Strawberry Cafe Escape
Some room escape games are a nail-biting roller-coaster ride of nerves and terror. Some are quiet exercises in mounting paranoia. Occasionally, however, you run across an escape game that is calm, quiet, almost Zen-like, with an ending that is even more relaxing. Strawberry Cafe Escape by Strawberry Cafe is one of the latter, a light, frothy, relaxed escape from the mid-week blues.
Cafe escapes always seem to be a bit of a contradiction. After all, escaping from locked rooms, underground spaces, creepy hospitals, unknown space stations, etc. is probably a good idea, but who wants to escape from a cafe when you can sit down and enjoy a nice beverage? Regardless, you will eventually need to leave the Strawberry Cafe. What makes the game so fun is the reward at the end, when you do indeed get to enjoy that tasty drink. What beverage you end up with depends entirely on the method you use to escape.
You begin in the eponymous cafe, cutely done up in shades of pink and red to match the title theme. Enjoy the lusciously rendered 3D scenery as you cruise towards completion. Navigation throughout the small space is accomplished by matching red arrows at the edge of the screens. Inventory control (for the few things you will find) is simple and intuitive. There's very little pixel hunting involved, adding to the relaxed atmosphere of the game. Strawberry Cafe has not added a save button, but none is really needed as this is not a difficult escape by any means. A mute button is unnecessary as there's no background music, although there are sound effects when items are picked up/manipulated.
Analysis: Not the toughest game out there, Strawberry Cafe Escape is still a nice refresher for those who enjoy the challenge of a room escape. It's not all strawberries and cream, of course. The game would have benefited from some sort of musical accompaniment; perhaps a nice piano piece or some light jazz. The challenge of escaping could have been beefed up a little more as well. Although the game itself is the English version, the translation from the Japanese is a little rough in places.
Why play then? Sometimes it's nice to kick back, relax, and enjoy the scenery (and the truly casual gameplay). The puzzles themselves are tricky without being difficult, adding to the relaxation factor. While there is only one way out, there are three different endings based on your methodology. Having trouble getting over the mid-week hump? Then sit down, relax, pour a drink, and spend a little time escaping the cafe.
Update: The English version appears to have been taken down or is currently unavailable. The review links have been changed to point to the Japanese version. If the English version turns up again, please let us know and I'll switch the links back again.
Walkthrough Guide
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Strawberry Cafe Escape Walkthrough
General Information
There is one way out but three different endings possible.
You must be carrying a drink to escape the terrace doors.
Escape
Click on the second barstool from the right for a close up. Take the object and back up.
Click on the bottom of the far left barstool for a close up. Take the sharp object leaning against the base. Back up.
Click on the coffee mugs on the right of the bar. Hmmm, interesting pattern.
Turn left.
On the far table you will see a pink centerpiece. Click on it for a close up and take the scissors. Back up.
On the wall behind the table is a picture of snowflakes. Click on it for a close up and click on the picture again. Note the numbers 4 - 6 - 5. Back up.
On the brick partition wall, towards the bottom, you will notice a brick jutting out slightly from the others. Click on the brick for a close up.
Use the sharp object on the brick to remove it. Once the brick is removed push the pink button. Look, a grid. Back up.
Click on the partition screen and examine the grid. Maybe it has something to do with the coffee cups.
Click on the squares of the grid in the order of the coffee cup handles: lower right square, top middle square, left middle square, lower left square.
Yay, a screwdriver! Back up.
Next to the terrace doors is a white light fixture with hanging circles. Click on the fixture for a close up.
Behind the fixture is an object. Take it.
Notice the red dot on the string where the circles are attached. Use the scissors to cut the string on the dot. Back up.
Turn left.
There is a purple object on one of the tables. Click on it for a close up and take it. Back up.
Notice one of the benches has a keyhole in it.
There are pictures on the wall by the booths with colored numbers. You might want to examine them.
Click on the door for a close up. Pick up the can of tea. Back up.
Click on the safe for a close up.
Now you just need to figure out how to open the safe.
The number code is a fake. Click on the hinges for a close up and use the screwdriver to remove them. Back up and remove the safe door.
Inside the safe is a can of coffee and a key. Take them both. Back up.
You should now be facing a round table/booth area with three funky looking white things on the bench. Click on one of the white things for a close up.
Click on each of the white things to lift them. Under the center one is a purple object. Take it and back up.
Turn left.
You are now facing the bar again. To the left of the scene is what looks like a wooden shelf. Click on the shelf for a close up.
The shelf would like you to put a drink on it. You can place either the coffee or the tea on the shelf.
The shelf slides down and a box appears. Oh look, three circles, just like the thing you cut off of the light fixture.
Place the light fixture circles in the box.
The circles have now become buttons. You can push the buttons to change them to different colors.
Remember the 4 - 6 - 5 from the picture?
Perhaps the pictures of numbers over by the booth wall would also be helpful.
The code is based on the color of the numbers in each picture.
Starting from the left, in the first picture the number 4 is purple, in the second picture the number 6 is yellow, in the third picture the number 5 is orange. Thus the button code is purple, yellow, orange.
Once you change the buttons to the proper colors click on the box top to open it. Yay, another purple object. You should now have 5 of the objects.
Back up and turn right twice until you are looking at the booths again.
Click on the booth with the keyhole for a close up.
Use the key on the lock and click on the booth seat to open it. Take the object (a cover) and back up.
Turn left and you are once again facing the circular table/booth. Click on the table for a close up.
On the lower part of the circular thing an object has been placed. Place the other 5 objects that are in your inventory.
Once all of the objects are placed push the grey button to the right of the rectangle. Look, a code!
But is it the right code?
Maybe that cover you found might be helpful.
Place the cover over the code and notice that it changes.
Click on the white area above the code to place your cursor, then type in the code. Once the code is entered push the pink button.
Type in the code e68dh.
Look, a key! Take the key and back up.
Turn right twice until you are facing the terrace door.
Use the key on the terrace door.
Congratulations on your escape! Enjoy a lovely beverage and snack.
Endings
The ending depends on which drink you used to move the shelf.
Tea Ending: If you are still carrying the tea when you leave you will get tea and a lovely strawberry tart.
Coffee Ending: If you are still carrying the coffee when you leave you will get a lovely cafe latte and a chocolate gateau.
To get the third ending, only pick up one of the drinks, either tea or coffee, and use it to move the shelf. Proceed through the escape as normal, making sure that you have no other drink in your inventory when you use the key on the terrace door.
If you are carrying no drink, it won't let you leave. Turn around and face the bar. You will be able to pick up one of the bottles of wine. Turn around again and go through the door.
Wine Ending: When you try to go out the terrace doors, it will inform you that alcohol can only be sold at night. The scene will fade to the bar scene, and one of the funky white things (looks like a cat) will be waiting for you on a bar stool. Perhaps to buy you a drink?
Posted by: grinnyp
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September 23, 2009 7:02 AM