Chaos & Confetti

S.O.U.P. stands for Society for the Observation of Unknown Phenomena.  In this puzzle experience by Crack-A-Nut Mysteries, players will step outside their normal lives in order to partake in missions involving the strange and unknown.  They’ll have to crack layers of puzzles to prove they can cut it as part of this mysterious organization. 

There are five missions for players to play, each involving their own individual puzzles (and maybe some larger game-spanning ones, if they pay close enough attention).  All the puzzles can be solved using the physical components and letters/direction sheets included with the game, but the answer submission portal and hint system will require internet access. 

As a duo, we look a little over two hours to complete the adventure.   

OUR THOUGHTS:

The Puzzles:  A Variety of Fun Puzzles for Those Who Know How to Pay Attention

S.O.U.P. is made up of five main missions which each provide puzzles for players.  The difficulty and length of each mission varies.  Some will take players through a few puzzles, while others will consist of only one puzzle.  Either way, each mission provides a unique challenge which should be fun, without providing too much difficulty.  Most importantly, the puzzles are fun and doable.  The puzzles will reward players for being able to follow directions and pay close attention

There are also a few extra puzzles to solve for those who like to go the extra mile.  

The Narrative:  Strong Story and Theming with Some Good Humor

The storytelling elements are one of the areas where S.O.U.P. shines most.  The game and all its components are well-themed and do a lot to try and immerse players into their new roles.  For those who like real-world unusual events, there should be plenty of familiar references to appreciate. 

The story structure does a great job of giving reasons for the puzzles and setting them up for a variety of story beats.  However, the story isn’t just functional.  It is also used to give the game some character and provide a good dose of humor as well.

The layered aspects of the narrative also provide for decent bookends and payoffs to the game.

Overall Fun:  Episodic Adventure that is Great in One Sitting or Many

S.O.U.P. felt like a good use of our time and a fun way to pass a couple of hours.  While the game can easily be broken into smaller and separate play sessions because of the mission aspect, we felt compelled to knock them all out in one sitting.  

The game hit the right balance of challenging without causing any frustration or sticking-points.  The strong directions and guidance always meant we knew what we should be doing.   

Though the game could potentially be played with a larger group, we would recommend a smaller group of 1-3 players, so everyone can be involved and hands on with the clues.  

*For those interested, with proper care provided, the game can mostly be reset and passed on.  There are only one or two elements that are not fully resettable.   

THOUGHTS WRAP UP:

Puzzles: A Variety of Fun Puzzles for Those Who Know How to Pay Attention

Narrative: Strong Story and Theming with Some Good Humor

Overall Fun: Episodic Adventure that is Great in One Sitting or Many

Recommended for:  Puzzlers of any level, but especially those who enjoy humor, pay close attention to details, and like mysterious events from all around the world.

Review – S. O. U. P. by Crack-A-Nut Mysteries

Website Link – https://crackanutmysteries.com 

Price –  $77

Disclaimer: we purchased the game with our own money, this review is not sponsored. All thoughts are our own.