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[vaibhavpisal]

Another subscription services filler, am I right?/s

GOTG that nobody is able to make head or tail of. /s

……

Will get to it with Outer Wilds when in mood for titles like these. Am getting there. Already switched to indies for now.

 

[March Climber]

Some of what I'm hearing sounds like a modern day take on Myst or Riven.

Two games that were also not built for impatient types.

 

[ChoosableOne]

I'm not a puzzle fan but I kinda liked this one. It has unique and interesting gameplay and I feel like story will be a good one. I will play more tonight.

Few hours later: Yep, it's pretty good.

 

[TropicanaTwista]

I guess after 12ish hours I'm in the camp of the game is good. I hit lulls but it at least keeps me coming back. I've finally figured out a type of solution that I feel like gives me consistent permanent upgrades, not always the best but something. I also filled out the 4 permanent upgrade spots.

Still think my biggest complaint is the RNG. I get that it's silly for a Roughlike game to complain about that, but to solve some puzzles you literally need RNG not for just items but also rooms and where they're located etc. it gets a tad annoying. Also super lame when you get the good RNG and think you solve something for it to just give you a dogshit reward or another puzzle.

 

[TerribleAtThisGame]

Oh damn. I was abput to buy this blind based on reviews. A lot of these posts sound not great. That escalated.

 

[Hollywood Hitman]

Oh damn. I was abput to buy this blind based on reviews. A lot of these posts sound not great. That escalated.

It's free on ps+ if you have that. I still haven't tried it yet but I will, I'm hoping it's what I think it is

 

[March Climber]

Oh damn. I was abput to buy this blind based on reviews. A lot of these posts sound not great. That escalated.

Don't buy blind and don't instantly believe GAF comments either. It's best to see footage of the game, hear what it's compared to the most, and decide from there.

 

[TerribleAtThisGame]

Don't buy blind and don't instantly believe GAF comments either. It's best to see footage of the game, hear what it's compared to the most, and decide from there.

Yea no I meant more based on WHAT reviews praised about it, not the scores. The concept sounds awesome but based on some of these responses, the execution doesn't sound too hot.

I have the basic ass PS+ to play online that's it. I'll wait for a sale.

 

[Cert.in.Death]

Pretty fun, IMO. Very zen atmosphere, but if you don't like puzzles this isn't for you. The platinum hunt is gonna be a bitch, let me tell you.

Roguelike elements are well-implemented and fit very well. Not quite sold on this game having as much depth and easter egg content as games like The Witness or Animal Well, but there is still time for it to surprise me (I reached the end point of the main thrust of the game, but am aware there are other things to go after).

 

[Hollywood Hitman]

Pretty fun, IMO. Very zen atmosphere, but if you don't like puzzles this isn't for you. The platinum hunt is gonna be a bitch, let me tell you.

Roguelike elements are well-implemented and fit very well. Not quite sold on this game having as much depth and easter egg content as games like The Witness or Animal Well, but there is still time for it to surprise me (I reached the end point of the main thrust of the game, but am aware there are other things to go after).

Bummer the platinum might be super tough. But like how are the puzzles are they just dumb ridiculous or are they fairly decent with some thought?

 

[calistan]

Bummer the platinum might be super tough. But like how are the puzzles are they just dumb ridiculous or are they fairly decent with some thought?

On Xbox most of the achievements have been completed by just 0.01% of players. Presumably that's the lowest number it tracks, so it could be less than 1 in 10,000 players. I haven't got any of them yet.

Everything is very well thought out. The thing I find annoying is when the only room that can get you further in a run is unavailable because you've run out of gems. There are strategies to mitigate that, but it's largely at the mercy of the RNG, so it's kind of inevitable that you'll be brought to a grinding halt despite having loads of steps left to take.

 

[ComputerBlue]

I played for a few hours and it is pretty good, I feel it's way too RNG heavy though, don't know how much that will change the more you progress but I'm not a big fan of it.

Either way, a great game to lay back and chill out with.

 

[bender]

I played for a few hours and it is pretty good, I feel it's way too RNG heavy though, don't know how much that will change the more you progress but I'm not a big fan of it.

Either way, a great game to lay back and chill out with.

I've done about 50 runs now. I have a handful of goals that I need to get done but since a lot of the rooms are dependent on one another for those goals, you just have to hope for the correct RNG to progress through the house. I'm pretty sure I found a shortcut but the requirements to unlock are so RNG dependent that it will probably break my will to unlock it. It's a really neat puzzle game with a lot of smart ideas that leaves me feeling dumb at times, but there are also some design decision that just waste your time. The only trophy I've earned is for completing the dartboard puzzle x number of times. Now that I've mastered that's puzzles logic it would be nice if you didn't have me keep playing it. There is also something at the beginning of each run that I understand why the implemented it and I understand the need for a penalty cost to utilize the option, but the amount of time you waste gets pretty tedious and should have been streamlined via a menu. I think there are about 5-6 mysteries I need to solve in the house and 4-5 things I have on a checklist to accomplish if the item/room layout/room selection Gods allow me to, but I think I've had my fill. I've had so man runs fizzle out mostly due to dead ends or the item/room I need not spawning. And it felt way easier to level up (every tile set north of the entrance is another level) in early runs and then much more difficult as you gain access to new room layouts. It's still a really neat idea. The only thing I really hate is the visuals are so drab and the movement feels a bit clunky. It reminds me a lot of Gone Home.

 

[Thaimasker]

I got fed up and looked up something. I would have never thought to use a magnifying glass on

Spoiler

scribbled out words

 

[Cert.in.Death]

Bummer the platinum might be super tough. But like how are the puzzles are they just dumb ridiculous or are they fairly decent with some thought?

Little tough to describe, but here goes:

(1) Your routine runs will have a handful of puzzle rooms that feature one of either a logic (Parlor) or math (Dartboard) puzzle. No hints are given, just some ground rules, then they just let you go. Otherwise it's entirely about deploying a design strategy as you open new rooms, choosing which to prioritize at the start, how many areas to populate, whether you should continue your present run or sabotage it by migrating resources to the next one, etc.

(2) As you navigate the mansion, you'll start picking up hints and clues within the environment (via items, journals, room assets, etc.) that will lead you down a rabbit hole to discover things aren't as they seem. There is a secondary plot behind the primary mission, but - to avoid spoilerts - I'll leave it at that. It's evocative of a game like The Witness and The Talos Principle, IMO.

(3) There is a community forming to work through some deeply complex game theorization, but this is going way overboard for most people. The bulk of players (myself included) are better off just reviewing fans' treatises after the true hardcores among us write them

The loop is ostensibly luck-driven and as you discover new room types, floorplans, etc., their additions to your catalog dilute your ability to acquire the room you need in the moment you need it, thus the game gets progressively more difficult as you progress. I managed to finish the game's main objective (locate Room 46) just this evening and I laud it with same level of praise, it's an exceptional experience. It's not a game for the mass market, it's a game for specific player type, but what you find beneath its surface is infatuating.

EDIT:
If I were to put a difficulty tier on the platinum, it's going to be 9/10 due to the time investment, the puzzles' necessitating your active attention, and RNGesus smiling upon you. Not looking forward to having to unlock Dare and Curse Modes, then beat the game with them enabled, then beat the game on the very first day O...O

 

[TheDarkPhantom]

I'm about 5 hours in with mixed feeling with my immediate thought being: super overrated with that metacritic score. Reviews never dictate what I buy so for me they serve best as a barometer of what the "general" consensus is and it's fun to see whether or not it aligns with my own views. Let's get into it.

I love a good puzzler. Myst, Portal 1&2, The Witness, these are classics not just within the genre but in all of gaming. I likewise love a good rogue-like, Binding of Isaac, Dead Cells, Hades, truly fantastic games. On the surface then this should have been a match made in heaven. The reality is it's more like a match made in....limbo. For every one thing I love there are two that hinder the experience, chief among them is the frustrating RNG.

Now RNG is part and parcel in the genre but the problem here is just how dependant success hinges on specific things spawning in your run. Last night I had a near perfect run, only 1 tile was left empty near the beginning corner, I had 8 gems, 8 keys, bunch of items in my inventory, plenty of steps left. I managed to connect to the anteroom from ALL 3 DIRECTIONS. The problem? The Great Hall never spawned which has a lever that opens the eastern metal shutter allowing access to the room (don't know if the other two doors also open there). This is just bad game design.

I love the atmosphere of the game, there is something deeply contemplative about it. The entire set-up of why you're there and what your character's goal is is intriguing and immediately had me hooked. Piecing together the puzzle of this house and the family is satisfying. Discovering the various items and how they connect in solving the various mysteries has lead to multiple "oooooh, that's cool!" moments. The problem is it's all hampered by the tedium.

Log-in to computer, wait 10 seconds to "dial-up" and grant access. Endlessly do the same dart board puzzle for extra keys. Walk slow as molasses. Waste steps and time to take advantage of a permanent unlock near the start that may or may not actually help your run. Ultimately what happens is in between every revelatory moment there are myriad sigh-inducing beats.

I'm determined to at least clear the game once but after that I'm not so sure I'll feel compelled to keep playing. I don't want to be *too* harsh since it was "free" on PS+ but at the time *time* is the most precious resource we have and we are spoiled for choice when it comes to games. This particular game simply isn't in the same league as some of the aformentioned classics despite what some reviews would have you believe.

Edit: there is a secret in the lobby you start in, discovered it last night, good luck sleuths.

 

[Lee49]

Yeah this is the perfect game to warn you about reviewers tbh. They were all in a discord call (was said) and clearly they all circlejerked amongst each other. Im not disputing whether the game is a good or not... I like it. But with it being in the 90s... Give me a break lol

 

[TheDarkPhantom]

This was the run I was talking about:

Just look at that, keys and gems out the wazoo, steps for days, whole bunch of items in my inventory and all for naught. Now, since my last post I've gained access to that room and more layers of the onion have been peeled back...

The game can be real frustrating because of the flashes of brilliance which are often bogged down by the nonsense. I like this game, I admire what it's doing, it's just mired in too much bullshit for it to *really* sing.

I have 3 of the 4 flames outside lit now, 3 of the 4 permanent additions, solving the circuit breaker box puzzle was satisfying. I continue to be intrigued so I keep pushing through the tedious parts to delight in the next revelation and ponder the next mystery.

 

[calico]

Got to credits on day

Spoiler

24

but it seems like there's plenty to keep going with after.

It's slow at times but I never felt like I had a totally wasted run, and never felt the need to resort to any outside help in order to progress (at least as far as the credits). There are various mechanics which mean you will become progressively less starved for resources on all future runs, so it generally becomes easier to achieve something or other you are working on.

I don't think the 90+ reviews are wrong necessarily, it's just a niche genre which isn't going to be for everyone. Great but niche still has to be scored as a great game.

 

[bender]

This was the run I was talking about:

Just look at that, keys and gems out the wazoo, steps for days, whole bunch of items in my inventory and all for naught. Now, since my last post I've gained access to that room and more layers of the onion have been peeled back...

The game can be real frustrating because of the flashes of brilliance which are often bogged down by the nonsense. I like this game, I admire what it's doing, it's just mired in too much bullshit for it to *really* sing.

I have 3 of the 4 flames outside lit now, 3 of the 4 permanent additions, solving the circuit breaker box puzzle was satisfying. I continue to be intrigued so I keep pushing through the tedious parts to delight in the next revelation and ponder the next mystery.

My The foundation was 2-3 levels deeper than yours and I incorrectly figured it was locked to a certain level like The Garage. And that probably made my runs more difficult, and speaking of the garage, I always try to go for it as I generally get stuck repeating patterns in games.. I only saw the Showroom twice in 50 runs.

 

[TropicanaTwista]

Co-sign the complaints on the platinum and trophies in general. I have probably just short of 20 hours and literally not a single trophy (probably close to the parlor and dartboard puzzle ones though).

I will give the game this, it is pretty massive. I thought I was super close to the end and then discovered the

Spoiler

basement

and who boy is there a lot I still need to do there.

Something's I'm completely lost on still. Saw another post mention and in the same spot, I have 3 of the 4 flames. But I feel like I've had them for a very long time and the first 3 were rather easy to find with some trial and error. The 4th is either tough or further in the game or I'm being oblivious and missing something easy.

On day 39 and starting to see the Roughlike elements come into play more. Not just so with permanent additions but with other things I currently have 13 coins a day starting with allowance which is rather nice.

 

[Thaimasker]

Co-sign the complaints on the platinum and trophies in general. I have probably just short of 20 hours and literally not a single trophy (probably close to the parlor and dartboard puzzle ones though).

I will give the game this, it is pretty massive. I thought I was super close to the end and then discovered the

Spoiler

basement

and who boy is there a lot I still need to do there.

Something's I'm completely lost on still. Saw another post mention and in the same spot, I have 3 of the 4 flames. But I feel like I've had them for a very long time and the first 3 were rather easy to find with some trial and error. The 4th is either tough or further in the game or I'm being oblivious and missing something easy.

On day 39 and starting to see the Roughlike elements come into play more. Not just so with permanent additions but with other things I currently have 13 coins a day starting with allowance which is rather nice.

I just got the 4th flame. Got spoiled on it tho lol.

You can get them all early on. I could give u a hint in the right direction if U tell me your 2 unlocked areas from the 3 flames.

 

[TropicanaTwista]

I just got the 4th flame. Got spoiled on it tho lol.

You can get them all early on. I could give u a hint in the right direction if U tell me your 2 unlocked areas from the 3 flames.

Ugh I hate doing it for puzzle games but I looked up as I was fairly sure it was just an oversight on my part. It was a room

Spoiler

in the outhouse

Probably my least favorite room to get so have been in there less than typical rooms but still annoying that I missed it all this time. Time for a new puzzle now, that I think I have a basic understanding of what to do

 

[linko9]

Definitely enjoying the game, but don't think roguelike elements are a great fit for this genre. Maybe this will be addressed later on, but for now there a lot of rooms I need that just don't show up. For now not a big deal, as there's always something new each day, but I worry that down the line there will be a ton of just wasting a day due to luck. Also the game runs like ass on PS5, even with poor image quality and seemingly pretty simple geometry.

 

[transformer]

Ended up uninstalling within a hour.

All the praise isn't remotely warranted. This is the first game in my life that actually put me to sleep on my couch. Props to them.

You move slow as molasses even with the "run button." Most of the rooms are pointless fluff rooms with nothing worth a shit to them. The game has no sense of style and has no compelling music or atmosphere to be had.

It's also devoid of interesting puzzles. Oh and no voiced dialogue for the notes you touch is a major miss.

2/10 play if you have an irregular amount of chromosomes.

I'm 19 days in and can say for certain rooms are important. Saying "most of the rooms are pointless" is categorically false. Perhaps this game is over your head.

 

[ChoosableOne]

Spoiler: Spoiler

I got to the antechamber thinking I had completed the game, but then I picked up the basement key and a whole new section opened up. That moment kind of broke the magic for me. The last time I felt something like this was with The Messenger. Up until that point, the game was a solid 10/10 for me. The room discovery and the roguelite experience tied to it were absolutely brilliant.

However, with the basement unlocking, the puzzle aspect of the game started to take center stage, and since I'm not very good at puzzle games, it became quite challenging for me. Because the room mechanics took a back seat, the enjoyment I was getting also dropped significantly. I had already spent a lot of time on the game, and I don't think I have the energy to see it through to the end. I'll probably watch the rest on youtube.

Btw it never would've crossed my mind that I'd have to use the door of another room to activate the elevator in the Foundation. I came across it while looking for something else—but I'm glad I did!

Still, it's definitely a game that even people who don't like puzzles should try. I think we'll see more games in the future using this kind of room/roguelite mechanic. It's seriously addictive.

 

[Majukun]

it is very addictive, only real issues is that some puzzles can be a little obtuse and that in the end you are very much at the mercy of RNG, even if the game gives you way to mitigate it, you are still pretty much only waiting for that one "good run" when you get what is needed to make actual progress

 

[calistan]

There's a lot of luck involved in getting to room 46. I've pulled the lever to open the north door a couple of times, but the rooms and items I need to open the other antechamber doors hardly ever appear. The one time everything else lined up, the final room wouldn't let me connect to the antechamber.

You basically have to build the entire mansion before you can be sure you're not going to get the drops you want. This game has zero respect for your time. I have a shortcut opened to the room 46 lever, but even that takes ages. Loads of walking, about 10x pressing a button and waiting for a platform to rotate, loads more walking...

That said, it definitely has that 'one more go' factor. I think I did at least 10 runs today while I was meant to be working.

 

[Flabagast]

Game kinda starts slow but once you start making progress and that many threads start to unravel it becomes seriously addictive imho.

Love the way they implemented rogue like mechanics into a puzzle game, some are really clever imho even if from time to time you really have bad luck and must accept it

 

[calistan]

Have a look at this run. I finally got the secret garden key again, which is by far the easiest way to open one of the antechamber doors. But then the early rooms I get allocated by the RNG lead round in a loop.

I can't even use the shortcut to the foundation, because that requires a keycard for the lift or to turn off the circuit breaker. Game over.

 

[mdkirby]

Was a great weekend game. Finished it on 'day 8' in an evening or two of playing. Solid 8.5

 

[Evil Calvin]

BTW, it's on Gamepass too.

I'm on day 12. Got very close, but each run I always see something new. I believe once you get to the antechamber and see credits….thats really just the beginning. No idea how or why (keeping away from spoilers), but it's great. I like paid the $29 and already feel I've got my moneys worth. Pretty much the only game I'm playing. Assassins Creed, South of Midnight, Avowed, Atomfall…all on the back burner for me

 

[Flabagast]

Post credits, does the game communicate clearly whether you're totally finished or not and what are your objectives ? I don't mind deep complex meta puzzles past the official ending but hate when a game leaves you wandering not knowing whether you still should continue to play or not (like Animal Well for example)

 

[calistan]

Post credits, does the game communicate clearly whether you're totally finished or not and what are your objectives ? I don't mind deep complex meta puzzles past the official ending but hate when a game leaves you wandering not knowing whether you still should continue to play or not (like Animal Well for example)

RNJesus finally blessed me, and I reached room 46 today. After the ending you go back to the mansion but it's titled 'the next day' and there's a list of trophies on a chair. I only got one, so it's fairly clear there's a lot of stuff left to do. Many doors left to unlock.

Not sure whether I'll carry on though. It's frustrating to play again and again until you get specific combinations of items and rooms. The puzzles are complicated enough without all those restrictions.

 

[TropicanaTwista]

Man this game is so unique and truly does something neat but damn did they need to flesh out minor things more. I finally got to room 46 and I did rather early on the day I was playing and just as a heads up, getting to room 46 kills your run. I had such a good run with a shit ton of keys, gems and even an upgrade disk I didn't get to use. Just a brutal way to 'beat' the game.

Still much I want to discover and solve but the RNG is just such nonsense in this game that it makes it not worth it.

 

[jufonuk]

Been playing this with my brother on his ps5. I love this game.
We usually play in teams deciding what to draw next. Help each other with the puzzles. Something. About the sedate pace that draws you in. Had some excellent runs with hidden areas found that permanently upgrade all other runs.


Looking for something similar for the switch any ideas?

 

[jufonuk]

Man this game is so unique and truly does something neat but damn did they need to flesh out minor things more. I finally got to room 46 and I did rather early on the day I was playing and just as a heads up, getting to room 46 kills your run. I had such a good run with a shit ton of keys, gems and even an upgrade disk I didn't get to use. Just a brutal way to 'beat' the game.

Still much I want to discover and solve but the RNG is just such nonsense in this game that it makes it not worth it.

The RNG is the element that stops you getting rooms that connect etc ? I find I can open a lot of early rooms up but after a while the t all closes in on itself.

 

[TropicanaTwista]

The RNG is the element that stops you getting rooms that connect etc ? I find I can open a lot of early rooms up but after a while the t all closes in on itself.

Sort of. I'm not sure how far you are but it's more than just needing rooms that won't give you dead ends to continue your runs.

Without being super spoilery, you will need certain rooms to connect to certain rooms, or at least give a certain connection. There is also some rng needed for the items you find around the house.

So when you get mid to late gameish, there are times where you need good RNG for: Certain rooms, certain items, and no dead ends

Still a great game but man I wish they didn't make it that reliant. Nothing more frustrating than pretty much knowing what you need but needing multiple runs before you can even even try it.

 

[calico]

This game is hitting a new Steam peak rn, beating its launch weekend.

Reaching the credits is barely scratching the surface with this game - and I mean in terms of what I consider to be actual game content, not just collecting trophies/achievements etc.

There are points in the game where RNG can become an issue, though early on you should have very few (if any) runs where you didn't at least achieve or learn something (because you should have so many irons in the fire early on). Later on you will almost entirely overcome any resource concerns and there are a host of mechanics for reducing RNG to a negligible level, though it may at times take you a couple of runs to set the ideal conditions for whatever it is you're trying to achieve.

My biggest criticism of the game would be that, imo, it sometimes has an issue clearly communicating the precise solution it expects the player to give (particularly for safe codes etc), even after you know you have all of the relevant clues. Once known, the solutions are valid and could easily be defended, but there are times where I feel like the developer would not be able to explain how the player was supposed to be able to narrow it down from many other just as defendable solutions. The developer knows how abstract a mood they were in when they arrived at the specific solution they did, but the player doesn't.

 

[bitbydeath]

I tried it but didn't like it.
I was hoping it would be more like the Witness, those puzzles were fun to solve, this not so much.

 

[Orbital2060]

Despite thinking halfway through that I would never see room 46, I managed to pull through on day 29 lmao. But spending some time with it meant that Im already prepped for the postgame stuff, since Ive come across so many of the leads in the process. And its worth persevering with, since you do get permanent unlocks that make the game easier(-ish). I had 4 of them by the time I made it to room 46, and had the underground route cleared in the case I got lucky in the mansion. Having the foundation fairly high on the board (#2-5) helps with closer access to the antechamber I guess.

I had the last day of High Roller blessing still going,, and the Shelter contibuted nicely as well. But it was a clutch win since I got a card key door in the north exit of the Workshop in the top east end, which I thought would take me to the eastern antechamber which was unlocked from the Great Hall. I was sure I was screwed. And then had to make my way all the way back to the top west Corriyard to try my luck going east from there. And it luckily worked out. Basement key get, and with plenty of steps left to move down to the underground lever and back up to room 46.

 

[calistan]

Despite thinking halfway through that I would never see room 46, I managed to pull through on day 29 lmao. But spending some time with it meant that Im already prepped for the postgame stuff, since Ive come across so many of the leads in the process. And its worth persevering with, since you do get permanent unlocks that make the game easier(-ish). I had 4 of them by the time I made it to room 46, and had the underground route cleared in the case I got lucky in the mansion. Having the foundation fairly high on the board (#2-5) helps with closer access to the antechamber I guess.

I had the last day of High Roller blessing still going,, and the Shelter contibuted nicely as well. But it was a clutch win since I got a card key door in the north exit of the Workshop in the top east end, which I thought would take me to the eastern antechamber which was unlocked from the Great Hall. I was sure I was screwed. And then had to make my way all the way back to the top west Corriyard to try my luck going east from there. And it luckily worked out. Basement key get, and with plenty of steps left to move down to the underground lever and back up to room 46.

I decided to shelve this after getting to room 46. There are puzzles that require specific combinations of rooms in specific locations to connect them to power supplies, and that's going to take countless aborted runs.

There's no reward for getting to room 46. After getting there they should at least give you the showroom item that lets you rotate rooms, and the option to redraw or walk away from a door if you don't get a good selection. I'd play it again if there was a mod for that.

 

[Orbital2060]

I decided to shelve this after getting to room 46. There are puzzles that require specific combinations of rooms in specific locations to connect them to power supplies, and that's going to take countless aborted runs.

There's no reward for getting to room 46. After getting there they should at least give you the showroom item that lets you rotate rooms, and the option to redraw or walk away from a door if you don't get a good selection. I'd play it again if there was a mod for that.

I think I came across the Boiler Room and solved the puzzle to fire it up. And I think that stays on? So I might push on a little bit. And some other half-finished puzzles.

Redrawing became more and more essential with each run. High Roller blessing handed out a bunch of dice on the winning run. I upgraded the Boudoir to have 2 dice in it, but more options for that would be nice.

 

[LavitzSlambert]

I want to like this game more, but I have been so screwed with one permanent upgrade (budior) until day 16 or 17 when I unlocked West Gate and 2 coin allowance. Closest I have been is reaching a locked antechamber door twice, with no idea of how to actually get through. I have spent the prior 10 days with minimal progress, nothing lining up. I am carefully looking in each corner of every room, inspecting all objects, taking notes, etc but it does not feel like much progression until you are blessed with a good run that finally allows you to make minuscule progress.

I love games like this, but it just reinforced my absolute hatred of roguelikes. You need:

- To know information, only obtainable from a good prior run
- Have the correct resources and items
- Have the correct rooms
- Have the correct ORDER of rooms
- Have unlocked permanent upgrades to reduce improve your odds

If even one of the above does not work out, you are likely blocked from even a little bit of progress. I see vastly different experiences based on who managed to luck their way into permanent upgrades or useful rooms very early on, and the complete opposite in cases like mine. With that wide variability, the game has a crucial flaw in one of its core elements as a roguelike.

 

[MaKTaiL]

I'm playing and enjoying it but for me Outer Wilds is still king. Being time constrained instead of luck constrained is much better. I've been trying to craft a lighter for days now and I either have the objects and not the room or I have the room and not the objects. It's a bit frustrating.

 

[calistan]

I think I came across the Boiler Room and solved the puzzle to fire it up. And I think that stays on? So I might push on a little bit. And some other half-finished puzzles.

Redrawing became more and more essential with each run. High Roller blessing handed out a bunch of dice on the winning run. I upgraded the Boudoir to have 2 dice in it, but more options for that would be nice.

The boiler stays on, but you need to draw it in every run where it's going to be used, and the rooms you need to power must be either connected directly or by other rooms that have power cables. Good luck noticing and remembering which ones those are!

I think they should also have removed the steps limit after finding room 46. I mean, it's your mansion at that point, so limiting the time you can spend there makes no sense.

 

[DryvBy]

I was excited about this game but I'm glad it was a Plus game. I pretty much quit after an hour and didn't have a lot of fun.

 

[a'la mode]

I was excited about this game but I'm glad it was a Plus game. I pretty much quit after an hour and didn't have a lot of fun.

Same, I went into it excited because I do like both puzzle games and roguelikes and the combination seemed interesting, but the game is just dreadfully boring and I don't want to keep going. Maybe also because the mystery or intrigue being hinted at does not interest me in the slightest.

I can't help but think that the game would have would have been better with a more regular structure, just a collection of rooms stringed together in a static fashion a'la Myst and such, and you just progress through the rooms semi-linearly solving things as you go. I don't think the rng or "roguelikeness" provides any value to this game but frustration, and I think the devs added it to the design only to try to increase the gameplay of what would otherwise still be a very, very dull game.

 

[calico]

I posted most of this in more detail before but it got nuked when neogaf fell over:

-Reaching the credits is barely scratching the surface with this game.
-There are a ton of mechanics for almost entirely negating RNG (though yes it can still take a couple of runs to use those mechanics to set the table for whatever it is you are trying to do). Your permanent upgrades over time make resources basically a non-issue.

My top advice would be: don't underestimate how important the Conservatory is. It can only go in the corners of the mansion and it allows you to change room rarity. Also don't underestimate how important dice (or anything which lets you re-draw rooms) is. Also get Coat Check to common rarity asap.

Where I am right now for instance (day 80 odd, but this came online a lot earlier) I have 100+ permanent allowance and effectively permanently have the emerald bracelet (removes gem cost from rooms). As soon as I build a study, I can then use the gems for room re-draws and pretty much guarantee I will get whatever room / combination of rooms it is I'm trying to get on a run.

 

[Boss Mog]

Personal opinions and all.

Am sure if everyone at gaf gave it a shot, over half of them will not enjoy it like the scores.

I gave it a shot, but I didn't like it at all because there was too much luck/randomness involved for my tastes. The rooms you'd draw and then if those rooms had locked doors, I just felt like the game was purposely trying to screw me every chance it had.