When faced with an intricate looking box, pretty much anyone will want to know what’s inside. The Room relies on this, presenting the player with a hugely complex safe, disguised as a box. Opening the box requires searching around the 3D exterior of the box looking for clues and objects that will help reveal the next clues and objects ad infinitum, or at least until the end of the game. Throughout, a spooky glass lens will sometimes provide a different perspective, showing the inside of the box, or a clue to another part of the puzzle. At first this might seem a shoehorned gimmick, but the way it is used to present certain puzzles, relying on moving around in the 3D space, is really well thought out and immersive.
Adding to the immersion is the level of detail. Graphical resolution is pushed hard with some beautiful and ornate patterns displayed on much of the box which may also form part of the puzzle. Parts open, fold out, expand and close in an elaborate way. It’s worth taking your time to soak up the atmosphere and the effort that must have been put in to raise the visual fidelity above that of most of the other games available on iOS, especially at this price point.
The puzzles are mostly straightforward, but will leave you scratching your head on many an occasion. Clues can be called upon if need be and I was never stuck for enough time for it to become frustrating. Some of it is purely a hidden object game in disguise, but with every single object being of vital importance to progression to find the next clue. The thrill then comes not so much from the sleuthing but from actually opening bits of the box. But unlike “Curiosity”, you’ll have a lot of fun along the way.
Normally, the length of a low priced handheld game is not an issue, but when it’s this good, the finish time arrives too soon. However, even if it had been days long, it’s possible the ending would still have been premature. Enjoy it while it lasts; don’t rush. Savour every moment. Grab it from iTunes. Note: At the time of publishing, Fireproof Games are working on a sequel.
Score: 8/10
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