A Worthy Sequel to a Puzzle Book Classic

Table of Contents

Location: Home

Date Played: May 2023

Team size: 1; I recommend 1-3

Duration: 4-6 hours

Price: ~S$25 on their website excl. shipping

Story

In "Graffiti," players assume the role of Bob, a police officer on the trail of the notorious Triad syndicate. With a mission to infiltrate their headquarters and put an end to their criminal activities, the story serves as a backdrop for the puzzles within the book. Similar to its predecessor, the narrative is minimal, focusing primarily on guiding players through the puzzles.

Gameplay

As in "Missing," each puzzle in "Graffiti" is represented by an icon with a corresponding number or letter. Players must solve these puzzles and input their solutions on the website to progress. Correct answers lead to new instructions, while incorrect ones result in page refreshes. An online hint system is available, providing 1-4 hints per puzzle based on their difficulty, along with solutions for most puzzles.

Puzzles

➕ Well-Crafted Puzzles: "Graffiti" maintains the high-quality puzzle design seen in its predecessor, offering enjoyable challenges with some new variations. Familiar puzzle enthusiasts will find this book engaging.

➕ Improved Signposting: The book includes more signposting to guide players on the puzzle-solving approach, reducing frustration and enhancing the overall experience.

➖ Hint System Still Has Room for Improvement: While the hint system has been enhanced with solutions for most puzzles and additional hints, some puzzles may benefit from even more guidance.

➖ Lack of Innovation: "Graffiti" doesn't break new ground and sticks to what worked in "Missing." While this is fine for fans of the series, it may leave some hoping for more novelty.

✖️ Fewer Puzzles Than Expected: Compared to its predecessor, "Graffiti" offers fewer puzzles, resulting in a shorter playtime. Considering the price point is similar, this might disappoint some players.

Verdict

"Graffiti" is a commendable sequel to the beloved "Missing" puzzle book. While it doesn't surpass its predecessor, it still offers an enjoyable puzzle-solving experience. Fans of "Missing" should consider adding this book to their collection, while newcomers might want to start with the first book to fully appreciate the series. Overall, it's a solid choice for puzzle enthusiasts.

Rating: 4/5

★★★★✩

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