Ah, the Freemasons, where would conspiracy loons be without them? Whether you believe they were actually behind the Kennedy assassination, or believe that they control the world governments, or actually buy into the whole Illuminati/DaVinci Code thing, lots and lots of conspiracies would be all the poorer without them. That's an awful lot to heap onto a fraternal organization consisting of guys who do good works and exchange silly handshakes. Although, if you've ever been inside one of their lodges, their symbology does seem a bit...spooky, doesn't it? So why would you wander into one of those places only to find yourself locked in? Looking for the Holy Grail, perhaps? Or you just mistook it for the bar down the street? Regardless, you've gone and done it now, and you must solve this cute little room escape in Masonic Mystery. Who knows what really lurks in the depths of a Masonic Lodge? You're about to find out.
Designed by Abroy, Masonic Mystery is a fun little point-and-click escape. Nothing too taxing, although it might help if you could read Latin. And Music. Wander around the lushly appointed room searching for a way out before the members come back for the evening's festivities. I'm sure they only revolve around drinks and poker but perhaps its best to get out quickly, just in case.
There are a few clever puzzles in this quick little game, but as some are dependent on (a) color, and (b) some sort of working knowledge of music, this might be a little difficult for those who have problems with either. Otherwise you're looking at an enjoyable escape that is a nice mix of puzzle solving and use of found objects. On the downside, there is a lot of pixel hunting. Why do these game designers not use changing cursors? Why? It would make our lives so much easier. And when you finally get out of the room and breathe a sigh of relief, you will find an advertisement, but that hardly detracts from the fun of figuring your way out.
So if you're looking for a little mid-week excitement, or are one of those folks looking to prove the Freemasons were behind faking the moon landing, here's the game for you. You won't find any evidence, but you might find a little entertainment, and a pleasant way to pass the time as you try to get out. So get escaping! Just remember, if you're caught, I've never heard of you.
Walkthrough Guide
(Please allow page to fully load for spoiler tags to be functional.)
Walkthrough
Getting Started
First look at the table
Ooh a pyramid with the letter G on it. What happens if you press the bricks?
If you press the non-G bricks they turn dark and if you press the G brick it resets the pyramid. OK nothing much more to do here at the moment. Zoom back out.
Click on the left chair on its own.
A picture of a triangle with arrows. Worth remembering. Anything else?
A gold cup. Pick it up! Then zoom back out
Now for the picture in the middle
Pretty but it doesnt do much. Is there anything you can do here?
If you click the top circle of the left light it spins revealing a hole. Interesting. Leave the picture alone for now.
Turn right and look at the desk.
A book with a motto, a musical scale and some colours on it.
Also a drawer with nothing in it, and a sign that says MM Property screwed down with two screws.
Also under the painting there is a golden bow like object collect it. Nothing else to do here for a moment. Zoom out again
Turn Right again.
A Piano! Lets play it!
Drat, most of the keys dont do anything, only 7 of them work. Might as well leave it alone until later then. I had such plans for a piano recital as well.
The door to freedom. Finally this game has taken long enough.
Drat its locked. I suppose it would have been too easy otherwise.
There is a motto above the door. Interesting, but it feels off, for some reason.
The motto is in Latin, but there is the number 44 there. I better remember it.
Look at the chair on the right. It has a gold chain on it collect it. Time to zoom out again.
A wine sidetable. Phew this puzzle solving is thirsty work.
Take the left bottle of wine. Drat it has a cork in it. No wine at the moment then.
A locked drawer, best be on the look out for a key then.
Also a golden dish you can collect. Zoom out and its time to solve some puzzles
Solving Problems
Return to the center table. Time to solve that pyramid. If only we had some clue to the solution.
Wait what about that picture of a triangle we saw earlier?
Click on the bricks following the pattern in the picture.
Bottom Right, Top, Bottom Left, Middle Right, Middle Left, Bottom Right
It clicked, press the G button to see our reward.
A key! Lets get it.
Does it open the main door?
No...Oh well any other locks you know of?
The wine sidetable has a locked drawer lets try it on that.
It worked!, and the drawer contains coins. Collect one.
Its the third from the right if you are having problems.
To the desk again.
I don't know about you, but those screws are annoying me.
If only we had a screwdriver.
Maybe something we have collected will work.
That coin we just found might do the trick.
Yes it does. Unscrew both sides of the plaque.
Now it shows 4 spaces for a short code. Maybe that number from the motto will work here.
Each code slot only has certain letters no numbers. I was sure I was on the right track.
Wait. How about using Roman numerals. What is 44 in Roman Numerals?
XLIV
Click, and the top drawer has unlocked. Time for our reward.
A star chart with colours on it. I suppose it is better than nothing.
Hmm I'm bored time for some music I feel, off to the piano.
If only we had a piece of sheet music.
Place the colour star chart in the slot. Not quite music but I suppose it will do.
If only I has some guide to how to change these colours into notes.
The book on the desk has colours on it too. And the words look like do re mi fa so la si (si is almost ti I suppose)
Lets match them up then.
For Colourblind people:
Book Code:
Do: Brown
Re: Green
Mi: Red
Fa: Dark Blue
So: Yellow
La: Pink
Si: Light Blue
Star code:
Red, Red, Dark Blue, Yellow, Yellow, Dark Blue, Red, Green
Now to play some music
EEFGGFED (If you don't know, E is the note just right of the two black notes close together. The rest can be worked out from that.
A random piano key popped out.
Click it and a pentagon key appears.
Secret Places
Let's try the key on the main door.
This key doesnt work either. Any other locks you can see?
Nope. Anything we have seen before but not used yet?
What about that hole by the painting?
Lets use the pentagon key on the hole
It works!
A door with a puzzle on it.
A simple enough puzzle if you start from the center.
In the middle is a G, then line everything up based on that. The door will unlock. Lets enter.
A Secret Room with an altar!
And a golden ball next to the altar pick it up.
Oh its a dish not a ball. Oh well.
Click on the right table.
A hole with a symbol on it. Nice but nothing we can do with it yet. Zoom out.
Now the left table.
Far more interesting, a second golden chain. Lets get it.
Also it you look inbetween the railings there is a golden pillar. Lets get that too. Zoom out again.
Turn around.
Look to the right, a Silver cup. Lets grab it like the thieves we are.
Time to leave the secret room now.
Whats that on the stairs?
A corkscrew, time for some wine I feel!
Use the corkscrew on the wine.
Weighing up the Solution
Return to the secret room again
Click on the right table.
Place the pillar in the hole.
Then the bow or "?" on the pillar. It's a scale!
Next chains on both sides, and attach the bowls to them.
Then place the goblets/cups in the bowls. If you cant see them in the inventory, click the left inventory button a few times.
Drat they dont balance. How can we sort that out?
Use the wine I suppose. Shame I was looking forward to a drink after this was over.
Pour the wine in the silver goblet/cup to unlock a key.
Grab the key, and head to the main door.
Unlock the door and escape to freedom!
Posted by: Urahara | June 23, 2010 8:00 AM
Masonic Mystery Walkthrough
General Information
There is no changing cursor, so be prepared for some pixel hunting.
Do you know the song "Doe, a Deer" from The Sound of Music? It will help if you do.
Most of the objects will be combined, so think carefully about what they can make when put together.
There will be directions for the colorblind and the musically challenged.
Good luck!
Exploration (First Room)
You begin facing a painting on the wall, between two light sconces, with glass fronted bookcases on either side.
In front of you is a low table, surrounded by red chairs.
Click on the table for a close up.
Cool, a pyramid with the letter G on it. Notice that you can click on the G, as well as several other bricks on the pyramid. Back up.
Click on the painting in the middle of the wall for a close up.
Click around the sconces, especially the circular things holding them to the wall. You will notice that on the left sconce you can move one of the circles around, revealing an odd shaped hole. Back up.
Now click on the gold chair in front of the left bookcase for a close up.
There's a gold goblet on top of the bookcase, take it.
There's also the drawing of a star, with a triangle imposed over it. Notice the direction of the arrows. Remember how to draw a 5-pointed star? Back up.
Click on the low table again.
The front of the pyramid looks like a triangle.
Perhaps that star picture is the key to doing something with it?
Click on the bricks around the G in the order indicated by the drawing, as if you were drawing a 5-pointed star, but start at the lower right corner instead of the lower left.
That means click the bricks in this order: The brick to the right of the G, the brick in the middle 2 rows above the G, the brick to the left of the G, the brick above and to the right of the G, the brick above and to the left of the G, then the brick to the right of the G again. Once you've clicked that sequence, click on the G and the top of the pyramid opens up.
You've opened the pyramid! Take the golden key and back up.
Turn right.
Now you're facing another picture, this one with a desk underneath it. Click on the desk for a close up.
Okay, we have a book with a Latin phrase, "per aspera ad astra" which I think translates into "through difficulty to the stars" or something close to that.
There are also several words on the book with color backings: Dominus (tan), regula (green), ministro (red), factum (blue), solvo (yellow), laudo (pink), and simplex (aquamarine).
You can open one of the top drawers, but there doesn't appear to be anything in it. You cannot open the top top drawer.
Look closely at the bottom frame of the picture above the desk. Is there something extra there?
Click on the bottom of the ornate picture frame to get a gold object with hooks at either end.
There's a plate that says "MM property" that is screwed onto the desk. Looks like we need a screwdriver!
Back up and turn right.
You are now facing some double doors, with a Latin phrase above them, "Illic est 44 rostrum". I'm not sure what that means, illic est 44 means "over there is 44" but I'm unsure of the translation of Rostrum in this context. Hey, it's been 30 years since high school Latin! A rostrum is like a podium.
If you click on the doors for a close up you will see you need a key. Does the key you have work? That would be no.
But look closely at the gold chair to the right of the door, there's something on the seat of the chair. Take the object (gold chain). Back up.
To the left of the double doors is a piano, click on it for a close up.
Notice that you can play some of the keys, starting at middle C (the one with the circle behind it) all the way up the scale to b. The scale that you can play is marked by two little circles behind the keys.
There's nothing more we can do at the piano right now, so back up.
To the right of the double doors is a small end table in the corner, click on it for a close up.
On top of the table is a gold vase with flowers, and a gold bowl. Take the gold bowl.
Underneath the table are wine bottles. Take the wine bottle on the left.
The left drawer of the table is unlocked but empty. There is a lock on the right, maybe the key will work on this one? Use the key on the lock.
Click on the drawer to open it and notice the 4 gold coins inside (are you sensing a gold theme here?). Click on the third coin from the left to take it.
Back up and turn right.
You are now facing yet another painting on a wall. There's nothing you can do in this view, so now we have explored the whole room. Time to solve puzzles!
Puzzle Solving (First Room)
Turn until you are facing the desk with the book.
Click on the desk for a close up.
We still have the problem of that screwed down plate, and no screwdriver.
But do we have anything that can substitute?
Use the gold coin on the screws to remove the plate.
Great, now we have a 4 digit puzzle that uses letters.
If you click on the puzzle digits, you will notice that they do not cover the entire alphabet.
What clues do we have?
We already used the star clue on the pyramid.
The book clue appears to involve colors, and more than 4 digits.
Perhaps the phrase over the double doors?
Over the doors is "over there is 44" in Latin.
What is 44 in Latin? Not in the language, but in Roman numerals?
Enter XLIV into the puzzle.
If you entered the code correctly you should hear a click.
Open the top top drawer of the desk and take the paper with the stars.
Back up.
Turn right until you are facing the piano.
Click on the piano for a close up.
Now, what do we play?
Is there a clue in the words and colors from the book?
Does the piece of paper with the colored stars have anything to do with it?
Look carefully at the words in the book. If you take the first two letters of each word, you get do, re, mi, fa, so, la, si (ti), which is a musical scale starting with middle C. Do you know the song "Doe, a Deer" from The Sound of Music?
Each note would then be associated with a color, so do (tan), re (green), mi (red), fa (blue), so (yellow), la (pink), and si (aquamarine) are the colors.
Place the note with the stars on the bar behind the keys and it will appear propped up on the piano, enabling you to see the stars and their colors.
It's time to play a tune.
Using the colors of the stars, the tune is mi, mi, fa, so, so, fa, mi, re.
For the musically inclined, the tune sequence is EEFGGFED.
For the musically challenged and color-blind: The first key that you can play is middle C. Number the keys from that key (1) and press the keys in this order: 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 4, 3, 2.
When you play the sequence (these are the opening notes to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" if anyone is curious), you will notice a key 5 keys to the left of the middle C suddenly juts out a little more than the rest.
Click on the key that sticks out to move it and take the object (pentagon key).
Back up from the piano.
Turn right twice until you are facing the painting between the two light sconces.
Click on that painting for a close up.
Click on the gold circle above the left light scone to move it.
Use the pentagon key on the revealed hole.
Sweet, a secret passage!
Exploration (Hidden Room)
You should now be on a staircase leading down to a wooden door. Click on the door for a close up.
This is a simple rotating slider puzzle. You need to rotate each section until the Masonic symbol appears correctly on the door.
It's easier to start with the middle piece, which is most of the letter G. Rotate that until it is upright, then rotate each section by clicking on it until the symbol comes together. Screenshot.
Once the symbol is in place, you will hear a click.
Click on the door to open it.
You are now in the hidden room. Lovely decor.
In front of you is an altar (or rostrum) with the Masonic symbol on it. Below the symbol is a gold circle, take it (a second gold bowl).
To the left of the altar is a low table, click on the table for a close up.
On the table, between two candlesticks, is a gold platter with a chain on it. Take the chain.
Look closely at the baluster (wooden railing) behind the table. Between the far left two rails is a brass object, take it (pillar).
Back up.
Click on the low table to the right of the altar.
Hmmm, there appears to be something in the middle of the table where an object should be put.
Back up.
Turn either right or left, and you will be facing the door you came in, and the staircase back to the main room.
Look closely at the near right column, there is a silver goblet on the floor beneath the bench. Take it.
Click on the open doorway to move forward.
Now that you are on the stairs, look closely. To the left of the red carpet, halfway up the stairs, an object is lying on the stairs. Take the object (corkscrew).
You should now have everything you need to escape!
Getting Out
Turn either right or left and you will be facing the wooden door with the Masonic symbol. Click on the door to open it.
Now that you are facing the altar with the Masonic symbol, click on the low table to the right.
Notice the little depressed area in the middle of the table, with the eye symbol on it?
Place the brass pillar in that depression.
Now place the bow-like thing you got from the picture frame on the top of the pillar. You can scroll your inventory left or right using the arrows at the top of the screen.
Can you see what we're making here?
That's right, we're making scales.
Now attach the chains to the hooks on the left and right of the bow-like thing.
Place a bowl on the bottom of each of the chains.
We have a scale!
Place each goblet on the bowls, it doesn't matter which order.
Oh no, the gold goblet weights more than the silver! What can we add to balance the weight?
Use the corkscrew on the bottle of wine.
Use the open wine on the silver bottle.
Once the scale is balanced, a key appears! Take the key.
Back up, turn around, and go up the stairs back to the main room.
Click on the double doors for a close up, use the key on the keyhole, and you're out!
Posted by: grinnyp
|
June 23, 2010 9:16 AM
And I'm out! I wrote up a walkthrough:
Exploring the room
Click on the table in the middle to see a golden pyramid with six clickable bricks. We need a clue first before we can click on the bricks. Back up.
On the bookshelf to the left, there is a note and a goblet. Take the goblet and remember the note. There is a black triangle with arrows pointing counterclockwise, starting from the bottom right of the star, drawn over a golden triangle. Back up.
Click on the painting and notice the bolts securing the lights. The top plate on the left light moves if you click on it, revealing a pentagonal hole. Interesting, but nothing we can do here. Back up.
Go right and click on the desk. There's nothing in the drawers, but there is an interesting book lying open.
The colors and words read
brown - DOminus
green - REgula
red - MInistro
blue - FActum
yellow - SOlvo
magenta - LAudo
teal - SImplex
Click on the bow-shaped thing below the painting frame to take it. There's also a plate screwed to the desk, but we don't have a screwdriver or other tool yet. That's all we can do here now, back up.
Going right again, click on the piano and note the middle octave keys on the piano are playable. Interesting, but we don't know what to play yet. Back up.
Click on the big door. There is a gold chain on the chair to the right. Also notice the words above the door are in Latin, and include the number 44. Back up.
Click on the small table and take the bowl and leftmost bottle of wine. Nothing else to do without a key, so back up.
Solving Puzzles
The Pyramid (with thanks to GrinnyP for helping me figure out the last bit of this puzzle)
Go back to the pyramid on the table. Remember the note above the big cabinet? The star was drawn on a golden triangle.
Click the bricks in this order:
To the right of the G
Two rows above the G in the center
To the left of the G
One row above the G and to the right
One row above the G and to the left
To the right of the G
The G
Click the top of the pyramid and collect the key
The small table to the right of the door had a keyhole. Go there and open the drawer. The item in the center left of the velvet box can be taken. We've got a gold coin.
The Piano
Finding the score
We still haven't found a screwdriver to explore the plaque on the desk but maybe we can jury rig a tool?
You can use the coin on the two screws to remove the plate and reveal a 4 digit combination.
We haven't seen any clues for a 4-digit code, but remember, the book and plate above the door are both in latin.
Convert 44 from the door scene to Roman numerals: XLIV
Now the top right drawer in the desk will open, revealing a piece of paper with colored stars. The stars are:
Red, red, blue, yellow, yellow, blue, red, green.
Take the paper.
Playing the Score
Where else have we seen colors?
From the book, convert the colors to notes:
mi mi fa so so fa mi re
or
EEFGGFED
At the piano, place the music score above the keyboard. The leftmost key you can play is C. Proceeding to the right, the keys are CDEFGAB. Play the tune, and a key to the left will fall. Click on it to reveal a pentagonal key.
Endgame
The secret room
Where have you seen a pentagon before?
Go back to the painting with the lights, and open the cover above the left light. Use the key on the pentagonal hole to reveal a secret door.
Go down the stairs and click on the rings of the image to line it up. Go in the secret room.
Exploring the secret room
There's a glowy thing underneath the mason's symbol on the podium. Click on it to find that it is another golden bowl.
Click on the table on the left. There is a gold chain on the plate. There is also a pillar on the wall behind the table, between the two left columns.
We're done here so back up and look at the table on the right. There is a block of wood with a round cutout. Looks like the perfect place to put something with a round bottom.
Construction
Place the pillar in the round depression.
Attach the bow-shaped item to the top of the pillar.
Attack each chain to either end of the bow.
Attach the bowls to the bottoms of the chains.
Set the goblet in one of the bowls. Looks like we're still missing another goblet though, so back up.
Exploring the room part 2
Turn around and take the silver goblet under the pew on the right. Click on the exit and take the item on the stairs on the left. Turn back around and return to the scales.
End game for real
Place the second goblet on the scales. It clearly can't balance the gold goblet. Maybe if we fill it with wine it will balance?
Use the corkscrew on the wine bottle, then use the open bottle on the silver goblet.
Take the key. Now you can go upstairs and exit via the big door. Yay!
Posted by: MmeTurbulence
|
June 23, 2010 9:26 AM