Synopsis: There are several games in the Rusty Lake series (all about the same level of quality). The combination of macabre art and fun puzzles makes the game a fun, fast-moving mystery exploration.
Who Should Play: The humor in this game is a bit macabre; there is a lot of blood flowing in tongue-and-cheek ways. While I label it as both a adventure and puzzle game, the puzzle definitely takes precedence over the story. That said, the point-and-click style is pretty easy to navigate, although the puzzles are not!
Made by: Rusty Lake (Developer & Publisher)
Available on: Android, iOS, Mac OS, Microsoft
Price: $3.99
Play time: 4 hours
Questions:
- This game is characterized by an odd, almost violent humor, but the pacing and tone is calm and collected. How do these juxtaposed styles create a distinct play experience?
- The puzzles are all based around biblical plagues. How do the plagues frame a sense of story and texture your experiences? Were you uncomfortable with the dark tenor of the story, or did it make you want to play more?
- What did you think about the difficulty level of the puzzles? Were they too easy? Too difficult? How many did you get right without help?
- Is there enough story to the backdrop of the puzzles? Would this game be more satisfying if there was more story underlying the events?
- You, as the protagonist and player, are (for the most part) invisible within the story. Did you find yourself looking for a stronger sense of who you were within the space of the story? Or did you find your role as an outsider to be pleasurable?
- The strange people-animal hybrids are commonplace in the Rusty Lake games. Why do you think the designers made that choice, and how does it affect your play?
- Point-and-click adventure games are an older style of play that has transferred nicely to mobile devices. If you played this on a mobile device, did you find the point-and-click to be frustrating or a clear navigation system?
- In a game filled with strangeness, what did you think was the weirdest thing you encountered?
General Gaming Circle Questions:
- What did and didn’t you like about the game?
- How much time did you spend playing? Did you play all at once or break up your time?
- Did you play during other activities, or dedicate time solely to playing?
- Did the game feel like a waste of time? A good use of time? Explain.
Links & Walkthroughs:
• Official Website
• App Unwrapper (Walkthrough)
Play like a Feminist. 