Gordian Rooms 2: A curious island
- June 30, 2023
- Crimsonite Games
- 26h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Gordian Rooms 2: A Curious Island" , players are trapped on the Isle of Lye, a testing ground for the Gordian Society, and must solve puzzles to escape while uncovering secrets about the island's inhabitants, including the Lye family and their associates. The game is a prequel to "Gordian Rooms" and encourages players to search for hidden treasures and uncover mysteries. Exploration and puzzle-solving are key as players aim to become a full-fledged member of the enigmatic organization.
Reviews
- Gordian Rooms 2 offers a massive increase in scope and duration compared to its predecessor, featuring a large open world filled with diverse and challenging puzzles.
- The game is visually stunning with great graphics, immersive environments, and a well-crafted story that keeps players engaged.
- Players appreciate the variety of puzzles, the inclusion of a helpful hint system, and the ability to explore at their own pace, making it a satisfying experience overall.
- Many players found the game to be overly complex and confusing, with a lack of clear direction leading to frustration and a sense of being lost in the large open world.
- Some puzzles were criticized for being illogical or poorly designed, leading to a reliance on walkthroughs and hints rather than satisfying problem-solving.
- The game has been reported to have technical issues, including crashes and control problems, which detracted from the overall experience for some players.
- story9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as engaging and well-integrated with optional and mandatory puzzles that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the balance between exploration and narrative, with multiple endings available in a single playthrough. However, some feel that the puzzles lack a significant impact on the story, leading to a less satisfying completion experience.
“In-depth story with great choices of optional puzzles and challenging must-solve puzzles to progress in the game experience.”
“Really enjoyed the game - the graphics are good and the story is fun and engaging.”
“It is a perfect balance of puzzles and backstory, without the distraction of too much dialogue or too many cutscenes.”
“But it just didn't feel satisfying to complete the puzzles - it didn't make any difference to the world or the story.”
“There is a decent and amusing story in the various items throughout, and the endings (there are two) can both be experienced in a single playthrough, with a small caveat.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game received positive feedback, with many users praising their quality and the immersive atmosphere they create. However, some players noted that certain aspects felt outdated and that graphical issues could hinder gameplay, particularly in puzzle-solving scenarios.
“Really enjoyed the game - the graphics are good and the story is fun and engaging.”
“The graphics were great and the sounds, music, and atmosphere were wonderful.”
“Graphically, I can only praise this game.”
“We enjoyed Gordian Room One very much, but this sadly not only seems outdated graphically, but the controls are abysmal. Yes, the puzzles are interesting, but there's too much running around in circles with vague and useless clues.”
“The graphical issues make having to find all these obscure items so much harder.”
“It takes more than just graphics, sounds, and atmosphere to 'create' a game that keeps you engaged.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game's atmosphere, highlighting its impressive graphics, immersive sounds, and captivating music that enhance the overall experience. While the atmosphere is noted as a strong point, it is also emphasized that engaging gameplay elements, such as puzzles, are essential for maintaining player interest.
“The graphics were great, and the sounds, music, and atmosphere were wonderful.”
“Good puzzles, some easy, some pretty hard, with a great atmosphere.”
“It takes more than just graphics, sounds, and atmosphere to create a game that keeps you engaged.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious, particularly when it comes to collecting all achievements by finding numerous collectibles across a vast island. While exploring remote locations can feel laborious, many agree it is less frustrating compared to other puzzle games. Overall, the game remains enjoyable despite these grinding elements.
“The only possible downside is that to get 100% of the achievements, you will have to find all of the collectibles, which can be a bit tedious since the island you are on is huge.”
“It can be a bit tedious when you decide to go to some remote location to explore an idea, but it is not as bad as other puzzle games.”
“It's a fun game, but as an avid puzzle/escape room player, I have to point out that it does get very tedious.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, while some users report satisfactory performance on lower settings, many express frustration with the game's inability to run smoothly even on high-end systems, indicating that further optimization is needed.
“The creators did a good job, but it really could have been optimized more.”
“Performance was fine on the lower settings.”
“The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, even on mid-range hardware.”
“Optimization seems lacking, as loading times are excessively long and frequent.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a variety of diverse puzzles, including mechanical, logical, numeric, and symbolic challenges that maintain player engagement. The item sonar mechanic is essential for locating hidden items, and players must understand the game's mechanics, including the necessity of crouching for certain actions.
“There are a lot of diverse puzzles (mechanical, logical, numeric, symbolic, etc.) which kept my interest throughout the whole game.”
“The item sonar mechanic is a must because some items make absolutely no sense where they are hidden.”
“You really need to figure out the mechanics and recognize that you can only perform some actions if you crouch.”
“Also, the item sonar mechanic is a must because some items make absolutely no sense where they are hidden.”
“You just really need to figure out the mechanics and recognize you can only do some actions if you crouch.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its ability to create a wonderful ambiance, enhancing the overall atmosphere alongside the graphics. Reviewers appreciate the integration of sound and music with the gameplay, contributing to an engaging experience filled with puzzles and collectibles.
“The graphics were great, and the sounds, music, and atmosphere were wonderful.”
“Great ambiance, music, and puzzles, with dozens of clues, collectibles, and items to find.”
