Games
42 RPGS
55 Arcade Games
34 Puzzle Games
18 Platform Games
10 Strategy Games

Sections
QB News
Site Archives
Game Guides
Our Projects
Entertainment
Awards Page
QB Links Page

Interact
Discussion Board
The QB Chatroom
Mailing List
Submissions
Link to Us
Job Openings
Email VPlanet!

Affiliates
The QB Times
Future Software
Abyssware Studios
Clockwerk Productions
Darkside Productions
Game Developer's Refuge
GBGames QBasic
Master Creating
NeoBasic
Pete's QBasic Site
Pickers Games Website
Programming Oasis
Programming ShareHouse
QB: Cult Magazine
QB on Acid
QB: The Magazine (Archives)
QBasic/QuickBasic News
QuickBasic RPGs
Secret Weapon Software
Sneukeule's QBRPG Page
StattoNet

Disclaimer
The software reviewed and/or downloadable in this site, along with any related images presented or concepts related to the software, belongs to its respective people, companies, and development teams. All downloadable titles in this site are "freeware", and the source of each software is clearly stated. The opinions presented regarding such software does not reflect the views of its creators; the intention of this site is to inform and pay tribute to the many programmers who have chosen QuickBasic 4.5.

Any additional images and/or news gathered to this site from another source belongs to its respective owners, and is intended to advertise the source and promote its theme.

If you have any problems concerning the contents of this site, please contact our staff at
vancevelez@yahoo.com.

Portal of Worlds 2
(Daniel Erikkson)


vvvvvvv

"The main entrance to worlds of astonishment"


Somewhere in this vast chain of worlds, the second Superpowerball of Demror is hidden. It has become your quest to find this ball of tremendous power. Yet, this strange but mystical item can be hidden in one of seven fascanating worlds. How can you possibly travel to regions so far away from your own planet?


Your search for the Superpowerball is why you must brave the forest and caverns of your own world to find the legendary Portal of Time, where all of the other worlds where the Superpowerball is hidden could be accessed. Do you have the sense of self-discovery that you need to face the various worlds and their elements? Your control over time will be your only guide.

Graphics (n.)
The use of animation and visual effects to stimulate the senses
vv
(Average)
One big improvement that makes Portal of Worlds 2 better than its respective prequel is the improvement in the graphics department. People who have played the original Portal of Worlds will remember the pure black backgrounds with objects joined together like wireframes in a sixteen-color mode. Portal of Worlds 2 improves upon this product by keeping the wireframe look that made the first Portal of Worlds so individual, while filling the polygons into surfaces and moving up to 256-colors. The result is the sense that Portal of Worlds 2 feels like a true sequel.

While the new surfaced backgrounds are nicely done, these 3d drawings are pre-loaded, and thus are not animated to rotate one way or the other. This sort of sedentary behavior among Portal of Worlds 2 and the original Portal of Worlds brings about a lack of animation. Hopefully, the imagination you have as a player will compensate since the text narration and the backgrounds should combine for a vicarious experience.

Sound/Music (n.)
The smooth blend of atmospheric sounds and original harmonies
v
(Poor)
The majority of the game may not have any sound or music, but a point is deserved by Daniel Erikkson for taking some original PC speaker music and putting it into Portal of Worlds 2's title screen.
Gameplay (n.)The precision of control and involvement of character within its universe v
(Poor)
The best way to describe the gameplay in Portal of Worlds 2 is to compare it to a storybook. Basically you start in the middle of a forest, with options only to move forward or backward. Occasionally you are given the opportunity to observe some of the objects you see as you travel through the different areas in Portal of Worlds 2, where the game will narrate to you a description of the object and the actions you take towards the object. As for choosing which objects you carry or what you specifically do when you observe an object, the game will decide these details for you. In this aspect Portal of Worlds 2 doesn't give you as much control as other QB puzzle games. For what it is worth though, the approach taken to the game is unique.

While you do have to be involved and paying attention to defeat Portal of Worlds 2, the gameplay also scores a little less because the quest is not very long. This particular weakness in Portal of Worlds 2 results in quite a few point penalties simply because the game isn't long enough to develop strengths in certain departments. The gameplay category is simply one of these departments.

Story (n.)
The creativity and presentation of the game's critical plot
vv
(Average)
Story elements are practically the heart and soul of this game, and Portal of Worlds 2 adresses this element in particular with a sort of freedom. If I was a Literature teacher, I would probably put the story level of Portal of Worlds 2 with the equivalent of a 5th grader's work. This isn't such a bad thing to say either because it's around 4th or 5th grade when students really tend to be most creative and free with their work. Portal of Worlds 2 had a lot of original ideas and objects within it's universe, and I would much rather play a game with new concepts than something that has been tried again and has already been proven true. So in this sense Portal of Worlds 2 has gained my respect.

It's only when I take the role of a Grammar teacher that I really start to pull my hair at this game. Sure, it's okay to have some misspelled words every now and then since a programmer's focus is usually on the code. But Portal of Worlds 2, which is designed like an adventure game, has way too many spelling errors in it's text narration.

Replay Value (n.)
The timelessness of the gamer's delight, such that the experience can be repeated again and again
(Very Poor) Unfortunately, Portal of Worlds 2 is a very short game with just too little to forget, since there aren't really a lot of puzzles to confuse you. So it's pretty easy to just pick up the game and beat it in three minutes after the time where it took you five minutes. A longer quest with a gradual increase in challenge as the journey wears on along with a nifty save feature would be options to look for if a Portal of Worlds 3 was ever made.
Challenge (v.)
To strike the mental nerve in such a way as to stimulate human thought and reflexes
(Very Poor) This Puzzle/Adventure game really does put a lot more emphasis on the Adventure than the Puzzle. With only one real challenge (finding the items that will unlock one of the portals) in your way, and many hints pointing as to where the items you need are located, Portal of Worlds 2 should prove to be pretty easy for any QB gamer.
Fun Factor (n.)
The overall entertainment value as maintained throughout the adventure
v
(Poor)
Fun factor in video games tend to be packaged into little compartments along with all the game's other aspects, which include everything from the sound to the graphics. This is where Portal of Worlds 2 suffers in the fun factor department, because the package where the game is carried (with only 5-10 minutes before the game is solved) is relatively small. This is a shame too... this sequel to the original Portal of Worlds does show evidence that a game like this can be a lot of fun and have the aspects that a Puzzle/Adventure game needs to be solid, but the lack of rooms and puzzles in Portal of Worlds 2 makes this mental challenge a warmup at best. 
Players 1 player Genre: Puzzle/Adventure Game
Rating To solve: 5 min Final Rating: 7/35

To download this game, click here.
 
Installation Tips
wThe files in Portal of Worlds 2 must be unzipped into the directory "C:\DANIEL\POW2" to work.
wTo play Portal of Worlds 2, unzip the file into the appropriate directory and run "POW2.EXE".

Back to Puzzle Games Page