First, let's go straight to the what: Neutral's new Christmas Mini Escape! (Yay!) Now, the why: there are dozens of escape-the-room games released on a daily basis, yet few of them rise to the level of our notice. Even fewer have us climbing over each other to have the honor of presenting it to you, the ever discriminating JIG reader. That is Neutral.
If you have not discovered for yourself why Neutral is so revered, this small, unassuming banner game (yes, the game is the small banner at the top of the screen) is a perfect example of how to capture the hearts of escape fans everywhere. Don't worry, you don't need to know Japanese to complete the game. While miniature in scale, it is filled with details, clean lines and a changing cursor to avoid pixel hunting. Puzzle clues make sense but require enough deductive reasoning to make you feel as if you've earned your way out. Then, just as you think you're done, there's another layer to unwrap. The end is not a brief congratulatory phrase but a beautiful animation that leaves you feeling truly gratified.
My descriptions do such a delightful game no justice, though—see for yourself. This is a treat in any season but with all the Christmas bells and lights, it's like Santa telling us casual gamers that we've been very, very good this year!
Update: This seasonal game is currently available through the month of December only. Enjoy!
Walkthrough Guide
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Christmas Mini Escape Walkthrough
As you move around the room, make notes of everything in your surroundings. Almost everything you see has a purpose—either as a clue, a tool, a puzzle or as a way to hide those things from your view.
Gathering Goodies and Making a List
When the game first starts, you're facing a santa red sofa, a lovely live Christmas tree and an end table with a poinsetta on it:
Look at the lovely ornaments on the tree...snowman, two bells, two bows and a star (well, and an ordinary ball).
Exhausted from the holiday hustle and bustle, head for the sofa, fall off and get a good look underneath; no dustballs, just...
A FORK. Grab it.
Nothing in the unlocked drawers, so turn to the right.
Now facing the fireplace, make note of the clues there:
A picture that has four trapezoids, three red, one green, facing different directions...something to keep an eye out for later, I suppose.
A snowman on the mantel; it's a wonder he doesn't melt! Better look closer to make sure...
...and from close view, an unmortared brick in the fireplace catches the eye. The FORK is handy here. Pry out the brick and see what's in there:
A STAR. Take it and back up again.
A clock. 3 in the afternoon. Still early in the day, when nocturnal creatures are sleeping. But, taking a peek behind it, you realize it's not working, it's missing a part.
A key in the bottle. Can't fit the bottle through the bars so Santa definitely ain't fitting.
Poor BEAR. He seems sad about that. Give him a hug...well, at least pick him up.
Turn right again.
Well, this cabinet is doing no favors to the colorblind...throw open a few random doors...
Odd that they open different directions...the shapes from those doors when open do look familar...
The clue in the picture seems to indicate the order on the cabinet doors:
x3xx
4x12
But opening them in that order does nothing. Well, it's not like Neutral to have some random, obtuse clue. Better to write down this information because no doubt it will come in handy later.
In the bottom door, second from the left is a BOW. Take it.
The base of the lamp is screwed down as if it's in some cheap motel room.
On top of the cabinet is a green box needing two more stars...so far (if you're following the walkthrough), you have one...go look for one more.
Also wine, but no corkscrew (yet).
Pretty wreath with bell and bow on the door.
Well...let's turn right again.
Bed, wardrobe, stocking, picture on wall...
Look under the covers and under the mattress:
There's the other STAR. Take it.
The picture is also screwed on to the wall. Nothing to do about that right now.
I wonder if Santa put anything in your stocking?
Just a crumpled piece of paper...pre-used even!
Well, it looks like you have everything you could possibly get without unlocking doors and drawers. Time to solve some puzzles.
Solving Puzzles in the Room
Open the green box:
Put the two STARS (found under the bed and behind a brick in the fireplace) in their places on the top of the box, push the button:
Yay! SCREWDRIVER!
The Secrets of the Floor Lamp and Wine
Use the screwdriver on the base of the lamp then move the lamp.
A panel that needs four numbers. The way the number are arranged resembles the pictures on the crumbled paper (found in the stocking):
Seems you need to count some items around the room:
4 stars, 4 bows, 3 bells, and 1 snowman=
44
32
Open up to get a CORKSCREW.
Now use the corkscrew on the wine; pour it (click twice).
Oh, a glass of the prettiest, brightest Pink. Careful, if you spill it on your clothes it will stain!
Take the SILVER KEY out of the glass.
Turn around and go the end table next to the sofa.
The Bottom Drawer and the Wardrobe
Use the key from the glass of wine to open the bottom drawer of the end table. Look at the clue:
The way the letters in WARDROBE are arranged seem significant: a 4x2 grid. Where else in the room did you see an 4x2 grid?
Remember how the picture of the trapezoids seemed to indicate certain doors on the cabinet...and how those trapezoids are in a certain order?
x3xx
4x12
Put that information with the clue from the bottom drawer to get:
BEAR
Enter that code into the wardrobe's 4-letter code, then back up to open it.
Take the socks.
What's a Bear to Do?
Think about (or take another look at) that clue in the bottom drawer. There was a picture of a bunny on it. A bunny wearing a bow and pink socks. But in your inventory you have only a bear, a bow and white socks.
Things, they need a changin':
First, make the Bear a Bunny... it's all in the ears...
Hang the bear up in the wardrobe...close the doors, walk away for a while, come back to find his ears have stretched.
Second, turn those socks pink... what will stain them?
Put the socks in the wine.
Now put them all on the bea...Bunny. But he's squirmy and won't sit still!
Sit him down in his chair...put on the bow, put on the socks, pick him up again.
When you have the dressed up bunny, he needs somewhere to go...well, he's worried about Santa making it through the chimeny with stocking stuffers...
Put the bunny in the stocking.
...grab the GOLD KEY!
Time to open a couple more doors.
Hidden Niche and Exit Door of Room 1
Use the screwdriver to open the picture of the stacking chicks (also a banner mini-game from Neutral).
Take the BLUE ORNAMENT.
Use the gold key (from panel behind the stocking) to open the door.
Climb the ladder and go out.
Outside
Take a look under the nests:
Get the HEXAGON LETTER "O".
Turn around...Go see the sleeping owl; there's something in the branches of the tree to the left:
Get the SQUARE LETTER "Z" then back up.
Turn until you see the chimney...in the background is a gopher's home. Well, gophers probably like to decorate for Christmas, too. Drop the Blue Ornament in one of the holes.
Wait! You want that ornament...prod the gopher a bit until he gives it back. Take the BLUE ORNAMENT again.
Seems there was an order in which the gopher peeks up to look at you...
----4th---2nd, 5th---
3rd----6th----1st
Turn around twice, go back to the treasure chest. A present? Were you good?
Use the same pattern from the gopher to open the chest...
---4th----2nd, 5th---
3rd----6th-----1st
Take the PENTAGON NUMBER 3 (?)
Turn right. Put the shapes in the stone. Still one missing...
Grab the GREY ROCK to the left of the stone, maybe it's useful.
No, it doesn't fit. Well, let's throw it down the chimney then. Uh uh. Breaking sound not good...Go have a look.
Back down the ladder (under the right nest) and into the house to discover the RED KEY in the fireplace.
Use the red key to open the red and green cabinet.
Take the CLOCK GEAR.
Back out and Turn left. Put the gear in the clock.
Time flies! It's getting late now...8 in the evening. Go outside to look
Back outside, it's a beautiful starry night...
Owl isn't sleeping anymore, go to his nest,
take the CIRCLE LETTER.
Put the letter in its spot on the stone...A SNOWflake. Hmmm.
Adjust the letters to spell SNOW.
Pull the blue lever...
Put the blue ornament in the cannon...pull the lever again...
...and Enjoy the Musical Show!
Happy Christmas and Merry New Year!
Posted by: elle | December 21, 2011 6:27 PM