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Best adventure game ever!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 10, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game is such a great secret. If you don't want your kids to succumb to the violence of shoot 'em up gun violence in games, this is the adventure game for you. I had my whole family playing it. It takes place in a toy store where you must transport to new toy lands through a new portal. Really clean but fun game. and there's a 2 player mode! really great graphics and a great story too.

Addictive

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 08, 2008
Author: Amazon User

For those who had a hard time turning off the console when you played "Army Men: Sarge's Heroes" and "Army Men: Sarge's Heroes 2" then you're most likely going to find "Portal Runner" just as addictive. For those who didn't have that problem, well maybe you'll still enjoy this game.

"Portal Runner" is the spin-off to the Sarge's Heroes series of 3DO's succesful Army Men series. As you may recall in Sarge's Heroes 2 you briefly take control of Vikki Grimm for a single mission. Here you control Vikki for nearly the entire game.

The game starts off shortly after Plastro's defeat in Sarge's Heroes 2. Vikki follows Sarge through a portal in the Army Men world to a candy shop in our world where she is forced to rescue Sarge. But when they return to base Colonel Grimm grounds his daughter for taking such risks. It's something that rather hard to understand in relation to the greater dangers she was putting herself in in both Sarge's Heroes games, dangers the colonel merely asked her to not to do.

Meanwhile, Bridgette Bleu has remained in the toy store from the end of Sarge's Heroes 2 where she has found portals into a Jurrasic world and a Medevil world and has declared herself queen of all worlds. But alas, while it's good to be the queen it's no fun without a king. And who better to be king than Sargeant Hawk. The only thing standing in her way of marrying Sarge is his true love Vikki.

So she sends her right hand warbot Rage to eliminate Vikki by throwing her to the raptors of Jurrasic world. Rage does as ordered, but then he makes a major goof by throwing in Leonardo, or Leo, the lion with her.

Together Vikki and Leo must make their way through the portals to return to their world and end Bridgette's plans.

Again, by and large you play this game as Vikki, with three ways of playing her. By herself, with Leo, and riding Leo. Then there's playing just a handful of missions as Leo. Vikki by herself is a lot like the Sarge's Heroes game play, though instead of being able to switch between various weapons you only carry a bow and a variety of arrow types. When playing with Leo Vikki can add Leo to her arsenal, being able to command him to attack enemies in range. If the enemies get close enough Leo will attack on his own without being commanded to. When riding Leo there is no sending Leo after enemies, though as you are controling both at once you can either strike with the bow or the claw. Finally, when playing as Leo you can preform a pounce or slash attack.

The controls are pretty straight forward. Even though you've got controls for just Vikki (which include Vikki's command controls for Leo), Vikki riding Leo, and Leo alone it doesn't take terribly long to learn the different controls. One nice feature is the 360 camera with the zoom in feature. This will take a little longer to learn than other controls.

Graphics look beautiful and the sound effects are terrific. The biggest dislike I have is the music, but once that is shut off I find the game great to play.

Fun Game - 5

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 06, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I think this is a great game. It is really colorful and it's really fun. In the beginning of the game you find a lion and end up keeping it as a pet and riding him around. The game is really easy in the beginning. The only level I have trouble beating is the last one. But anyway... the plot of the story is that you are a toy and you are going forward and backward in time trying to catch the villian. You have to fight most of the things that you come in contact with. To kill them u shoot them with arrows, and tell Leo (the lion) to attack. Through out the game there are other objectives (besides getting the villian). It's a fun game.

Lions, gems, and portals, oh my!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: October 06, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Portal Runner is a surprisingly entertaining platform game. I got more than I expected out of this one. Almost everything in this game is top-notch. Engrossing game-play, good graphics, excellent music and sound effects, and some pretty challenging situations to boot.

The game is divided into a linear set of levels you have to complete, and the levels closely follow the story of a girl and a lion who are lost in time and trying to get home.

The entire story takes place in a toy store where living toys have their adventures during the night hours while the store is closed. Some of the characters are army men, others appear to be dolls. Brigitte Bleu is a crafty woman who lives in a dollhouse. She's discovered "portals" to other realms. An open box for a "Dinosaur playset" has a portal that leads to a prehistoric realm where dinosaurs live. Another open box for a "Knights and dragon playset" opens onto a medieval world. And an open box for an "Alien Armada playset" leads to a vast alien spacecraft.

With the help of Rage (a large warbot), Brigitte has visited and conquered these other realms; but she's bored. She decides that she needs a husband, and she sets her sights on Sarge, a green army man sergeant. But Sarge's girlfriend and love of his life is the beautiful Vikki G, star reporter for the Green Army News. So Brigitte and Rage set a trap for Vikki to get her out of the way. Just as Rage traps Vikki, a lone lion stumbles onto the scene. Vikki and the lion are thrown into the dinosaur realm, where they are trapped. Vikki names the lion Leo, and the two of them embark on a quest to look for the portal that will take them home.

This game has four different types of action. Depending on where you are in the linear story, you'll be playing as Vikki by herself in some areas, Vikki with Leo by her side in others, Leo by himself in a few levels, and Vikki riding Leo's back in others.

Vikki carries a bow with a limited arrow supply, and she can get a variety of different types of arrows to use with it. In addition to normal arrows, she can get fire arrows, water arrows, lightning arrows, explosive arrows, and piercing arrows, each of which has a different effect on enemies and can be used for various puzzle-solving purposes.

When Leo is at Vikki's side, she can command him to help her fight when the need arises. She can also tell him to stay put if she has to do some spelunking in a cave or jumping around on cliffs by herself. Leo is a fierce combatant and will defend Vikki whenever he can. When Vikki rides Leo's back, you control Leo as he runs and hops around, and Vikki can fire her arrows from where she rides on the lion's back.

As you progress through the levels, you collect various colored gems, each of which are worth points. After you score enough points, Vikki and Leo get a bonus point added to their health bars. You can also try to collect all of the gems in a level for a 100% completion.

This game has four difficulty levels, and the main game is pretty easy to beat. There are some tough spots, as always, but for the most part it's an easy game. The real challenge lies in collecting all of the gems in every level for a 100% game completion and special bonus at the end. Collecting all of the gems in a level ranges from moderately difficult to head-scratchingly frustrating, as each level has one or more hidden areas that can only be reached through some deft puzzle solving. It helps to be observant and always be checking out the scenery for things you can interact with.

The level designs are often intricate and interesting, especially with all of those hidden areas to find. The interior of the alien spacecraft at the end is one of the best levels I've ever seen in a PS2 game.

The game's graphics are both a strength and weakness. The characters and their enemies are nicely rendered, sporting a lot of nice-looking animations. On the other hand, some of the backgrounds are pre-rendered and look rather flat when you move the camera around. All of the graphics are colorful and detailed. Aside from the pre-rendered backgrounds, I have no complaints; and even so, I overlook that fault because the game-play is so good. The animated sequences that tell the story are also a strength. All nicely done.

The sound here is great! Each level has its appropriate musical score. There's nothing even remotely out of place here. The music properly fits each situation our heroes find themselves in, expertly setting the mood. The voice acting is also some of the best I've heard. All expertly done. They really put some effort into it, and it shows.

The camera work is another of the game's strengths. The camera is always with you, providing a good panorama of what's ahead of you. You can move the camera around to get different angles, and you can even pitch it up or down. In addition, you can enter a "hot shot" mode to look around, and a target reticle at center screen provides precision aiming for Vikki's bow.

All said and done, Portal Runner is a great game that sports engrossing game-play, great level designs, top-notch sound, good graphics, and just a few minor graphical faults. There's a lot of good stuff to see here, and it's definitely worth playing through again to try to get all of those elusive gems. Hey, it's worth playing just to see a lion mauling platoons of army men.

Fun Game, Controls are terrible

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I enjoyed playing this game, the only draw back is the the controls!! I got so frustrated trying to get the character to move left, right etc. Whoever thought up these controls for this game sure did a BooBoo!! It's not like most games I have played where you move the joy stick and the character moves up or down, left to right, NO you basically have to stop her then turn her left to right, up, down, these controls are LOUSY. The story line is fantastic and it has beautiful scenery. Once you get the hang of moving her around its not bad. Good Luck.

Ummmmm... its OK

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 3
Date: December 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

well, its a boring game. i played it only once at my 8 year old cousin's house( im 11),but hey, u may like it. The graphics are good, and levels are fun to explore, but the mission modes are mad boring ! I DIDNT GET THE MISSION MODES AT ALL, i played it for like 3 min. anyway, if ur bored w/ a friend, explore levels in this game. its pretty cheap and it gives u something to do on a rainy day.

Great Game!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 14, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game,its fun,and it really makes you think.
Its not hard,but its not easy. Its really fun a little frustrating at times (like when you have to fight the dragon) .
The graphics are great and its just full fantasy.
The great thing about it is that it doesnt have violence in it you just have to shoot arrow.
The bad thing is that if you are a great player you can finish it in one day,its long but not that long.
Make sure you have the memory-card when you buy this cause you dont whant to get far in the game without saving the game.

One of the best games I've played.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: October 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I'm a gamer. I had so much fun playing this game that the kids wanted me to buy them a copy. Most everyone in the house, plus other people I know, from age 5 to 46, has played this game and loved it. I love the graphics, music, and gameplay. Now I'm looking for other Army Men games. I hope they make a sequel to this one.

I'm 46 years old and there are a few games I play over and over again; this is one of them. You play as Vikki, Vikki with Leo the lion, Vikki riding Leo, and just Leo. I love the gameplay variation, the beautiful levels, interesting puzzles, spansive adventure, and shooting action. Vikki can shoot in first-person or third-person mode. She can often auto-aim at times when it's really needed (especially helpful in the tree area). Locating all the gems adds extra replay value. All in all, I really love this game. No downside. And I still play it. I play many games over and over again: Spyro, Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, Devil May Cry, Drakan, Soul Reaver and more. So I have varied taste. Try this one. I give it a 6 out of 5.

some game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 11, 2003
Author: Amazon User

portral runner is one EASY game because i finished it in 2 days. i liked using vikki better than leo because leo is slow and his only attack is slashing. vikki is better because she's faster. i'm not trying to say this is a worthless game but i finished it in so little time. the song that plays at the beginning is okay and so are vikki's differnt arrows. i think portral runner2 should come out.

Fun and funny

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: April 12, 2003
Author: Amazon User

If you like platformer games, this is a fun one, and not too difficult. The graphics are very good and the controls are simple. I like that it's got different stages you go through, first as just the girl, then with the lion, then riding the lion. There are some puzzles to figure out and hidden things to hunt for if you want to, which makes the game last longer, but is not a requirement for continuing. The only annoying, nay, downright aggrevating thing, is that you can only save one game. So my daughter and I have to share it instead of playing each our own game. Bad move on someone's part.

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