The Portal Trial
- January 19, 2024
- Espale Studios
Get on SteamBUY THE FULL GAME WISHLIST OTHER GAMES About the GameEmbark on an intergalactic adventure as Rina, a cunning thief in the year 2512 within the corrupt Galactic Empire. Get a preview of the game's start and tackle some tricky levels. Can you beat the challenges and triumph in this futuristic journey? Get ready for a wild ride in a tricky platformer with mind-bending challenges and seamless …
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Reviews
- The game features engaging and challenging platforming mechanics, reminiscent of Celeste, with a unique portal system that adds depth to gameplay.
- The visuals and sound design are well-executed, creating an immersive experience that enhances the overall enjoyment of the game.
- The demo provides a solid introduction to the game, showcasing its potential for speedrunning and skill expression, with a good balance of difficulty and fun.
- The controls can feel awkward and unresponsive at times, leading to frustration during precision jumps and platforming sequences.
- The game heavily relies on the binoculars mechanic, which can make certain time-sensitive sections feel unfair and difficult to navigate without prior knowledge of the level layout.
- Some players have reported issues with the game's performance, including low framerate and unclear visual cues, which can detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- gameplay21 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its fast-paced, challenging platforming mechanics that blend traditional elements with portal mechanics, creating a tense and satisfying experience. While many players appreciate the tight controls and engaging level design, some express frustration with the camera angles and certain mechanics that can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game shows promise with its innovative ideas, though it may require some adjustments for a smoother experience.
“Can't understand the complaints about the controls, I felt like it was extremely tight, reminded me of Meat Boy (the original, not the autorunner) in terms of how the gameplay felt.”
“Gameplay: 9/10 - fun, difficult, and fast.”
“Beautiful synthesis of the portal mechanics and classical platformer elements.”
“Like I said, I want to enjoy this game, but the current controls and mechanics make it unplayable for me.”
“Very interesting idea and I can't deny that it's kinda fun, but I cannot recommend playing it because the controls are god awful and for some reason you can change them but not any button (I tried putting jump on my up arrow and it didn't let me). Also, the camera feels very weird and is even more annoying when you have to go through portals (specifically jumping to them) and then having no idea where to go, leading to multiple attempts where you just have seconds to look where you need to go, which is very annoying and takes away from its gameplay.”
“Thirdly, portals don’t seem to add anything to gameplay (at least they didn’t during the levels I played) and could be easily erased.”
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally perceived as intriguing, with a notable twist in the ending that enhances its appeal. While some players found the initial plot bland, the engaging cutscenes and potential for deeper narrative development have left them eager for the full release. Overall, the combination of story, graphics, and sound contributes to a promising experience.
“I look forward to catching up with the story in the full version of the game.”
“The story for the game started rather bland, but it ended with a great cutscene that definitely caught my attention.”
“Overall, I can say that both for the gameplay and the story, I am looking forward to the full release of Ingression.”
“Interesting game and it seems to have some story.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with praise for its art style and vibrant colors. However, some players find the combination of high-quality art elements with pixel graphics to be inconsistent, and the fast-paced action can make it difficult to track movement due to perceived lag. Overall, the visuals are considered solid but not universally adored.
“I really like the art style too.”
“The story seems interesting enough, and the graphics and sound are great.”
“In a very fast precision platformer with pixel graphics and bright, flashy colors, it is sometimes really hard to keep track of things as the movement seems 'laggy'.”
“It has a solid style, but I don't adore the high-quality art elements taking place alongside a pixel art style.”
“The visuals are okay.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music and sound design in the game have received high praise, with many users highlighting it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. While some noted that the art could be improved, the music is consistently described as fantastic and essential to the game's enjoyment.
“The music and sound design were stellar and really brought the game home for me.”
“The music is fantastic; the art is a bit lacking on the backgrounds, but it’s definitely a must.”
“The game's music adds a whole new level of joy to the experience.”
