If you’re
looking for adventure, funny quips or hair-raising tension, this isn’t the right
place. What are here are puzzles galore, pure and simple. This game isn’t even
trying to disguise its main function with any story elements inside the main
game (aside from a few diary pages and other letters scattered around), after
the obligatory storyline setup at the beginning of the game. Nope, this game is
solely about solving all types of puzzles.
Such as it is,
here’s the premise: Duncan Adams, an eccentric who died recently, just happens
to have been a very rich man who collected safes. He left a will, but
unfortunately it’s hidden inside one of his many safes. His family has hired
you, a safecracking expert, to unlock the mysteries in his house and find the
will. To complicate matters, Duncan Adams also loved puzzles, and all of his
safes and doors in the house have been secured with various types of puzzles.
These puzzles
include sliders, codes, number and logical puzzles. Most of the safes require
puzzle-solving skills, while others will require objects, such as keys, found
inside other puzzle-locked boxes. The puzzles begin easily enough, but soon
become more difficult. The main difficulty lies in the lack of clues to decipher
some of the puzzles, as players may not have accessed the precise clues needed
yet. While the game is mostly linear, many of the puzzles are encountered before
all the clues needed for them have been discovered. If so, just be patient and
keep looking around until the clues are found.
Play begins on
the first floor of the house, and as puzzles unlocking doors are solved, more
rooms will open. There are two floors to explore, but actually, there’s not much
exploring to do. All of the puzzles are in plain view, and any items that need
retrieving will be inside the puzzle containers. There are some papers here and
there, but most of them can be bypassed totally, as they’re not needed to solve
anything. However, a few pictures are helpful in solving some of the puzzles.
Well, that’s
about all there is to say about this game. It’s strictly for the puzzle fans out
there, you know who you are. My husband and I like these types of puzzles and
have been having fun with the game, but the big drawback to this type of game is
the fact that the puzzles aren’t replayable. Once the game is over, it’s over.
That said, the puzzles here are very well designed and varied; they run the
gamut from easy to difficult and are of many different types. This game is fun
to work together with a friend, as many people are better at one type of puzzle
over another. Most of the puzzles can be figured out with diligence, but a few
are really difficult. There is a helpful
walkthrough from GameBoomers if needed.
I recommend
Safecracker for any puzzle fan, especially if they can share the fun.
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Gameplay: 7.0
The puzzles are
designed well and are fun to solve. Players will feel a real sense of
accomplishment upon completing each one. However, there isn’t anything else to
do in this game, and once the puzzles are solved, there is no going back and
replaying.
Graphics: 7.0
The graphics are
good enough, but nothing startling.
Sound: 7.0
Ditto for the
music.
Difficulty: Medium
The puzzles range
in difficulty from easy to difficult. If completely stuck, refer to the
walkthrough mentioned in the review.
Concept: 6.0
There isn’t
anything new, but the presentation is very good.
Overall: 7.0
A nice diversion
for puzzle lovers.
