/5 — Poor copy of someone else's game *2010-01-05, version 0* Not worth money. You'd think the developer could put some time into the controls and collision detection, considering he ripped off the concept. This is like a senior project - working, but with major parts and polish missing. ### 1/5 — A joke? *2009-12-21, version 0* This game mainly has cons. Controls are easy to understand, yet annoying and complicated to carry out. You have to press a button to change the 'portal color' you shoot next. I'd be happier if it automatically switches colors like the actual portal game. And yes I know this isn't portal, but if it's bound to be a iPod portal game, it should be better. Moving around is simple enough, the character doesn't jump high enough. And most of the time the portal opens up in mid-air, as if it had a distance limit. I think this should have been free, seeing as it still has flaws, and wait until they have been addressed to charge even a penny. ### 1/5 — I got suckered *2009-12-12, version 0* Clunky. Awkward. Not all that much fun. ### 1/5 — Bugs and... *2009-11-29, version 0* There is so much wrong with the game. There is no pause button and it doesn't even show you what levels you completed. And the accelerometer controls are very loose and don't work well with the game. Touch controls are needed. And it needs MANY more levels. ### 2/5 — Needs Work *2010-10-05, version 0* The graphics aren't too bad, but the physics can be exasperating. The stick man will stay suspended in air if against a vertical wall while you press one of the arrow buttons. Sometimes, he will also get bogged down on a flat surface for no apparent reason. The vortexes are somewhat unreliable in how they operate. It is difficult to predict how things will work out, frequently ending in a level restart. The game also needs to support tilt so that you may hold your device in either orientation, rather than only upside-down. As is, the game isn't really worth the dollar it costs. The free flash version of Portal is much more gratifying. ### 2/5 — What were they thinking? *2009-12-29, version 0* You click where you want the portal, click to change portal color. Easy enough right? Wrong. Making a block go where you want or go onto a switch is nearly impossible. If you move it into the portal from the left (pushing right) it goes right even after going in the portal. Usually thats a wall and you just screwed up the level. You shoot it over the switch and it's to close to the wall and comes out. Sometimes you shoot yourself and instead of restarting you get stuck unable to move or shoot another portal. Also am I the only one who thinks there should be a restart button incase you screw something up? Horrible game. They need to fix the bugs, don't waste your money. ### 2/5 — Needs Work *2009-12-20, version 0* Lay off the rest of the alphabet until you get this one right. Level difficulty is random. There are easy levels toward the end and hard ones in the beginning. Game needs to tell you what level you are on too and possibly save at least what level you are on when you pause or restart. Needs explanation of concept for those who don't know. Controls could be better, visually & functionally. Game crashes if you go (teleport) too close to (in to) a wall. Game needs a reset level button for when you get stuck. What are those hairdryer things? Game has potential but it's not a paid app yet. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — 🌀🏃. 🌀 *2011-10-28, version 1.3* I love this game, definately worth getting, plenty of levels, and apperently more to come. I don't know how much people who aren't portal fans will like it, but I think they would, fortunately, the cake isn't a lie in this game, you get a cupcake every few levels!😏 ### 5/5 — Portal flash *2011-08-27, version 1.3* This game is alot like the flash portal really fun worth getting ### 5/5 — Great! *2010-03-15, version 0* Now all they need us to make a Team Fortress game! A half-life game is called infinity project. ### 5/5 — Do yourself a favor just buy it, more than worth it. *2010-01-23, version 0* I like everything about this game. Its simplicity in learning but the challenges as you progress. The stickman graphics are refreshing and mark this as a nice version of this type portal puzzler. I have to give this a 5 star. At 0.99 this is a steal, more than worth it. If the price does go up to $1.99 it is still worth it. Do yourself a favor, support this developer and buy it. ### 5/5 — Not Portal, but that's ok *2010-01-12, version 0* This game is not necessarily a Portal clone, so "inspired by" is the proper phrase to describe it. The game feels like it handles better than the previous version. The dev also promises steady updates with additional levels, so he is not abandoning the game any time soon. The stages are all hand-drawn, so there is a touch of personality in the design. ### 5/5 — Great game! *2009-12-13, version 0* Love the graphics, controls and puzzles. Awesome game! Well worth a dollar - keep em comin! - sciTunes ### 5/5 — Portal!! *2009-12-13, version 0* Finally a Portal game for the iPhone. Thanks for bringing a favorite game to iPhone format. I've been waiting for one for a while. The on screen controls are a great addition. Can't wait for more levels. ### 5/5 — Awesome!!!!! *2009-12-10, version 0* Buy It now. Awesome game from an awesome guy. Just like Valve's portal In 2d with nice hand-drawn graphics. The first update has been submitted to apple with more to come. If u are even remotely interested, buy it. It's only a dollar and definately worth it. Doesn't even cost as much as half a gallon of gas! ### 5/5 — Great game *2009-11-29, version 0* Another unique and awsome game from Mr. Mulcahy! Love the look and play of the game! A must have! ### 5/5 — GET IT *2009-11-29, version 0* This is basically like the flash version on portal on the Internet. It will keep you entertained for hours and hours. The controls weren't very hard to learn at all. This will stay on my iPod for a VERY long time. Thanks for this, and good luck. Tzual --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*