Cube Escape: Paradox
- September 20, 2018
- Rusty Lake
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "Cube Escape: Paradox," players assume the role of detective Dale Vandermeer, who finds himself in a mysterious room with no memory of his past. He must solve increasingly difficult puzzles to regain his memories and escape the room, all while uncovering connections to the Rusty Lake universe. The game features unique gameplay and a film crossover experience, with two chapters available, including a free one, and supports 14 languages. Chapter 2 continues the story with new challenges and mysteries to uncover.
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Reviews
- The game features unique and creative puzzles that are engaging and satisfying to solve.
- The integration of a short film enhances the gameplay experience, providing additional context and clues.
- The atmosphere is eerie and immersive, with a compelling story that ties together elements from previous games in the series.
- Some puzzles can be frustratingly difficult, and the lack of a hint system can lead to players feeling stuck.
- The story may be confusing for newcomers, as it heavily references previous entries in the series.
- There are instances of repetition in puzzles, particularly between the two chapters, which can detract from the overall experience.
- story116 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in the game is intricately woven into the broader narrative of the Rusty Lake series, offering a rich tapestry of references and connections that enhance the experience for returning players. However, newcomers may find the plot confusing without prior knowledge of earlier titles, as the narrative can be abstract and requires familiarity with the characters and events from previous games. Overall, while the story is compelling and atmospheric, it is best enjoyed in the context of the entire series to fully appreciate its depth and nuances.
“The puzzle design is intricate but complicated, the atmosphere is oppressive, the story finally begins to come together, and it truly marks the perfection of Rusty Lake's craft.”
“All of the Rusty Lake games are fantastic puzzle games that combine to tell a mystical story spanning centuries.”
“This is a must-play if you enjoy puzzles and an extremely well-written story, presented in a clever and open-ended manner which leaves plenty of room for interpretation.”
“I appreciate the dev's ambition with the movie tie-in project, but I feel it made for a poorer puzzle game, along with loads of repetition and a pointless-feeling story.”
“After completing it, the story portion left me confused, based on what story had happened in previous games.”
“The game is bulky for the sake of story, but the story gets muddled without much back and forth you have to do.”
- music38 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its quality and ability to enhance the eerie atmosphere. The soundtrack is described as well-made, featuring a mix of ambient and thematic pieces that complement the gameplay and evoke a surreal experience. Players are encouraged to explore the soundtrack outside the game, highlighting its standout nature among other titles.
“The soundtrack is well-made, and I love how they included FMV scenes from the companion movie.”
“This game has probably the best music out of all of the games.”
“I was sadly shocked when the birthday song played again, and happy birthday my son from mom and dad.”
“Other than that, it retains its horror-esque and surreal atmosphere with an oddly relaxing soundtrack to accompany you through your walkthrough.”
“Sounds like the final song in the movie Memento.”
- atmosphere30 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Cube Escape: Paradox" is consistently praised for its eerie, macabre, and oppressive qualities, effectively immersing players in a surreal and unsettling experience. The improved artwork and sound design enhance this ambiance, making it both captivating and chilling, while the intricate puzzles complement the overall mood. Many players find the atmosphere compelling enough to keep them engaged and returning for more, despite its potential to be terrifying.
“The atmosphere is eerie enough to keep you on the edge of your chair.”
“The puzzle design is intricate but complicated, the atmosphere is oppressive, the story finally begins to come together, and it truly marks the perfection of Rusty Lake's craft.”
“The atmosphere is eerie and unsettling.”
“Other than that, it retains its horror-esque and surreal atmosphere with an oddly relaxing soundtrack to accompany you through your walkthrough.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received praise for their improvement, featuring lovely artwork, smooth animations, and a distinctive eerie atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some players note that graphics may not be the primary focus, the visual aesthetics, combined with the sound design, create an engaging environment that captivates both newcomers and fans of the series. However, the inclusion of blood and gore may not appeal to all players.
“The atmosphere is eerie enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, with an improvement in the artwork and soundtrack.”
“The setting, music, and artwork are amazing.”
“Lovely artwork and smooth animation.”
“🔲 Graphics don't matter in this game.”
“[*] Not graphic but blood and gore are included, so it may not be for everyone.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a blend of familiar mechanics and new twists, offering engaging puzzles and a coherent story, enhanced by beautiful art and the innovative inclusion of real actors in gameplay. While the puzzles are interesting and challenging, some players find certain achievements overly difficult, suggesting that a guide may be necessary. Overall, the experience is a mix of enjoyable problem-solving and repetitive mechanics, particularly in the transition from Chapter 1 to Chapter 2.
“As always, great art, great puzzles, great story, and new interesting mechanics.”
“Beautiful art, interesting story, cool mechanics, and challenging puzzles.”
“This one for the first time includes actual movies with real actors as a part of the gameplay.”
“By now I kind of understand the mechanics, so I don't get hemmed up on trying to solve a puzzle I know the solution to, but don't understand how to interact with it.”
“Chapter 2 shares a ton with Chapter 1, so much so that if you've gotten through Chapter 1, you've already figured out half of the mechanics you need to finish Chapter 2.”
“The gameplay is the same as earlier games, interesting and unique puzzles together with a somewhat coherent story.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its infinitely replayable nature, featuring high-quality puzzles that offer significant replay value, particularly appealing to achievement hunters seeking additional challenges.
“Infinitely replayable.”
“High quality puzzles and great replay value for achievement hunters looking for an extra challenge.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game runs smoothly with no crashes reported, though players have noted some minor bugs and glitches that the developers appear to have overlooked. However, these issues do not significantly impact the overall gameplay experience.
“The game suffers from some weird bugs and glitches that the developer seemed to have overlooked.”
“The game has some stability issues that can be quite frustrating at times.”
“There are frequent crashes that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
