Review: Lime Ergot, and notes on the nested concept genre

@Ruber_Eaglenest This genre/mechanic is clearly larger than I thought it was. Thanks, I’ll add those to my list!


Anyway, last night I played 2002’s “Out of the Study.” Like Lime Ergot, it’s set in one location. This time, you’re in a bug collector’s study. You’re trying to assemble a five-digit code to open a door.

Other people have mentioned difficulties in the game — particularly the unmentioned objects and the particular ways in which you need to search and handle things.

I had problems with those things too, but that’s not important.

Connecting Different Concepts

What’s interesting is that game attempts to blend using objects and looking at things, something that the two other nesting games I’ve played so far haven’t done. “Out of the Study” even has a scenery puzzle that involves looking with binoculars instead of just looking repeatedly.

The core puzzle is challenging — I used a walkthrough — and it’s in three parts. You need to find the numbers, eliminate numbers that are red herrings, and put the numbers in order. Puzzle pros might have little trouble with this, but for me, those are three challenges in a dense game, and they’re presented in a way that leaves a lot of room to misinterpret things.

Despite its flaws, numbers are a good idea for a game that intends to link concepts. Numbers don’t need an inventory, and they’re distinct from objects that you might need to manipulate. For example, the number nine is represented by the holes in a pen holder — most people are going to consider the number of holes something to observe, and nobody will try to take the holes (except for maybe @deusirae ).

The natural setting is also a good idea, since nature tends toward numbers and patterns. Lime Ergot went for the surreal because it meant that anything could be connected, whereas Out of the Study leans a bit more on things that are inherently connected.

In this game, you know that 20 cows are irrelevant to the password because that number is double digits and because cows aren’t insects. And, because it’s an insect game involving numbers, you can guess that one of the clues is going to involve 6 legs somehow, even before you start looking.

Other Stuff

As for plot, the ending doesn’t proceed from your actions – you’re explicitly given a choice about what ending you want to see. That’s okay, since unlocking the lock is pretty satisfying on its own, and the game is about atmosphere more than plot.

Finally, since the author seems to still be entering comps, I’d say this is a good candidate for a remake/update/expansion under Spring Thing’s New Game+ category.

Even though it’s more than 20 years old, the setting is very strong. It’s one that won’t ever seem dated because it relies heavily on the natural world. I think it would be received well if it was sufficiently modernized.

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