The LadderHatch EscapesEscape roomIRLI think I understand what Hatch is trying to accomplish here. They want a replyable room. It’s ambitious, but it’s a failure. The minigames isolate players instead of fostering communication and cooperation. Telling us at the beginning that the puzzles are impossibly difficult and we won’t be able to accomplish them is offputting. Why would I want to participate if there’s no chance for success? It seems like they’re requiring that I return, not offering an opportunity for replay. Fantastic design, but the reliance on tech means that it will be unplayably broken in a couple of years. The overarching “earn some points” story is tedious: there’s no clear narrative connection between the story and the reward. It’s begging you to replay so you can ultimately understand it. Compare to OmegaMart, which is much cheaper, better designed, and has no time limit. Very similar gameplay though.
