Nyarlathotep Crate 2 by Mysterious package Company

Inspectors' Review:

• This knife is sure tasty.

• I think something is not write with this...I just can't put my paw on it.

• These people haven't watched The Mummy have they...

• The fresh smell of aged paper is the highlight of puzzling.

• This statue is out to get me...

• Who knew the baggage my predecessor left me at this new job?!?

---

Boss' Review:

Within hours of my posting of the review of Nyarlathotep crate 1, the second crate arrived at my house, just itching to be opened. If you haven’t checked out the other review, check it out here. The TLDR is that the crate was meticulously crafted and had a lot of mystery involved. The puzzles were fun but you are left with a lot of question I hoped the second crate would answer. Let’s dive in and see!

Story:

The second crate has no introduction letter. All you have to do is crank open the nailed shut lid and begin unpacking all the materials. There was a lot more reading in this crate with a journal from your predecessor and a journal log from someone part of an excavation dig for the artifacts you received last crate. Together they’ve wove a interested story surrounding these strange artifacts and they carried some curious parallels. I liked how dynamic the stories were – it wasn’t simply just reading the journals and moving on but, rather, drawing on other components they mention as you read or finding additional anecdotes they provided during their journal logs. There were countless times where I stopped reading to eagerly dig into something they hinted at or mentioned allowed the story to branch out. There were twists and turns and the app did an excellent job allowing players to continue the story past the written logs. There was more engagement as a result. The ending is a little abrupt but it makes sense in context of the story but if you are the person that enjoys epilogues, you will be slightly disappointed.

MPC has been moving to incorporate more digital components in their game so I will say you will need to, like the previous crate, interact with the app, websites, and USBs to fully solve and appreciate the game. I did run into an issue where the USB didn’t work but the company was quick to send me a new USB and also provide the files via email for me to peruse while I played in the mean time. Still, the amount of tangible component balance out the digital quite nicely. I love the feel and age to everything that is present in the box. I also like with the tangible components how things can be hidden or clues on them are more tactile or eye catching without being obvious. Only with investigating things thorough do these clues become key to puzzle solving. Essentially, this games requires more technology than prior experiences – including phones with IOS 10+ and Android 27+ -- and while this works for me I will note some people will be a bit more hesitant or face barriers of accessibility, especially with the USB and the app

Puzzles:

In terms of puzzles, there are quite a few puzzles. This is a more cipher heavy game I would say but there are some puzzles that break up that monotony. I enjoyed how easily I was able to divide up the puzzles so my partner and I could be working on something. We would then come back together and discuss what we learned. Some of the puzzles are more atmospheric than integral to the story. The main puzzles provided great “aha” moments when you figured out their connection and I also appreciated that you were able to figure out how the characters also solved various parts during their journey. It made sense they provided some key information but having the ability to back solve so you could appreciate their journey was a great addition. It is not necessary I would say but if you want the full experience I recommend taking the time. At the end, you use the tools the characters left behind to solve the final part and it was really satisfying.

Customer Service:

In terms of customer service, the crates was safely packed with bubble wrap and more to protect the items. This takes a little from the immersion but I know from experience that some of these things can break so easily so I’d rather the items safely packed then risk damage just so it feels authentic. I wish there was a bit more of an introduction for this chapter by the boss but I was easily able to jump in on my own. When I contacted them about my USB issue they responded in 12 hours so I was able to finish the game that weekend. Muriel was an excellent help. There is no hint system (as is tradition with MPC) but I never needed one. The clues around they game are all around that I was never stuck for more than 30 minutes in knowing what to do. It’s rare for me to enjoy games with proper hint systems but MPC has been quite good at this.

Conclusion:

Overall, MPC did an amazing job concluding this experience packed with mystery, horror, intrigue while also giving players everything they need uncover the truth and decide for themselves what they will do. The digital elements enhanced the experience to add a lot more engagement but the traditional elements to MPC were still there and I will definitely enjoy displaying them. This experience took about 10 hours (both crates) and while it is experience, I think the value is there. If you enjoy tangible components, cool tech, and full immersion this is a great option for people with bigger budgets. I recommend playing with another person to get the true joy as well as divide some of the decoding.

Check out Mysterious Package Company here.