As intriguing as it might be, Cosmo does not refer to the sugary-sweet beverage beloved by the chic set (escape from the $10 cocktails?). Instead, our solar system is the "star" of the show; time to bust out that 3rd grade astronomy, yes?
Actually, the only real skills you'll need on this adventure are in the realm of pointing and clicking. Cosmo, from the excellent Mydia (who is also, incidentally, the creator of Room W&R), is a lovely escape game that does nearly everything right; the graphics are good, the puzzles varied and inventive, the interface clean and user-friendly. Aside from one or two of the dreaded quasi-unreasonable "leaps" of logic that tend to plague even the best escape games, Cosmo is easily one of the better room escapes to come along recently.
No backstory, not even a few confused words from the protagonist; with no explanation, Cosmo deposits you into a room filled with odd objects and devices. Strange diagrams, a video screen, a spread of brightly-colored glass dolphins…such a curious place! Of course, this room was not designed for any practical purpose. You'll need to collect items, put together puzzles and explore all facets of the room to get out. All the usual room escape goodness. Nothing really new here, but that's okay; why mess with a good thing?
Ok, I sort of lied at the beginning of the review; completing Cosmo does take just a smidgen of comprehension of mathematics and astronomy. It's very likely, however, that Google can easily provide the information you require. While I know that some prefer that escape games exist as self-contained units, able to be finished without any outside information, I personally like when developers integrate a bit of the external world into their creations (provided that the information required isn't too esoteric, of course). Doing so greatly increases the material available to the developer, thereby leading to enhanced creativity and ultimately a richer genre.
Note: Cosmo may take a while to load and does not have a loading bar on-screen, so don't fret if it seems that the game is frozen. It should load eventually.
Walkthrough Guide
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And I'm out!
Walkthrough for all who need it:
On the first screen
Check the large potted plant to the left of the cabinet to find a battery.
Click the top section of the cabinet; check the file holders (the things in the bottom-right section) to find a card that says "I'm in a triangle." (it's an oddly-colored spot on the file holder you reveal by clicking the one on the left to move it)
On the screen to the left of the first one
Click to the left of the small cabinet to find the "butterfly box".
Click the clock; note the mirrored numbers in the clock's frame.
Click the cabinet to get the two-dolphin art piece.
Click the top of the cabinet; the pink dolphin is hiding a paperclip. Get the paperclip.
To the left of the screen you were on
Click the oddly-shaped table twice to find the spectrum. For color-blind players note that the spectrum isn't important; it's the boxes and the order of the arrow.
Click the top section of the wine rack. Click the yellow bottle to turn its label towards you.
Click the dolphin art piece, then click "About Item". Type the mirrored numbers in left to right
629
to separate the top dolphin.
Click "About Item" on the separated dolphin and click the "split" to turn the dolphin. Click it again to open it up. Put the battery in the dolphin and click again to close.
Click the bottom of the wine rack. Number the boxes down->up on the spectrum you found earlier and you'll find the combination;
3164.
Click the button and get the key.
Click the sofa. Under the sofa you'll find a zipper without a pull. Attach the paperclip to the zipper to make a pull and... pull. Get the screwdriver.
Click the two white spots on the wall. Get the blue key that's sitting on the lower spot.
Back to the screen to the left of the first
Use the screwdriver on the screw in the shelf in the cabinet (where you got the dolphin).
Click under the shelf to get the blue tube.
Back to the first screen
Use the key you got from the wine rack on the middle section of the cabinet. Bam, desk!
Click the lamp on the desk. Click the switch to turn it on.
Turn it off, then attach the blue tube to the lamp and turn it on again. Note the coordinates. Take off the blue tube after you're done by clicking the switch and taking the tube.
On the screen to the right of the first
The dolphin is a remote. Use it on the TV.
Use the blue key on the blue spot above the TV. Put the blue tube in there.
Take out the blue tube, then click the blue button.
Back to the screen two screens to the left of the first
Click the middle section of the wine rack. Get the piece of paper that's stuck to the left side of the rack.
Now you can use the butterfly box. Click "About Item" on the box. The "I'm in a triangle." hint has to do with the password. Look at the grid formed by putting the blue tube on the TV. The two coordinates given (they're non-standard- see where 4,1 is from the piece of paper then you can tell where 2,1 is) form an isoceles triangle with which planet?
mercury
Get the key.
Back to the screen to the right of the first
Use the key you were given on the door.
You're out!
Posted by: Jamar
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February 11, 2009 1:52 PM