Flathill

Flathill is a Portal World and former township in South Dakota, USA, repurposed by GATE as the site of its earliest portal experiments. Under the cover of a high-fructose corn syrup factory, Flathill Syrup Co., the Crown Control Facility attempted the first successful perforation to Anteverse 1. The experiment succeeded, but it also brought the Composers into the world and forced the town into evacuation and quarantine behind portal suppression systems powered by Power Cells. By the time the player arrives, Flathill is a fog-shrouded, abandoned settlement dominated by hostile Composers, with Marion as the only surviving human resident.

The area is one of the game’s more useful early Portal Worlds because it combines safety, scavenging, and crafting resources in a compact layout. It is a strong early destination for Cooking and water purification, since it contains two Industrial Stoves with eight total cooking slots, including one directly beneath a fountain that can be used to fill containers with Tainted Water. It is also a notable source of renewable Metal Pipe, with one in the Bounty Basket, two in the sewers, and four on the Arcade roof, making it especially valuable for players who need materials for Crafting Benches. Flathill is likewise rich in salvage: Magazine Stands and Trash Bins can be broken down into Metal Scrap, and the many Office Chairs, Office Stools, and Arcade Stools can be converted into Plastic Scrap.

Several key items and materials are concentrated here:

• Power Cells can be collected repeatedly, and each one opens major shortcuts on future visits.
• Metal Pipe is one of the most important renewable materials found here.
• Metal Scrap is abundant from breakable furnishings and salvageable containers.
• Purified Corn can be made at the Flathill Syrup Company building by purifying Corrupted Corn, though Anti-Fungal Gelatin is required to clear the fungus blocking access.

The first visit is intended to be mostly a stealth-and-looting run rather than a fight. It is best to arrive well-rested, fed, and hydrated, and to travel light so there is room for loot on the way out. Weapons are of limited value on the initial trip, while mobility, inventory space, and survival supplies matter more. There is an exit portal near the start of the area, which makes it practical to deposit valuables early. The power cells respawn on portal resets, so the route can be repeated efficiently once shortcuts are unlocked.

Many parts of Flathill are blocked on later returns by invisible walls, so if the player does not reach an area during the first visit, it is often inaccessible afterward. A small number of featureless rooftops can still be reached later with the jet pack or gravity cube, but most of the world remains fixed. Portal reset also does not restore player-placed furniture, which can be used to set up temporary storage in safe areas for longer runs.

The bonus Flathill School area can be accessed earlier than intended with careful construction or climbing, and it contains several unique or unusually early items, including cosmetics and the Pocket Watch, which grants early access to Exquisite Chain. The area is guarded and awkward to traverse, but it is useful for players willing to work around the usual progression.