To save the game and exit, select the "Return to Title" or "Records" in the Menu. Selecting "Return to Title" will also give you the option to exit the game without saving it.
When the game begins, the only item you will have that can be used is your Ninja Blade (sword, katana, whatever it is). As you progress through the story, you will gain, and lose, items, and you will combine items that will create new items. For example: you have a lighter. You have a candle. You combine them in your inventory, and you end up with a lighted candle.
To search and investigate around the room, you may need to change the direction of the arrow (cursor) at times to look closer at some objects that are along the edges of the screen, or to drag objects.
Change the arrow direction by clicking on the arrow icon at the top right, and choose which direction to use. If the arrow is not pointing straight up, it won't appear on the screen. (At least it didn't for me.) Once you touch the screen, the arrow will reappear and you can drag it to a desired object or location.
To use an item that may (or may not) interact with your environment, select it on the top right corner in your inventory. The selected item will highlight in blue. Leave it highlighted until you're done using it. While an item is highlighted, it will automatically interact/react to the appropriate object for which it was intended- if the inventory item needs to be used at all.
In the game's Menu, there is a "Help" section that further explains all the mechanics and functions you'll need to know.
When an owned item (such as your Ninja Blade) is selected/highlighted to be used, it will automatically be used where it needs to be once you click/interact on the appropriate object. Or, when you are lost about what to do, you just click on everything, like I do ?. Fortunately, in this game, there are no penalties for doing so.
When the mini-boss(es) are all slain on a Floor, the exit door will unlock to let you go to the next Floor. There are five areas where we can earn up to 100% completion rate. In order to achieve 100% x5, we cannot leave the room after the mini-boss is defeated. **After they are slain, new items become available. We have to search the rooms again for items the mini-boss dropped or unlocked.**
After the Epilogue, we will be shown our percentages. You can skip the Epilogue if you're not interested in that sorta stuff, and you will still see your percentages.
These bullets are not necessarily significant to the game itself. They are just ideas about what should go through your mind as you play, learn, collect, and gather intel or new info. The point of this exercise is to train you. After all, you're a Ninja! Whether it is ECO or another Escape game you play, the points below are the types of things that should run through your mind. THAT'S thinking like an Escapee!
-Does the name of this room even hold a clue?
-A Crane and Turtle are lucky charms apparently, according to the scroll anyway.
What about how they both also mean "longevity?" Why was that part omitted? Yikes!
-Nothing behind the scroll? Wot?!? No hidden secret? Bummer. Wait! Is that just to deceive me?
-And where exactly did those white flowers come from? Is there a garden nearby? Gardens are outdoors, which is where I need to be! This is a hopeful clue.
-Hmm. An incense burner. It must need incense, you'd think. Where is it? Will I need it for a classic Ninja smokescreen maneuver? Will I have to return to this room later to fetch the incense burner once I find the incense and matches? Speaking of, incense DOES require matches! Matches are always a good thing in these games. Ok, things may be shaping up, after all.
-Why is the cupboard empty? Cupboards are for nosy people and for food. Maybe for food that requires a can opener or sharp utensils. Oh, well. Guess I'm not getting my curiosity or hunger satisfied here, and no pocket-sized weaponry to make me feel a little more secure. At least there aren't rodents in there. *Shudder*
-The Noh's masks are affixed. Yay! Guess the Ninjutsu ninjas around here won't be wearing those scary things like some of their ancient ancestors did. Phew!
-I'd climb that beam. Maybe. If I had rope. Yeah, rope! Why else mention about climbing it, right?
-Two lanterns full of oil ...and an empty pail. (Lightbulb going off on the top of my head.) This may be a clue to a puzzle in the near future.
-A trap door to save for later? So, there is a "later." Another clue filled with hopefulness, and a possible exit route, or a safe place to hide. Hide from what, though? Sure as heck won't be hiding in that cupboard over there or escaping from a stealthy sword-wielding warrior! Or will I??
Lemme rethink this trap door idea. Aha! Now, we're talking. Is there a trigger for it? What does a trigger for a trap door look like? I dunno. Let's hopefully find out its real purpose. Better not be a death trap. Don't wanna restart the game and go through this again!
I'm gonna try (click on) the trap door again. Jump up to the trap door? Are you kidding me? You're not kidding, are you? Guess I will have to look at it later.
-There is a charm stuck in the window bars. Really stuck. Or .. Really? Stuck? I'll probably need to find a way to get it out of there and use it to set an evil tsukimono ablaze. At least a charm is another symbol of luck. As long it's not the voodoo-type!
-Cushions. Nothing out of the ordinary, you say? Pfft. I'll be the judge of that! My blade is sharp enough to slice them open without any effort.
