The Main Menu of Portal and Portal 2 are interactive hubs for accessing different game modes, changing in-game options such as sound and graphics settings, and for viewing additional contents.
Portal
The main menu is the first interactive screen shown after starting up Portal. It provides access to a number of options that the player can use to commence a new game, access bonus maps, or continue from an existing savegame.
There is also an option to begin the game with developer commentary, view a list of achievements, and a access list of options that the player can change, including the control scheme, sound and visual settings.
The player can close the game by selecting "Quit".
Portal 2
The main menu is the first interactive screen shown after starting up Portal 2.
The menu allows the player to either begin a single-player campaign (including challenges), begin a cooperative campaign, go look at Community Testchambers, or manage in-game settings. Additional promotional videos can be accessed by clicking the Extras option. The Robot Enrichment menu allows the player access to their Cooperative Testing Initiative Backpack and equip cosmetic items.
Portal 2 features several backgrounds that display pre-rendered videos, which correspond to the story act currently being undertaken in the single-player campaign, or the most recently loaded single-player map. If a single-player map has not been played recently, the main menu will default to the first menu background (broken GLaDOS).
The player can close the game by selecting "Quit".
Extras
The "Extras" option in the main menu provides access to a list of media, including promotional content and game trailers. The list includes:
- Meet the Bots, the full trailer showcasing co-op mode.
- GLaDOS Awakes, the Portal 2 teaser video.
- Bot Trust, Panels, Turrets and Boots, promotional videos featuring the voice of Cave Johnson.
- Portal 2 Comic, the Portal 2 comic "Lab Rat". Links to the website; as the comic is not actually in the game files.
- Super 8 (film), a promotional interactive trailer for the movie of the same name. Loads a map (
e1912) where you start out inside a train car, and experience an event from the movie from the perspective of someone in the train from the film.