Upon reaching the Crossroads in Order of the Sinking Star, players are presented with a choice of four directions: north, east, south, and west. While a guiding recording suggests prioritizing north or east and avoiding west, the optimal path depends on a player's preference for puzzle complexity.
Navigating the Crossroads
Each direction leads to a distinct area with unique puzzle mechanics:
- North leads to the Heroes of Hauling, an area inspired by Heroes of Sokoban. Players control three heroes, each possessing a different ability, requiring strategic swapping to solve levels.
- East guides players to The Mirror Isles, based on Alan Hazelden's Mirror Isles. This area involves using mirrors to create a teleport-able image of the player, with puzzles escalating as more mirrors are introduced.
- South directs players to Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes, another design by Alan Hazelden. Puzzles here involve using rocks to create paths across water by skipping them onto lily pads, demanding precise timing.
- West takes players to The Promise, adapted from Sean Barrett's Promesst. This area is considered the most challenging, requiring players to collect gems to activate character abilities and explore a labyrinthine maze to unlock new sections.
Recommended Paths
The recording's advice to proceed north or east is well-founded. These initial areas feature simpler puzzles that allow players to acclimate to the game's mechanics. The Heroes of Hauling offers a gentle introduction to cooperative puzzle-solving with distinct character abilities, while The Mirror Isles introduces a spatial reasoning challenge that gradually increases in complexity.
While the south also presents engaging puzzles, its reliance on precise timing might prove more demanding for newcomers than the north or east. The west, however, is the most complex, almost functioning as a self-contained Metroidvania-like section. Its intricate maze and the need for gem collection to progress make it significantly more challenging and best tackled after gaining more experience with the game's systems.
Players are not permanently locked into any direction. It is possible to return to the Crossroads from the menu at any time, allowing for flexibility. This means players can switch paths if they become stuck on a particular puzzle or simply wish to explore a different type of challenge.