Monster Basement
Ugh. The pain is killing me. But... But where am I? I don't recognize this place; why's it so dark? What's that smell? And why are these flies... OUCH! Hey! Those aren't normal flies, that thing bit and it hurt.
I... I gotta get out of here, this place is giving me some seriously bad vibes and did that thing in the cage just move?
Welcome to Monster Basement, a chilling room escape game from Patrick Majewski of Godlimations notoriety.
Unlike most room escape games that focus almost strictly on puzzle solving, Monster Basement seeks to inject mood and atmosphere into what is often an almost apathetic genre. Usually (some choice selections exempted of course), you're simply thrust in a room with no motive to get out other than the player's desire to complete the game.
In Monster Basement, the motivation to leave is made all too clear; this room with its vampire flies, blood stained meat hooks, and grotesque abominations sitting in fluid filled beakers, scares the jebus out of you, and as you slowly work through a way to leave this terrible place, things aren't likely to get better either.
With an almost old-school horror movie sensibility, your courage is sure to be tested at every turn with flickering lights, pictures that appear to change out of the corner of your eye, and music and sound effects that make you feel like something is lurking just beyond that rotted old door.
Or is there actually something lurking there?
A room escape game with bite, Monster Basement is definitely the game to play after the kids have gone to bed. Turn off the lights, crank up the sound, and if you're easily scared, just keep telling yourself, "It's only a game. It's only a game."
Analysis: Full disclosure: I love horror games. Anything that gets my blood pumping from high end console productions like the Fatal Frame series to well done indie offerings to be found on the net such as Sinthai Boonmaitree's The House are simply heaven for me. As a result, I might just be a little bit biased towards Monster Basement.
But this would only be because Majewski does a surprisingly awesome job of selling the horror side of the game. Violin stings hit when you look at the right thing to crank up the tension, and what little voice acting there is in the game is for all intents and purposes perfect.
Add to this some truly jump worthy moments and a twist ending that will catch you off guard, this game definitely finds itself very much on my good side.
As for its merits as a room escape game it does a decent job on that front as well. While there may not be a trashcan to look under, many of the other staples are there; pixel hunting, a handful of keys, and puzzles that won't make sense until after you've completed them.
The fact that you can die in this game (though the game is mercifully forgiving when you do die) does actually make it easier because this gives you the opportunity to figure out what you got wrong and try again.
Not the hardest of room escapes, Monster Basement should be just easy enough for the escaping challenged such as myself to eventually work their way through, but challenging enough to prove suitable for the more hardcore of room escape enthusiasts.
All in all a well put together game on all fronts and one that should not be missed unless you've a heart condition or avoid movies because they give you nightmares.
Walkthrough Guide
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MONSTER BASEMENT WALKTHROUGH
Item Collection
1.
You will be facing the light on the ceiling. When you click on the bottom-left of the screen, you will be facing the main door entrance, right beside a table with vampire flies hovering around it. Go up those stairs and click the bottom left corner of the poster that says "Godlimations". Collect the GREEN KEY from the underside. Go back to the main room by clicking the bottom right of the screen.
2.
Turn left one screen and you will be facing a lab table. ((Quick fun note: the two paintings behind the table change in the light or in the dark. :) You can zoom in to look at them better. The one with the two people only changes when the lights are completely off.)) Anyway, click the trashcan underneath the right side of the table and grab the EMPTY SPRAY CAN and the WHITE CRUMPLED PAPER. Return to the main view of the lab table and click the yellow object right above the trashcan. Collect the GOLD SUPPORT STAND and use the empty spray can on the red substance to the immediate right of the support stand to fill it. Cancel the item by clicking in the top right and go back to the main view. Click the drawers on the left side. Open the middle one to get the YELLOW CRUMPLED PAPER. Go back to the main view and click the red phone on the left.
3.
The two pieces of paper give you two numbers to call - 944-521-644 for "The Handyman", and 725-828-466 for "The Salvation Army" (SALVATION on a phone is the number listed above). Call both of these and they both agree to help you. You will get a notification that something came to the door. Return to the main screen and turn right.
4.
Turn right and go back to the main door. There will be two letters - one from the Handyman and one from the Salvation Army. Click the handyman's letter to open it and click the eyeball to receive the SCREWDRIVER. Click the Salvation Army's letter and click the metal object to receive the FISH EMBLEM. Go back to the table with the vampire flies and spray them with the spray can to kill them. Retrieve the AXE.
5.
Click the lightswitch (the white box to the left of the green wheel) and click the very top of the screen to return to the light. Use the screwdriver four times on the light and take the LIGHTBULB. Click the bottom-left corner to leave the screen and turn right.
6.
You will be facing a bookcase. Click between the bloody table and the bookcase to get the RIGHT GOLDEN ARM. Go back to the bookcase and click the green book at the top left. It is a DIARY that is opened with the green key. You need to click the green key, click to use it, click the diary, and then click the lock to open it. It details the life of the man that owns this basement, and shows you a couple of monsters he is trying to kill. If you click all the pages, in the very back of the diary is a GOLD KEY. Turn back to the lab table (either two to the left or two to the right) and click the drawers. Use the gold key on the last drawer to get the GOLD EGG.
7.
Go back to the lab table and turn left. Use the axe on the wooden door. Go into the dark room.
The Other Room
NOTE::
You need to place the lightbulb in the circle socket at the top of the screen. When the light comes on, there will be a Mud Vile that will try to kill you. You MUST kill the Mud Vile with the axe BEFORE he covers the refrigerators on the left side with his arm. I only tell you this because of a bug in the game: If you kill him too late, you WILL NOT be able to complete the game. If he gets too far before you can click the axe, just wait until he engulfs you. The room will turn dark again and you can merely click the light socket again to restart that whole scene.
1.
Once the Mud Vile is dead, click the bottom-right of the farthest refrigerator to get the LEFT GOLDEN ARM. Return to the main screen of the room.
2.
Click the top of the nearest refrigerator for the SILVER KEY. Once you have those, go back to the other room.
The Golden Contraption and The End
1.
Go to the bookshelf and click the cage. Open it with the silver key, and take off the blanket to reveal a dead Goliath. Take the BLANKET. Leave the cage, turn to the main table, and place the blanket on the table to mask the scent and make the vampire flies leave again.
2.
Go back to the bookshelf and click the yellow circle on the second shelf. Place the support stand, both of the golden arms, and the golden egg at the center. Finally, place the fish emblem in front by clicking on the egg with it. The device will start projecting a light.
3.
Turn around and click the wall behind the lab table. Click on that wall until it reveals a HEART and a VITALITY POTION. Take them, and the phone will ring. Answer it if you want to; the Monster that owns the basement will say he is coming to get you. Turn to the main entrance and place the heart on one of the meathooks to your left. The monster will be stopped by the vampire flies.
4.
Turn to the deceased Goliath in the cage and use the vitality potion on him. Watch the last cutscene.
Congratulations, you win! :D
On a side note, I forgot my username and password for my JayIsGames account, so I'll have to use my Typekey until I can remember. :(
Posted by: Metanaito
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August 14, 2008 4:07 PM