The Secret of Langton Manor: Ep 1 & 2 (Bromelain Games) // Review

The Secret of Langton Manor is the first game from Bulgaria-based Bromelain Games. It is a print-and-play mystery escape game with an intriguing episodic story that promises to pull you into the deepest, darkest recesses of an ominous mansion with hidden secrets. Episode I is available free of charge (but well worth a donation); subsequent episodes cost less than $5.

We interrupt this broadcast to bring you something that rarely comes along – a FREE game. Yes, that’s right – it doesn’t cost a penny and there is no catch. Free = bad, right? Wrong!

I have played both Episode I: Legacy (free) and Episode II: Roots. For the sake of this review, I am keeping story details sparse and not referring to events that happen in Episode II, although the gameplay mechanics are broadly the same.

First Impressions

I’ve not played many print-and-play games. I’ll admit I’ve been a little snobby, yearning after fancy components and a shiny box (which I still love), but after playing this game and a couple of others, it has shown me how great print-and-play games can be.

Once you have downloaded your copy of the game, the first task is to print out the contents of the PDF file. Be sure to print the pages single-sided. I don’t have a colour printer, however almost all of the pages are in black and white or sepia tone, so it doesn’t make much difference (NB: a lot of print-and-play game designers work hard to ensure the game is still playable in monochrome).

There is a clear instruction sheet that explains how the gameplay works and provides a link to download the companion app (see below). You will need a pair of scissors and a pen/pencil, so be sure to have those to hand.

Story

I won’t go into too much detail about the specifics of the story (certainly beyond Episode I) but needless to say, I found it intriguing and atmospheric. The fact that much of the story is told through diary entries adds to the mystery.

To set the scene: You receive a letter from John (a relative) informing you that you’ve jointly inherited a large estate known as Langton Manor. John requests that you meet him at the run-down manor to assess its state and help with renovating it back to its former glory. He leaves instructions for you to pick up a package on your way.

When you arrive at the manor it quickly becomes clear that not all is as it seems, and after events take a strange turn you end up locked inside. Your task is simple, explore the manor, solve the puzzles and get out.

Overall I found the story to be suitably creepy, leaning more into the darkness in Episode II and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Gameplay

The puzzles were very enjoyable and involved a range of different approaches. There was plenty of cutting and folding involved, searching for hidden objects/details and some code-breaking. I found the puzzles to be well balanced with enough challenge not to get too frustrated and plenty of hints on hand if required.

Episode II takes everything from Episode I and dials it up a notch – the visuals are even better, there is more variety in the puzzles and the story gets richer and richer.

Companion App

To play the game you need to download a copy of the official app. This has several key functions, with some being optional:

• Timekeeper – It keeps track of how long you have taken to complete the game. There is the option to pause and stop the timer if you need to stop playing for a while. This is good for those who like to race against the clock but isn’t essential for those who like to play at their own leisure.
• Point scoring – You start off with a score of 900. After 30 minutes have passed, 5 points will be deducted for every extra minute you take. Also, for every hint you use a further 30 points will be deducted. Completing the episode earns you an additional 100 points so the maximum score is 1000. (You can choose to totally ignore the points system if you want to play without any pressure).
• Combination lock – There is a lock that has four sets of dials. The first contains different symbols, the subsequent three are numbers 0-9. Each symbol corresponds with a particular card in the game and is clearly labelled. You must find and enter a three-digit code which, if correct, unlocks the padlock. This takes you to a screen that gives you some more story and instructions on how to progress. If you have not reached a point in the story where you have all the information you need to unlock a puzzle, this is marked within the app. Any symbols that you can progress with are ‘open’ and show the option of a hint if needed. It is simple to use, and very effective for gating the puzzles.

Verdict

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