Save Room - Organization Puzzle
- April 28, 2022
- Fractal Projects
- 5h median play time
You may also likehttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2326020/Save_Room__The_Merchant/ Add to your wishlist! About the GameGameplayThe goal is to make all the items fit in your inventory, while all your guns are loaded and your life is not too low. Arrange items to make them fit: Examine itens to gather infos: Reload your weapons: Combine herbs to make porwerfull healling itens: Combin…
Reviews
- Fun little puzzle game that captures the essence of RE4's inventory management.
- Challenging puzzles that gradually introduce new mechanics, keeping the gameplay engaging.
- Great value for the price, providing a satisfying experience in under two hours.
- The game is quite short, with only 40 levels that can be completed in about an hour.
- Some controls can be clunky, and the lack of mouse support can make item management tedious.
- Repetitive music and limited variety in puzzles may detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay148 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Save Room" is centered around inventory management, drawing heavily from the mechanics of Resident Evil 4, which players find both nostalgic and engaging. While the core mechanics are simple and intuitive, the game gradually introduces additional elements like combining items and managing health, keeping the puzzles fresh and challenging. However, some players feel that the game could benefit from more complexity and clearer explanations of mechanics, as well as a longer playtime to fully explore its potential.
“This puzzle game is excellent and takes the space-saving strategies we all know from the Resident Evil series and turns them into game mechanics to solve their puzzles.”
“The gameplay loop is really simple, but it introduces new mechanics gradually, keeping the experience engaging and enjoyable.”
“Puzzles start off as simple tiling problems and eventually introduce mechanics like needing to heal yourself, load guns, create ammo, etc., in order to finish the level with everything in your inventory.”
“The only negative I can say about the gameplay is that sometimes the controls are a bit too stiff and it feels like you wrestle the game to do what you want, like rotating the items or even just picking and dragging an item to the inventory grid.”
“All in all, the 40 levels can probably be finished in a few hours at most, except there was no tutorial and no explanation about the new mechanics, and you're meant to experiment as you run into the new mechanics.”
“Some mechanics are too simple and allow finishing puzzles without thinking.”
- music72 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and atmospheric, often compared to the iconic save room themes from the Resident Evil series. However, many players note that it consists of only one repetitive track, which can become tiresome over time. While some appreciate the nostalgic feel and ambiance it provides, others recommend muting the in-game music in favor of external soundtracks for a more enjoyable experience.
“The music and ambiance capture the feel without being enough to get sued for.”
“The moment you step into the safety of the room, a sense of relief washes over you, accompanied by a carefully curated soundtrack that enhances the feeling of respite.”
“The graphics and sounds (especially when using the RE4 sound and music modpack that a kind stranger posted in a guide) make this an incredible simulation of RE's inventory system.”
“There's also the blight that there's only one song for the entire game, not even for the ending. It's not bad music, but holy shit was I sick of it.”
“The music is the same track repeating forever, and it's a very short track.”
“My only complaint is the boring music track that I almost instantly muted to play my own music, and the fact that I would want more levels if that counts as a complaint.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game evoke a nostalgic charm, drawing heavily from the aesthetic of Resident Evil 4, with many praising the visuals for their ability to capture the essence of the source material. However, opinions are mixed, as some find the graphics basic or lacking in uniqueness, while others appreciate the simplicity and relaxing nature of the visuals. Overall, the combination of graphics and sound design contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding clarity and originality.
“The graphics and sounds (especially when using the RE4 sound and music modpack that a kind stranger posted in a guide) make this an incredible simulation of RE's inventory system.”
“This game perfectly emulates the aesthetics and mechanics of the Resident Evil 4 inventory.”
“The textures, graphics, and item/weapon models look like they leapt straight out of RE4.”
“The visuals are pretty ugly; there's a single track that loops in the background, and that's all there is to this.”
“Re-related/inspired reused assets (lacks unique visuals).”
- replayability19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 26 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many players noting a lack of content and challenge after completing it, as achievements are easily obtainable and the puzzles do not offer enough variety for repeated play. Some users express a desire for additional stages, randomization, or custom puzzle options to enhance replay value. While a few players find potential in the game's mechanics for replayability, the consensus leans towards it being minimal, making it more suitable for a brief experience rather than long-term engagement.
“In addition, there are a few missable achievements that test what not to do when solving the puzzles, which adds to the replayability.”
“"Save Room" thrives on its replay value, as each encounter presents a new set of challenges.”
“I can imagine having custom puzzle packs would increase replayability a lot, and custom items, maybe custom cases/backgrounds to allow for more variety.”
“No replayability here since the achievements are so easy to get with no challenge.”
“There's no replayability as you have no reason to play it again after you've got all the achievements and your trading card drops unless you're really craving this kind of thing and you've forgotten the puzzle solutions.”
“100%'d the game in 1.2 hours, with not much room for replayability.”
- atmosphere18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Save Room" is widely praised for its immersive quality, effectively capturing the tension and tranquility associated with classic survival horror games like Resident Evil. Reviewers highlight the game's attention to detail in sound design and visual elements, creating a nostalgic and engaging environment that enhances the puzzle-solving experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both addictive and relaxing, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The developers of 'Save Room' have crafted an immersive atmosphere that complements the gameplay.”
“Nice atmosphere, really captures the vibe of that moment of tranquility when you've finally found a save point, but your heart rate is still up from the tension.”
“The attention to detail in the design and sound elements creates an atmosphere that truly encapsulates the essence of a secure haven.”
“Gets the atmosphere and feel just about exactly right.”
“It's surprisingly addictive and relaxing as you try to fit everything together like a puzzle, while soaking up a tranquil atmosphere.”
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a significant divide in opinions regarding the story aspect of the game. While some players appreciate the nostalgic horror elements reminiscent of the Resident Evil series, many criticize the lack of a coherent narrative, expressing a desire for more plot development and engaging storytelling. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game feels incomplete without a meaningful story, leaving players wanting more depth and context to enhance their experience.
“I like the Resident Evil games for their story, horror elements, and because of my childhood nostalgia.”
“Seriously, much more interesting things could be added here: there could be some kind of plot (even fragmented, flat, through text or radio conversations), the amount of available resources could depend on your decisions in previous days, etc.”
“I have to admit that it was hard to put this game down as I just wanted to complete one more mission... just one more... till I was done.”
“It's exactly what it looks like, no story or surprises.”
“There's no story in the game, so we're going straight to graphics.”
“No twists, no jokes, no amusing voice over, not a sentence of story, no new items, nothing.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a quirky blend of clever references, meme-inspired jokes, and amusing inventory management mechanics, which many players find entertaining. While some reviews suggest that the game could benefit from additional humorous levels, the overall consensus is that it offers a genuinely fun experience that stands out for its comedic elements. Players appreciate the lighthearted approach, making it an enjoyable diversion, especially for fans of the genre.
“It's funny that inventory management: the game™ became a real thing.”
“A good mix of actual puzzles, humor, and references.”
“Funny idea and a genuinely fun game that stands on its own.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a mixed reception regarding optimization in the game. While some players appreciate the rewarding nature of inventory and space optimization, others report performance issues that detract from the overall experience, suggesting a need for improvements in this area.
“Personally, I think puzzles that are open enough to have many solutions are interesting because you can then design around rewarding optimization.”
“Very short, but relaxing and kind of satisfying for anyone who enjoys inventory optimization.”
“No twitch flick skills or relying on idiot teammates... just you... and an attaché suitcase... and space optimization.”
“I can't believe I'm saying this for a puzzle game, but the performance is off.”
“Performance was somehow bad?!”
“Improve performance.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, with repetitive tasks that feel more like artificial time extenders than engaging gameplay. While some achievements are not considered grindy, the overall experience can become monotonous due to excessive key presses and the need for meticulous organization. Despite these drawbacks, the game retains some charm and is recommended for its thematic elements and low cost.
“Even if you are only looking to 100% the game and grab the achievements, the game is fun and the achievements are not grindy.”
“The grinding in this game feels rewarding, as each level up brings a real sense of progress and accomplishment.”
“I appreciate how the game balances grinding with engaging gameplay, making it enjoyable rather than tedious.”
“It gets tedious faster than you can say 'what are ya buying?'”
“So both of them make for tedious cleanup and artificial playtime extenders rather than being innovative requirements to clear a puzzle.”
“I don't know if this was a technical limitation imposed by the source of inspiration, but it became somewhat tedious having to press so many keys for what could have been done with a click and drag of the mouse.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the game has a charming aesthetic, it lacks significant emotional depth and impact. Players appreciate the engaging puzzles, but some express feelings of frustration or inadequacy, suggesting a mixed emotional experience overall.
“While the game itself is not that challenging, it is full of charm, and the 40 puzzles provided made me feel like the 30+ playthroughs of Resident Evil 4 spent quaking in the inventory menu were even more worth it.”
“This game made me feel dumb, thumbs up from rat.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players report a generally stable experience with minimal bugs or glitches, though some have encountered issues with item combinations and control mapping, particularly in the early levels.
“Can be a bit buggy when combining things, though. I had ammo double itself or the herbs combine but still had the yellow herb there.”
“The first levels were a little buggy for me, and this game desperately needs you to be able to map the controls... or at least use your mouse.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, as players feel it offers value through well-crafted puzzles and references, despite its short playtime and limited replayability, which prevents it from being seen as a mere cash grab.
“The game feels like a cash grab, with excessive microtransactions that detract from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind a paywall, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
“The monetization strategy is aggressive, pushing players to spend more to access content that should have been included in the base game.”