If you've ever thought to yourself that casual games have something for everyone, you may now officially add Architects and AutoCad users to your definition of "everyone". Open Doors is a clever puzzle-game by Ozzie Mercado (SoapAintNice), played over a gridded blue-print of a building complete with doors and swinging circles meant to identify hinges. As you move past these contraptions, they slam shut behind you! It's like a house-of-mirrors boiled down to sheer design, and a fun one.
Controls are simple, just use the [arrow] keys to move in the cardinal directions. You're the square, you want to get to the X. Walls and doors cannot be passed through, unless you're pushing on a door in a direction that its hinges don't oppose. Note the circumference of the circles connected to doors, not only do they signify how a door moves when you push it, and what directions they can't be pushed from, but the little white lines determine where the doors will close behind you. Later in the game, you get double and triple jointed doors that fall into Jacob's Ladder like patters, filling out every possible position or coiling against the wall. The results are tricky and briskly rewarding.
Analysis: This is unusual for me, but I have little analysis to offer. It's a simple concept, simply executed and simply presented; as simple as chalk-white lines drawn flawlessly to grid. It's refreshing to see someone take such a short-form position on a single mechanic, and do it right.
To paraphrase Morpheus: I can only Open Doors, you're the one who has to walk through them. Play Open Doors.
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Comments (may contain spoilers)
Hm. Nice game, but headache is imminent around level 10 or so.
Posted by: baba44713
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March 14, 2008 6:26 PM
I like it. Very simple idea, and well executed. Level design is pretty nice aswell.
Posted by: Maqrkk
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March 14, 2008 7:06 PM
I personally liked it, it's a fun little mechanic. To some degree, I was hoping that the game would provide a bit more than just the doors... as the later game provided the same door puzzles just strung together into a greater comeplexity, making the experience a wee-bit repetitive.
But I agree... the concept was executed extremely well, and I was refreshed by the visual style. This whole door thing could have been easily overcomplicated by distracting graphics, but the author went the smart route with a fun game that does exactly what it needs to do.
-Jmtb02
Posted by: John
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March 14, 2008 7:50 PM
Good calls John. This game had great style and fun puzzles, but the concept only worked for so long. Maybe more door types, stairs would add more dimension to the puzzles.
Or I know LASERS, this game needs LASERS and ZOMBIES. (sorry)
Posted by: Sesquiped | March 14, 2008 8:35 PM
Ahhhh.. this is so frustrating! I've been stuck at the last bit of level 11 for a couple of hours now, just going in circles. I can't figure out how to get past it :/
Posted by: Anonymous | March 15, 2008 12:02 AM
Well, nevermind. My browser finally crashed, and they don't have any sort of feature to return you to the level you were at. There's no way I'm playing through to level 11 again.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 15, 2008 12:06 AM
Level 11, bottom right. No joy - any clues out there?
Posted by: Anonymous | March 15, 2008 1:35 AM
Anonymous:
I reached level 12, and found that if I refreshed the page, the game offered to let me continue from where I left off, as shown here. Perhaps your browser crash killed your progress...
Posted by: Tayrin
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March 15, 2008 2:00 AM
I lasted until level 12 then got bored. It was fun while it lasted.
Posted by: LSN
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March 15, 2008 2:27 AM
stuck on 15/25 - little options, and I just don't get it. addicted. :P
Posted by: relet | March 15, 2008 6:41 AM
done it. yay! and then it just comes up with another mode. *argh*
Posted by: relet | March 15, 2008 7:11 AM
I think my head just exploded into a million pieces at the top of level 13. Medic!
Posted by: HARDHEAD11 | March 15, 2008 9:37 AM
This is great for puzzle lovers like myself. There is something amazingly satisfying about a new puzzle that is really different from other puzzles, requires true logic, and actually works.
Posted by: dsrtrosy
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March 15, 2008 10:31 AM
Jay, do you know if there is any way to return to a particular level in this game? I have to go to work, but don't want to lose my place!
Posted by: dsrtrosy
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March 15, 2008 11:54 AM
dsrtrosy - when you exit and come back to it later, this is the screen you'll see:
http://jayisgames.com/images/opendoorscontinue.gif
So, yes, you can continue where you left off, but there is no level select screen.
Posted by: Jay
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March 15, 2008 12:00 PM
Woo hoo! You rock. Thanks! I didn't want to close the window if I was going to lose it.
Posted by: dsrtrosy
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March 15, 2008 12:55 PM
for me, level 13 was the first one that was tricky and required me to restart a couple times. I wish the game had reached that point earlier, maybe cut out half of levels 1-12.
Posted by: Felix
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March 15, 2008 3:51 PM
This is a wonderful little puzzler that yes - can be challenging and brain-straining - but eventually after bludgeoning through enough turnstiles and flipping through quadruple doors and whatnot, your subconscious mind seems to absorb some rudimentary "strategy" allowing you to solve some of the later levels without really concentrating. At least that's what my mind did.
Though the game gives the illusion that you can work your way through any level minus having to restart from the beginning, there are several corners you can back yourself into with no hope of getting yourself out without starting over.
Posted by: Lebowski
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March 16, 2008 4:28 PM
how do you pass lvl.2?
Posted by: Iaira | March 16, 2008 11:12 PM
Could somebody please help me on level 8?
Posted by: Anonymous | March 17, 2008 1:18 PM
ARGH!!! I'm on level 25 and the last bit just seems impossible, literally impossible. Sorry for everyone asking for help, I can't go back to previous levels and check it out.
Posted by: Gabe | March 18, 2008 7:05 PM
LEVEL 15????NEED HELP...??
Posted by: Bryn | March 19, 2008 7:17 PM
Could somebody please help me? I'm stuck on level 9:(
Posted by: Todd | March 19, 2008 11:24 PM
It took me awhile to figure out that you COULD open doors that weren't facing the right way by
Discovered it by mistake.
Posted by: missmerry
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March 20, 2008 12:30 PM
I find it infuriating that this game tried to send ads for itself to my Facebook profile while I played.
Posted by: E | March 21, 2008 12:46 PM
Somebody please help me with level 9.:(
Posted by: Todd | March 21, 2008 5:59 PM
I'm about ready to give up. Level 9 seems impossible.
Posted by: Todd | March 21, 2008 6:07 PM
13 seemed to be the hardest, but it's not impossible
here's a view of the last 3 levels
Posted by: casey
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March 21, 2008 10:17 PM
Could somebody please tell me what to do on level 9? I'm just about ready to give up.:(
Posted by: Todd | March 23, 2008 2:09 AM
I NEED HELP WITH LEVEL 8 PLEASE HELP
Posted by: Anonymous | March 23, 2008 5:21 PM
i know it sounds crazy but i need help with level 3
Posted by: anonymous | March 28, 2008 10:38 PM
lvl. 8 is driving my CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: John Smith | April 24, 2008 7:32 PM
I need a lot of help with lvl 8! I know it seems easy but I don't get it! Please help
Posted by: Bob | April 24, 2008 7:41 PM
I need major help on the bottom of level 11 or the whole level please help
Posted by: sniperkid12
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April 25, 2008 12:24 AM
never mind got 11 :D
Posted by: sniperkid12
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April 25, 2008 12:26 AM
totally need help on level 9. please help!!!
Posted by: dooro257 | April 25, 2008 9:11 PM
help with level 8 pleez!
Posted by: brian | April 26, 2008 3:23 PM
im at lvl. 25 its hard..!!!!! help...
Posted by: GABERx3
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April 29, 2008 6:39 PM
hey..someone PLEASE help me with level 12..i dont even know now how long ive been on it and i just keep going back and forth :[
Posted by: brandy | April 30, 2008 6:42 PM
ok..ive been working on 25 allll night. someone..help?
Posted by: jude | April 30, 2008 10:40 PM
can someone please post cheats?
Posted by: maddy | May 2, 2008 1:36 PM
mmhmm that game is very good. im addicted to it. i am on level 25 but i cant seem to do it. it seems to be impossible =[ bu the game is great
Posted by: ashley | May 4, 2008 12:17 PM
WOO BEAT THE GAME! God dammit that game is hard as hell.
Posted by: No one | May 4, 2008 3:41 PM
HOW DO YOU BEAT LEVEL 11!? What do you do!!??!
Posted by: ashley | May 6, 2008 3:33 PM
youtube "open doors walkthrough" if you want spoilers...but it only goes up to level 24
Posted by: Anonymous | May 6, 2008 7:09 PM