Underground Blossom is the latest eerie point-and-click puzzle adventure game from the creative minds at Rusty Lake. As part of the quirky Rusty Lake series, Underground Blossom continues the distinctive combination of eccentric puzzles, rich symbolism, and an unsettling atmosphere fans have come to love.
In this walkthrough guide, we‘ll explore how to solve the various puzzles presented in Chapter 3: School Street of Underground Blossom.
Overview of Underground Blossom
For those new to the series, Underground Blossom follows the structure of previous Rusty Lake games. The player must solve puzzles and explore surreal environments to unlock pieces of the story and advance.
Underground Blossom has players navigating the metro system of the peculiar Rusty Lake town. The metro acts as a portal through which the protagonist travels through space and time to change events across seven distinct timelines themed around different locations.
The developers cite inspiration from games like Myst and The Room series. Common elements include eccentric contraptions to manipulate, codes to decipher, symbols to interpret, and a sense that there’s sinister secrets lying below the surface.
The eerie atmosphere, obscure clues, and fragmented storytelling may prove frustrating for some. But fans of cerebral games and surreal stories will find an immersive experience rewarding careful observation of details and making speculative leaps.
Now let’s see how to unravel the puzzles presented in Chapter 3!
Walkthrough: Chapter 3 School Street
Chapter 3 transports players to a school setting, likely representing the childhood of the protagonist. Characters include fellow students Laura and Johnny, an eccentric teacher, and a train conductor.
Several puzzles must be solved to progress. As is typical for Rusty Lake games, solutions often utilize codes, visual clues, and abstract thinking. Let‘s break down how to solve each brain-teaser presented on School Street.
Yearbook Puzzle
Early on, the player discovers a nerdy student obsessed with his yearbook. He asks the protagonist to help sort the photos into the correct chronological order.
This puzzle requires closely observing details and using logical thinking skills. Some tips:
- Note the physical changes between images, like hair length or height, to determine time passing between shots
- Identify clues like which grade they’re in based on classroom decor
- Link photos together that seem part of the same event based on props or clothing
Correctly arranging the photographs rewards a Steam achievement. It also provides a worm needed to progress to the next puzzle.
Johnny Achievement
Outside, fellow student Johnny can be seen tossing rocks at a bird. If the player repeatedly clicks on Johnny, eventually another girl yells at him. This rewards a second achievement for unique player discoveries.
Johnny also drops his bookbag, allowing the protagonist to dig through and find crucial items for a code puzzle ahead.
This moment reinforces a key tip for success in Rusty Lake games – click on everything, multiple times if needed! You never know what surprises might unfold from thorough poking and prodding.
Code Puzzle
Among Johnny‘s spilled possessions is a lollipop, pencil sharpener, and cigarette. Using the tape measure also found in his bag, observant players can unravel the hidden code:
- Lollipop = 6 units
- Sharpener = 3 units
- Cigarette = 7 units
When strung together, it forms the code: 637.
This exemplifies the Rusty Lake team’s knack for turning ordinary objects into puzzle pieces via conceptual leaps. Solving the brain-teaser provides a fruit needed for the next step.
Time Puzzle
After returning the sorted photos, Laura gifts a pocket watch with hands fixed at 2:45. This time will become key for the ticket machine puzzle ahead.
Rusty Lake puzzles often connect across multiple steps, with solutions unfolding across remoteness. Recurring motifs like clocks cue players that apparently everyday objects likely hold deeper significance.
Ticket Machine Puzzle
The chapter’s ultimate puzzle involves manipulating an arched grid of buttons to create a metro ticket. Players must press all buttons following a path marked with arrows.
The path direction symbols translate to button presses:
- ^ = Move up one space
-
= Move right one space
- v = Move down one space
For example:
^>>^>>
Would translate to:
Up, right two spaces, up again, right two more spacesThrough careful step-tracking, the player guides the path through the grid to light all buttons and receive the ticket.
With ticket in hand, adjusting the wall clock to the discovered time of 2:45 allows the protagonist to hand the items to the conductor and complete the chapter.
Tips for Achieving Success on School Street
With creative thinking and patient observation, players can unravel all the secrets down this School Street. Here are some tips:
- Pixel hunt! Click everything, leave no stone unturned. Unique interactions likely hide around unexpected corners in this game.
- Take notes. Connections between puzzles are rarely obvious on first glance. Tracking clues may help reveal the hidden patterns underlying each chapter.
- Change your perspective. If a puzzle has you stuck, try zooming in or adjusting the camera angle – hidden clues may emerge!
- Don’t overlook the ordinary. Nearly any everyday object in a Rusty Lake game could be concealing a vital clue. Assume importance even in mundane details.
- Have patience. These puzzles demand contemplation but reward methodical observation of patterns and details. Move slowly, make leaps cautiously.
Channel your inner detective to piece together the surreal world of Underground Blossom! Let us know if you need any help conquering remaining chapters in Rusty Lake’s latest off-kilter adventure.
