If you are anything like me, you picked up this Japanese indie title by
Circle Entertainment off the eShop because you are fans of 999: Nine
Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, and related escape games. Well, the
creators of this game are definitely fans too! However, you should set
your expectations carefully, because while both games are visual novel/
escape puzzle games, they have some major differences. First, this is not
a horror game. There's nothing really scary here at all. Second, there's
pretty much only one path to follow in this game. It is more of a visual
novel in the true sense of the term, which is to say, the plot is on
rails. That said, this is a really fun little point-and-click adventure
with some great characters. The folks who made it clearly loved 999
because there are many oblique references to that series. I would
recommend this game to people who are new to the genre of escape games,
as a way to dip their toes in the water, so to speak. I'd also recommend
it to fans of 999 and similar games as a fun diversion that is well worth
the five dollars. A final note about the translation: for a small game,
I thought the translation was pretty good! But there are certainly some
errors, both typos and obscure things that I can only assume were
originally puns in Japanese. Don't let it bother you, because it
certainly doesn't get in the way of the otherwise polished presentation
and game play!
There are four modes of play in this game: point-and-click, cut scenes,
conversations, and puzzles.
-- Point-and-click: You can use your stylus to tap on anything on the
screen. You'll usually get the option to "look" at something, and some-
times you will have the option to "use" it or do something else with it.
You can tap on the arrows to the side of the screen to move to other areas.
If you have an item equipped, you may get additional options to use the
item with whatever you are tapping. (See the Game Menu section below for
how to equip items.)
-- Cut scenes: Tap to advance the story. If you accidentally miss some-
thing, or want to review it again, you can press Y or select the Log,
located in the lower right corner during cut scenes. The log is also
available through the Game Menu.
-- Conversations: You will be given a number of conversation topics to
choose from. There are no real choices here, however. Tap on each
conversation topic until you have read them all, then end the conversation.
-- Puzzles: Puzzles in this game involve moving, sliding, and rotating
various things in order to move an object from one part of the screen to
the other. You will have a limited number of "moves" to complete your
task, but there is no time limit. See the description of the Safe Button
Puzzle below for more details.
Game Menu: The menu is located in the lower right hand corner during
point-and-click mode.
-- Talk: You can talk to other characters, even when the game doesn't
prompt you to have a conversation.
-- Examine: This menu feature is incredibly useful, as it lists every-
thing that is clickable in the area that you are presently in. Items
will appear as ??? until you click on them for the first time. Selecting
items from this list is just like clicking on those items.
-- Items: This is your inventory of items. By selecting an item and
pressing A (or the tool button in the lower right corner), you can equip
an item. Having an item equipped can give you more options when exploring
an area.
-- Travel: After you have discovered and explored several different areas,
you can use this button to travel quickly between them.
-- Hints: You can access hints for the game here. However, these hints
are only really useful for the point-and-click part of the adventure, not
the puzzles.
-- System: Save early, save often. Choosing Easy Mode in the Touch
Settings just means that the game will automatically choose a command when
you click on something and there is only one option (such as "look"). You
can also turn the tutorial on or off in this part of the menu.
You begin the game on board a cruise ship, the Idinaloq. You play as
Hitomi Akaneno, a young student who has been sent a mysterious letter.
Since this is a spoiler-free FAQ, I will not relate any details of the
story that are not necessary to understanding how to progress. By the way,
the name Idinaloq is taken from a fan-made Japanese shooting game. Maybe
some of the same folks worked on both games? Tell me if you can read
Japanese and find out!
-- Turn on the lights.
-- Find the vent in the bathroom.
-- Use the chair to climb up.
-- Move the ladder.
-- Search the bookcase for the card key.
-- Enter the locked room.
There is now a flashback to a few hours earlier. This flashback contains
only cutscenes and conversations. Talk to everyone you can, choosing every
topic. The game will then proceed back in the locked room.
-- Look under the sofa.
-- Find four small batteries.
-- Explore the locked room.
-- Replace the light switch.
The safe requires two things to open: the row of buttons hidden in the
drawer, and the passcode. To get the buttons, you will have to solve the
first sliding puzzle. Each puzzle has two parts: first use clairvoyance
to reveal the puzzle, then use telekinesis to operate it. When using
clairvoyance, make sure you reveal each movable object first, then the area
around it, then any connecting areas. You can start over at any time with
no penalty. The first puzzle, once revealed, looks like this:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
x [buttons] xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx [slider] x
x xxxxxxxx
x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
x x xxxxxx
x xxxxxxx [] <- switch xxxxxx
x [] xxxxxx
x [] [opening] xxxxxx
x [] [ ] xxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx [ ] xxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
When using telekinesis, you can either move objects or rotate them. You
have a limited number of actions to take, so you'll need to think ahead.
Some objects cannot be moved, only rotated, and some objects can only be
moved in a particular direction.
To solve this puzzle, first move the slider out of the way. Then rotate
the switch counterclockwise. Now you can move the button, but to get it to
the opening, you will have to move it, then rotate it to fit through the
narrow passage, and the move it again. When rotating objects, make certain
that there is plenty of space around them, or they will not rotate!
When you
solve the puzzle, you will get some ether, which increases the
maximum
number of times you can use clairvoyance and telekinesis. You
should now
have 10 uses of clairvoyance and 14 of telekinesis. Note that
the first
puzzle only required you to use telekinesis five times, but later
puzzles
will require more, so make sure you explore each area thoroughly to
pick up
any ether that might be around!
Now that you have the buttons, you can put them on the safe and enter the
password. The clue to the password is found on the calendar. Can't figure
it out? Scroll to the bottom of the FAQ for the answer.
Before leaving this room, use the Examine area of the menu to make sure you
have clicked on everything in the room. Find more ether on the bed!
-- Get ether from the sofa on the right.
-- Get ether from the painting upstairs.
-- Search under the bed upstairs.
-- Unscrew the ladder.
-- Get ether from the toilet.
-- Unscrew the duct.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
x x [] x
x x x [] <- switch x
x x[slider] [][] x
x x x x x x
x x xxxxxxx x x
x x xxxxxxx x[open]x
x[key] x x x[ ]x
xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The elements of this puzzle are the same sort that you've seen in the last
one. To solve it, perform the following steps:
-- Rotate the switch clockwise.
-- Move the slider right.
-- Move the key to the area to the left of the opening
(make sure you leave room to rotate it!).
-- Rotate the key.
-- Move the slider left.
-- Rotate the switch counter-clockwise.
-- Move the key to the opening.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
x x blue x[opening] x
x Z_ x pen x[ ] x
x O_ [] <- x x
x E_ [] x x
x N_ []xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx
x [] [ red pen ]x key->[]x
xxxxxxx[]xxxxxx xxxxx []x
x [] x x []x
x x x xxxx
xxxxx x x xxxx
xxxxx [ eraser ]xxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-- Move the eraser left.
-- Move the key out of the corner.
-- Rotate the key.
-- Move the key to area below the red pen.
-- Move the eraser right.
-- Move the blue pen down.
-- Move the red pen left.
-- Rotate the key.
-- Move the key to the opening.
Notice the letters in the upper left-hand side of the drawer? You will
need those for a password in the next section. If you are stuck, scroll
down to the bottom of this FAQ to find the answer!
There's a bit of a translation/writing problem in this section. Once you
finish taking with Misaki and use the computer, Merja says that she can now
open the entrance, but she can't do that yet. Instead, you can operate the
fountains in the pool area. Later, it says that you can access the Lost
and Found Office, but this appears to have been cut from the game? Most
importantly, there is information that is entirely missing here that you
need to figure out where to go next. That information is: talking to Merja
at this time lets you discover that she is very interested in computer
programming. Merja's suitcase is still upstairs in the suite... perhaps
she has something there that can help you with the computer?
-- Operate fountain #2.
-- Search the parasol.
-- Open the cover to the pipes.
-- Turn the red handle left.
-- Place the handle on the other pipe, and turn it right.
-- Examine the beach ball.
-- Look in the locker.
-- Unscrew the ladder.
-- Backtrack upstairs to the suite.
-- Climb back through the duct.
-- Search the suitcase.
-- Travel back to the pool.
-- Install the card reader.
-- Unlock the door to room 907.
-- Drain the bathtub.
-- Make a phone call (can't figure out the number? Scroll to the bottom
of the FAQ!)
-- Cut open the mattress.
-- Backtrack to the pool and open the suitcase.
-- Plug in the DVD player.
-- Backtrack to use the laptop.
-- Unscrew the wall speaker.
-- Unlock the door to room 908.
-- Attempt to comprehend strange Japanese puns translated into English...
Seriously, if anyone knows what the whole "fisher" thing is about,
lemme know, ok?
-- Look in the closet.
-- Get ether from bed.
-- Examine shampoo.
-- Get ether from bathtub.
-- Get ether from lightswitch.
-- Insert red and blue keys.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxx [slider] xxxxx
xxxxx xxxxx
xxxxx [switch] [switch] xxxxx
xxxxx xxxxx
xxxxx xxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [ ] xxxxx
x [ large ] [slider] x
x [switch] [switch] x
x [switch] [switch] [ ][switch]x
xxxxx [] [ ] x
xxxxx [] [ ] x
xxxxxxxxxxx[] xxxxx[ ] xx
xxxxxxxxxxx[large slider] xx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This puzzle is a bit different from the others we've encountered. There
are three large sliders; two are oddly shaped. The object is to manipulate
these sliders so that each of the five switches can be rotated. When all
five switches are vertical, the door will open.
-- Rotate the top right switch clockwise.
-- Move the top slider right.
-- Rotate the top left switch clockwise.
-- Rotate the bottom right switch counterclockwise.
-- Rotate the bottom middle switch counterclockwise.
-- Rotate the bottom left switch clockwise.
-- Move the bottom slider right.
-- Move the middle slider right.
-- Rotate the middle right switch counterclockwise.
-- Rotate the middle left switch clockwise.
-- Explore the area, including behind the front desk.
-- Get ether from trashcan.
-- Get ether from card reader.
-- Get the paper from the locked case.
This puzzle has the following elements, a clasp (shaped like a backwards
"C"), several sliders that move horizontally or vertically, and two small
switches. The objective is to move the clasp upwards.
-- Rotate the right-hand switch clockwise.
-- Move the right-hand vertical slider up.
-- Move the bottom horizontal slider right.
-- Rotate the left-hand switch counterclockwise.
-- Move the left-hand vertical slider down.
-- Move the top horizontal slider left.
-- Move the suitcase clasp up.
-- Use blacklight on lobby sign.
-- Backtrack to room 908.
-- Search painting.
-- Put bell on lobby desk.
-- Set ink cartridges in printer (check the chairs for the order!)
-- Print out coded paper.
-- Use one power cord to connect lamp, two to connect computer.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
x [sock] xxxxx [button]x
x [-et ] x x [switch] xxxxxxxxx
x [ ] x x [] x
x x x [] x
x x xxxxxxxxxxxxxx[ ] x
x [][slider] [] x[ ] slider x
xswitch[] [ ] x [] [ ] <-- x
x -->[] [ ] x [switch][ ] x
x [] [ ] x [ ] x
xxxxxxxxxx[ ] xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx[ ] <- slider xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-- Move the button past the L-shaped switch, into the corner.
-- Rotate the top L-shaped switch clockwise.
-- Move the button into the area on the right.
-- Move the right-hand vertical slider up.
-- Move the button to the bottom area.
-- Rotate the button L-shaped switch clockwise.
-- Move the horizontal slider right.
-- Move the left-hand vertical slider up.
-- Rotate the left-most switch counterclockwise.
-- Move the button to right below the socket, make sure there is room to
rotate it!
-- Rotate the button.
-- Move the button onto the socket.
-- Examine the computer.
-- Examine the mark on the floor.
-- Backtrack to the pool and get the swim ring (outside where the laptop is).
-- Place the swim ring on the mark on the floor.
-- Touch the symbols in order on the computer.
-- Update the key card.
-- Get ether from chair.
-- Remove panel from below thruster.
-- Get ether from monitor.
-- Cut the cloth using the knife.
-- Enter color code from panel.
-- Search helmets above lockers.
-- Get magnet from map.
-- Use magnet on compass.
-- Open locker.
-- Unscrew the steering wheel.
-- Turn the steering wheel using the appropriate sequence. Can't figure it
out? Check the password section at the end of the FAQ.
-- Look inside the black box.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
x[sd]x x x x
x[ ]x xxxxxx x
x[in]x x x x x
x xxxxxx x x x x
x x [ slider ] x
x xxxxx[ switch ]x x x
x x [] xxx x
x xxxxxxxxxx [] x x
x x xx x xxx
x x[ sd ] x [sd]x
x x[card] x [in]x
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx
xxxxx[ sd ] xxxxx
xxxxx[card] xxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In this puzzle, you'll have to install two SD cards into the ports (marked
here as "sd in").
-- Move the slider right.
-- Rotate the switch twice.
-- Move the top SD card into the open area near the upper left port.
-- Rotate the SD card counter-clockwise.
-- Rotate the switch counter-clockwise.
-- Move the bottom SD card below the switch.
-- Rotate the SD card counter-clockwise.
-- Move the SD card to above the switch.
-- Rotate the switch counter-clockwise.
-- Move the slider left.
-- Rotate the SD card clockwise.
-- Move the SD card into the lower right port.
-- Install the two keys in the keyboard.
-- Backtrack to lobby to read disk.
-- Upgrade key card.
-- Unlock drawer.
-- Insert lightbulbs into thruster.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
x [] <- long [] [ red ]x
x[green] xx[] switch [] [socket]x
x[socket]xx[] [ L-switch]x
xxxxxxxxxxx[] [ slider ] x
x[ slider ][] [] x
x [] [] x
x [ T-switch ] x
x [] x
x [] x
x x [ T-switch]x
x x [] [ blue ]x
x[light bulbs] x [] [socket]x
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This is a tricky puzzle, and a bit counter-intuitive. There are two
sliders and four switches: two T-shapes, one L-shape, and one long switch.
It looks easiest to install the blue lightbulb, and hardest to install the
green one, but you should install them in the following order: green, then
red, then blue.
-- Rotate the bottom T-shaped switch clockwise.
-- Move the green lightbulb to below the red socket, leaving room for
the right hand slider to fit above it.
-- Move the red lightbulb to just below the green lightbulb.
-- Move the left-hand slider down.
-- Move the right-hand slider right.
-- Rotate the middle T-shaped switch twice.
-- Move the green lightbulb just to the left of the red socket.
-- Rotate the long switch clockwise.
-- Move the green lightbulb into its socket.
-- Rotate the long switch counter-clockwise.
-- Move the right-hand slider left.
-- Rotate the L-shaped switch counter-clockwise.
-- Move the red lightbulb into its socket.
-- Rotate the middle T-switch twice.
-- Move the blue lightbulb to just below the red socket.
-- Rotate the bottom T-shaped switch clockwise.
-- Move the blue lightbulb into its socket.
-- Remove the key from the thruster. You will have to turn the numbered
knobs in a particular order. Not sure what? Scroll to the bottom of
the FAQ!
-- Insert key into computer.
-- Backtrack to the elevator.
That's it, you've reached the end of the game! I hope you enjoyed it as
much as I did. Clearly there is the possibility of a sequel, so maybe we
will see one on the eShop soon!
