Doorways: Old Prototype

About

Doorways: Old Prototype is a single player action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by Saibot Studios and was released on October 5, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

An immersive and twisted adventure created before the official development of the Doorways saga

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 305 reviews

atmosphere27 positive mentions

monetization6 negative mentions

The game offers a fascinating glimpse into the development process of the Doorways series, with interesting developer notes scattered throughout.
The atmospheric graphics and sound design effectively create a sense of unease, enhancing the overall experience.
As a free prototype, it provides a fun and engaging platforming experience that showcases the potential of the series.

The gameplay feels unpolished, with clunky controls and a lack of a proper exit option, forcing players to use alt+F4 to quit.
The short length of the game (around 30-40 minutes) leaves players wanting more and does not fully explore the potential of its concepts.
The story is vague and underdeveloped, making it difficult for players to become truly invested in the experience.

atmosphere
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
21%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, blending elements of horror and platforming to create a captivating experience. Reviewers note that even in a short demo format, the graphics and sound design contribute significantly to the overall ambiance, making it feel rich and engaging. While some sections may lack polish, the consistent emphasis on atmosphere leaves a strong impression, enticing players to explore the full game.
- “You wouldn't think a thirty-minute demo that has bits of the game's development history scattered through the linear path would have amazing atmosphere, but it does.”
- “Outstanding atmosphere!”
- “I would really recommend this prototype to everyone who played all Doorways games and want to know more about its development and the team behind it. It was a unique experience; the atmosphere was amazing, as in all Doorways games.”
- “My eyes started bleeding and I thought it was part of the game's crappy atmosphere.”
- “The entire game acts more as a tech demo than a game itself, but the platforming and atmosphere definitely lends it to be something to be considered.”
- “You can get a sense for the atmosphere and survival-horror feel of the full game, but this mini game is basically just a set of some jump puzzles.”
story
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
56%
11%
The game's story primarily serves as a backstory to the development process and the creators behind it, rather than offering a traditional narrative or character-driven plot. Players who are curious about the development of the "doorways" series may find the insights and notes engaging, but those seeking a deep or immersive story may be disappointed. Overall, it is more of a tribute to the developers and their journey, with a focus on platforming gameplay rather than a compelling storyline.
- “I had a very nice 31 minutes playing this game and getting told the story behind it.”
- “There are some documents in the game that explain the chronological background story about the making of the Doorways games and its developer members, and also about the connection between the stages in this demo-like game and the full game.”
- “I love to just be able to roam and enjoy the backstory of the game.”
- “I would just play it if you're curious about the devs or this series - there's really no other reason to check this out since there's no actual story or scares.”
- “It's a great move and jump skill training game without having any special story, characters, puzzles... like the title says: it's a prototype with great ideas and maps before the actual doorways series.”
- “Not quite surprised, I wasn't expecting any backstory or deep explanation of gaming mechanics inside this game.”
graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
33%
13%
The graphics of the game have received mixed to positive feedback, with many users praising the atmospheric visuals and decent quality, especially for a prototype. While some noted that certain areas lack detail, the overall aesthetic is considered appealing and enhances the gameplay experience. Users appreciated the fluid movements and artistic design, making it a standout feature despite its prototype status.
- “The atmosphere is great, graphics are good and I am definitely going to purchase Doorways Prelude.”
- “It has amazing graphics; unlike most recent games, it didn't crash or make my laptop lag. There is a head bob which is a nice effect, as well as the sounds and music used.”
- “The visuals are spectacular and the movements are fluid.”
- “A prototype, it is also a prototype in Africa. We are waiting for the lack of a plot, many graphic components, and a menu button during the game.”
- “The graphics are so-so, and it works, so maybe one of the actual games in the series could be worth a look, but this is just a demo/advert in the wrong place.”
- “Although the developers say that the graphics are simple and cheap, they are kind of ideal - not too many details and a lot more atmosphere.”
gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The gameplay is characterized by solid platforming mechanics, with enjoyable jumping and movement that effectively introduce core game elements. While some players noted a lack of depth in narrative and structure, the experience remains engaging, particularly for those interested in the game's development history. Overall, it offers a competent and immersive experience, especially for a prototype.
- “Nice platformer mechanics; it feels good to jump, move, and look around.”
- “Having said that, this is a prototype, so some areas may feel less impressive than others in terms of graphics, but it does not take anything away from the gameplay, which is quite solid.”
- “Despite what I feel personally about the gameplay itself, I'm still going to recommend this because I feel it still achieves its goal of providing a competent hands-on experience with a bit of the doorways games' origins, and for free.”
- “Forces you to stay immersed in the lovely lack of solid gameplay or narrative structure.”
- “The gameplay is fine but if the goal of the game is to scare you, it doesn't come close.”
- “Not quite surprised, I wasn't expecting any backstory or deep explanation of gaming mechanics inside this game.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for misleadingly presenting a demo or advertisement as a full game, which detracts from genuine titles and misuses marketing space on platforms like Steam. This practice is seen as a harmful tactic by developers to avoid costs associated with proper marketing, ultimately leading to a negative experience for gamers. As a result, the game cannot be recommended.
- “While it might seem like an innocuous mistake, publishing demos and advertisements as if they are full games is misleading and, in some ways, harmful.”
- “This advertisement is taking up marketing space and visibility that would be better made available to a developer that's done the right thing and created a full game.”
- “Often developers may choose to incorrectly publish demos/advertisements as separate games as a cheap way to bypass paying Valve for marketing presence on the Steam front page, which may seem clever to them, but it's harmful behavior and it's not good for gamers.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The music in the game is praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience during gameplay, which primarily involves running and jumping. However, some users noted that it may borrow too heavily from existing works, specifically referencing a Roblox game. Overall, the sound design contributes positively to the game's immersive environment.
- “It has amazing graphics, unlike most recent games it didn't crash or make my laptop lag, there is a head bob which is a nice effect as well as the sounds and music used.”
- “Gameplay mainly consists of running and jumping - the soundtrack tries to be as atmospheric as possible indicating what direction the developer went into in later stages of the development.”
- “The soundtrack tries to be as atmospheric as possible, indicating what direction the developer went into in later stages of the development.”
- “Music/sound.”
- “Music/sound.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, with some expressing difficulty in staying motivated to progress. However, the presence of well-placed invisible checkpoints helps alleviate some frustration during challenging platforming sections.
- “The jumps and platforming in this section are filled with tight precision, though there are invisible checkpoints placed at just the right locations so that when (not if) you fall and die, it's not tedious to continue onward.”
- “Unfortunately, I could not even get myself to finish the demo after getting stuck and just not being that interested in grinding through to the end.”
- “It can really get tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players finding it both funny and engaging despite its simplicity and short playtime of 20-30 minutes. The comedic elements, particularly in the context of community interactions, add to the overall enjoyment, making it a delightful experience even as a prototype.
- “For a prototype, this was very funny and a little challenging.”
- “Really funny short game (20-30 minutes to finish), will try the other version!”
- “It has no objective, just jumping and running, but it's funny reading how your community started. :D”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
Overall, users report mixed experiences with stability; while the game runs well on certain systems, such as Ubuntu 16.04 with open source drivers, some aspects, like character animations, exhibit bugs that detract from the overall experience.
- “Runs great with open source drivers on Ubuntu 16.04 and its forks.”
- “The game maintains a solid frame rate even during intense action sequences.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or major bugs, which is impressive.”
- “I don't deny that a lot of work went into the second chapter/level, but it felt like it was lacking in some aspects compared to its predecessor; and it's where I noticed that the character's breathing could have been a little more realistic instead of having this buggy-like resonance.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers little to no replay value, as it seems designed primarily to entice players into exploring the full series rather than providing a standalone experience.
- “No replay value whatsoever, probably just meant to tease players to try the full series of doorways.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”