Escape from the 13th Floor
All right, let's get this out right now. If you suffer from triskaidekaphobia, proceed no further. Seriously. If you have serious problems with the number 13, then you might suffer consequences when you're kidnapped off of a street and dumped on...the 13th floor! Cue spooky soundtrack. Do buildings even have 13th floors? In Selfdefiant's latest escape game, Escape from the 13th Floor, you'll find one and be tasked with escaping from it. It's Weekday Escape time!
Escape from the 13th Floor is a fun, involving little room escape. Or building escape, as it were. You wake up on the dreaded 13th floor and must find your way out of the building. Why? Maybe because you left dinner cooking? Who knows? Like many escape games, we're never really given a reason why we must escape, other than the obvious fact that it's not fun to sleep on the floor of a strange office building. Or the fact that you might be trapped in a Stephen King short story.
Navigation through this strange building is pretty easy. (Who puts a movie theater on the 5th floor? Seriously.) Arrows appear to let you know which way you can go. All you have to do is find a number of odd items and figure out how to use them to get out, preferably before Letterman comes on. Use some items, solve a few puzzles, and you'll soon be on your way.
You'll find the bright, flat, cartoony visuals nice, especially when you discover the lack of a changing cursor. Yes, there is some pixel hunting. Fortunately, there's not an egregious amount of hunting, almost everything you need to find is in plain sight. The inventory control could be a little more intuitive, but that's a minor quibble. A mute button is also nice when the ominous soundtrack gets to be just a little too much, and the game automatically saves if you leave it prematurely.
Perhaps the greatest criticism I can give is that I would have liked a few more of the floors to have been open, with even more stuff to find. The game is enjoyable, but it almost feels like you're just getting going when you find the way out. Nevertheless, Escape from the 13th floor is an amusing way to waste a few minutes, unless of course you suffer from triskaidekaphobia. Lots of fun to be had in a building made spookier by the soundtrack than by the actual inhabitants. Take a few minutes and enjoy Escape from the 13th Floor.
Walkthrough Guide
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Escape from the 13th Floor Walkthrough
General Information
Although there are a few puzzles, most of the game is use of found objects.
You can get around via the stairs or the elevator (if you can get it working), but the stairs are blocked off at certain points, so the elevator is more efficient.
This walkthrough presumes you are taking the elevator between floors, and the directions are from the elevator door on each floor.
There is one color based puzzle, so the walkthrough will include directions for the colorblind.
Good luck!
The 13th Floor
You begin on the 13th floor, and of course the elevator is out of order.
Note the sign next to the elevator, it tells you what businesses are on what floor, and which floors are under construction.
13th floor is Janitorial.
12th floor is Java Cup.
11th floor is under construction (i.e. blocked).
10th floor is clothes closet.
9th floor is Juicy Burger.
8th floor is under construction.
7th floor is under construction.
6th floor is Bradley & Carney, Moe's Dry Cleaning.
5th floor is Movie Theater (huh?).
4th floor is under construction.
3rd floor is under construction.
2nd floor is Chi Health Supply.
1st floor is Fortunes, Arcade (and presumably the way out).
Go to the right.
Here's the Janitor's closet, but it's locked. Presumably we're looking for a gold key.
While we're here, let's check out the change slot of the vending machine. Hey, a quarter! At least the night isn't a total waste...
Go to the right.
Yet another locked door, and an air vent. Click on the vent for a close up.
Looks like we need a screwdriver. And no, the quarter won't work to remove the screws.
Go to the right.
Of course the Exit door is jammed!
Hey, someone left their jacket! Click on the blue jacket to see what you can find.
A silver key, huh? It won't work on the Janitor's closet, but what about that other door? Go to the left and try the key on the door.
And we're in an office! Is that a key hanging from the ceiling?
Well, you can move the chair over to reach the key, but you can't cut it down. Oh well.
Search the drawers in the red toolbox to the left. You will find a screwdriver in the middle drawer.
Open the top drawer in the wooden chest, and you will find a dollar. You know, the evening is starting to look profitable...
Back up out of the office and click on the vent for a close up.
Use the screwdriver to remove the vent cover and go in.
The 12th Floor
Welcome to the 12th floor. Hey, there's a news vending machine here. What the heck, let's check the change slot.
Yet another quarter! Maybe we were too hasty about wanting to escape...
Go to the left.
And here's the elevator, and it works! Push the elevator button and enter the elevator.
Pull up the panel to go to another floor and you will find...that you need a key for the elevator to work. Bummer.
Leave the elevator and go right twice.
I could use some coffee. Let's go into the Java Cup.
And it looks like any other typical overpriced coffee place these days. Hey, is that a vent on the floor, between the table and the counter? Click on the vent for a close up.
Cool, a key! But we can't reach it.
Back up out of the Java Cup and go to the right.
Click on the door to use the stairs.
Head down to the 10th floor (remember, 11 is under construction).
The 10th Floor
Once you are at the 10th floor on the stairs, use the left door to enter the actual floor.
Go to the left.
Cool, a soda machine! Is that another quarter in the change slot?
Looks to me like we've picked up $1.75. If we find a few more vending machines maybe we can afford a burger...
Go to the left.
The Clothes Closet, huh? That's a terrible name for a store. Go into the Clothes Closet.
Any money in the cash register? No? Darn!
Go to the right.
Let's see what we can find in the changing room. Open the changing room doors.
And we can get a hanger. It's no quarter, but it's something.
You know, maybe we can use it to get that key out of the vent on the 12th floor?
Go left, back up, and go right twice.
Go up the stairs to the 12th floor, then go left to the Java Cup.
Enter the Java Cup, click on the vent, and use the hanger on the key in the vent.
Victory!
Back up and go left twice to the elevator.
Open the elevator, go in, and pull up the keyboard.
Use the black key on the keyboard. Yay, a working elevator!
Let's go to the 9th floor, shall we? We haven't been there yet.
The 9th Floor
And here we are on the 9th floor, which appears to be some sort of food court.
Go to the right.
I guess we're not hungry enough that that old burger looks good. Go to the right again.
A door that says Employees Only. And it needs a key card. Wonder if they keep food back there? I'm getting kind of hungry...
Go to the right.
More tables. Looks like there's nothing else here. We know the 7th and 8th floors are under construction, so let's head for the 6th floor.
Go left 3 times to the elevator, enter the elevator, and push the button for the 6th floor.
The 6th Floor
Well, here's an ATM machine. Too bad we left the debit card at home.
Go to the right.
A lawyers office, eh? Let's vandalize it!
Oh, of course it's locked.
Let's see if there's anything hidden in this plant. Click on the plant.
A brass key! It won't open the Janitor's closet, but maybe it'll open the lawyer's office. Use the key on the door.
And we're in!
Nice inspirational poster on the wall, there.
Hey, if you click on the left corner, it falls away to reveal a wall safe!
Well, all we get from the file cabinets is that everything is on blue paper. Maybe they really like the color blue.
Let's try the computer, shall we? Click on the computer for a close up.
We need a password? Let's think about this.
The word on the inspirational poster is "Believe", but the three middle letters are blue, "lie".
Perhaps that's the password?
Type the password into the computer and click the enter button.
Pretty picture! All sorts of geometric shapes.
Perhaps it's a clue?
Remember, everything is on blue paper.
And the "lie" password was in blue.
Perhaps the blue shapes are a clue?
In the first column is a blue octagon (8 sides). In the second column is a blue square (4 sides). In the third column is a blue pentagon (5 sides). And in the last column is a blue hexagon (6 sides).
So the safe code would be 8456.
Enter the code into the safe and click on the button to the right of the numbers.
A shuriken? Cool! Take the shuriken (throwing star).
Back out of the office and go right.
Okay, nothing useful at the dry cleaner's. Go right again.
Nothing here either. Let's go to the 5th floor.
You can go down the stairs or take the elevator, your choice.
The 5th Floor
Let's start at the elevator. Go right.
Bad movie posters, and nothing useful. Go right again.
Let's see what's playing, shall we? Go into the theater door.
Click on the seats on the left. Nothing there.
Click on the seats on the right. Hey, there's something!
Click on the object for a close up. A Juicy Burger visor and an employee ID! Take the ID card.
Back up and go right.
Okay, nothing else here that's interesting. Let's go back to the elevator and go down to the 2nd floor (3 and 4 are under construction).
The 2nd Floor
Okay, we're at the elevator door on the 2nd floor. Go right.
Here's the Chi Health Store. Nice pictures they have in front of the store.
Go right.
Cool, another vending machine! Let's check the coin slot for change.
Darn, this one wants money. Specifically, it wants $1.00 in quarters. Pity we only have 75 cents.
There's some sort of black panel to the right of the gated door. Click on it for a close up.
Looks like there's a slot that the shuriken will fit into. Place the shuriken into the gadget.
And now we have a code. Do these symbols look familiar?
Look again at the symbols painted in front of the Chi Health Store. They were earth, moon, water, and fire.
Recreate those symbols in that order on the device.
Whoah, secret door! Click on the entrance to go in.
Nice Zen room we have here. Click on the stick (bo) leaning against the wall to take it.
Go left.
Cool samurai sword! Darn, can't get it out of the holder.
Maybe if we set something on the platform...
Go right and out of the room.
Go right again.
Okay, we're at the stairs again. Let's go down to the 1st floor.
The 1st Floor
Let's start by the elevator door on the 1st floor. Hey, there's the door out! Of course it's locked. Electronically.
Go right.
We appear to have a fortune teller stand here, but the curtains are closed. Hey, what's that red button high on the right?
Use the bo staff on the red button and open the curtains.
Cool, a crystal ball, let's take it!
Go right.
An arcade? Let's go play a game! Go into the arcade.
Darn, it won't let us play. Hey, a change machine! We could probably get change for that mysterious vending machine on the 2nd floor.
Use the dollar on the change machine.
Great, it's broken. Well, at least we got one coin. We now have 4 quarters, which is enough to use the vending machine.
Back out of the arcade.
Nothing more to do on this floor right now.
Let's Escape!
Escaping
Go up to the 2nd floor, and go right until you see the vending machine and the secret door into Chi Health Store.
Use all 4 quarters on the vending machine and get batteries.
Go into the secret room and go left.
Place the crystal ball on the platform and you will be able to take the samurai sword.
Leave the room, head back to the elevator, and go to the 9th floor.
Go right twice until you get to the employee only door.
Use the key card on the slot in the door to enter the office.
Check the lockers. Along with a lot of stinky shoes you will also find a flashlight. Take the flashlight.
Back out of the room, go back to the elevator, and go to the 12th floor.
Go right once and click on the open vent to get back to the 13th floor (you can also take the stairs if you'd like).
Go into the open office where you found the screwdriver.
Move the blue chair underneath the key. Use the sword to cut down the key. Move the chair again and take the gold key.
Once you have the key, back up and go left.
Use the gold key on the Janitor's Closet door.
It's dark!
Use the batteries on the flashlight, then use the flashlight on the dark room.
There's a metal door in the wall to your right, click on it.
Click on the breakers to flip them so that the red dots disappear (all breakers should be pointing towards the center).
Back out of the room, go right, go through the vent to the 12th floor.
Go left to the elevator, then take the elevator down to the 1st floor.
Go out the now functioning door. Freedom!
Posted by: grinnyp
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August 18, 2010 12:24 PM
I for one am a believer that people should have a reason to read walkthroughs whether they're actually stuck or not. So here.
Thirteen Floors: A Walkthough
The Sky Plazza Mall has been closed for renovations for a week now. I walk by it on my way to work every day. But one day when they aren't working on the mall, some jerk knocked me out and left me on the mall's top floor with my pockets empty.
God damn it, why me? I wasn't anybody special. Well, I knew there was no point in dwelling on that. I had to get to escaping.
I walked from end to end of the floor, the janitorial offices apparently. The elevator was out of order, the office doors were locked, and the door to the stairs was jammed. I swiped a quarter from the coin return slot of a vending machine, and found a silver key in the pocket of a blue shirt left on the sofa. Well, that was progress.
The key went to the unmarked office door. Inside, I looked around. The red toolbox contained a screwdriver, and I also found a dollar bill in a drawer. The computer wouldn't turn on; so much for contacting help that way. My attention kept settling on a key dangling from the ceiling; I could reach it by pushing the computer chair over, but I couldn't untie it. Oh well, that would have to wait.
Not far from the door, I spotted an air vent. The screwdriver was the perfect tool for unscrewing the vent, and I could just barely fit through. I landed with a thump on the twelfth floor, where the café was located. I ignored it for the moment and swiped another quarter from the newspaper box's change slot, then hiked over to the stairs to the right and banked the door open.
I thought I was free; no such luck, as the eighth floor (Juicy Burger) was as low as I could go due to a blockage. For the moment, I went to Clothes Closet on the tenth floor, picking up a third quarter from a soda machine on the way. (No, I'm not a coin collector, why do you ask?) There was little of use aside from a used clothes hanger in the dressing room, so I swiped it.
Around then I began feeling a little groggy, so I took the stairs back to the twelfth floor and checked out Java Cup. There was a key just out of reach inside a vent in there, and this vent wasn't removable; thankfully, a little creative bending of the coat hanger and I could hook the key. On a hunch, I checked out the elevator; it was in order after all, it just needed a key. And the black key I'd found in the vent fit perfectly.
The elevator was once again in working order, so I went straight to Floor 1 and tried the exit door... no dice, the power was out and it wouldn't open. As I explored the floor, I noted the fortune-teller's booth; it was closed, but a red button up out of my reach probably opened it. Ignoring it for the moment, I went on to the arcade. I of course didn't have time for games, but I put my dollar in the change machine and got... a single quarter. What a rip.
But I didn't want to dwell on that. I went up to the fifth floor next, with the movie theater. I walked past the ticket line and ducked into the theater, and lo and behold someone from Juicy Burger had left their hat and ID tag on one of the seats. I nabbed the tag; the hat wasn't of any use to me. My next destination was Bradley & Carney Law Offices on the sixth floor.
"Bradley & Carney Law Offices: We Win Or You Lose". With that slogan it was hard not to put your case in their hands. I found the key under the potted plant and went in. B and C liked the color blue; I saw blue paper, blue walls, blue letters on the poster. "Believe". Subtle. And whoops, the poster fell down as I was looking at it. And was that a secret safe behind it? Oh well, I would deal with that later.
The computer was password-locked. I tried the hidden word "lie" in it and it worked... presenting me with an array of shapes. Bradley and Carney had an odd taste in desktop backgrounds. Since they liked blue, I looked at the blue shapes in particular; octagon, square, pentagon, hexagon, from left to right. On a hunch, I set the safe code to 8-4-5-6 (the sides on each shape) and the safe clicked open, presenting me with... a ninja star. Odd.
I didn't even have to try to know I couldn't throw the ninja star at the key in the office on the top floor to cut it, so I instead went to the only floor I hadn't been to yet, the second floor (Chi Health Supply). They were closed and I couldn't get in, but I noticed a vending machine nearby that sold batteries for $1 each. I put in my four quarters and got some batteries, but wasn't immediately sure what I'd do with them.
Then my attention fell upon the panel next to the store entrance. It featured a hole shaped exactly like my ninja star, so I snapped it in. Then I had to enter a four-element combination, but such a combination happened to be posted on the scrolls by the store windows: earth, moon, water, fire. Entering that combination made the vending machine slide aside, revealing a secret entrance. The folks at Chi Health must have had a lot of friends in high places to rig up something like this.
Inside the store was mostly featureless, except for a bo staff which I picked up and a sword I couldn't pull out. Well, I knew what to do with the bo staff: I went back to the first floor and used it on the red button at the fortunes booth, which parted the curtains and allowed me access to a crystal ball. This I took back to Chi Health and placed on the platform next to the sword, releasing it and allowing me to make off with it.
On the way back up, I made a stop at Juicy Burger on floor 9. My new ID badge worked with the scanner beside the EMPLOYEES ONLY door, and I snuck in and confiscated a flashlight from one of the lockers. There wasn't anything else I could use in there. And no wonder the flashlight had been left behind; it was without batteries! No matter; the ones I'd picked up earlier fit into the flashlight just fine, and it worked.
Last stop: the thirteenth floor again. I used the sword to cut down the key in the unmarked office, then used that key to open the room next door. It was pitch black inside until I shone my flashlight around, and spotted a fusebox to the right. A few fuses had gone out; I knew that for everything to be on none of the circuit breakers had to show red, so I flicked all the red breakers back on and left. From there it was just a hop, skip, and jump back to the first floor exit door, which was now free to open.
Just as I was stepping back out onto the street, I was greeted by the guy who'd knocked me out, and he had a knife in his hands and didn't seem afraid to use it. Thing was, I still had that sword from Chi Health... I'll spare you the rest of the story.
Posted by: SonicLover
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August 18, 2010 4:28 PM