Last week I talked about Infinifactory, an excellent puzzle game that hasn't felt the passage of time... but it's not for nothing that I called it an “automation nightmare”. The upper levels demand a veritable maze of conveyor belts (not to mention multiple attempts), and they aren't entirely appealing to casual players. Luckily, the Epic Games Store offers us another puzzle-focused title, Doors - Paradox, with a much more friendly and linear “escape room” essence. This is your free game of the weekend.
One of the most effective formulas in the world of video games is to take a character, throw them into a strange place, and fill that place with puzzles. Myst, Riven, The Talos Principle, The Witness, there are many examples out there. But those games also have an exploration component, and “getting lost” is part of the experience.
Now, what if we invert the formula? Many puzzles, concentrated in a single place. The first thing that comes to mind is the concept of an “escape room”, however, Doors - Paradox manages to go in a new direction and offer something different. The player's objective is as simple as opening a door, but before that, they must face dioramas full of details and secrets.
Doors - Paradox: Crossing the Threshold
The levels are divided into three episodes: Awakening, Origins, and Paradox. They all start with simple examples, like a lock and its key, a knife to cut ropes, or gems that fit into the exact slot, but as we advance, new patterns emerge. On certain occasions, it's not enough to follow them to the letter, we must completely invert them, or reproduce a hidden order somewhere in the diorama.
Doors - Paradox has a help system, but personally, I don't think you'll need it. Yes, it's possible that a puzzle may take longer than normal because we can't find the right action, but the game doesn't exert any kind of pressure. There's no score or optimization achievements here: the satisfaction of finding the solution and opening the portal is more than enough.
The only items we can call “collectibles” are a couple of gems present in each level, and a series of scrolls. The only companion in Doors - Paradox is a black cat, and it seems to use those scrolls to tell different phases of the same story. First it speaks in a personal way: an accident, the search for riches, the abandonment of friends and family, the experience of other cultures. Then it extends to all humanity, with harmony, greed, the desire for power. Finally, it moves to a more universal plane: order and chaos. Knowing the story isn't essential to finish the levels, but the scrolls aren't very hidden, and it's a nice seasoning.
A decent number of puzzles, very interesting solutions, excellent diorama designs, and a casual profile definitely welcome in these days of absolute madness. Doors - Paradox will make you have a good time, without a doubt.
(Available for free on the Epic Games Store, until Thursday.)
