Rusty Lake Paradise
- January 11, 2018
- Rusty Lake
In Rusty Lake Paradise, Jakob, the son of the deceased island paradise owner, must perform a series of ascension rituals to lift a curse that’s causing deadly fruits and plagues. Each ritual requires solving puzzles that involve the island’s mysterious inhabitants, with unique challenges as you progress. As Jakob, you'll confront dark family secrets while uncovering the paradise island's past, making for a captivating and suspenseful adventure.
Reviews
- The game features a creepy and fun atmosphere with challenging puzzles that are satisfying to solve.
- The graphics and art style are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- The storyline is intriguing and keeps players engaged, with connections to previous Rusty Lake games.
- Some puzzles can feel tedious and require excessive backtracking, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- There are reports of control issues and glitches that hinder gameplay, particularly with triggering certain actions.
- The game may be perceived as easier compared to previous titles in the series, leading to a less challenging experience.
- story140 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its unique, dark, and intriguing narrative that weaves together a larger universe. While some found the storytelling eccentric and addictive, others noted that it could be confusing or less compelling compared to previous titles in the series. Overall, the combination of engaging graphics, challenging puzzles, and a mysterious storyline keeps players invested, though some wished for deeper character development and clearer connections between plot elements.
“The story is well written and presented.”
“Wonderful and intriguing storyline!”
“The story unfolds over a year of plagues wracking the island, each with its own perfectly sized chapter.”
“The story doesn't really make sense; a lot of the puzzles are just random clicking until you figure it out. There isn't really a pattern or clue to how to solve it.”
“The storyline is just kind of blah; the tasks are borderline nonsensical, and it's just lackluster.”
“I would have liked more of a story, but I guess that's just not how they usually roll with this series.”
- graphics52 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their artful and intriguing design, which complements the eerie atmosphere and engaging storylines. Players appreciate the unique and minimalist art style, noting its beauty and attention to detail, while some mention minor issues with gameplay navigation. Overall, the visuals are consistently described as stunning, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
“The graphic design paired with the intriguing storyline throughout all the games certainly makes you want to keep playing.”
“Brilliant graphics and storyline with excellent gameplay and a variety of puzzles.”
“The attention to detail, graphics, and creepy aspect.”
“It really spoils the magical atmosphere of the game that the graphic artists, musicians, and designers have worked so hard to achieve.”
“I did have a problem getting past plague 2 but this was solved by lowering the game's graphics settings.”
“I have graphics set to lowest quality.”
- gameplay23 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Gameplay is generally described as engaging, rewarding, and often challenging, with a mix of easy and complex puzzles that keep players invested. While some reviews highlight the repetitive nature and simplicity of certain puzzles, others appreciate the unique mechanics and the overall addictive quality of the gameplay. The minimalist artwork complements the gameplay experience, although opinions on the story's depth vary, with some finding it less captivating than previous titles in the series.
“Gameplay is fun, demanding, and rewarding.”
“Excellent gameplay, and perfectly doable puzzles!”
“Rusty Lake are the masters of delivering challenging gameplay that does not frustrate.”
“However, addressing the gameplay, there are many puzzles which have no underlying logic.”
“Brilliant story, graphics, and vibe as always, but the gameplay was a bit tedious (lots of navigation up and down paths that got a bit boring) and the puzzles seemed quite simple compared to others in the series.”
“Storyline wasn't there, gameplay was really repetitive, and puzzles quite easy.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its creepy, immersive quality, enhanced by excellent music and art design. While some players find the puzzles tedious and the setting repetitive, the overall ambiance remains engaging and surreal, characteristic of the Rusty Lake series. Despite some variations in execution, the game's darkly amusing and enigmatic atmosphere captivates many players, making it a standout feature.
“The atmosphere of the whole game is genuinely creepy; dare to play with headphones!”
“Brilliant macabre point-and-click game, challenging and atmospheric.”
“Wonderful dreamy atmosphere and very enigmatic mysteries.”
“It really spoils the magical atmosphere of the game that the graphic artists, musicians, and designers have worked so hard to achieve.”
“I hadn't played any of the other Rusty Lake games and didn't know what to expect, so I wasn't prepared for the rather creepy and at times disgusting atmosphere, which wasn't really what I was looking for.”
“Unusually buggy, puzzles unusually straightforward, atmosphere unusually uncreepy.”
- music16 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its eerie and soothing compositions that complement the visuals and narrative. However, some players found certain aspects, like repetitive song puzzles, to be tiresome and detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's immersive qualities.
“As always, the graphics, the music, and the general feel are fantastic.”
“I love the eerie music and sounds.”
“As always, Rusty Lake has incubated a weird and wonderful mix of eerie yet soothing musical compositions, comically awkward line delivery, and artistic animation that ties together all of the eccentricities that allows us to indulge in the freakiness that is the Rusty Lake universe.”
“It really spoils the magical atmosphere of the game that the graphic artists, musicians, and designers have worked so hard to achieve.”
“The fair amount of repeat-after-me song puzzles got tiresome, and each level seemed more of the same.”
“Music and sound effects are appropriate, but at times annoying.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, primarily due to repetitive navigation and puzzles that lack challenge or clarity. Many reviews highlight the frustration of going back and forth through levels, leading to a sense of monotony rather than engagement. While the story and atmosphere are praised, the gameplay often feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.
“Although the creepy atmosphere was as good as the other games, I found the puzzles were a lot more tedious, possibly because of the going back and forth aspect in a setting that soon gets old.”
“Brilliant story, graphics, and vibe as always, but the gameplay was a bit tedious (lots of navigation up and down paths that got a bit boring) and the puzzles seemed quite simple compared to others in the series.”
“Very linear - felt like grinding after a while.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark and macabre elements, appealing to those who appreciate a twisted sense of comedy. Players find the voice acting amusing, despite all characters being voiced by men, and appreciate the creative storytelling and artwork that enhance the overall experience. While some moments are lighter, the predominant tone leans towards hilariously dark humor, making it a unique and entertaining journey.
“Hilariously macabre, as always!”
“Paradise is lighter fare, if that is possible with such a sick sense of humor lol.”
“Fun, funny, great story and artwork.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Players find the Rusty Lake series to have high replayability due to its intricate details and engaging storyboarding, though some suggest that clearer achievement tracking could enhance the experience further. Overall, the games encourage exploration and discovery, making them enjoyable to revisit.
“This one has many details to discover, and so has surprisingly high replay value.”
“I hope you create more Rusty Lake puzzle adventures since I've now finished all 3 and enjoyed them all. I commend your storyboarding abilities. The only thing I have to add is maybe Google Play achievement XP points for replay value for your Rusty Lake series.”
“I get that they are there to add replayability, but when you are on the screen, they give no hint on how you earned past trophies nor how you can get the rest.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the absence of ads in the game, highlighting it as a significant positive aspect. However, they express frustration with the ad-laden walkthroughs and hints, which can leave them feeling stuck. Many users feel that purchasing the game to eliminate ads is a worthwhile investment.
“The absence of ads is fantastic.”
“I appreciate the fair pricing of in-game purchases.”
“The monetization model feels balanced and doesn't pressure players to spend.”
“No valuable hints; walkthroughs are full of horrible ads, so you feel stuck without help.”
“I purchased the game to avoid the ads. Well worth it.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its stability, with users reporting numerous glitches and bugs that detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the straightforward puzzles and lack of content have contributed to a sense of disappointment.
“It kills me to give anything less than 5 stars to you guys, but this is riddled with glitches and not enough content for the money.”
“Unusually buggy, puzzles are unusually straightforward, and the atmosphere is unusually uncreepy.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express frustration with the emotional impact of gameplay, noting that reliance on walkthroughs can detract from the experience, as moments of discovery and connection are often undermined by technical issues or unresponsive elements.