Portal Runner
{{Short description|2001 video game}}
{{multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=March 2009}}
{{Cleanup rewrite|date=September 2013}}
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{{Infobox video game
| title = Portal Runner
| image = Portal Runner US Cover.PNG
| developer = The 3DO Company (PlayStation 2)
Handheld Games (Game Boy Color)
| publisher = The 3DO Company
| series = Army Men
| platforms = PlayStation 2, Game Boy Color
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|September 11, 2001|EU|October 19, 2001}}
| genre = Platform
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Portal Runner is a 2001 platform game published by The 3DO Company for PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Color.{{cite web |date=September 11, 2001 |url=http://www.3do.com/investors/pr_091101.html |title=3DO Ships Portal Runnerâ„¢ |website=The 3DO Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011014110128/http://www.3do.com/investors/pr_091101.html |archive-date=October 14, 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 6, 2024}}
Overview
Portal Runner is a spin-off in the Army Men video game series, focusing on a conflict between characters Vikki Grimm and Brigitte Bleu.
Plot summary
In this game, Vikki Grimm embarks on an adventure after receiving a mysterious package. Her quest takes her through various toy worlds, including a prehistoric jungle and a medieval castle. Along the way, she befriends a lion named Leo and rescues a wizard, Merlin. The villain, Brigitte Bleu, manipulates Vikki's boyfriend, Sarge, and plans to marry him using a love gun acquired from Martians in a Space World. Vikki and Leo thwart the wedding, stop an inter-dimensional attack, and return home. Brigitte ends up imprisoned, sharing a cell with General Plastro.
Reception and controversy
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| GR = (PS2) 57%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/437052-portal-runner/index.html |title=Portal Runner for PlayStation 2 |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526234153/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/437052-portal-runner/index.html |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 6, 2024}}
(GBC) 50%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/580339-portal-runner/index.html |title=Portal Runner for Game Boy Color |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522234822/https://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/580339-portal-runner/index.html |archive-date=May 22, 2019 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 6, 2024}}
| MC = (PS2) 53/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/portal-runner/ |title=Portal Runner (PS2) |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206190357/https://www.metacritic.com/game/portal-runner/ |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=February 6, 2024}}
| Allgame = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Jon |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=31100&tab=review |title=Portal Runner (PS2) - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116053023/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=31100&tab=review |archive-date=November 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 12, 2015}}
| EGM = 3.83/10{{cite magazine |last1=Boyer |first1=Crispin |last2=Kim |first2=Jeanne |last3=Kujawa |first3=Kraig |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/e/e3/EGM_US_148.pdf |title=Portal Runner (PS2) |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=148 |date=November 2001 |page=210 |access-date=February 6, 2024}}{{efn|Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation 2 version each a score of 3/10, 5/10, and 3.5/10.}}
| GI = 4/10{{cite magazine |last=Helgeson |first=Matt |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200110/R03.0805.1233.58096.htm |title=Portal Runner (PS2) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=102 |date=October 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050211020522/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200110/R03.0805.1233.58096.htm |archive-date=February 11, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 12, 2015}}
| GameRev = D{{cite web |last=Dodson |first=Joe |date=October 2001 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33454-portal-runner-review |title=Portal Runner Review (PS2) |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912221149/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/portal-runner |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=February 6, 2024}}
| GSpot = 6.7/10{{cite web |last=Lopez |first=Miguel |date=September 12, 2001 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/portal-runner-review/1900-2812013/ |title=Portal Runner Review (PS2) |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526234156/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/portal-runner-review/1900-2812013/ |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=February 6, 2024}}
| GSpy = 66%{{cite web |last=Alupului |first=Andrei |date=October 19, 2001 |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/october01/portalrunner/ |title=Portal Runner (PS2) |website=GameSpy |publisher=GameSpy Industries |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041215123125/http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/october01/portalrunner/ |archive-date=December 15, 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 13, 2015}}
| IGN = 5.4/10{{cite web |last=Zdyrko |first=David |date=September 24, 2001 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/09/24/portal-runner |title=Portal Runner (PS2) |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029232452/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/09/24/portal-runner |archive-date=October 29, 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=February 6, 2024}}
| NP = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Portal Runner |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |volume=144 |date=May 2001}}
| OPM = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Rybicki |first=Joe |url=https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-50-november-2001/page/160/mode/2up |title=Portal Runner |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |date=November 2001 |page=160 |access-date=February 6, 2024}}
| XPlay = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=D'Aprile |first=Jason |date=October 19, 2001 |url=http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,23008,3354319,00.html |title='Portal Runner' (PS2) Review |website=Extended Play |publisher=TechTV |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011105020253/http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,23008,3354319,00.html |archive-date=November 5, 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 13, 2015}}
}}
The PlayStation 2 version received "mixed" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. The Game Boy Color version gave an earliest review from Nintendo Power, which gave it a score of two-and-a-half stars out of five, just nearly five months before the game was released.
The PS2 version gained notoriety when it was panned by GamePro, which was the first to review the game, saying that it "looks like a late-generation PlayStation title rather than a second-generation PS2 effort."{{cite magazine |author=Iron Monkey |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/8/8e/GamePro_US_158.pdf |title=Portal Runner (PS2) |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=158 |date=November 2001 |page=124 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050203011002/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/16720.shtml |archive-date=February 3, 2005 |url-status=live |access-date=February 6, 2024}}{{efn|GamePro gave the PlayStation 2 version three 2.5/5 scores for graphics, sound, and control, and 2/5 for fun factor.}} Trip Hawkins, then-president of 3DO and publisher of Portal Runner, sent an angry email to John Rousseau, who was president of GamePro. The email was published on the internet in its entirety. In the email, Hawkins told Rousseau that his customers were the advertisers, not the readers, and implied that the reviews should be written to keep the advertisers happy. Hawkins wrote: "...there is something wrong with (the reviewer), not with Portal Runner. If you disagree with me, you do so at your own peril.... I should mention in passing that 3DO has been one of your largest advertisers. Effective immediately, we are going to have to cut that back."{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Bill |date=January 13, 2005 |url=https://dubiousquality.blogspot.com/2005/01/shame-of-trip-hawkins.html |title=The Shame of Trip Hawkins |website=Dubious Quality |publisher=Blogspot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228112027/https://dubiousquality.blogspot.com/2005/01/shame-of-trip-hawkins.html |archive-date=December 28, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=February 6, 2024}}
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Notes
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/30945/portal-runner/|name=Portal Runner (PlayStation 2)}}
- {{moby game|id=/6449/portal-runner/|name=Portal Runner (Game Boy Color)}}
{{Army Men series}}
Category:The 3DO Company games
Category:Cancelled Game Boy Advance games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games