The Room 4: Old Sins

In recent years, there has been a trend that has really gained traction despite its rather strange nature. Escape rooms, the activity that involves you being trapped in a room with no way out other than solving puzzles, have become all the rage. So, it’s hardly surprising that the gaming industry has noticed and aimed to cash in on this phenomenon. From this notion, the mobile puzzler series ‘The Room’ was created. We have had four iterations in total and this review concerns the most recent, The Room 4: Old Sins.

This mobile title which has been ported to the PC plays rather like game such as The House of Da Vinci, Forever Lost, Machinarium and The Silent Age. However, the game also builds on the gameplay established in the three predecessors of the same series. You may be wondering if this game was able to outdo the fantastic mobile stylings that came before. Well, we aim to answer that question. Here is our review of The Room 4: Old Sins.

Let’s Play Dollies

Unlike the other games in the series, this iteration doesn’t have the player walking around a desolate house. Instead, this game has the player explore rooms of a creepy dolls house you stumble upon early in the game. It’s a concept that breathes new life into the series. Plus, despite the one location you remain in for the majority of the game, the experience doesn’t feel limited or restricted at all. Each room is designed with care, the attention to detail is sublime considering that this is essentially a mobile game and each puzzle fits the setting perfectly.

Then speaking of the puzzles, each of the puzzles on offer in this game is expertly designed. The majority will really test your cerebral capacity and have you scratching your head more times than enough. At some stages, the difficulty can be a little frustrating but unlike some puzzlers, the accomplishment at the end of each section is well worth the mental strain.

Graphical Galore

The other aspect we must touch on is the step-up in visual splendour in this title. That isn’t to say that the previous titles were a let down in this department by any means. However, concerning The Room 4: Old Sins, this game polishes the older assets, refines them to a standard fitting for the PC port it would receive. Plus, the game adds new creepy aesthetic changes that are equal parts detailed and unsettling. Not to mention that the sound quality is still just as impressive as past outings.

The only thing we can say that is negative about this title is that it doesn’t really push the envelope. The game uses the same mechanics and approach as the past titles, relying on old gimmicks to deliver a new story. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, we mean, the old games sold well for a reason. It just would have been nice to see something brand new that drove the series forward from a gameplay perspective.

The Verdict

As far as we are concerned, this is the cream of the crop in reference to this spooky series. The developers have made the best version of what this type of game can possibly be and we feel that unless there is a significant change in impetus, this will be the last. That being said, it’s an absolutely beautiful way to cap off the series. It offers wonderful puzzles, great graphics and a captivating new narrative.

Pros:

• Challenging puzzle design
• A step up in visual quality
• A compelling new setting

Cons:

• The gameplay is by and large, unchanged.
• The series has run its course