fiftytwotwenty

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 16: Speed Puzzling:

1000 Piece

Beyond Amazing Spider-Man Puzzle

Created by Buffalo Games & Puzzles

Puzzle Classification: Jigsaw Puzzles

Price: ~ $12

Review:

So......

I definitely bit off more than I can chew and I really put myself at a disadvantage.

My table was/is too small (I was constantly drop pieces on the floor - and - wouldn't you know it - if the pieces landed upside down the practically blended into the floor) , I had/have no overhead lighting, and I started my puzzling too late in the week.

AND!

I opted out of having Tasty Tunes... I did this all in my head.

But in my defense a 1000 Piece puzzle is a big undertaking even in perfect conditions.

Reading articles here and there I have seen some stats stating a 1000 piece puzzle could possibly be completed in as low as 5 hours (last week it took me roughly 4 hours to complete a 500 piece puzzle) - and - another source said 1000 piece puzzles could take as long as 15 hours.

My personal challenge was to complete the entire Spider-Man puzzle in 10 hours.

Well... As time went on I just wanted beat 15 hours, so I set my cap at 14 hours.

14 Hours in I still had exactly 125 pieces to place.

I only managed to complete 87.5%

.

In short:

Did lose the challenge? Yes.

The last hour I was color checking pieces against the insert...it was getting down to the nitty-gritty:

Did I eat that entire Bag of Peanut M&M's?

Yes, gawd, yes...

Is it a complete loss?

No.

I got some moments of "zen" - and Hello - An Entire "SHARING SIZE" Bag of Peanut M&M's for my efforts - and in the grand scheme of it all I only 125 pieces left and I still won't mind wrapping it up - Who Knows?! Maybe I glue when it all said in down and hang it in my den?!

Heh?!

Give me a break I just "lost" 14(+) Hours of My Life - Don't I get to Mount My Kill Puzzle?!

Jk...jk...

End/Failure Time:

14hr00min24sec13ms

Items Not Included / Needed:

Large Clean Surface

Optional: Tasty Tunes

Personal Rating: 6/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 13/16

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 15: Speed Puzzling:

500 Pieces

Panoramic Marvel Comics Superheroes

Created by Buffalo Games & Puzzles

Puzzle Classification: Jigsaw Puzzles

Price: ~ $16 for entire box

Review:

So not much to report.

At first I was going to mix up all 4 puzzles and have that be my challenge, but immediately once I opened the box I knew that was an automatic no-go.

Why?

Well, I procrastinated doing my puzzle this week and I was short on time - AND - when I saw how small these puzzle pieces were I knew I was in for a world of hurt.

I would say the puzzle piece were between the size of a nickel or a quarter - and side note - I have some of the worst finger dexterity in the world and it would have boiled my blood sifting through 5 different sets of puzzles.

Like last week, to chill my nerves, I put on some tasty tunes and plugged away.

And I got say - this was way more difficult - difficulty was increased due to the small pieces, increase quantity if pieces, and "pop art" styling.

There were multiple times where massive sections created but I could see/recognized that they needed to be connected to another large section - a lot of time was wasted looking for pieces that didn't exist.

As well, I connected incorrect pieces together without an clue I was making mistakes.

With multiple areas containing no distinct identifiers or colors I manage to weave together a image. It wasn't until the last 20 pieces or so I realized my issue when my edges were "fully completed" but still had 2 edge pieces left out of the puzzle.

In short:

It was less fun than when I mixed the puzzles together - and it all came down to size of the pieces and art.

But...

Is it about having fun or the challenge?

Can't I have both?

I think next week (if I get my ducks in a row) I try to kick my jigsaw puzzle game up a notch.

Total Completion Time:

4hr01min33sec94ms

Items Not Included / Needed:

Large Clean Surface

Optional: Tasty Tunes

Personal Rating: 5/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 13/15

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 14: Mixed Puzzles - Speed Puzzling:

Four - 100 Piece

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Jigsaw Puzzles

Created by Spin Master Puzzles

Puzzle Classification: Jigsaw Puzzles

Price: ~ $9 per "Egg" in stores

Prices online are wildly different

(All four puzzles were gifted to me - Mikey and Donnie puzzles were "used" - Raph and Leo puzzles were brand new/never been open)

Review/Commentary:

First off - I am by no means an expert/competitive puzzler, but I do enjoy doing puzzles.

"Fun" Fact:

A Dissectologist is a term to describe a person who enjoys puzzles - a puzzle enthusiast. The term derives from the "original" name for jigsaw puzzles - supposedly in the late 1700's early versions of puzzles were referred to as "Dissected Maps". Currently you wont find "Dissectologist" defined in any dictionary as the term is currently under review even though the word has been reportedly used since the mid 1980's.

"Fun" Fact over... Anywhosel...

I told friends that my weekly challenge for myself this year would be solving puzzles - so - I had few friends donate puzzles to the cause.

Enter these (4) Teenage Muntant Ninja Turtle Puzzles - I have a soft spot for Ninja Turtles - a well known fact amongst my friends. I have been a huge fan since I was a little tyke and I kinda still am - I really enjoyed Muntant Mayhem. So, mixing my passion for Turtles and Puzzles felt like a no brainer.

One interesting thing - well, interesting to me - I have been doing puzzles for years - but - just recently it was brought to my attention that some hardcore/avid puzzle enthusiasts will challenge themselves by mixing multiple puzzles together. It has never dawn on me, but to be fair I don't think I have ever owned multiple puzzles of the same "caliber and difficulty" level in order to mix them up.

With these four puzzles being donated to me I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to dip my toes into the Wild World of Dissectology.

Now - Granted - upon reviewing all the puzzles at the same time they are uniquely different - they have vastly/starkly different backgrounds and font styles and of course if you vaguely know anything about TMNT you know each Turtles brand of color and weapon - so separating the pieces was not all that difficult.

Also, the there was only 100 puzzle pieces per puzzle - 400 total - not too bad, normally when I do puzzles I am doing 500-1000 piece puzzles.

Where it became "challenging" is the puzzles didn't fit the conventional square/rectangular shape - the edges where fluid and fit the form of the Turtles' poses.

All the turtles belts, shells, green skin blended together. Unless there was something distinct to separate all the pieces I pretty much had to make fifth pile just for undetermined pieces.

With a portion of the puzzles being "used" I was without image references for two of the puzzles (Mikey and Donnie) - so - for added challenge - I decided to do all the puzzles without reference images.

Even further I was having issues distinguishing between between Raph and Mikeys red and orange (respectively) elbow/knee pads. Not sure if it is due to the art style or if I suffer from some sort of minute color blindness.

And another bit that added to the "fun" - I put on some tasty tunes.

Yep, popped on the headphones, settled into my "This Magic Moment" Pandora radio station, and melted into the pieces.

It was very chill and helped me reach some zen I haven't had in a while. It has been a long time since I was able to sit down with no interruptions and just focus on a "simple" task without worry.

Diving In - I did have a plan of attack.

Assembly the puzzles based on my Least Favorite Turtle to My Favorite... JK.

No, I my plan was to start off by attacking the most identifiable pieces/character to help clear up the table and that just so happened to be Leo.

Leo's heavy hues of blue stood out immediately and were the easiest to separate followed by Donnie - again - the Reds/Orange pieces were touch my for my eyes.

The order of attack ended being - Leo, Raph, Donnie, Mikey - BUT - the actual order which they were completed (100% finalized) was Donnie, Mikey, Raph, Leo.

In Summation:

It was fun, relaxing, and refreshing to work up some puzzles instead doing another tabletop escape room like I have been doing for last month or more.

If trying mixing the puzzles - Inthink I would take it to the next level - more pieces or puzzles and similar theme/color palette.

So what will the next puzzle/theme?

Tune in Next Week!

... My One Follower...

or Dont!

Like I said it just gonna be me talking about puzzles and to be honest - believe you me - I am surprised at the amout of syllables I spewed out on the stagnant subject matter of Dissectology.

Check you later.

Total Completion Time:

2hr50min09sec15ms

Sorting Time: 12mins18sec82ms

Leo's Time: 36min38sec18ms

Raph's Time: 45min35sec50ms

Donnie's Time: 48min16sec59ms

Mikey's Time: 27min20sec04ms

Average Puzzle Time: ~39min27sec

Hints /Clues Used (0)

Items Not Included / Needed:

Large Clean Surface

Optional: Tasty Tunes

Personal Rating: 7.5/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 12/14

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 13: Escape Room The Game:

The Dentist

Created by Spin Master

Puzzle Classification: Tabletop Escape Room

Creator's Prescribed Difficulty: 4/5

Price:

Entire Box Set Anywhere from ~ $28-$50 depending on where you buy it-

Did find Individual Room Going for ~ $20

(Box Set was gifted to me years ago)

Review:

This is my fourth Escape Room The Game Scenario - and I gotta say - this is the best one I have done so far.

The Mechanics and Game Pieces were kind of cool.

The quality of the game materials was excellent - even the paper puzzle pieces/materials which were purposefully made to be transparent - I was worried they would be uber-flimsy and a pain to manipulate - but no - their purpose within the game was used beautifully.

All the other pieces were made of great durable quality.

The difficulty level was also prescribed to be higher than the previous room, Secret Agent, but I found this one to be a easier and in my opinion I think it's all due to the puzzles being hyper focused on "teeth" or a singular activity. The last/past couple Escape Room tabletop scenarios had multiple mini puzzles within a round that had to be solved to find just an individual key.

Again, even though I found "The Dentist" to be "more simple" - I still really enjoyed it.

Completion Time:

52min31sec86ms

Hints/Clues Used: (2)

Items Not Included / Needed:

Pen & Paper

Decoder (if you bought story separately)

(3) AAA Batteries

Personal Rating: 7/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 11/13

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 12: Escape Room The Game:

Secret Agent:

Operation Zekestan

Created by Spin Master

Puzzle Classification: Tabletop Escape Room

Creator's Prescribed Difficulty: 3/5

Price:

Entire Box Set Anywhere from ~ $28-$50 depending on where you buy it-

Did find Individual Room Going for ~ $11

(Box Set was gifted to me years ago)

Review:

Going in... I did not have high hopes due to my past interactions with the Junkmanji Escape Room Game.

But...

This was one was immediately different.

It wasn't until the very end that I discovered that the two Escape Rooms were created by different groups (Cardinal Games vs Spin Master)

There still was some required "set up" with each folder you opened, but it was minimal, simple, and NOT Time Consuming (did hear that Cardinal Games/Junkmanji!) - yet - still using perforated paper... but is my mind playing tricks on me??? Is the paper more durable?? Thicker?

Yes.

It "felt" like it was of better quality and... it was easier to work with.

Also another Vast Improvement compared to Junkmanji -

The Decoder actually Works!

Lordy, Yaas!

Even though gameplay went rather smooth there still some hang ups... but... I may have provide spoilers so I can properly complain.

So,

****SPOILERS****

.

.

Okay,

Nowhere in the game or setup did it state that I needed a Graphite Pencil or Crayon... but... the very first puzzle out of the gate requires one to solve the puzzle... I was able to find one in time and I understood what was needed to be done, but the quality of the "pieces" did not allow for the clue/answer to be revealed.... and I mean, literally revealed.

I had to resort to hitting the puzzle pieces at certain angle with a flash light to gain some traction.

The only other issue I had... one Major Linchpin Puzzle was a Magic Eye Puzzle with no context of what you are supposed to see.

Never in My LIFE! have I solved an Effing Magic Eye puzzle.

NEEEVV-EEEEER!

I had scramble through hint cards due to my ocular perception.

Made me slightly pissed...

Maybe a little more than slightly pissed since I am still stewing.

Anywhosel

.

.

*** Spoiler Done ***

Now, with my main gripes over - I did love some of the riddles/codes which had to be solved. I thought there were some very clever moments.

The perfect amout of challenging that made it fun - stretched you - but also didn't make you pull out your hair.

I wish I would have played with a friend or a group - not only would my completion time have been better - but the experience would have been great to share.

In short - this Escape Room The Game story has given me a little more faith in these types of escape rooms, but it is not flawless.

Completion Time:

58min18sec97ms

Hints/Clues Used: (1)

Items Not Included / Needed:

Pencil & Paper

(3) AAA Batteries

Decoder (if you bought story separately)

Personal Rating: 6.5/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 10/12

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 11: Unlock!:

The Nautilus' Traps

Created by Space Cowboys

Puzzle Classification: Tabletop Escape Room

Price: ~ $29.99 for Entire Box - ~$10 per Deck (Purchased Locally)

Review:

Keeping this short, sweet, and to the point...

The Nautilus' Traps kick my ass and I still enjoyed it!

That's right, I (and my best friend) "died" in the escape room based on the time constraints laid out in the game, but we were still able to finish with the use of multiple hints and guidance from games mobile app.

What was our downfall?

We "missed" a card or "unknowingly" grabbed the incorrect card - not totally certain.

At one point we had multiple cards layout in front of us - I would say close 15 - and in that convoluted mess - we missed a crucial card/took a misstep that derailed us from the straight and narrow - but - due to the flub we somehow we still inadvertently advanced throughout the game.

My curious nature forced me to play through a second time and within minutes saw the path that should have been taken. I continued playing even though I knew the gist of how to solve most of the puzzles but still found enjoyment as I was uncovering puzzles that were missed during the first go-around.

Sadly to say, I still got hung up on some "locks" and had to use the aid of hints to move forward.

So, I guess one of my first negative reports on the Unlock! Games, at least this one - it is possible for a error to go unpunished or unnoticed and the players would be none-the-wiser.

My second knock would be the hints provided on the mobile app - sometimes they are not what you are looking for - sometimes you already understand the objective, but maybe you are not manipulating the materials correctly and all you want is another small hint - but instead - you are faced with Two Options:

A Useless Hint which tells you information you already know

or

Be forced in seeing/ hearing the Solution that you dont want (yet)

Again,

I still love the game - The Story is Cool, The Art is Cool (maybe a little hard to decipher at times) - I just wish there was a way to get a very specific hint with out getting spoon feed the answer.

So...

I still highly recommend this game and this specific deck - BUT - definitely don't make this your introduction to Unlock!

* First Playthrough *

* Second Playthrough *

Completion Time:

81min46sec91ms

Hints/Clues Used: (7)

Items Not Included / Needed:

Unlock! App (Free Download) + Device

Pen & Paper

Personal Rating: 7/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 9/11

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 10: Unlock!:

The House on the Hill

Created by Space Cowboys

Puzzle Classification: Tabletop Escape Room

Price: ~ $29.99 (Purchased Locally)

Review:

This escape room game/series came highly recommended by a friend... and after playing through the first deck/story - I must say - I need to listen to my friend more often.

The game and setup are very simple, but Unlock! packed a bunch of thrills.

There is a lot to enjoy:

The Art

The Creative Mechanics

Well Balanced Contrast of Simplicity and Complexity in Production Value

Storyline

I will say - it did take some getting used to, but once you get start burning and turning cards it picks up fast.

The other thing I absolutely loved - Nothing had to be created or destroyed.

I was able to play through the game and repackage it - sure - there is no replay value once you solve the puzzles - but - it can certainly be passed along and shared (... unlike the last piece of crud I wallowed through, *cough* *cough* Escape Room The Game - *cough* You Overpriced Piece of *Cough*)

One Extra Note!

This was my first Puzzle / Escape Room this year that I completed/shared with a friend.

I really enjoyed the camaraderie - I think they did too. The whole experience made me want tackle all my future puzzles with a buddy.

In short:

Based off this one game - I would highly recommend this Escape Room experience. Unique, fun, clean, and simple - and - perfect bonding experience.

Completion Time:

51min35sec26ms

Hints/Clues Used: (3)

Items Not Included / Needed:

Unlock! App (Free Download) + Device

Pen & Paper? (Barely Used Ours)

Personal Rating: 8.5/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 9/10

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 9: Escape Room The Game: Jumanji

(Levels 4 - 6)

Created by Cardinal Games

Puzzle Classification: Tabletop Escape Room

Price: ~ $35 (Gifted back 2019/2020)

Review:

I am downtrodden.

After playing Part One of this box, I by no means thought Part Duex would salvage any respect.

Everything I hated from Part One carried over:

Poor Quality - Flimsy Paper and Janky Puzzle Materials (this time around there were literal puzzle pieces even)

An Asinine amount mid game set up

Ill thought out steps/actions

One of the only redeeming factor was the decoder actually worked this go around.... But... then I realized.... That one of the high points of this entire game... is the decoder worked... as advertised... as it should - Wow-Wee-Bahba

I rescind my previous statement about the decoder - There is NO redeeming factors.

Ugh.

The set up sucks - roughly 24 minutes was used folding/tearing along perforated lines, the quality is abysmal - warped puzzle pieces and a lot of the paper was damaged upon set up, I have no faith in the decoder, and it's a one time play through game - not meant to play again - and for the cost of the turd nugget and lack of enjoyment it provided I can not in good consciousness recommend this game to any one based on "the amount joy" it brings.

I dont think I can recommend Cardinal Games period.

This game was such utter crap that it broke my streak on not using hints - and - according to the game's rules/story, I did not meet the completion time (I over shot by almost 25 mins) - so I am taking the "L" on this one.

Even if I had 2 other teammates (the minimum recommendation of players) helping out - I still think we would not have completed due to the amount in game/mid game set up and assembly.

I am bummed - not just because this was utter loss, but I have another 3 Part Escape Room Game Box from Cardinal Games I have to play through and I have no faith in the product and no enthusiasm to attempt.

Completion Time:

1hr24min25sec57ms

Hints/Clues Used: (3)

Items Not Included / Needed:

(3) AA Batteries for Decoder

Flashlight

Personal Rating: 1/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 8/9

* Straight Up Trash *

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 8: Escape the Room: Jumanji

(Levels 0 - 3)

Created by Cardinal Games

Puzzle Classification: Tabletop Escape Room

Price: ~ $35 (Gifted back 2019/2020)

Review:

Straight Up - Got to clear the air - I had a defective decoder and did not discover this to large issue until my very last code entry (I completed 2 codes/key entries previously - got the "trumpet" sound and everything)... needless to say - this had a massive negative impact on my enjoyment.

We'll circle back to the busted decoder and talk about other aspects...

The Box is broken into 2 or 3 puzzles however you look at it:

Room/Level 0

Drumming Closet - An introduction to Escape the Room gameplay.

Storyline: Search your friend, Jesse's room, and discover what happened to them before the cops kick you out of the crime scene.

15 Minute Solve Time

Room/Level(s) 1 through 3

Search for Jesse - More advanced than Level 0/Introduction. Contains multiple "props" and reveals that are tiered out into 3 levels.

Storyline: You are now inside Jumanji and your friend, Jesse, has been bitten/poisoned by a snake. You have to find an antidote AND Jesse before it is too late.

60 Minute Solve Time.

Additional Notes:

*Recommended for 3-5 Players - Ages 10 and Up *

** There is a 3rd Storyline (Levels 4-6) - but I am saving that for a later date **

*** For ever Incorrect Key Code submission you are penalized 1 Minute. ***

So,

I started with the recommended Level 0 to warm myself up - I done/completed an Escape the Room box set - from the same creators/manufacturers - but it has been a while. I thought this would be a fun little exercise, but this is where I encountered the first issue.

The intro was rather easy and within 10-11 minutes I had the solution (a sequence of 4 keys), but when I submitted to into the decoder I got error messages (aka irritating buzzing). The intro was soooo simple there was no way I thought I could be wrong. So, I checked with Escape the Room's website and..... I WAS right! The decoder was acting up.

I tried resubmitting - turning the decoder on/off again - entering the exact sequence from the internet answer key - and - not once did a get a triumphant sound...

So,

Strike 1

Even though there was a slight setback I continued with the next packet (Levels 1-3).

I reset the decoder for 60 minutes and cracked my first packet, Level 1.

I cruised through it - well as fast as a single person solving multiple mini puzzles could do by themselves - I put in my keys and.... I received a Triumphant Trumpet Sound!

IT WORKED!

I moved onto the second packet, Level 2. Again moving as fast as I can - the only thing slowing me down is the dexterity of my fingers trying to work the flimsy paper... but still I trudged forward. I entered my solution into the decoder to advance and....

IT WORKED - Another Triumphant Trumpet Sound!

Yes!

I totally forgot all about issues I encountered with introductory level - I charged full steam ahead and taking a quick glance at my timer I had roughly had 25 minutes left - plenty of time, right?

Well... I would say a good 5 minutes was eaten up by my hands/fingers having to handle tearing along folds/perforated lines. A mixture of nerves, anxiety, and frustration starts kicking in and the "puzzle" pieces were getting ruined as they couldn't/wouldn't hold up.

Why the heck am I having to disassemble these pieces! I am breaking down/tearing over 20 tiny pieces of paper - all set up - not one actual problem solving skill taking place.

Then it dawns on me - in that moment - how truly cheap the Escape Room's production and quality really is (- especially compared to NPH's Box One I did back in January).

Strike 2

I have roughly 13 minutes left according to the decoder (I've been working for about 42 minutes according to my personal timer (time discrepancy is due to incorrect key entries/minute penalties)).

I feel good about myself - even being short the recommended players and battling horrid finger dexterity and janky paper "tools" I am about to Reign Supreme...

I enter my key sequence - I double check my work - I am cool - I am confident - and.....

WRONG!

WHAT!

I backtrack - I reconfigure my pieces/keys in the decoder... Wrong!

I start from scratch... I come to the same conclusions...

Maybe I try the keys in different orders ?!

Wrong.

Wrong!

WRONG!

Due to penalties of wrong answers my 60 minutes are up... I failed the story... I... but I keep working to solve it. I need closure.

Another entire hour goes by - I've been working on this close to 2 hours in total.

I give up - I go to Escape the Rooms website - find their walkthrough/answer key.

GUESS WHAT!

I got it right - the first time!

The Decoder Crapped Out!

Reading reviews one user discovered if you think the decoder is giving issues - you should shut it off and turn it back on. I did that as an experiment... and voila - My Third Triumphant Trumpet Sound... a little too late to lift my spirits... my soul is broken just like this piece of junk escape room in a box.

Strike 3

In Short:

Poor Quality of Puzzle Material

Sad Production Value

Unreliable Mechanics

No real wow factor - but to be fair this is geared towards teenage audiences

The Puzzles are simple enough to solve by yourself - but - the busy work and mid game setup/builds does eat up valuable time - hence why I would recommend playing with friends... ya know, divide and conquer - especially if you want to beat the clock in a reasonable/record time.

Tune In Next Week... Where I sadly continue with Part Duex of the Junkmanji Turd Box.

Completion Time:

Level 0: 10min45sec40ms

Level 1-3: ~42min25sec40ms

Hints/Clues Used: Zero

Items Not Included / Needed:

(3) AA Batteries for Decoder

Scissors

Personal Rating: 3/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 8/8

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 7:

I Expect You To Die 3

Cog in the Machine

Created by Schell Games

Puzzle Classification: Digital Escape Room; VR Escape Room

Price: $24.99 (I purchased the "I Expect You To Die Bundle, 3 Games, making each individual game ~ $20.83 before tax)

Review:

First, a Quick Recap:

I Expect You To Die (Original Game)

Fun, Genius, Exhilarating... Something I've always wanted in game/escape room but never knew existed... until now. Highly recommend - Loved It!

I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy & The Liar

In my opinion... I a step down from the original. Bogged down by long winded story and art style/digital settings brought down the experience. Despite the negative comments, still worth a playthrough. Good but not great.

Now...

The Third Installment...

Was Awesome!

As I write, I am floored and still hopped-up on giddiness from the gameplay.

The Setting, The Story, The Art Production, The Surprises.... Magnificent... Vibrant.

It doubled down on everything I loved from the past 2 games, totally avoided my described pitfalls of the second installment, and just delivered.

After playing 3 different renditions of I Expect You To Die games - I died the least in this game compared to then other two (12 times total - which stinks because the deaths can be fun AND rewarding) - and - I also took the longest amount of time to complete my missions (averaging 80 minutes per mission - the long levels were a major gripe from IEYTD2), but this go-around - it was NO torture. The rooms kept me engaged.

No spoilers or anything - but everything was bigger, Badder, BOSSIER!

I got to say. This is the Best out of the three.

I highly intend to circle back and playthrough again and pick up on miss souvenirs and achievements.

*photos/screenshots courtesy of Schell Games/I Expect You To Die*

Completion Time: 8hr01min43sec91ms

Hints/Clues Used: Zero

Items Not Included / Needed:

Nothing Once Downloaded

Personal Rating: 9.5/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 7/7

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 6:

I Expect You To Die 2

The Spy And The Liar

Created by Schell Games

Puzzle Classification: Digital Escape Room; VR Escape Room

Price: $24.99 (I purchased the "I Expect You To Die Bundle, 3 Games, making each individual game ~ $20.83 before tax)

Review:

That's Right! I am already back with the EOD and I'm cleaning up Zoraxis Scum.

And Well...

The First Installment of I Expect You To Die lives forever on a pedestal. I still gush over the game and the story. Even after beating the game - I still go back and play around to unearth little nuggets that I missed.

When it came to the sequel... I personally felt a little let down but it's still... The Game is Pizza - Yep, It's Pizza, ya know - even though it's kinda bad its still kinda good.

Things I Liked:

The Storyline. For the Main Character and the Villain

There were some very cool game mechanics. I would love to mention them but I also don't want to spoil anything.

The Art Style and Time Period/Setting

Things I Didn't Like:

This being a stationary game - not just you the player, but your in-game character is stationary as well - I thought it was difficult to see items and objects which where meant to be interacted with - they felt oddly far away. I constantly caught myself squinting inside my VR headset and saying... "Is that something?"

I also didnt care for the dark backgrounds/lighting - I understand it provides ambiance, but again made things difficult to find. Most of delays in solving were based on me literally not being able to see something.

I also felt during certain puzzles a lot of problem solving heavily relied on the narrator's directions - listening for step-by-step instructions - rather than figuring out the sequences yourself based on clues and your own logical reasoning.

Some parts got to be really long winded especially when it came to the "subcontracted" voice acting.

Some other odd things to note - I was hyper aware of how many times I died/failed a mission this go around - and truthfully - it really wasn't all that much compared to the first game - maybe 2-3 times tops per level - about 12-15 per the whole game. This sounds like a good thing, right? Actually - it took some of fun out of the game. I found myself hoping I would just die so I could discover something - I was averaging 18 mins on level completions.

Alas, even though my Cons outnumber my Pros - I just love the concept of this game and I still look forward to playing the 3rd Installment.

*photos/screenshots courtesy of Schell Games/I Expect You To Die*

Completion Time: 4hr59min01sec42ms

Hints/Clues Used: Zero

Items Not Included / Needed:

Nothing Once Downloaded

Personal Rating: 7/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 6/6

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 5: ClueBox: Davy Jones' Locker

Created by IDVenture

Puzzle Classification: Puzzle Box

Price: ~$50 (I was gifted this puzzle)

Review:

I don't know why but I was overly intimidated by this puzzle - completely fearful of failure - so much so that I shelved this puzzle for almost 3 years.

Why was I intimidated? I don't know - maybe because of the laser cut wood? Maybe because the price tag and the suggested age limit? Maybe... because it was manufactured by Zaaay Germans?

But cutting to chase - there was nothing to be afraid of - I completed the puzzle in one sitting and within the "listed completion time" ... and upon completion I felt this... bittersweet feeling:

Yeah, I ran through this "escape cube", but "that was it"?!

I was expecting more.

Plus, the macguffin found at the end (or in the center of the cube) was just a card to a website... With A Broken Link!

Don't get me wrong the craftsmanship is stellar.

It being a puzzle made out of wood you would think it be dinky or the mechanisms would be clunky - but - it was sturdy and very smooth upon handling. I will say there were multiple moments during the unlocking of this puzzle where I just sat back, took a beat to take in the contraption - I honestly could cut a handful of minutes off my completion time if I wasn't sooo enamored.

Another thing I liked about this box - there is no chance or dumb luck in solving it. Everything has a logical, step by step solution to solving it. I've done other escape rooms where I inadvertently solve a lock by pure haphazardness.... but not this ClueBox.

So, in short:

This was a fun burst of tinkering, but in my opinion, it just a "burst" and not a full on experience - a "burst" I have a hard time justifying paying upwards to $50 - you are essentially paying for a highly stylized piggy bank.

Completion Time: 1hr22min20sec49ms

*If you count reassembling *

Reassembled in: 5min19sec55ms

Total Time: 1hr27min40sec05ms

Hints/Clues Used: Zero

Items Not Included / Needed:

Not Necessary, but I found a Pen & Paper to be handy

Personal Rating: 6/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 5/5

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 4:

I Expect You To Die

Created by Schell Games

Puzzle Classification: Digital Escape Room; VR Escape Room

Price: $24.99 (I purchased the "I Expect You To Die Bundle, 3 Games, making each individual game ~ $20.83 before tax)

Review:

I discovered this game via a late night scrolling search through the Meta Quest App Library - obviously the catchy title lured me in.

Based off a one time viewing of a game trailer and reading NO reviews, I took a gamble and purchased not only I Expect You To Die, but I also purchased the 2nd and 3rd counterparts/follow ups - Yep- I spent over $60 on three puzzle games.

And, Boy-Howdy, It was well worth it.

I loved this experience.

It's James Bond meets a comical version of Edge of Tomorrow (or a comical (less gory) version of Happy Death Day).

I also admired the unique concept of the "escape room" where your (constant) failures helped you progress through "the room".

I thought the stages were the right amount of challenging, but not too hard where the scenarios sparked aggravation.

If you do plan to play this game - I highly suggest playing this game utilizing your own wits and merit - this game is a few years old so it could be very tempting to find a forum or thread with guidance and walkthroughs , but trust me, if you just sit (or just blow yourself up enough times) solutions will come to you and the gratification of escaping with no assistance will be pure exhilaration.

And as I said earlier, your failures are a good thing as they help you progress throughout the game - but - they also provide a unique bit of humor as well.

I may still be in the honeymoon phase of this game - I found the format of I Expect You To Die infiltrating my dreams, no joke.

I cannot find a single gripe about the game. After completing the all the stages - I even found myself going back and revisiting all the missions so I could complete/collect each achievement/souvenir - and - upon revisiting I also discovered there are sooooo many different ways to go about completing a mission - sure, there is the same end goal, but there's definitely more than one way to skin a Zoraxis Henchman.

If I did have any negative statement... I wish there was more... and this just me being greedy.

I think if you buy just the first installment of this game series - even at full price - you will definitely get the bang for your buck.

I am currently holding off playing I Expect You To Die 2 and I Expect You To Die 3 so I can drag out the enjoyment of the game... I don't want to... uh... blow my wad too soon... lordy, there's gotta be a more eloquent way to say that.

*photos/screenshots courtesy of Schell Games/I Expect You To Die*

Completion Time: 5hr17min42sec53ms

Hints/Clues Used: Zero

Items Not Included / Needed:

Nothing Once Downloaded

Personal Rating: 9/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 4/4

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 3: Murder Most Puzzling

Created by Stephanie Von Reiswitz

Puzzle Classification: Logical/Deductive Reasoning; Lateral Thinking; Murder Mystery

Price: ~ $14 (Book was gifted to me)

Review:

I will reiterate and paraphrase what I heard/read from every single review on this book...

The artwork is stunning...

BUT

I think the artwork is also the downfall of this book as well.

The art style is very enticing and with the added twist of a murder mystery it absolutely captures your eyes, but there were multiple times I was unable to truly decipher what I was seeing - even when I went through the book a second time and after reading the clues, the solutions, and finally circling back... I was still at a miss.

Going through this book I really wish I had second set of eyes or buddy to confer with beacuse there were multiple moments where I called BS... I tried to stay level headed and not judge the solutions or rulings to harshly - especially since I didn't have author/artist handy to defend themselves - I mean, there very well could have been something I missed - something that sneaked by - or a pattern I couldn't solve... aka I'm not a MENSA member, but lordy.... some puzzles really pissed me off.

Either I believe I found a clerical mistake - or - a solution was so haphazard I couldn't agree.

There were other moments where I was fact checking my answers with the back of the book and they didn't answer the question or directive set for the mystery.

I tried finding a forum where to discuss solutions - it was very hit or miss as people did not want to divulge spoilers, but reading some sporadic reviews I did find some vindication where others have felt my plight.

It's kind of hard to guage if you "successfully completed" the entirety of puzzles/mysteries.

Yes, this book contains 20 separate Murder Puzzles, but each puzzle, in my opinion, does not have a clear answer.

So, upon re-review (and re-review) of the scenarios I would say there is roughly 52 things you need to find and/or solve as a reader.

Out of those 52 - I found 46 solutions/clues.

That's 88.46% - a solid B+

Additional Stats:

Shortest Solve Time: 2m30s08ms

Longest Solve Time: 1hr22m54s49ms

Average Solve Time: 18m48s

In summation...

I enjoyed the the idea and concept of the book, but it definitely could be tightened up a bit. I wouldn't want to move away from the artwork/style even though it has flaws, but clues/items need to be more universal. I would still recommend this to friend as a fun, light activity, but warn not to take the sleuthing to seriously.

Completion Time: 6hr15min56sec05ms

Hints/Clues Used: Zero

Items Not Included / Needed:

Paper & Pen

Calculator (if you are lazy like me)

Access to Internet

Personal Rating: 5.5/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 3/3

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 2: Superliminal

Developed by Pillow Castle Games

Puzzle Classification: Digital; Optical Illusion

Price: $19.99 on Digital Gaming Platforms (my download was include with my GamePass Subscription)

Review:

I pleasantly surprised about how giddy this game made me - reminded me of an Alice in Wonderland-esque gaming experience.

Some of my old buddies would razz me basically about being a fake gamer - and to that I say what's to you. You like what you like and I... Well, I really enjoyed Superliminal even though I didn't have to run around a map with a gun.

I went into Superliminal blind - only knowing it is a puzzle based game.

I've never played any game like this before and it took me a while to get use to the in-game mechanics - and to be honest my completion was mildly inflated by my curiosity and amusement.

Without any idea of what was in store, how many levels were ahead, or the average completion time I hunkered down - I completed the game in 3 sessions - the first session was almost 4.5 hours long.

After completing the game and reviewing the possible in-game achievements/info I was slightly embarrassed to discover some individuals were doing speed runs close to 22mins... not sure where I stand taking over 7 hours on my first go around - BUT - I can proudly state I used ZERO hints, clues, or message boards while playing. I traversed the world of Superliminal on my own merits and knowhow and it was very rewarding.

I will say - the "not knowing what was next" did give me an adrenaline rush and an appetite for more... when I finally completed the game I was a little devastated on how "short" it was (again, it took me a little over 7 hours to complete - maybe not so short in others' minds) - I may be a bit greedy - especially when thinking about how much time that game took to develop - BUT - the game is loaded with a bevy of Easter Eggs - I accidentally stumbled upon a few and I just know there's gotta be more - heck, after some post game research I even discovered I was looking directly at an "egg" and I didn't even full comprehend it while in the moment.

So, even though I know what is expected - I have gone back and re-explored the levels of Superliminal.

Completion Time: 7hr6min59sec74ms

Hints/Clues Used: Zero

Items Not Included / Needed:

Once downloaded - You have all you need

Personal Rating: 8/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 2/2

[fiftytwotwenty]

Puzzle 1: Box One

Presented by Neil Patrick Harris

Created by Theory 11

Puzzle Classification: Table Top Escape Room

Price: ~ $35 (I did receive it as a gift)

*** This Tabletop Escape Room was Brought to You by Nerd Gummy Clusters, Monster Energy, and Path Water ***

Jk - Just my choosen game fuel. Sadly, I'm without sponsorship...

Review:

If any of know me (especially from my ol' book blog) I tend to collect books and forget about them without ever reading them.

Apparently games/puzzles are no different.

I received this box couple holidays ago as a gift and I just shelved it - but - to be fair I was a bit preoccupied with other engagements/challenges - but - I am happy to state I am glad I waited and devoted my full attention to Box One.

I have purchased other Theory 11 merchandise before (mainly playing cards) because of their high quality and craftsmanship. I can easily report Box One is made of the utmost quality. Items inside were crisp, durable, and hold high production value.

I've done Tabletop Escape Rooms in the past and their in game mechanics are typically flimsy paper or janky cardboard. Inside Box One you will find cards made from heavy cardstock and items made with heft. Another classy touch - the game provides you paper and a pen so you need little to no outside items*.

One of absolute favorite thing about this box is the was that I didn't have to "destroy" anything - aka - I was able to repackage the game and I can share with an unsuspecting friend/family member.

It is made for the use of solo play - which for me is great because available/willing friends are few and far between - but if you are more popular than me you could still play with a couple of buds and still have blast.

Another area were Box One superceeds other basic Tabletop Escape Rooms is that the gameplay is mostly linear - you feel like you have a clear directive even as you have a "story/mystery/issue" yet to unravel - what I mean - as you play you actually feel like you are progressing with the game where as other escape rooms I've played in the past you just open up a box and haphazardly slap mini puzzles together while racing an arbitrary clock. Box One is a gem that you can comfortably/leisurely play in one or two hour/afternoon session.

As I have already said the quality and production value are top notch, but I did find one in game mechanic slightly irritating as it put a damper completion time. I did manage to find a work around and dive right back into the enjoyment of the game.

If I had to state any other cons - I would say some of the "challenges/mini games" almost - almost - boarded on being too tiresome. If they would have mixed things up a bit more, maybe shortened them up a bit, and/or added one or two more mechanics it would have been absolutely stellar game - near impossible to top.

Don't get me wrong - it was still awesome - I found it to be on the eaiser side. How things unraveled truly is what kept it compelling and engaging.

Completion Time: 2hr36min43sec91ms

Hints/Clues Used: Zero

Items Not Included / Needed:

Phone/Computer with Internet Connection

Fridge/Freezer

Flashlight/Light Source

Personal Rating: 7.5/10

2024 Puzzle Record: 1/1

[fiftytwotwenty]

Wellness Wednesday:

Da Stats

Stats from 2023:

Meal Tracker:

Salads: 185

Bags of Popcorn: 182

Oranges: 165

Leftover Meals: 145

Cans of Soup: 110

Take Out: 0

Candy/Sweets: 0

* I can't believe I went an entire year without eating:

Pizza

Ice Cream

Chips

Candy

Sweets/Desserts

Take Out

Eating Out

.

.

Workouts:

TOTAL WORKOUTS: 401

Completed the Most Workouts in December (46 Workouts)

February had the Fewest Only (29 Workouts)

TOATAL WORKOUTS MISSED: 4

- Friday, March 10th - Exhausted/Sleep

- Saturday, May 20th - Traveling

- Friday, June 24th - Exhausted/Sleep

- Thursday, August 25th - Sick

*Note: whenever a workout/day was missed - the following day was met with at least a double workout to make up for the prior day's loss

TOTALS:

Jumping Jacks: 111,000

Push-Ups: 38,300

Glute Bridges: 35,300

Reverse Leg Lifts: 27,100

Leg Kickbacks: 27,100

Sit-Ups: 22,000

Assisted Push-Ups: 23,525

Squats: 4,850

Plank (mins): 1,221 minutes

Leg Lifts: 280

6 Inches (mins): 140

.

.

WEIGHT TRACKER:

Starting Weight (Noon, 1/01/2023): 297.6 lbs

Month with Most Amount Weight Loss: January (-22.0 lbs)

Month with Least Amount of Weight Loss: September (-1.0 lbs)

Total/Final Weight Loss: -106.6 lbs

*** Roll That Beautiful Bean Footage ***

ENTERTAINMENT:

MOVIES:

Total Movies Watched: 154

Favorite of the Year:

John Wick: Chapter 4

TV:

Hours Watched: ~ 270

Favorite Show of the Year:

The Bear (Specifically Season 2)

BOOKS:

Books Completed: 7

Favorite Book of the Year:

Best. Movie. Year. Ever. by Brian Rafferty

COMICS:

Comics Read: 22

Trades Read: 102

Favorite Comic/Trade of the Year:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin

.

.

Closing Thoughts:

The Good:

I'm Done! Eff Yaas!

The Bad:

I going to reward myself with some Extra Sloppy Gas Station Nachos and Ice Cold Can of Arizona Tea's Mucho Mango - that's no joke - my favorite Nachos come from a Gas Station. May The Lord have mercy on my Bowels.

Also... said Gas Station with Heavenly Nachos is CLOSED on New Year's Day thus prolonging my sweet date of jubilation... I live but dang-a-rang.

The Ugly:

I know, I came so far - I worked hard and sacrificed - put myself through the ringer... What if the Nachos and Mucho Mango are a gateway to me Relapsing on my diet, exercise, and health... Yeah, I'm a tad worried.