Platinum #144 - Save Room - The Merchant

I played the first “Save Room” last year and liked it more than I thought I would. I was disappointed by “The Merchant” though. These games are based on “Resident Evil 4” inventory management mechanics. “The Merchant” adds a second layer to the basic gameplay by having you sell items in order to buy what you need.

Every level, you start out fitting treasures to sell into your inventory space, then you buy your gear and fit that into your inventory space. Essentially, each level is now two puzzles in one, so there’s definitely a lot more content here.

My issues are that there is now too much menu-ing and combining little objects together. It felt more like busywork than puzzle solving. I also can’t get over how unpolished this port is. Every other level I was accidentally triggering bugs that break the menus and levels completely, forcing you to start over.

Overall, this was a more frustrating and tedious experience than the first entry due to bugs and more busywork with the new merchant mechanic.

There are far too many bugs in each level, which often force you to restart the game. The first save room was enjoyable and didn’t feel like a chore, but this one is frustrating and tedious. I’m currently on level 24, and I’m not even sure I’ll finish it or enjoy the rest. If I do end up completing it, getting the platinum will feel more like an obligation than an achievement.