As the holidays draw closer everything seems to get more frantic, doesn't it? No worries, we have you covered. Yes, this week's escape is another surreal jaunt that will take your mind off your troubles. Welcome to A Cold Escape by Cogito Ergo Sum, a Japanese room escape game that will help you escape from reality (for a while, at least).
This week's offering, like last week is not so much an escape from a room as an escape to an altered state (or at least an escape from being sick). This is the adventure of a cat and dog whose master has fallen ill, or, as the opening movie hilariously states, "Master is a cold!" Follow the adventures of the intrepid pets as they attempt to make master feel better. And what super pets they are! No, really, they have super powers. Or, at least, powers. So let's get started. Or, "Let's nursing!" Seriously, you have to watch the opening movie before you start. That alone will make your day.
Navigation through this two room apartment is simple and accomplished with arrows that appear at the sides or bottom of the screen. Pick up items to go into your on-screen inventory. There's no changing cursor, so be prepared for a bit of pixel hunting, but nothing too terrible. Simply double-click on an inventory item for a close up when needed. There is a nice mix of puzzle solving and use of found objects here, as well as a test of your ability to follow directions. Just remember, advice given in a cute escape game is not, perhaps, the best way to treat an illness in real life. Just saying.
The art is a cute, flat cartoony style in muted colors, and there's even a pleasant little tune playing in the background. Well, pleasant for a little while, at least. Fortunately there's a handy mute button when the music crosses over into "creating an axe murderer" mode (after about 2 minutes).
Analysis: Another surreal adventure into some rather strange territory, but frankly couldn't we all use something to make us smile right now? This is cute casual gameplay and something that is guaranteed to leach away the stress of dealing with, well everything that is going on at this time of year. The translation into English is a bit... shaky, but that only adds to the giggle factor.
Despite all the silliness, there's lots of real escaping fun to be had. A nice mix of puzzle solving and use of found objects; with the need for the animals' own special abilities thrown in for good measure makes for wonderful gaming experience. There are even two endings to be found in this little gem. Marvel at the leaping dog and the punching cat, just remember to use them well while you are playing nurse. Get ready to experience some light, silly fun and play A Cold Escape.
Walkthrough Guide
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A Cold Escape Walkthrough
I wish my cat was this helpful when I'm sick. I'm a vet tech, so I'm used to being the one providing nursing care to THEM! So, they want to nurse, eh? Let's get started!
Check the board on the wall to find a list of four digit numbers.
The circled question mark in the top left corner has a hint for us.
"multiples of 3" "not multiples of 7" "not multiples of 9"
That implies that we're looking for a number that is a multiple of 3, but neither 9 nor 7. You can do the math for all of them if you'd like, but the only one fitting the criteria is 6789.
Zoom out, and let's check out that skill stand.
Oh, if only training your dog was this easy. Punch in your 4-digit code.
Wan has now learned to jump high! I think we can assume that that'll come in handy.
Move left to find another board and another skill stand.
Zoom in on the board.
This one's a little less time consuming. The hint here indicates that the numbers form a grid, with XYZ denoting the y-axis and ABC the x-axis. (e.g. AX=1, BX=2, etc.)
By matching the 2-letter combinations at the top with the grid, we get the four-digit number 1225.
Zoom on out, and zoom in on the second skill stand.
Punch in the code, and POW! Nyan suddenly knows how to... punch? Really? Alright, whatever you say...
Zoom out again and move left.
You'll see a standalone hutch and a sink with cabinets.
Zoom in on the hutch first
Open the bottom cabinets and take the towel. The upper cabinets are locked; we'll check there later.
Zoom out, and zoom in on the sink.
Opening the cabinets from left to right, we find a feeding cup, a pillowcase and... wait a minute, too tight to open?
This looks like a job for Cat-ptain Falcon! Select Nyan in your inventory and use him/her on the stuck cabinet for a satisfying "CAT PUUUUUNCH!"
Grab the kettle and the postcard.
Zoom out and move left.
Here we have a chart on the wall, an unadorned Christmas tree and a refrigerator.
Zoom in on the chart for a list of everything you'll need (most of which you already have). So, besides what we've already found, we'll need an ice pillow, some water for the towel and kettle, and some medicine.
Zoom out and zoom in on the tree.
Kind of bare, huh? Except for that one strange-shaped ornament in the lower branches... oh, it's a pencil! That might help!
Zoom out and zoom in on the fridge.
Open the upper door to find an antipyretic sheet (that essentially means "fever reducing" for those of you not versed in medical terminology).
Close the door and check the note. We're already aware that we need a damp towel, but maybe it means something more...
Zoom out. The bottom drawer is empty, but the middle drawer seems to require a 3-digit code. We'll come back to that.
Let's take care of some business! Zoom out twice and move right, zooming in on the sink.
Turn on the faucet and use the kettle on the running water.
Place the full kettle on the stove and click one of the knobs to start boiling the water.
Once the water is boiled, pick up the kettle to let the water cool for a few seconds.
While we're waiting, run the towel under the tap. Hey, there's some writing.
Personally, I read it as "SOS" at first, but, that also kind of looks like "505," and we DO need a 3-digit number...
By now, we should be able to fill the feeding cup with boiled water. Double-click the feeding cup, then use the kettle on it.
Zoom out, move left, zoom in on the fridge and zoom in on the middle drawer.
Punch 505 in and press the top-right button to open the drawer and take the ice pillow.
Double-click on the pillowcase and use the ice pillow on it.
Now all we need is medicine! Why not ask Santa for some?
Double-click the postcard, then click it once to turn it over.
Use the pencil on the postcard to write Wan & Nyan's letter to Santa.
Zoom out and turn left twice.
See the red loop hanging from the ceiling? Bet a well-trained jumping dog could reach that. Use Wan on the loop and down drops a spring-loaded postbox.
Use the postcard on the postbox, and awaaaaay he goes!
Use Wan on the loop again to bring the postbox and the cold medicine down.
Maybe we should check the dosage instructions. Click the left side of the box to find a key taped to the back (no instructions, though).
Move left and zoom in on the hutch again.
Use the key on the upper cabinets to find a jelly drink. Something to help the medicine go down, I suppose.
Doctor, I think we're ready to treat the patient! Zoom out, turn right and click on the bedroom door.
Feel free to check the patient's temperature (use the thermometer on the head) as you treat to watch it go start to go down. You can place objects in no particular order.
Put the feeding cup on the bedstand.
Use the jelly drink on the patient's head.
Place the cold medicine on the bedstand.
Drape the damp towel over the headboard.
Use the antipyretic sheet and the ice pillow on the patient's head.
Use the thermometer on the patient's head now, and you'll be asked if you're sure.
If you answer "Yes," you'll be treated to the normal ending. At least the fever's better. Still, something's missing...
Special Ending
If you answer "No," then... well, nothing happens.
Let's check and see if we missed something...
Move back out to the kitchen and turn twice.
Hey, now there's a green loop. Time for another of Wan's juuuuumps!
Hooray, we've decorated the Christmas tree!
Turn twice and enter the bedroom.
Use the thermometer on the patient's head again, and this time select "Yes" to get the Christmas party ending!
Posted by: OKtomcat
|
December 16, 2009 1:41 AM
A Cold Escape Walkthrough
Main Game
Whatever you do, do not skip the opening movie.
On the wall is a picture with some numbers and the dog. Click on the picture for a close up.
Hover your cursor over the question mark in the upper left corner and it will give you the parameter of what you are looking for: a number divisible by 3, but not by 7 or 9.
The number you are looking for is 6789.
Back up and click on the green "skill stand" in the corner.
Enter the code from above and click "enter".
You have now activated the super doggy power of jumping high. Notice the dog is now in your inventory. Back up.
Turn left and click on the picture on the wall (numbers and the cat).
Notice that pass = AXBXBXBY.
Hover your mouse over the question mark to see the parameters.
When you hover the mouse over the question mark column and row titles appear above the number grid. A - C on the top and X - Z down the side.
Perhaps this will help you crack the code?
Use the number grid with the headers to crack the code. AX (first column, first row) is 1, BX (second column, first row) is 2, and BY (second column, second row) is 5.
The code is 1225.
Back up and click on the pink "skill stand".
Enter the code from the cat picture and click "enter.
Super cat punch activated go! The cat should now be in your inventory.
Back up.
Notice above the cat picture is a red hoop hanging from the ceiling.
Use the dog's super jump power on the hoop (select the dog from the inventory and click on the hoop.
The funny looking red thing is a mail box.
Turn left.
There's a cabinet with a potted plant next to it and a countertop with stove.
Let's concentrate on the cabinet first. Click on the cabinet for a close up.
Hmmm, the top is locked, let's worry about that later.
Open the bottom cabinets and take the towel.
Back up.
Click on the countertop for a close up.
Open the left cupboard. Look, a sippy cup! Take the cup.
Open the cabinet under the sink. Yay, a pillowcase! Take the pillowcase.
Click on the cabinet underneath the stove top. Oh dear, it's stuck.
Time for super cat punch powers!
Click on the cat then click on the cabinet, the cat will punch them open for you.
Take the kettle and the postcard.
Back up.
You are now facing a refrigerator, flanked by two potted plants.
Oh look, there's a picture on the wall. Let's look at it, shall we?
Wow, step by step instructions for dealing with a cold. We should remember these.
Back up.
Click on the plant that looks like a fir tree (on the right) for a close up.
Look closely, there's a pencil in the brances on the bottom right. Take the pencil.
Back up and click on the refrigerator for a close up.
You can open the bottom drawer, but there's nothing in there.
The next drawer up needs a three digit code, so worry about that later.
Hey, there's a note on the fridge, let's read it!
I'm guessing that that is a hint for the freezer code. Back up.
Click on the left side of the refrigerator door to open it.
Click on the box on the top shelf to take it. You now have an antipyretic sheet!
Back up and turn right.
Click on the countertop for a close up.
Turn on the water in the sink.
Put the towel in the water. Hey look, a code!
Turn the water on again and fill up the kettle.
Place the kettle on the stove and turn it on. Wait for the pot to whistle, then take it. Yay, boiling water!
Back up and turn left.
Click on the refrigerator for a close up.
Click on the upper freezer drawer (the one with a three digit code) for a close up.
Hmmm, the code on the towel looked like SOS, or 505.
Let's try 505, shall we?
Enter the code and push the blue button to the right of the number.
Cool, an ice pillow!
Pull up the pillowcase from your inventory and put the ice pillow inside.
Back up and turn right twice.
Time to use the funky mail box.
Pull up the postcard from your inventory.
Hey, a letter to Santa!
Click on the postcard while it is in close up and it will turn over.
Use the pencil on the postcard to write out your request.
Once the postcard is filled out put it back in your inventory, then drop it in the mail box.
The mail box will jump to the ceiling with your card.
Use the dog to pull the box back down.
Hey, something came with the box.
Yay, cold medicine! Take the medicine.
While the box of medicine is in close up click on it to turn it around. Hey, a key!
Take the key and turn left.
Click on the cabinet for a close up.
Use the key on the locked upper cabinet. Take the jelly drink (?) and back up.
You now have everything you need to escape.
End Game 1 (Regular End)
Turn right until you are facing the cat picture. See the door on the left?
Hover your mouse over the door and you will see an arrow that says "to bedroom". Click on the arrow.
Aw, poor sick master!
Let's nursing!
Place the ice pillow under master's head.
Place the damp towel on the headboard.
Place the anitpyretic sheet on his head.
Pull up the sippy cup from your inventory and fill with boiled water.
Place the sippy cup on the bedside table.
Place the medicine on the bedside table. Oh, you have to eat something first.
Good thing we have that jelly drink, isn't it?
Give the master the jelly drink, then place the cold medicine on the bedside table.
Place the thermometer on the master. It will ask you if you want to use. Click yes.
Master is much better now!
End Game 2 (Happy End)
Repeat the regular end until you get to the thermometer. When it asks for use, click no.
Go back to the kitchen and turn left twice until you are facing the refrigerator.
Notice there is now a ring hanging from the ceiling above the pine tree.
Use the dog to get the ring.
Nice, you decorated the tree!
Turn right twice and go back to the bedroom.
This time use the thermometer and answer "yes".
Christmas Party End!
Happy X-mas!
Posted by: grinnyp
|
December 16, 2009 2:18 AM