What's a Cryptid?
A cryptid is a creature or animal whose existence is claimed but not scientifically proven, often rooted in folklore, mythology, or eyewitness reports. Cryptids are the focus of Cryptozoology, a field that studies these mysterious and unverified beings. The term “Cryptozoology” comes from the ancient greek terms:
- “kryptos”, meaning “hidden, secret, unknown, enigmatic, or mysterious”
- “zōion”, meaning "animal"
- “logos” , meaning “knowledge, or study”
While humans’ belief in various mythical or mysterious animals dates back millenia, the formal field of Cryptozoology was formed in the 1950s - right about when your Uncle Herbert was making discoveries!
Real Cryptid in the game:
Your game includes many cryptid that are actually studied and investigated by Cryptozoologists. These include:
Bigfoot: Also known as Sasquatch, this large ape-like creature is rumored to live in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Bigfoot sightings date back over 100 years. There have been thousands of accounts, but one of the most famous, the Patterson footage, can be found here.
Fun fact: The article in your game about a camper being abducted by Bigfoot was based on a real event! Albert Ostman was a Canadian prospector who lived from 1893-1975. In 1924, he claimed that he was abducted from his campsite, carried for several hours, and held captive for six days by a Bigfoot family (two adults and two younger Bigfoot). He claimed to have escaped when the family tried his tobacco and got sick. “Mason Barlett” from the article is an anagram of “Albert Ostman”.
Yeti: Also known as the Abominable Snowman, the Yeti is a cryptid from Himalayan folklore, said to live in the Himalayan mountains. It is similar to Bigfoot, but adapted to snowy climates.
The Loch Ness Monster: “Nessie” as she is informally known, skyrocketed to international fame thanks to a 1934 photo by an English physician. This photo was debunked in 1994, but there are still many believers and eyewitness accounts.
Wampus Cat: The Wampus Cat appears in American folklore, especially in the Appalachian and Southern regions. Depending on the region, it has a variety of different descriptions, ranging from having six legs, to being part cat, part woman, to having glowing yellow or green eyes.
Thunderbird: The Thunderbird comes from Native American mythology and is often portrayed as being a spiritual or protective being. As in the game, they are said to be able to hurl lightning and create thunder.
Mongolian Death Worm: This deadly cryptid is rumored to live in the Gobi desert. As in the game, they travel underground and burst to the surface to feed.
Chupacabra: This famous goat blood-sucking cryptid is from Latin America. We fudged our story a bit here as the first sighting was quite recent - 1995, in Puerto Rico.
Semi-real Cryptid:
Other cryptid in the game come from real folk tales, myths, or legends, but would likely fall under the category of “mythical creatures” rather than “cryptid”.
Fairies: A very common figure in stories and folklore with European roots, but not technically considered “cryptid”, as most cryptozoologists don’t argue for their real existence.
Cyclogremus: Our fusion of the Greek mythological Cyclops, and a legitimate cryptid: the Gremlin. Gremlins were popularized in World War II as small, malevolent creatures, responsible for mechanical failures in aircraft.
Terra Golum: Based off of a creature from Jewish folklore (the Golem), typically made of clay or mud and brought to life through mystical rituals. Golem were created to serve and protect, with great strength but little intelligence.
Triclops: A combination of a mythical 3-eyed creature and an onocentaur (centaur, but with two donkey legs). Plus, we threw in the alcohol allergy for fun. :)
Shapeshifter: A variety of shapeshifters exist throughout cultures around the world. One cryptid example are “skinwalkers”, from Navajo legend, which can turn into animals or other people (though not usually inanimate objects).
Phoenix: The origin of the Phoenix is attributed to the Ancient Egyptians, but it spread to a variety of other cultures across the globe. Though not technically a cryptid, the creature’s cycle of dying in a fiery blaze to be reborn again felt like a needed inclusion given your Uncle’s final destination.
Other cryptids in the game were largely fabricated by our team, but did take slight inspiration from other mythical creatures from folklore, such as the Pyronex being inspired by Dragons.
The Fountain of Youth:
The Fountain of Youth is a legendary spring said to restore youth to anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters. The myth has origins in various cultures, including ancient Greek and Roman tales of rejuvenating waters (the above image is from the Romans), but it became particularly famous in European lore during the Age of Exploration. Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León is often linked to the search for the Fountain of Youth, although historical accounts suggest his real quest was for new territories in what is now Florida. Fun fact, there is now a tourist attraction in Florida that lays claim to being home of the Fountain.
Illusions in the game:
We wanted our game to not only discuss somewhat mind-bending concepts, but to actually bend your perception as well! The illusions in your game were carefully selected and crafted to complement the story. Below are a list of several of the illusions that were the basis for some of the puzzles in your game.
Hidden words:
The hidden word (Eureka) found within the moss of the Troll cave is based on a common genre of puzzle in which words are hidden within plain sight. For example, can you find “The Hidden Tiger” in this illustration? (hint, you’re not looking for the animal, but rather the words)
Vanishing puzzles:
Your fairy pillars, which can be rearranged to seamlessly create either 10, 9, or 8 pillars with symbols, are based on a genre of puzzles called “vanishing puzzles”. The first of these was called the “Get Off the Earth” puzzle created by Sam Lloyd in 1893 for the World’s Fair.
You can find and test out a similar version here. Other examples in various formats can be found here, and here.
Anamorphic Text and Images:
Anamorphosis is a technique in which text or images are stretched or distorted to obscure their meaning or imagery. The technique dates back to the Renaissance, with Leonardo Da Vinci creating some rudimentary versions. Your Cyclogremus tiles, the colored crystals map, and the final illustration of the Fountain of Youth are all examples of anamorphosis.
Impossible Geometries:
Our blue pathway puzzle took inspiration from Escher’s impossible staircase illustration, as well as other optical illusion artists that create geometric shapes that would be impossible to create in the physical world. There are some very playful versions of this illusion as well. For example, how many legs does the elephant below have?
The Moire Effect:
The animation cards from the camera your Uncle developed, as well as the dark orb animation map in Part II use what is called the Moire Effect. “Moire” comes from the french word for “watered” or “watered silk”, describing the rippling effect that happens when two types of fabric with slightly different weaves are passed over one another. If you’d like to check out an old school video describing the phenomenon, you can check this video out. If you’d like to see some other fun examples, check this video out.
We sincerely hope you enjoyed the game! :D