Box Two: A Critical Escape Room Game Review

Timestamps:
00:00 - Start of Video
00:44 - Basic Facts
01:42 - Box One
02:15 - Box Two
02:59 - A Random Collection of Gimmicks
03:48 - A Look Inside the Box
04:50 - What It Feels Like to Play
05:25 - An Unwanted Partner
07:23 - The Real Mystery of Box Two
08:05 - Final Thoughts

[LunaMoon-er]

I enjoyed Box One and Box Two, however in Box Two it says "Your first choice will change everything." Which I thought was a really great idea! However this is a false choice. You are given a choice, but then your hand is literally forced to only make one choice...the left door. You literally can't choose the right door...and if you do, I am told that many players break their key. Maybe for Box three find a way to give us a three way choice, where it actually is a choice, and the choice we make actually does make a difference.
Then there is the jigsaw puzzle. While trying to solve Box Two there is a jigsaw puzzle, and if you put it together properly it looks ALMOST like a functional QR code...however the code doesn't work. It would have been much better it this code actually took us to the next clue. It was at this point that both me, and later my girlfriend both ran into trouble and couldn't figure out how to move forward. We each opened the little drawer and saw the things inside, but we couldn't figure out how to move past that point. I ended up watching a YouTube video to learn how to get past that little wall.

[jshbckr]

Put a bad taste in my mouth when the “choice” at the beginning doesn’t allow you to make a choice and me *lightly* turning the key the wrong way snapped the end of the key off. And like everyone else said, way too much handholding and aspects that happen online. Also, one of the first chats had some messages about “come on!! What’s it mean??” And rather than feeling like I could take my take, it felt like it was just wanting to offer up the next clue (I.e. basically spoon feed me). I like the clever stuff they did with the box, but the meta narrative of Box One was much more satisfying that this one (er… Two?)

[COOPFORTWO]

One thing I forgot to mention in this video is that during my playthrough, almost 25% of my time was spent putting together a small but difficult jigsaw puzzle. To me, that's not what I want to be spending so much time doing when I play an escape room gaming.

[COOPFORTWO]

Note that it doesnt talk too much about box two, but a little bit. Bunch of marketing talk as well, so may be best skimmed.

[peterlewis]

Great review, I totally agree with the theory that it was intended for two players but they couldn’t get it to work. They shouldn’t have released it at all instead of wasting everyone’s time and resources

[wiiviewer]

I agree box 2 wasn't very good. If it came with a flashlight it would have been better. I hated that dark room gimmick, and the puzzle was just awful.

However, Box 1 takes over 24 hours to beat (if I remember right), so I don't know how you take it to a friend's house and see them complete it.

[dorpth]

Ha ha, not even fooling around with a leading question intro and "Let's find out!"
"Is it any
(Odd Couple theme)

[Cacklebladder]

Great review. One of the things that bugged me was how often things had to be actively ignored because the paths were completely dictated by the chat. It was a lot of waiting around to do something with a component that you already knew you were going to do.

[richardpascoe]

I agree with this review. There are some interesting puzzles here in terms of physical design, but there is no narrative thread and too little to work out yourself. You are constantly being “helped” by the chatbot rather than being left to unravel a mystery.

[mattschaak]

Awesome review and good playthrough too. I echo a lot of your thoughts. Can I ask a spoiler question about resetting the box? I'm having trouble with one of the parts and curious to know how you got it fixed!

[matthewryan]

Such a good review. Just finished this about an hour ago and what a slog it was. Instantly broke my key, of course, and the puzzles were not puzzles just a chat bot telling me what to do, but the real kicker was that awful jigsaw puzzle. Boring and needlessly difficult, my favorite combo.

[beatnickblanket]

What five escape room style games would you recommend to an enthusiast who loves them more than any other style of game?

Keeping in mind that there's a very good chance I may have played them, but still... and of course I've done Box One and it's one of my favorites. <3

[llorenzo]

What is the next game you'd recommend for someone who played box one and two?

[IARsmiley]

Spoiler alert: You must assemble a puzzle of a QR code that has no side or corner pieces, just to eventually come to the realization that NPH used a deepfake of himself to look like an old guy...just because. This mf replaced Jim Carey as Count Olaf, but this puzzle box was his actual series of unfortunate events. This game is worse than the series finale of 'How I Met Your Mother'. I used to think this mf was golden when I still thought he was in 'Malcom in the Middle', but really he peaked during his 'Harold and Kumar' cameo. My household will forever remain a NPH free one after this disgraceful cash grab. Don't drink and play this either. My God. I'd rather make love to a pencil sharpener than relive doing this.

[lorilowry]

Hell, I can't figure out the PCC website. I don't see a website listed and google doesn't show anything. Anybody got any help?

[mattc]

This game was pretty bad. I think the key breaking and then finding threads online about the key breaking and the weird meta thing that led to the key breaking caps this game at a 5 at most if it were still otherwise good, but I'd probably give it a 3. Very few puzzles except the literal one and fails to deliver on what it promises. Go get Box One instead. Great game.

[beatnickblanket]

Deadass, I took mine back to Target for a refund even though I Completed it. The key broke, and as far as I'm concerned that's ground for a refund.