Underground Blossom
- September 27, 2023
- Rusty Lake
- 5h median play time
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Get on Play Store"Underground Blossom" is a narrative-driven adventure game where you uncover the secrets of a mysterious underground world. As the character Mari, you'll explore, solve puzzles, and interact with quirky characters to unravel the truth behind a series of strange happenings. With its unique art style and intriguing storyline, "Underground Blossom" offers a captivating and immersive experience.
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PC
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Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features a captivating story that expands on the lore of the Rusty Lake universe, particularly focusing on Laura's life.
- Puzzles are engaging and well-designed, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly difficult.
- The game's atmosphere, music, and art style are consistently praised, enhancing the overall experience.
- Some players found the game to be shorter and easier compared to previous Rusty Lake titles, leading to a less challenging experience.
- A few puzzles and achievements require external knowledge or guides, which can detract from the gameplay experience.
- There are reports of minor bugs, including freezing and black screens, which can interrupt the flow of the game.
- story408 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Underground Blossom" is a compelling continuation of the Rusty Lake universe, focusing on Laura Vanderboom's life and intertwining with previous titles in the series. While the narrative is engaging and rich with detail, it may be confusing for newcomers, as understanding the full context requires familiarity with earlier games. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its depth, atmosphere, and connection to the broader lore, making it a strong addition to the franchise despite some critiques regarding its pacing and complexity.
“The story is engaging, slightly creepy, but really well done.”
“I love how each new installment adds a piece to the puzzle that is the story of Rusty Lake, and trying to figure out what's going on in the grand scheme and connect the dots between the games, all while enjoying the beautiful art, challenging (but not frustrating) puzzles and an inspiring, well-written soundtrack.”
“The story takes you through all of Laura's life stages, from the crib going to school to when she became an adult and met her boyfriend, Robert.”
“The story could be confusing; you must play the series' other games to understand it.”
“Story-wise, it's not that compelling and what is shown has already been revealed in White Door, Roots, and the Cube Escape titles; the overt voice acting comprises of bad mics and voice actors giving it a very unprofessional feel which breaks immersion.”
“But then the story starts to drift off in completely different directions, a couple more mysteries are added, and a couple of plot twists completely out of the blue later it ends without any plotline or mystery brought to a satisfactory ending.”
- music126 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in this installment of the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its haunting beauty, emotional depth, and significant improvements over previous titles. The soundtrack, featuring standout cello compositions, enhances the game's eerie atmosphere and complements its storytelling and puzzle design. Overall, players find the music to be a vital component of the immersive experience, often describing it as the best in the series.
“The music of these games really carries the experience.”
“The game's ingenious puzzles strike the perfect balance between challenge and satisfaction, complemented by an eerie atmosphere and hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.”
“Most puzzles are disappointingly easy and some of the music is badly encoded, but it's still enjoyable.”
“The excellent sound design definitely makes up for the lack of music during puzzle solving.”
“I specifically enjoyed the cello as the featured instrument of this game, which really makes the soundtrack stand out and captures the tragic tones of Laura's life well.”
- graphics68 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique and clean art style, which enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Many reviewers noted significant improvements in visual quality and character design compared to previous entries, while still maintaining the series' distinctive aesthetic. The combination of captivating visuals, emotive music, and engaging gameplay creates a memorable experience, although some critiques mentioned occasional low-quality elements in voice acting.
“The visuals are cleaner, there is more variety to new character designs, and the game takes on a totally new aesthetic for the Rusty Lake series.”
“Excellent artwork makes this point and click a joy to look at.”
“~typical low-quality visuals and voice acting for series”
“The graphics were, as always, stylish and evocative, and the voice acting really added to the experience, making more characters feel individual.”
“U can clearly see the improvement in both gameplay and graphics ever since Rusty Lake Hotel.”
- atmosphere62 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie, surreal quality, effectively blending haunting soundscapes and visuals that create a uniquely immersive experience. While some players feel it lacks the usual level of weirdness found in previous titles, many appreciate the intriguing storytelling and the balance between challenge and satisfaction in the puzzles. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as both beautiful and unsettling, making it a compelling addition to the Rusty Lake series.
“The game's ingenious puzzles strike the perfect balance between challenge and satisfaction, complemented by an eerie atmosphere and hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.”
“It's a wonderfully uncomfortable game with a beautiful atmosphere and environments that become increasingly more absurd.”
“As a fan of Rusty Lake, I am delighted to see that the developers managed to not only retain the immersive atmosphere that they created in the previous games, but also add new original, beautiful, and fun elements in their puzzles.”
“The idea of creating a game following Laura's life through the subway was neat, but it does not allow for the dramatic backgrounds and eerie atmospheres that other games have created.”
“The atmosphere is lacking something as well, with less of the usual weirdness. Yes, there are oddities like defecting babies, allergy-inducing escapades, and torture via paperclip, but everything feels a little tame compared to normal.”
“The atmosphere tries to be weird and creepy, but that will be hit-and-miss, especially once the voice acting comes into the picture.”
- gameplay54 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Underground Blossom" is praised for its engaging mechanics, intuitive design, and the addition of new puzzle elements that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of familiar interactions with fresh challenges, contributing to a satisfying and atmospheric adventure that maintains the series' signature visual style and storytelling depth. While some puzzles may require external help, the game offers extensive replay value and a polished experience, making it a worthy addition to the Rusty Lake franchise.
“Extensive gameplay with additional challenges offers replay value and depth.”
“The simple yet satisfying gameplay and surreal story is absolute gold.”
“The gameplay is probably the most polished in the series so far.”
“For some common (maybe even a little dull) player like me, who doesn't go for full achievements either, the actual gameplay lasts about 3 hours.”
“The usual mechanics are involved: click on things to 'activate' them, or to collect them, and figure out which tool is needed to open the next item.”
“☐ it's just gameplay.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as dark, quirky, and surreal, often eliciting wicked laughter through its clever puzzles and odd scenarios. Players appreciate the blend of psychological themes with comedic elements, noting that the game maintains a balance of spookiness and humor, reminiscent of shows like Twin Peaks. Overall, the humor enhances the experience, making it both enjoyable and memorable.
“This is a beautiful escape room game filled with deep psychological themes and dark humor.”
“Underground Blossom expands the world of surreal humor that Rusty Lake does so well.”
“The entire series is quirky, funny, emotional, creepy, and mysterious... very much in the spirit of Twin Peaks.”
- emotional14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its beautiful music and emotionally resonant themes, often evoking strong feelings such as love and grief. Players report being deeply moved, with some even crying at the end, highlighting the emotional depth and grounding of the story amidst its quirky and spooky elements. Overall, the combination of a touching narrative and enchanting scores creates a powerful emotional experience that enhances the gameplay.
“I cried a bit at the end of the game; the journey was well worth the wait.”
“The emotional core of this game is strong, as always accompanied by absolutely delightful and enchanting scores that truly sell the experience.”
“This one carries many of the same spooky themes, although I think this one was a little more emotionally grounded; a tale of grief and continuing with life after loss.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a mix of replayability, with some users noting extensive gameplay and additional challenges that enhance depth and provide achievements. However, others found that once completed, the replay value diminishes significantly, particularly for those who finish it quickly. Notably, the Rusty Lake series stands out for its replayable nature compared to typical puzzle games.
“Extensive gameplay with additional challenges offers replay value and depth.”
“It took me less than 3 hours to complete the game (second 'chapter' included), and the replayability is very low once you've completed it a first time.”
“A lot of puzzle games don't have replayability, but Rusty Lake games do.”
“In either case, there is replay value here as there are quite a few achievements and a couple of the puzzles had me going absolutely bonkers trying to find the solutions.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for being subpar, particularly during moving scenes, which can detract from immersion. Voice performances are noted to be stiff, further impacting the overall experience. While it still appeals to fans and newcomers, it falls short compared to previous titles in the series.
“While some challenges and voice performances could be improved, it remains a recommended experience for both Rusty Lake enthusiasts and newcomers.”
“Little bit unoptimized when something is moving on screen, train for example.”
“Compare this to masterpieces like Roots or Paradise, a clear drop in quality, also terribly optimized.”
“A little bit unoptimized when something is moving on screen, like the train for example.”
“Voice performances occasionally feel stiff, detracting from the overall immersion.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players encountering frequent bugs and screen freezes, particularly when navigating between puzzles or areas. However, many users appreciate the game's autosave feature, which mitigates the impact of these issues, allowing them to resume play without significant loss of progress. Overall, while stability concerns are noted, they are often seen as typical for a newly released title.
“Honestly, it is a fine game, but it is just way too buggy.”
“The only thing I really have to say about it is that (quite frequently), I navigate to a puzzle or side of the room, sometimes even different stations, and the screen goes black and freezes.”
“That doesn't really deter me from playing, mainly because it just came out, so glitches and bugs are to be expected.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious rather than challenging, often involving repetitive tasks like searching for specific items rather than engaging puzzles. While the grinding isn't as frustrating as pixel-hunting, it still detracts from the overall experience.
“Thankfully they aren't the 'hunt the pixel' kind, but they are still more tedious than challenging.”
“Unfortunately most of the puzzles in this part of the game are 'hunt the fish-shaped hole for the fish-shaped peg' sort, not so much challenging as simply tedious.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of this game is heavily intertwined with the broader Rusty Lake universe, requiring players to engage with multiple titles and external content to fully experience its challenges and achievements. This interconnected approach may limit accessibility for new players who are unfamiliar with the franchise's extensive lore and events.
“This isn’t a standalone game, but part 167 of the Rusty Lake universe, consisting of dozens of games, their website, and other fake websites, social network posts, ads, and live events. Solving the hidden challenges and earning the achievements requires, at best, having played a few of the other games, or at worst, knowing about a certain competition and its winners.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is enhanced by cleaner visuals and a greater variety of character designs, contributing to a fresh aesthetic for the Rusty Lake series.
