A fan-made version of the groundbreaking first-person platformer, Portal, for the Nintendo 64, aptly named Portal 64: First Slice, is now available to the public. The faithful conversion was developed by a single person over several years and is planned to be just the first release of the project.

Portal received universal acclaim when it was released in 2007 as part of The Orange Box bundle. Valve, famous for Half Life, developed a title that featured a twisted original story, unique gameplay, and memorable characters. An equally impressive sequel, Portal 2, was released in 2011, further expanding on all the elements that made the first game great. A dedicated community of fans supported the games through mods and other developments. James Lambert, an American programmer, spent years creating a version of the first Portal that would run on the Nintendo 64.

Lambert recently announced on YouTube that Portal 64: First Slice has left beta and is available for download. The demake features around a dozen of the original game's test chambers, a fully functioning version of Portal's iconic gun, and a working physics engine, as outlined on the project's GitHub page.

To celebrate Portal 64: First Slice's release, Lambert thanked his supporters and showcased Portal-themed items received from backers, including a custom Nintendo 64 system, controller, and an actual cartridge. Future versions of the demake will include more test chambers and other improvements, according to Lambert.

As Valve is hesitant about making a third Portal game, developments for the series like Portal 64: First Slice are always welcomed by fans. There have been licensed collaborations between Portal and other IPs, showing continued demand for the beloved puzzle platformer franchise. Those who can't wait for a new release from Valve can play the countless titles the series spawned, while fans awaiting the announced film adaptation by J.J. Abrams can experience the series in a completely new light.