An Old Look for a New Game

{ September 29, 2009 @ 2:21 pm } · { Video Games }

Platforms Supported

Windows, Linux-32 and 64, and Mac

When you hear the song Still Alive, I bet you probably think about the game Portal that was one of the biggest cult phenomenon games I have noticed within the past 5 years with the exception of Katamari Damacy.  My girlfriend along with all of my friends once you mention Portal go crazy and are like wow that game was amazing!  The unsung heroes of the series I include are the flash version and the fan made mods.  X-Box live had the still alive that had additional mind challenging maps that furthered the series further and further.  ASCIIpOrtal was released by Cymon 2 days ago after weeks of testing and playing around.

How it began

In 2008, there was a de-make competition where many indie game developers were asked to remake their favorite current game and make it as it would look back in the 8-bit era.  The winner was Gang Garrison, which was a de-make of Team Fortress 2 and ,The Orange Box favorite Portal de-make, Portile.  Cymon saw this game and just having got Portal, he decided to play around with some ideas of his to de-make the game in ASCII style.  He got the idea from an older computer game in ASCII style Donkey Kong.

Popularity Growth

Cymon released some videos of what he had of an ASCII Chel shooting portals and going through them as well as the fan favorite companion cube.  The second video of his involved going through the portal with dynamic screen shifting for cool effects as well as being able to see through the portal just like in its big brother.  He also added filters to distinguish between the two portal colors, blue and yellow.  Along the process he showed off the obstacles he had going as well as a companion cube and boulder dispenser.  He asked for beta testers and level designers on the forum in between the 2nd and last video he made.

Gameplay

I am big on the Indie game scene and am sort of biased but, always play these games with an open mind.  I start up the game on my laptop running Linux 32-bit and am amazed by the nice looking title screen.  I looked at the controls and am surprised to see no jump key but later finding out it really isn’t needed.  You have the option of pressing the space bar to alternate between the two portals or using the specific key for that color portal.  He did the game well for all those that are worrying that the original game wasn’t preserved or respected.  It plays like a more puzzle-focused version of the valve game.  He kept the fling just like the original as well as GLADOS taunting and helping you through out the test chambers.  In the first few levels, there is no use for your portal gun as it is just letting you get used to the change from 3-D to 2-D ASCII style.  It teaches you how to use the switches and, how to solve puzzles with the cubes that are all denoted by a heart symbol inside them representing the companion cube.  Then on the 4th level, you learn how to use the portals and how to fling just like in the more advanced version.  The only difference I can really see that makes major notice would be the inability to jump and carry objects.  The game is very difficult so I would not recommend it to those who are easily turned away by challenging puzzles.

Graphics

The least important aspect of the game but people wonder about this for some reason.  The graphics are ASCII so everything looks like a text editor.  It takes a lot of imagination to accept that a blue circle as a blue portal.  Your character isn’t animated when moving like a general ASCII game so no surprises.  It is easy to see what is supposed to be what so no confusions on what can a portal can be put on and what cannot.  As I mentioned before there is no jumping, so how you move to one level above you is done automatically and otherwise well, think with portals.  I would say take the graphics with some imagination and you will be fine.

Final Judgment

This game is done with the best of intents and preserves the Valve culture bomb of the gaming world.  The puzzles make you think with portals so it does its job.  This game is amazingly multi-platform which is very nice.  If you are turned off by ancient graphics and artistic de-makes of popular games stay away because I don’t want angry comments about how it looks like vomit.  Cymon, you made a very good game and I am very happy with the outcome.  I hope you enjoy this game and spend some good time with it.  Now you are thinking with portals!

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