Author: underwoodsgreatescape

Played 3rd February 2018

Theme

“Ringmaster Herr Mont has discovered that his love has strayed and plans to leave him, taking the circus jewels with her! He has enlisted you and your team to help him find out who she is planning on leaving him for and to find where she has hidden the jewels before she takes them”

Host

Our host for this game was Leanne, she was friendly and welcoming. As soon as we arrived she gave us the plot to the game along with the health and safety brief.

Room Set Up

The initial area of the game is an “ally way” it is quite dark, but the majority of the game is played in well lit rooms. As this is a circus themed room there is various circus props, some of which were very old. Space at times in this game would be a bit of a squeeze for the maximum sized team of 6, it was a little cramped with just the two of us working on a puzzle in one of the areas.

Game Play

This is a linear game, which used a lot of padlocks with either 3 or 4 digit combinations and a couple key openings. The flow was a little unhinged, there wasn’t any correlation between what code opened what padlock, this meant trying multiple combinations in different locks. Good observation is needed in this game along with a good memory, there are logical and mathematical puzzles.

Clue System

Clues were given via a tv screen located close to the start of the game.

Escape Time

58 minutes

Our Overall Rating

Puzzles ★★☆☆☆

Immersion ★★★☆☆

Difficulty ★★★☆☆

Wow Factor ★☆☆☆☆

Overall Experience ★★☆☆☆

We felt this game is well decorated and you can see lots have thought has been done to craft it along with the authentic props within the game. Although we don’t mind a padlock heavy room, having 21 in a game when there isn’t any subtle signposting to which code opened which lock was frustrating. During the brief there was a big emphasis on being careful, we understood this as there are a lot of very old and quite fragile items which are lovely for authenticity, however trying to play a game that has a time limit is difficult and could cause problems for the owner at some point in the future. There are a lot of items in this room which aren’t needed and can cause time delays sifting through them when they don’t relate to the puzzles in any way. During the game we felt that we were being rushed, as our host kept giving us clues which were not needed, before we even started a puzzle we immediately heard a ping on the tv screen telling us what to do next, an escape room is about using your own efforts to escape not being walked through every step, this was partially annoying to us as we wanted to think for ourselves and in the end we started to ignore the hosts clues on the screen. Overall the room was nice and it is a great starting point to an escape room however with a few tweaks this game will do really well.

Price

This game is charged per person, A maximum of 6 players can play this game in any combination.

Adults           £15

Child (u16)   £12.50

Escape The Game Circus Heist Website

Played 6th October 2018

Theme

“We need to test that this portal works properly, we’re pretty sure that it does but we just need to be certain! From what we can gather Tommy has landed somewhere in the midst of the Western Front in 1917. There is a very significant chance/the slight possibility that the portal could break when you go through (but it probably won’t don’t worry) If it does though, don’t panic, your team are just going to have to fix the time portal before the bridge collapses and you’re trapped in the past forever.”

Host

Our host Lilly was lovely and welcoming when we arrived, Lilly took us to our room and given the plot to our room. Lilly was really understanding as she had to reassure Laura due to the first room being really dark.

Room Set Up

The room set up for this game was amazing, along with time travel element and decoration, you really do feel as though you have gone back in time. Props are minimal but everything is in keeping with the theme. The sound effects in the game are fantastic, at times it makes you feel as if the room is shaking. This game is a little on the small side, personally we would say a team of 7 would be too large for the space, a team of 4-5 would be a better fit without being on top of each other. The lighting in this room is quite dark at times however you are provided with lanterns.

Game Play

The beginning of this game is so unique, nothing like anything we have come across before. The game is linear with a mix of skill, physical and logical puzzles with padlock openings. This was a very fluid game, and the puzzles for the theme very well, due to the sound effects of the game, there was a certain sense of urgency to complete puzzles which added to the immersion of the game.

Clue System

Given by our host from a walkie talkie

Escape Time

53 Minutes

Our Overall Rating

Puzzles ★★★☆☆

Immersion ★★★★★

Difficulty ★★★☆☆

Wow Factor ★★★★☆

Overall Experience ★★★★☆

The immersion at unescapeable starts the minute you walk through the door. They have a large reception area, with a very interesting centerpiece. Tommy has the most amazing start which gives the game a real uniqueness to it. The game plays well and is very immersive with the sound and lighting effects. Lilly our host was really nice and made are game very enjoyable. We would highly recommend Tommy to any one who is wanting to play, we are really glad that we added Derby to our escape room trip last minute and we look forward to returning to play Edith (After Laura has summoned a little courage)

Price

2 Players   £50

3 Players   £60

4 Players   £70

5 Players   £80

6 Players   £90

7 Players   £100

Unescapeable Tommy Website

Played 23rd December 2018

Theme

“Six months after the great inventor Professor Tepet’s death – M.I.6. gained access to the lab where he kept all of his greatest inventions. Among the files, they found an abandoned document called A-I-9 detailing an artificial intelligence peacekeeping program. Scientists finally managed to recreate the program, rolling it out across the nation. A type of robot (called ‘9bots’) were integrated into society. The NHS could diagnose patients before symptoms appeared while the army neutralised threats before they happened, the country thrived, for a time. 24 hours ago an anomaly appeared in the code shutting down internet and telecommunications worldwide and soon after chaos ensued. A-I-9 is corrupting the system from the inside. This was meant to be impossible. The only way to stop it is to destroy it before it can destroy us – can you get past their self-protection systems?”

“The end of the world was always going to be man-made. The only question was how?” – Professor Errol Tepet”

Host

Our host for this game was Melissa, we were greeted in the reception area and she took us through to our game where she showed us a short video and gave us our brief.

Room Set Up

This room has been set out in a surveillance room type way. There are a few TV screens, a few props, with various puzzles set out around the room. The space is quite small, as a four there was enough space but the maximum sized team of six will find it a little bit of a squeeze. This room was well lit throughout the game, however there are also some smoke effects but this is listed on the website.

Game Play

This is a non linear game with a variation of puzzles such as problem solving, mathematical, logical and observational. The majority of the game used padlocks. Although space is compact, this is a good game for larger teams as you are able to divide up and complete puzzles. Each puzzle fit the theme of the game well.

Clue System

Clues were given via a tv screen.

Escape Time

41 minutes 28 seconds

Our Overall Rating

Puzzles ★★★★☆

Immersion ★★★☆☆

Difficulty ★★★☆☆

Wow Factor ★☆☆☆☆

Overall Experience ★★★☆☆

AI-9 is the first escape game our other team members have played and they both loved it and now understand why we love them too. This room is good for larger groups as you can split to complete puzzles in good time however the space is restricting. Less experienced players may enjoy this game more, as more advanced players may find the room a little less demanding than other rooms. The decoration of the room has been well thought out and complimented the theme. We really look forward to visiting Malvern again in the future. We also completed this room with no clues and in record time !!!

Price

2 Players   £44

3 Players   £63

4 Players   £76

5 Players   £85

6 Players   £90

Clue HQ Malvern’s Website

Played 27th December 2018

Theme

“Rudolph has been stolen and you and your team have been hired by the SES (secret Elf Service) to solve the clues and find him.”

Host

Our host was new which surprised us as he seemed to pick everything up well, we had a little chat, given the brief and then led down to our room and given our plot.

Room Set Up

The room is spacious and would fit the maximum sized team of 8 with ease. There are a lot of props within the room however not a lot of decoration on the walls however this doesn’t effect the game.

Game Play

This was a linear game with a really good flow and indication of what needed to be done next. This room consisted of padlocks ranging from key and coded locks; there are a lot of locks in this game 24 to be exact but they had been subtly labeled which was nice as there wasn’t a need to try multiple locks which could possibly get tedious. This is a fast paced game which involved a good rummage and collecting items along your way which you may not immediately need but would be handy to have around at a later stage. Being organised in this game was key for us, along with a good memory of previously solved puzzles, although we had a little nudge to jog our memory. There is a good mixture of puzzles which included, a lot of observation, logical, and mathematical. There is also a puzzle which needed good team work and a little skill and was very satisfying when we final managed to complete it.

Clue System

Clues were given on a screen located in the room, to ask for a clue you typed a number on a keypad.

Escape Time

54 Minutes 49 Seconds

Our Overall Rating

Puzzles ★★★☆☆

Immersion ★★☆☆☆

Difficulty ★★★☆☆

Wow Factor ★★☆☆☆

Overall Experience ★★★☆☆

We have enjoyed playing previous games at the Penzance branch of Eureka and again had a fun time playing this seasonal room. Although there was a lot of puzzles to complete this kept us on our toes throughout, creating quite a fast paced game for the two of us. As this was a linear game it would suit smaller teams, with a larger team players may find themselves on the sidelines at times. This is a really good room for families or younger players to get involved with due to puzzles being accessible to all and the theme would appeal to younger members of a team. As this is a seasonal room it won’t be around for long, but we are excited to see what Eureka have in store next.

Price

2 Players   £40

3 Players   £48

4 Players   £60

5 Players   £70

6 Players   £78

7 Players   £91

8 Players   £104

Eureka Escape Rooms Website

Played October 6th 2018

Theme

“After a daring bank heist goes incredibly wrong, can you finish the job?

Five very different criminals were brought together to accomplish the impossible, break into the high security vault underneath Scelus Bank and steal whatever is inside. The operation did not go according to plan and the five have found themselves in police custody, on the run or even worse, dead!

Host

After playing game at the Leicester branch we were pumped to be in Nottingham, we arrived at Escapologic where we got to see the team again and have a good natter about different rooms, they also didn’t let Laura forget about the disaster in Crypt-ic or the hilarious antics in Epi Centre. For this game we had Adam hosting, he led us across the road to our game. Adam gave us the funny escapologic health and safety and then story line to our game.

Room Set Up

The garage was the perfect setting for our heist with a little surprise inside which isn’t common in escape rooms but it was the perfect accessory. The game had minimal props inside but everything in the room had a purpose which is perfect to keep you on track with no red herrings. The game would happily incorporate the maximum team size of 5.

Game Play

The game flow was perfect, we knew exactly what to do the moment we stepped in however we had some blips on the way but that was because our brains have been mashed from a long escape room road trip, playing 21 games in 5 days was a challenge. The game had well thought out puzzles and challenges which Escapologic have always been good at doing which is why they are so popular. The puzzle were observational, logical and physical. This game has a great ending but we won’t spoil it for you.

Clue System

Clues were given by our hacker friend.

Escape Time

42 Minutes 26 Seconds

Our Overall Rating

Puzzles ★★★★☆

Immersion ★★★★☆

Difficulty ★★★☆☆

Wow Factor ★★★★★

Overall Experience ★★★★★

As always Escapologic deliver another fantastic room, we need to know what goes on in Simon’s mind when we creates these masterpieces. The game flow was so fluid we were able to enjoy ourselves without getting frustrated. This game had two moments when we both went ‘oh’ a good oh though, Adam must have enjoyed it when we had a little tiff on one part of the game as our adrenaline was pumping. We would definitely recommend this room for adults and older teens as the theming and puzzles would be best suited to this age range rather than children.

Price

Off Peak

Monday-Thursday 11.30am-8.30pm

2 Players   £40

3 Players   £57

4 Players   £70

5 Players   £80

Peak

Friday-Saturday 10am-8.30pm, Sunday 10am-7pm

2 Players   £50

3 Players   £69

4 Players   £84

5 Players   £100

Escapologic Heistakes Website

Played 13th January 2019

Theme

“You and the rest of your detective team have been on the case of Danny Badd. Badd has been wanted for 7 years and is a known criminal all over Europe. He’s wanted by many different countries for various crimes. After 1 year of gathering information, 24 hour surveillance, and even capturing Badd’s brother, you’ve finally got the best lead that any intelligence unit has ever received with regards to his location. You’re going in, but not without a plan. Badd is notorious for blowing up anyone who attempts to track him down. Watch your step.”

Host

Our hosts Gerri and Mark were fantastic, we were welcomed the moment we walked in and you can tell they are enjoying their business venture in escape rooms. Before the game we had a chat about escape rooms sharing stories which we always enjoy doing. We watched the intro video which gave the health and safety brief and then taken into our room to start.

Room Set Up

The room is well decorated and dimly lit however torches are provided The space is large and utilized well with well crafted props to immerse you. The room would comfortably fit the maximum team size of 6.

Game Play

This game has multiple starting points which is great for larger teams, this seems to be a theme with the Clue Hq game as we have previously visited a Malvern franchise that has a similar game flow. Everything in the game has a purpose which is handy for a team of 2 like us as we could easily see what needed to be done without getting confused. the puzzles range from logical, mathematical, observational and small physical puzzles. This game does have a lot of padlocks but it’s easy to find which code went with which lock.

Clue System

Clues are given by a tv screen.

Escape Time

44 Minutes 53 Seconds

Our Overall Rating

Puzzles ★★★★☆

Immersion ★★★★☆

Difficulty ★★☆☆☆

Wow Factor ★★☆☆☆

Overall Experience ★★★★☆

We loved playing Detonation its a fast paced, high energy game with a twist to get your adrenaline pumping. The game has been beautifully created, you can tell Gerri and Mark have really put thought into the design of the room. After our game we were given the opportunity to view where their new room will go and see their room hq. The game has a good range of puzzles to utilize everyones strengths and is perfect for an evening of fun without frustration. We cannot wait to return when they have their new game.

Price

2 Players   £50

3 Players   £63

4 Players   £76

5 Players   £85

6 Players   £90

Clue HQ Detonation Website

Played October 5th 2018

Theme

“A version of the normally dormant Chronos virus has mutated, becoming deadly, resulting in the death of any living thing it comes into contact with. This pandemic has decimated the human populace and plunged modern society into chaos. After several failed attempts at finding a cure it is now time to activate the last resort.

The Powers That Govern, a mysterious secret society, have enlisted you to pilot a machine developed from the collective research of some of the most brilliant minds in history; Da Vinci, Tesla and Einstein. This machine is the final contingency, it will shift you through the voids of space and time… Your destination, Victorian London.

It is here that you will find patient zero, the only known fatality caused by Chronos up until it’s mutation in the present day. The research from this rare case was once lost to time but now you have the power to get it back and find a cure. Change the past, fix the present and give humanity a future.”

Host

Our host Jess followed us through our three games in the Leicester branch. this was our third and final game, she took us through the health and safety brief specific to this game and we got started.

Room Set Up

This game starts of in a small space, once the initial puzzle is solved the space opens out and there is plenty of space for the maximum size team of 5. As with all of the Escapologic games Chronos is no different and the room is full floor to ceiling with interesting props and decoration which compliments the theme perfectly.

Game Play

There are a number of puzzles in this game which you need to complete to find the symbols you need to transport yourself back to the present day. There are a mixture of puzzles in this room which include logical, physical and mainly observational. Each section of the game has the Escapologic touch which sets the room miles apart, it’s also really good for larger teams as the different puzzles don’t need to be completed together. The puzzles are fun, inventive and ties into the theme very well.

Clue System

Clues were given by notes, which made us jump sometimes.

Escape Time

56 Minutes 49 Seconds

Our Overall Rating

Puzzles ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ 4

Immersion ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ 5

Difficulty ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ 4

Wow Factor ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ 4

Overall Experience ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ 4

This was our final game at Escapologic after having just played Operation Magnus and ReactorVate. This was also our fifth game of the day so we were a little frazzled towards the end. However with helpful hints from Jess we completed this game making it 3 out of 3 escapes! Chronos is such an elaborate room, was really well decorated with well thought out puzzles. This is a really good room for any sized team as you can divide up and tackle different elements of the game separately or work together on each element to escape. We would highly recommend this room to anyone who hasn’t played this game.

Price

Off Peak

Monday-Thursday 11.30am-8.30pm

2 Players   £40

3 Players   £57

4 Players   £70

5 Players   £80

Peak

Friday-Saturday 10am-8.30pm, Sunday 10am-7pm

2 Players   £50

3 Players   £69

4 Players   £84

5 Players   £100

Escapologic Chronos Website

Played 6th October 2018

Theme

“Following reports of strange lights in the skies over Derbyshire, your team intercepts a distress signal, which leads you to an abandoned military bunker. Once the door closes behind you, you quickly realise the signal was not all that it seemed, the bunker was not abandoned and you are not alone. Work together as a team to solve the puzzles and escape. The truth is in there….”

Host

Our host Shelly was welcoming upon our arrival, we went through the health and safety and then locked in our room. After the game we had a lovely talk with Shelly about escape rooms as she was a fellow enthusiast.

Room Set Up

The room was a normal office setting, dimly lit with all props in keeping with the theme of the game. This game is a very large room which will happily hold the maximum team size of 6.

Game Play

The puzzles in this game went well with the theming, they were a mix of mental, logical, observational and physical puzzles. There was a part of the game that we really struggled with as you had to carry out a search of the room but it was very difficult to find so needed a clue or two to figure it out, however one part of the game was our favorite which gave a good twist to the ending, Shelly came in after the game and went through different possibilities with us so we can see different sides of the game. The game consisted of mainly coded padlocks.

Clue System

Clues are given on a screen.

Escape Time

47 minutes 48 seconds

Our Overall Rating

Puzzles ★★★★☆

Immersion ★★★★☆

Difficulty ★★★☆☆

Wow Factor ★★★★☆

Overall Experience ★★★★☆

We both had a great time at Make your escape, the team were really accommodating when we altered our escape room holiday to incorporate Derby as part of our trip having to book everything whilst in Germany. We had great fun playing Signal, we really like the emotive alternate ending and how that impacted the final moments of the game. We cannot wait to come back to play Utopia and Dystopia.

Price

Off Peak

Monday – Thursday

2 Players   £40

Peak

Friday – Sunday

2 Players   £50

Monday – Sunday

3 Players   £60

4 Players   £70

5 Players   £80

6 Players   £90

Make Your Escape Signal Website

 

Played October 7th 2018

Theme

“You and your team are tasked with defusing a bomb planted deep inside a police station. Hold your nerve, be patient, but also react quickly to make sure Boiling Point doesn’t get the better of you! You must hurry before time runs out and find the evidence to make your escape.”

Host

Jak was our host again after playing Enchanted Forest this was our final room after playing all 4 games Break Escape have to offer on the same day. Jak explained this was a hard room however we were ready to take on the challenge, Jak went through the brief and gave us the story of the game before being ushered in and the door closed.

Room Set Up

The set up for this room is what we expected and has been decorated with props you would find in a police station. This room use a mixture of coded, key, directional and mag locks. The game is spacious but a slight squeeze for a large team in the beginning with good lighting. The rooms would comfortably fit the maximum size team of six with extra space.

Game Play

There are good range of puzzles in this game which mainly consist of logical and observational. Observation plays a big role in this game, collecting items which you may not immediately need but will need later on, so keep a pile of items close by. The game had a very good flow as it was mainly linear, however don’t try searching for an IED like we did, Jak had a laugh about it.

Clue System

Clue were given via a computer screen

Escape Time

50 minutes 18 seconds

We made 7th on the leaderboard, and the fastest team of two!!

Our Overall Rating

Puzzles ★★★★★

Immersion ★★★★☆

Difficulty ★★★★★

Wow Factor ★★☆☆☆

Overall Experience ★★★★☆

This was our 4th game at Break Escape and the final game of our 21 game road trip. Being the toughest game at Break Escape we were worried of failing the game but we were pleasantly surprised that not only did we make 7th on the leaderboard, we are the fastest team of two to escape! We barely had any clues too! This was an unexpected high note to finish off our week of escaping. We really enjoyed this game, Thank you Break Escape for hosting us.

Price

peak

monday-Friday after 6pm, Saturday and Sunday

2 Players   £50

3 Players   £60

4 Players   £70

5 Players   £80

6 Players   £90

off peak

Monday-Friday before 6pm

2 Players   £45

3 Players   £55

4 Players   £65

5 Players   £75

6 Players   £85

Break Escape Boiling Point Website

Played October 7th 2018

Theme

“A portal has been discovered that leads through to another world. The realm is under the control of a dark enchantress, and the forest sleeps. Can you wake it, and find a rare blue gem before the enchantress and make your escape?!”

Host

Jak was our host and also one of the owners at Break Escape, as usual we got into a lengthy conversation about escape rooms and share stories. Jak gave us the health and safety along with the story line and a cheeky tip for the start of our game.

Room Set Up

Magical springs to mind, Enchanted Forest is a mixture of Narnia and The Dark Crystal. The detailing in the decoration of this room incredible, it is so immersive it makes it hard to believe your in a building above a restaurant on the high street. The game does start off in a small space which will be a squeeze for the maximum size team of six, but the area does open out as you progress providing adequate space, with a very fun surprise.

Game Play

This game is non linear, your aim is to collect stones to help the heart of the forest come back to life, because of this larger teams can go off into smaller groups and all have something to focus on. The game uses a range of different puzzles including problem solving, observational, logical and physical. There are A mixture of number, letter, key padlocks with some automated openings.

Clue System

Clues were given by the princess of the forest.

Escape Time

53 minutes 59 seconds

Our Overall Rating

Puzzles ★★★★☆

Immersion ★★★★★

Difficulty ★★★★☆

Wow Factor ★★★★★

Overall Experience ★★★★★

This was the game which we were most looking forward to playing, being the latest room to have opened we hadn’t heard much but what we saw was mesmerizing. Break escape managed to create a amazing set design and inventive puzzles to make this game one of the most memorable experiences, this room defines wow factor. We would highly recommend this game to anyone and would urge anyone in the area to play. This would be a really good room for families, as the theme is suitable for children. Although this is quite a difficult room, younger ones are able to help out. There are also bonus puzzles in the room which would keep them busy separately to the main game.

Price

peak

monday-Friday after 6pm, Saturday and Sunday

2 Players   £50

3 Players   £60

4 Players   £70

5 Players   £80

6 Players   £90

off peak

Monday-Friday before 6pm

2 Players   £45

3 Players   £55

4 Players   £65

5 Players   £75

6 Players   £85

Break Escape Enchanted Forest Website