The second month of the year may be short on days, but it stands tall and defiant against anyone wanting to squabble about its lack of length. After all, it beat the odds and with this smaller net caught the birthdays of four American presidents, a decidedly love-centric saint's day (which a friend of mine dubs "singles awareness night"), is also Black History month, all while heralding the beginning of a new season. Those are just some of its better known accomplishments, which are nothing to sneeze at. So as we start saying our goodbyes to this particular February of this particular year, lets do it while enjoying our favorite pastime—playing escape games. To that end, here are three especially selected for such an informal occasion: An unlit maze from Hottategoya, a pruny kitchen from FunkyLand and a Rose Key escape in which February somehow plays a titular role...
Escape from the Dark Maze - Hottategoya's plainest work in a long time, with its monochromatic palate—only a few simple shades of grey—shadowy corners and unadorned walls, exacerbating its most notable feature: Its maziness. Maze haters thus have no aesthetic comfort in this most minimalist environment. But for purists whose spatial reasoning brain centers light up cheerfully, there is nothing to detract from the whole "wander about, discover the boxes, notice the clues, and solve your way along to the exit" experience. You might find it worth the extra time and effort to focus first on exploration, sketching out bit of a map, getting your bearings in order. After that part, the puzzles themselves—typical of Hottategoya, involving some logic and deciphering—are not so imposing as to hold you captured for long.
Fruit Kitchens No.17: Prune Violet - FunkyLand never fails to deliver the whimsy, and by the looks of this kitchen, has quite the talent for interior decorating, being deft at taking a statement color like purple and making it look so kitchen perfect. These aspects of this FunkyLand escape are not so trivial as to go without mention because most the joy in playing comes from the artistic value. That means, if you like challenges but could care less about good looks, this might not be the game for you. Nonetheless, with little in the way of puzzle prowess to stop you, you can effortlessly enjoy the setting before collecting your seven prunes and heading out the door.
February - As the month of February nears its end, it's suddenly quite appropriate you should imagine escaping it. Ergo this escape from Rose Key is an apropos goodbye salute to the spunky, length-challenged month. Okay, mainly it's just about the calendar reading February. Besides a bit of pixel hunting (which is alleviated by the changing cursor), you'll need a smidgen of dexterity to gather up needed items. Then you'll want to apply with a bit of code-breaking savvy to procure the door key. It's simple but charming, not particularly surprising or unique, but somehow has just enough captivating to keep you playing to the end.
We love escape games, and our readers love talking about them and sharing hints! How about you? Let us know what you think, ask for clues, or help out other players in the comments below.
Walkthrough Guide
(Please allow page to fully load for spoiler tags to be functional.)
Fruit Kitchen 17 Walkthrough
The Kitchen
The Mugs
Note the colours and numbers on the mugs
Take a paper towel
The Stove
Take the can opener
Take a prune from the second cup
The Credenza
The Frog
Use the code from the mugs on the frog
Red-Blue-Purple-Yellow
Take the key
The Glass Case
Use the key to open it.
Take the jar opener from the left half and a prune from the right
The Wall
Notice the hinge on the top plate
Take a prune from behind the plate
Underneath
Use the can opener on the can
Take a prune
The Table
The Jar
Use the jar opener
Take the prune
The Smudge
Use the paper towel to clean the smudge
Note the code
The Bread Bin
Use the code from the smudge
5548
Take a prune
The Door
The Plant
Take the prune
The Door
Use the key
Escape
Posted by: Jonathan Kok | February 25, 2015 7:00 PM
Escape from the Dark Maze Walkthrough
(Please note that I've relabeled and reoriented the rooms from my earlier map!)
Well, it's a maze after all. While you can use this walkthrough without a map if you prefer to explore on your own, you're probably going to want this:
http://i.imgur.com/ycBOAi7.png
As shown on the map, you start off in room G, facing north. Your goal is to find three colored gems and use them to make your escape.
Red triangle gem
You need clues from two different rooms to solve this puzzle.
The rooms are A and N.
In room A, open the box and take the PAPER.
In room N, press each of the buttons on the pedestal several times and watch what happens.
Each button shows a different sequence: 4312465, 213465, 124356.
Trace each sequence on the PAPER to arrive at a single digit.
Look around for a room where you can use your new three-digit sequence.
Try the coded box in room K.
Enter the sequence 952 and take the RED TRIANGLE GEM.
Green diamond gem
The clue for this puzzle is in room M.
The diagram on the wall refers to an item in one of the other rooms.
Take a look at the table in room E.
Open and close the drawer in the table repeatedly as implied by the diagram.
The third time you open the drawer, you can take the GREEN DIAMOND GEM.
Blue pentagon gem
Take a look at the diagram on the wall safe in room F.
The diagram corresponds uniquely to the layout of one of the other rooms.
It's room I: the only room that's missing a pillar in one of its corners.
Face north in this room, as shown by the arrow in the diagram.
If you look very closely, you can see something unusual on the floor near the wall.
Zoom in and click the button.
You can now open the safe in room F and take the BLUE PENTAGON GEM.
Escaping
If you've played a Hottategoya game before (or even if you haven't), you probably have a pretty good idea what to do now.
You're looking for a box that you can open with the gems.
It's in room D. Take the KEY.
Now you just need to find the exit door.
Try room C. Use the KEY and you're out!
Posted by: abfdrumz | February 27, 2015 6:44 AM