You know the drill - move to the right, jump from platform to platform if necessary, and take out any enemies that stand in your way. These side-scrolling levels are Enchanted Portals’ equivalent of Cuphead’s run-and-gun sections. In an absolutely baffling decision, Xixo have either forgotten to or purposefully omitted displaying button prompts alongside the instructional imagery on-screen. You’re then dropped into the first level, or world, seemingly tasked with capturing the now sentient book that got you into this mess to begin with. Something goes horribly wrong and they’re both sucked up into a portal leading to realms unknown. While tidying up, Bobby and Penny (our dual protagonists) cast a spell from within the pages of a book they accidentally knock off a shelf. Launching the title for the first time and sitting through its brief opening cutscene left me with a decent enough impression, a sense of hope. Unfortunately, and I truly wish I wasn’t saying this, Enchanted Portals fails spectacularly at capturing not only the magic of its source of inspiration, but also at being an enjoyable game. Developed by Xixo Games Studio, a two-person team based in Spain, the title had a lot to live up to after its initial reveal if it ever hoped to stand a chance of holding its own within the shadow of its towering muse. It, too, attempts (in theory) to capture the aesthetic and rubber hose glory of the cartoons of yesteryear - utilising the general gameplay formula of Cuphead as its foundation. You see, Enchanted Portals wears its inspired-by- Cuphead badge on its sleeve, pants, wrists, and face. The third question I’ll leave up to Studio MDHR’s discretion. Was this made by the same developers? Is this a sequel? If not, is Enchanted Portals and its contents at least distinct enough to potentially avoid any incoming legal documentation tied to a brick being flung through the studio’s window in response? The answers to the first two inquiries, at least, is a resounding no. What’s the first thing that runs through your mind upon taking but a cursory glance at any gameplay footage or marketing material related to Enchanted Portals? You may have more than a few questions or thoughts – most of which will undoubtedly contain mention of 2017’s outstanding love letter to 30’s animation, Cuphead.
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