![]() ![]() But a few missed opportunities for visual polish and diversity leave the presentation feeling a bit inconsistent. Overall, Enchanted Portals perfectly encapsulates the vintage art style it strives for, an impressive achievement for a two-person studio. Given the incredible animation on display, more dynamic reactions to your attacks could have really enhanced the gameplay satisfaction. While their designs brim with cartoon personality, enemies exhibit no real visual feedback when damaged or destroyed. Most disappointing of all are the lack of visually compelling reactions from enemies when hit. Some environments also lack visual variety, reusing the same repetitive set pieces like gravestones or trees through the entire level. The still image cutscenes used to transition between levels feel a bit amateurish compared to the flowing animation during gameplay. However, upon closer inspection, it’s clear there are some cracks in the gorgeous art direction. One second you’re battling a moon witch, and the next she’s turned into a creepy Tim Burton-style character. Some of the most delightful visual moments come from the multi-phase boss fights as they transition between different art styles. The fluidity of the animation also deserves praise, maintaining a perfectly smooth framerate even when the screen fills up with bullets and enemies. While not without some inconsistencies between areas, the sheer artistry on display is impressive for such a small studio. Enemies each have unique and expressive designs, like the monocle-wearing octopus boss or tommy gun-toting buffalo gangsters. Backgrounds are packed with imaginative details, like gravestones and creepy trees in the haunted forest levels. The hand-drawn art pops with color, evoking the rubber hose style of early Disney and Fleischer Studios cartoons. The developer has crafted a diverse range of vibrant, detail-rich environments full of quirky enemies and characters that feel ripped from classic animation. There’s no denying that Enchanted Portals absolutely nails its tribute to retro cartoon aesthetics. A Nostalgic Visual Treat…With Some Rough Edges Does the charm of its throwback aesthetic make up for repetitive, frustrating mechanics? Let’s dive through the portal and find out. ![]() While certainly a loving tribute to the retro classics that inspired it, this indie title stumbles in matching their finely-tuned gameplay and challenge. In this review, we will closely examine the graphics, controls, level design, gameplay variety, and overall fun factor of Enchanted Portals. However, underneath the gorgeous art direction lies gameplay that fails to live up to its obvious influences. The developer has crafted a diverse array of environments and enemies that seem ripped from the golden age of animation. With hand-drawn visuals reminiscent of vintage 1930s cartoons, Enchanted Portals oozes nostalgic charm. ![]()
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