Rusty Lake Hotel
Platform: iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
[Note: Please be warned that this game contains some graphic violent content some players may find upsetting. Read the rest of the review for details.]
Rusty Lake, as we all know by now, is a very special place, but you might want to think twice before you check into the Rusty Lake Hotel, no matter how scenic it is, because you never know what, or who, is on the menu. In the developer's first paid title, a surreal point-and-click puzzle game available as a download for Windows and Mac, or on Android and iOS, a group of six guests have just arrived, and it's up to you to make sure their stay is... pleasant. They're all there for their own reasons and expect you to give them what they want, and that includes serving them up fine dining every day. Your toady chef is only to happy to whip up three star recipes, but you'll need to find the ingredients yourself. On a wholly unrelated note, why don't you pay a visit to your guests after hours... ?
As you might have guessed, the morbid premise behind Rusty Lake Hotel is making sure your guests have a dinner they never forget by making sure it's their last. You're given a list of recipes, and, wouldn't you know it, each protein just so happens to correspond to one of your esteemed visitors? During the night, choose who you pay a visit to in their room. They may want to show off their magic tricks, for you to make them a drink, or any other number of demands, and while you're seeing to them, you may also find a way to, ahem, collect the meat you need. Just tap (or click) on things to interact, and use the tiny black arrows at the edges of the screen to move around the room. Once you pick a guest to visit, and you can only choose one per night, you can't leave until you've dealt with them, and each room is filled with strange puzzles and mechanisms to solve. Tap an item in your inventory to pick it up for use, and make sure to think outside the box if you get stuck. While each recipe technically only needs the base protein, you can boost its rating with your clueless dinner guests by finding two optional ingredients for each recipe. Remember, you have to cook for them each day, so consult your recipes by tapping the icon in the upper-right corner to see what special ingredients you may have found, and maybe choose who to visit based on that.
This game is weird. The creators are weird. We're weird for playing it. With every installment in their series, Rusty Lake has managed to intrigue and creep us out, and while Rusty Lake Hotel is no different, there's something especially sadistic and unsettling about the premise this time around. You murder your guests in some fairly horrible ways, all of which take place right before your eyes, so it's a little different than simply seeing the aftermath of violence or the abstract gore from the previous titles. The creators have always had a great eye for presentation and the surreal, and Rusty Lake Hotel goes all out in this regard. Every frame seems to drip with tension and menace, and the soundtrack keeps you constantly on edge. The storytelling in Rusty Lake Hotel feels a lot more vague than in previous titles, though it's still there if you know where to look. It's not an obvious direct continuation of the events in the previous games, though it's obviously related in significant ways, and most of your time is going to be spent supremely creeped out with a big series of question marks over your head as you play. Which isn't really all that different from how I function in day to day life anyway, so I personally felt right at home.
Each room you visit is well designed, with a satisfying chunk of self-contained puzzles that vary wildly in difficulty and complexity. There's little to no hand-holding, so it's up to you to explore every nook and cranny and figure out what to do. So many of the puzzles have abstract clues hidden in the scenery, or are simply odd, that solving them brings a special amount of satisfaction. While there aren't a lot of hotspots hidden in unfair places, however, so that playing on your phone without a changing cursor isn't as big a handicap in a point-and-click game as it usually is, the game is still exceptionally fussy about how to tap/click on things. More than once I got stuck simply because I had been trying the right thing all along, but hadn't tapped on something in precisely the right place for the game to accept it. It's moments like that when the game's lack of feedback to your actions becomes a hindrance, and you're left spinning in circles, getting more and more willing to murder that smug deer with every passing second. Despite that, it's still easy to get sucked into Rusty Lake Hotel and want to blaze through the entire thing in a single sitting. It's of a satisfying length, the optional recipe ingredients give incentive to replay if you can't find them, and the price is frankly nothing compared to the time, dedication, and work the developers have clearly put into this and all their other games. With cunning puzzles and a gorgeous but macabre setting, Rusty Lake Hotel is more than worth your check in.
Rusty Lake Hotel (iPhone, iPad, iPodTouch)
Rusty Lake Hotel (Android, Android Tablet)
Windows:
Get the full version
Mac OS X:
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Walkthrough Guide
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Walkthrough
Welcoming The Guests
Grab the Shrimp Cocktails from the lobby. Give one to each guest. Once you're out of cocktails, talk to a guest to get to the first nightfall.
Rooms
Room 1 - Mr. Deer
1. Pick up the phone and talk to Mr. Owl. Have a look at his portrait to find Mushrooms for the first recipe.
2. Grab the glass from the mincer on the wall.
3. Take the matches from the bottom drawer.
4. 4 - Digit box
To find what number each symbol represents, use the weights and scale. Compare them with the 1 and 4 weights.
Code for the box:
3531
5. Bloody Mary Ingredients
1. Vodka - behind the couch where Mr. Deer is sitting.
2. Blood - Cut Mr. Deer's horn with the knife and use the glass to collect the blood.
3. Tabasco
Go to the deer skull on the wall and click on the right horn. Click on the bottom of the newly grown horn and the other one will appear. Pull one of the horns again and use the glass to collect the tabasco.
4. Secret Ingredient
1. Open the right window and use the glass to catch the butterfly. Put it with the other two on the wall.
2. Take a look at the butterflies frame above the scale to see the sequence in which they need to be clicked.
3. Take the bucket next to the door. Open the left window, put the bucket on the rope and send it down. The bucket will be full of water when you pull it back up.
4. Put the seed from the butterfly in the pot next to Mr. Deer. Pour some water on it and light up the lamp. Tap a couple of times on it to get the Poisonous Seeds.
5. Put the poisonous seeds and the glass in the mincer and rotate to get the Poisonous Powder
6. Water Puzzle
1. Grab the key for the cabinet from behind the lamp.
2. Fill the flasks with water from the bucket.
3. 8/10 - Pour water in the following flask order:
6->5; 5->10; 6->5; 10->6; Repeat until complete.
4. Put the Poisonous powder and the water in the flasks to the left and light up the candle.
6. Rosemary
You can find this bonus ingredient in the top right corner of the deer skull's horn.
7. Give the cocktail to Mr. Deer.
Room 4 - Mr. Rabbit
1. Check Mr. Crow's pocket to find some Carrots for the next dinner.
2. Keys
1. First Key
To get the key, find the 4 cards in the room:
4 of Diamonds - Behind the picture with the three swords;
Ace of Clubs - Inside the lamp in the bedroom;
5 of Clubs - In Mr. Rabbit's ear;
2 of Hearts - Behind the two fingers picture.
Once you have all six cards on the frame, check the pictures again to see how they should be positioned.
Correct order is
TOP - 2, 4, 5; BOTTOM - Ace, 8, King.
You'll find the key behind the 5 of clubs card.
2. Second Key
1. Take the knife from the bottom drawer.
2. Go to the box on the table next to the door. Open it, stab the hand with the knife and take the ring.
3. Go to the box on the table next to Mr. Rabbit and put the ring inside.
3. Third Key
1. Click on the cups on the table next to Mr. Rabbit. Always follow the cup with the object.
2. Take the hat from the cabinet and give it to Mr. Rabbit.
3. Click on the hat and four flowers will pop out. The right order can be seen in a frame on the left and it is
Purple, red, white, orange
4. Tap on Mr. Rabbit's head (coming out the hat) until you get the third key.
2. Grab the Triangle Stone from behind the table next to Mr. Rabbit.
3. Unlock the cabinet with the keys and put the triangle stone in the socket.
4. Close and open. Put the eye in the skull's socket. Open and close another couple of times to find three swords.
5. White Beans
The second extra ingredient for this dinner is inside Mr. Owl's portrait. Simply use the knife on it to find the beans behind it.
6. Sword Magic
Now that Mr. Rabbit is in the box, simply follow the pattern on the left side.
Room 5 - Mrs. Pigeon
1. For the first extra ingredient, look out the windows for the shooting star. Once the lobby gets all dark, look for the Waiter Bat in the lobby. Chase him until he appears next to the elevator. He'll then have the potatoes.
2. Free the Baby Pigeon
1. 4-digit Code
The number for each symbol can be found by salving the equations in the pictures above the radio. The code is
8613
2. First Key
Take a look at the picture on the wall, where the machine is. The red marks hint on how the radio should be tuned. Follow the pattern and the key will pop out of the radio.
3. Second Key
1. Look at the wheel above the radio to find an orange key behind it. Use it to open the locker under the radio and take the corn.
2. Give the corn to Mrs. Pigeon and click on it until she eats everything. You'll find the second key in the plate.
4. Before releasing the baby pigeon make sure to torture it by pulling the lever. Keep going until the second extra ingredient (blackberries) comes out of its mouth.
5. Have the baby pigeon pull the switch on the machine.
3. The Cube Wheel
1. Find the two missing pieces of paper - one behind the radio and one behind the brain picture.
2. Put the pieces on the wheel and pull the lever.
4. Stag Beetle
1. Click on the table next to the radio. Block the beetle's path until it's stuck in one spot and take it.
2. Put the beetle on the wheel next to the machine.
5. Press the button next to Mrs. Pigeon.
Room 3 - Ms. Pheasant
1. Thyme
This extra ingredient can be found in the top right corner of the clock, inside Ms. Pheasant's room.
2. Photoshoot
1. Preparation
Take the Photo Liquid, next to the puppet theatre.
2. Grab the Glass Plate from the drawer at the table.
3. Put the Photo Liquid and the Glass Plate in the pan to get a Wet Glass Plate.
4. Grab the Matches, the Magnifying Glass and the Brush from the drawers.
5. Open the window and wait for a hand to appear. Close the window to smash the hand and get some blood on that brush.
2. Lady in Blue
1. Grab the key from the empty frame next to the camera.
2. Open the locker under the puppet theatre and take the hat. Give it to Ms. Pheasant.
3. Take a look at the left picture under the clock. Paint the canvas behind Ms. Pheasant the same way.
4. Put the wet glass plate in the camera and take the picture (both lights behind Ms. Pheasant should be on).
3.Mr. Crow
1. Put the "Lady in Blue" in an empty frame on the wall.
2. Look at the symbols on the cross for the small locker under the plant. You'll find a Crow Mask inside.
3. Put the mask on Ms. Pheasant's face.
4. Paint the canvas behind Ms. Pheasant as displayed in the middle picture under the clock.
5. Put the wet glass plate in the camera and take the picture.
4. Mr. Owl
1. Put the "Mr. Crow" picture in an empty frame on the wall.
2. At the bottom left corner you'll see a clock. Set the clock in the room to the same time
3:30
3. Puppet Theatre
1. Give the small rolling pin from the clock to the lady puppet. Click on her and beat the male puppet until an axe shows up.
2. Give the axe to the male puppet and click on him to smash the lady puppet's head.
3. Grab the small torch from the lady puppet's neck and give it to her. Light it up using the matches and burn the male puppet.
4. Click on the burned puppet to find the key for the locker below.
4. Give the Owl Mask to Ms. Pheasant and paint the canvas as displayed in the right picture under the clock.
5. Put the glass plate in the camera and take the picture.
3. The Last Picture
1. Put the Mr. Owl picture on the last empty frame on the wall.
2. Music Box
1. Open the music box and take out the paper.
2. Look at the Mr. Owl picture through the magnifying glass to see the pattern for the music box.
3. Use the key from the music box to open the box by the window.
4. Give the pistol to Ms. Pheasant and take the picture.
4. White Wine
You can find this extra ingredient in the lobby during the day. It's in the place where Mrs. Pigeon used to sit.
Room 2 - Mr. Boar
1. Make Mr. Boar a sadwich. Grab some boar sh*t from the toilet and lettuce from the top drawer. Click on the bread, put the lettuce on and then the poop. Put another slice of bread to finish it.
2. Give the sandwich to Mr. Boar and click on him until he eats it. Take the toilet paper next to the door and give to him in the toilet.
3. Setting up the trap
1. Monkeys Puzzle
Clicking on a monkey will make it clap. Pay attention to how many times each monkey claps. This will indicate which needs to be the next one. In other words
1-2-3-2-1-3-3-1-2-3
Pull the green monkey's head to find a key.
2. Take the lamp above Mr. Boar's head.
3. Use the key from the monkeys on the locker next to the window.
4. Put the light in the locker to see the pattern for the color puzzle next to the door.
5. Make Mr. Boar another sandwich so he'd go into the toilet.
6. Use the hammer to take down the axe from the wall.
7. Pull the rope above all the way to the ground, hang the axe on it and pull it back up.
8. Give Mr. Boar some more toilet paper.
9. If this is the second time you give Mr. Boar a sandwich, you can find an extra ingredient in the toilet, once he's out.
4. Addictions and Anxieties
1. If you read the note by the window, you'll notice that Mr. Boar has some addiction and anxiety problems.
2. Take a look at the picture next to the toilet. This is the second pattern for the color puzzle by the door. You'll find an Opium Pipe inside.
3. Take the Opium from the rose by the window.
4. Give the pipe to Mr. Boar, put the opium inside and light it up. Walk around the room until visions start to appear.
5. Once you're in the woods, look for the crows in the trees until you find Mr. Crow who'll give you a knife.
5. Use the knife to cut the rope holding the axe.
6. Red Wine
This extra ingredient can be found in the lobby during the day. It's located where Ms. Pheasant used to hang out.
The Last Dinner
1. Secret Rusty Lake Specialty
1. Take all the keys from the lobby.
2. The keys go in the box next to the elevator. The round marks indicate which room it belongs to. Since you can't go back into the rooms and see which mark is for which room, the solution is
3-5-4-1-2
2. Go inside the private room on the second floor. Talk to Mr Owl and do as he suggests.
Optional Recipe Ingredients
1. Deer steak with mushrooms and rosemary
Mushrooms - from Mr. Owl's portrait in the lobby (after you've answered the phone)
Rosemary - from the antlers on the wall in Mr. Deer's room.
2. Rabbit Stew with carrots and white beans
Carrots - from Mr. Crow's pocket.
White Beans - from Mr. Owl's portrait in Mr. Rabbit's room (use the knife).
3. Pigeon in blackberry sauce with potatoes
Potatoes - from the Bat Waiter before you go into Mrs Pigeon's room. You'll need to chase him around the lobby first.
Blackberries - From the baby bird in Mrs. Pigeon's room. Pull the lever multiple times until they come out of its mouth.
4. Pheasant breast in white wine and thyme
White Wine - in the lobby, where Mrs. Pigeon used to sit (daytime);
Thyme - from the top right corner of the clock in Ms. Pheasant's room.
5. Wild boar ribs in red wine with tomatoes
Red Wine - In the lobby, where Ms. Pheasant used to be (daytime);
Tomatoes - from the toilet in Mr. Boar's room. You'll need to make him go to the toilet two times before the tomatoes appear.
6. Secret Rusty Lake Specialty
From the box next to the elevator. You'll need the keys from all rooms to unlock it. Pay attention in each room and look for one of the marks on the box to know which key goes in which hole. The correct solution is
3-5-4-1-2
Posted by: Stinky
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December 21, 2015 10:29 AM