7.1

Review: Grand Emprise 2: Portals Separate

The game

I have Grand Emprise 2: Portals Separate played and thought it was a special experience. In the beginning I really had to get used to it, because the game hardly explains you. There are no extensive tutorials or clear clues, which means you have to find out for yourself what the intention is. Since I didn't play the first part, I didn't quite know what the bigger goal was, and that made me feel a little lost at first. At the same time, this discovery is also part of the charm: You learn to try along the way, and that gave me a sense of challenge and curiosity. 

Graphics

What immediately struck me are the graphics and the atmosphere. The game looks very nice in my opinion, with colorful environments and a fantastic style. There's a lot of creativity in the worlds you visit. Each new portal takes you to an environment that feels surprising and original. Because of the nature and the experiences you encounter along the way, I could really lose myself in it. For me, this even worked soothingly: Walking around, looking at the details and letting the world work on me gave me a relaxed feeling, even though of course there is tension in the story and the puzzles. 

Gameplay 

Gameplay Running Grand Emprise 2: Portals Separate to follow some kind of family tree of quests. You need to study subjects, make new stuff, and move on step by step. Eventually you work towards keys that bring you to the game. At first I found this somewhat unclear, but as soon as I realized how the system worked, it became a lot more fun. It gives a clear sense of progression: You're always working on something new, and you feel like you're working on something.

What I also liked is that the game challenges you to discover for yourself instead of chewing everything. That can be frustrating if you want clarity quickly, but it also makes the experience unique and personal. Everyone experiences it their own way.

Atmosphere and style

You can tell by everything that there's a lot of passion in this project. I think the game was developed by a small studio or maybe even by one developer, although I'm not quite sure.  It makes the game feel quirky and experimental. Not everything is polished or spotless. You notice that the creator has let his creativity and imagination run wild.