Woodlock Manor

A Haiku for Woodlock Manor: Grandson enderman. Calculating every step. Mysteries no more.

"Woodlock Manor" is a deceptively simple puzzle game where traps only move when you do. While that's hardly a problem on the first handful of levels things get gradually trickier with the introduction of more traps - sawblades and different colored laser beams. On each of the 45 levels you need to first get a key to unlock the exit and then actually make it to the door proper which isn't always easy to do. If you die - and on the last five or so stages you [i]will[/i] die plenty - you start from the very beginning of the map, but without the key. I managed to get through it in about 80 minutes of which about half were spent on the last two or three stages alone. It can become slightly frustrating because you have to repeat the careful dance between traps so often but it's even more rewarding once you finally get everything to work out perfectly. There's even a short story line which, despite rather predictable in outcome, adds a bit of flair to the game. This game is a perfect example of a small project done really well. Everything works out of the box, visuals are pixel graphics but absolutely fine and very atmospheric thanks to the good lighting and post processing. Audio is pleasant and not terribly annoying - although the music loop feels a bit short - and there are options to turn it off as well. No graphics settings except for full screen but they aren't needed really. One minor nitpick is that the "Die 100 times" achievement doesn't unlock when you die 100 times but only after you died 100 times in a level, then complete that level and then die again on the next level. It feels a bit off because the requirements should have been met already but it's not much of a problem. Best of all the game is free without microtransactions or any kind of nonsense gamers have to put up those days. Hats off and thanks to the developers for this little gem! Sidenote: the developers even credited the fine folks at FreeSound.org for each sound they used from that site, even though only three of the four actually required it. Sounds trivial but so many indie devs break the Creative Commons license, so thanks for that as well!