Jason Hill writes: "Pokemaniacs can attest that the urge to "catch 'em all" in some games can be irresistible. Yet while Spectrobes has strong instant appeal, this fossil-fuelled sequel still does not have the same long-term allure as Nintendo's pocket monster series.
Youngsters again guide a cocky young space cadet who can command Spectrobes, the only creatures that can save the universe from a powerful new threat that can consume entire planets. The critters are found in fossils deep underground, requiring trainers to excavate, awaken and evolve them before they can be useful in battle."
YLG:
"What's good about Spectrobes: Beyond The Portals as a game is that it offers hours of challenge for young gamers. What's good about it as a sequel is it represents a big step forward from the first game. If the progress continues, Spectrobes will establish itself as one of the leading game series for children on the DS."
GamesWeasel writes: "Unfortunately, combat's not great. Fighting as Rallen you can use melee attacks or your gun, but locking onto enemies is tricky when the camera's not centred on them. Fighting with your Spectrobes is really boring. By walking into a Vortex, you set your tag team into motion, but combat is no more than walking up to an enemy and pressing A, then pressing B or Y when you're charged up a super move. It's clunky, unresponsive and dull.
Exploration isn't great either. Although they've improved the camera angle to make it less claustrophobic, there's still a lot of back-tracking to do, and if you die, you start back at your ship and have to wander through the barren lands once again".
PALGN writes: "For those that played and enjoyed the first Spectrobes title, you'd be pleased to note that it is a better title than its older sibling, marginally better. For the rest of us, you'll be hard pressed to find much value in Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals, unless you are a complete addict for monster-collecting games - or under the age of ten.
Beyond the Portals sees the return of Rallen, the Nanario Planetary Patrol officer who curtailed an alien invasion at the end of the first Spectrobes tiltle. Obviously, the invading Krawl had other ideas, forcing Rallen and friends to stop the evil alien race all over again."
