To solve locked components/mini puzzles and gather further hints about the narrative, players must meticulously assemble fragmented clues from different rooms. The puzzles serve as motivation for players to thoroughly explore the intricacies of the house (see Image 4). Employing a point-and-click navigation system, players can interact with various objects, some of which are essential items like keys and picture clues (see Image 1), immediately exposing puzzles (like a combination lock from Image 2) that demand attention. A locked laundry machine with something inside teases players right from the start (Image 3).
The inventory system (Image 1) plays a crucial role in helping players to manage the objects they have collected throughout their journey. These items appear during zoomed-in views of particular puzzles or scenes, potentially serving as valuable hints. Furthermore, certain objects serve as a pure narrative element by providing narrative text that gives more context. Clicking on these objects triggers a music and ambiance change, accompanied by a cutscene featuring narrative text that reveals a memory fragment (see below). This narrative mechanic effectively allows players to question their purpose and identity within the game as they continue to interact with different objects/rooms, contributing to an embedded narrative.
As players strive to unravel the mystery of the laundry machine, they encounter a multitude of other puzzles, such as a locked door combination (Image 2). This particular puzzle requires players to piece together a picture obtained from different locations within the house (Image 1), highlighting the nonlinear puzzle-solving approach. Once the player has found both pieces of the picture, they can rotate it to reveal the final clue to the combination lock (Image 5). The combined fun of exploration and challenge adds to the enjoyment of the game. Players realize the need to continue exploring in search of additional clues, while simultaneously remembering the locations of these puzzles and the potential ways to solve them, such as the chessboard in the living room and the locked door.
By emphasizing exploration and deduction, NOX succeeds in delivering an experience that is not too easy nor hard for someone who’s looking for a good and satisfying challenge.
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Image 4 – Map resource keeps track of the rooms the player has encountered. This makes the game easier to keep track of as players encounter more and more unsolved puzzles.
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