The Strange Secret Of Mr. Adrian Rook from Strange Bird Immersive (Based In Houston, TX, USA) ◣ GAME'S SPECS 🕹️ Stay At Home Games » Host Led Experience » Immersive Theater Experience ⏲️ 90 minutes duration. 🔢 Accommodating up to 8, public booking. 📝 Optional light interaction, with a puzzle to solve as a group at the end. 📝 Experience requires Zoom (ideally on a computer), and a cell phone mid-show. Check for details. 📝 Note potential time difference between your location and the host's (check time zone). 🛒 If you BOOK SHOW due to this blog, please give EscapeMattster.com a shout out! ;) ◣ MATTSTER'S TAKE 💪 Difficulty: N/A, but for final "mystery", it should hit you as quite obvious if you paid attention. 🔢 Ideal Team Size: N/A, but I recommend booking among friends to promote a comfortable interactive environment. 🤷‍♂️ Best Fit For: Anyone who's in for a peculiar and intriguing show. (NOT an escape room, but quality entertainment.) 🍵 Boils Down To: Immersive theater supported by an all-talented cast, each bringing unique elements to their respective character, ultimately culminating into one fascinating show. Also features a very light puzzle--it's more of a bonus. 😃 Overall Rating: One of the more memorable experience I've done since the world's turned upside down. Even with the lack of true puzzles (which are usually my focus), "Rook" transformed my impression of what remote platform is capable of, which is apparently a very powerful medium for thespian arts as well! I'd recommend purchasing a ticket, but due to surging popularity, most spots are already sold out. (UPDATE: KEEP CHECKING FOR NEW DATES/TIMES BEING ADDED!) OOOH. ME LIKEY. THIS JOINS "RECOMMENDED" RANK! ◣ PREMISE Something isn’t right at Strange Bird Immersive. Our doors are closed, no strangers to greet. And Adrian Rook, secretary to the Raven Queen, has gone missing... We need you to change the narrative. You are cordially invited to Strange Bird's virtual Open House. Meet unusual tenants, witness strange events, and help us locate our beloved Mr. Rook. ◣ ANALYSIS Storytelling • All Eyes On Rook Raven Queen's beloved assistant Adrian Rook has gone missing for weeks, can you come help locate the missing man? A seemingly simple mystery of a missing person case at first glance, the story of "The Strange Secret Of Mr. Adrian Rook" turns out to be something beyond. And much like the title suggests, the strange thing is, his disappearance conundrum is but one small part of the complete narrative. Invited to the virtual open house of Strange Bird Immersive, participants get an intimate greet-and-meet with six pre-selected tenants of the business complex, perhaps personally handpicked by owner The Raven Queen herself. From seductive hostess of unit 411--not sure what it is, but definitely not a speakeasy--to pragmatic medical professional, and even one bizarre intoxicated welder, the roster of proprietors spans a wide spectrum, and each exudes their own brand of eccentricity. 'Tis a night of a true mixer. What I expected was for each individual to dispense valuable leads for finding the man of the hour; what I got instead was often random but entertaining summary of each business's passionate project. But somewhere along the line, the narrative converge--they all miss dear Adrian. Some may begrudgingly half admit the sentiment, but they do. "Rook" is ultimately a tale about friendship, connection, and our innate desire to embrace and support each other. Corny as it may sound, perhaps this is a message we need most in a painfully divisive world. Though on rare occasions the script seems to pivot a hard turn, requiring the actor to go from blithe to grieved in a matter of seconds, the plot worked for the most part considering the narrow 15-minute window to introduce, develop, and conclude, all whilst leaving enough room for the artist to fully perform. To the least, the main story bolsters a fantastic playground for the audience to immerse themselves in the eclectic avian universe for the next 90 minutes. The Strange Secret Of Mr. Adrian Rook | Credits: Strange Bird Immersive Setup • Strange Bird Soars High Above Hardship Part of why I admire this extremely cleverly executed immersive experience is the ingenious setup. Despite stringent business measures and shutdowns to curb COVID transmissions, the Strange Bird team rises from the ashes and creates an immersive drama masterpiece against the odds. Taking full advantage of Zoom's capability to run several breakout rooms at the same time, "Rook" moves waves of guests at staggered times from one "business" (or scene) to the next, enabling the company to run several shows, literally simultaneously, in the most cost-effective (and did I mention ingenious) manner possible. While each individual actor may run their portion of the show remotely and even geographically separate from each other, the overall open house premise cements all loose pieces together into one seamless, coherent experience, and an extremely stylish one to boot. From the consumer's point of view, having something new to feast the senses on every quarter of an hour is an interesting enough concept for most to try. Having a wide array of subjects, from neuroscience to photography and all that's in between, relatively-rapid-fired at you, it's hard not to be entertained from the sheer variety. With your mind gleefully and continually distracted, and maybe a drink or two in hand, this makes for a decent 90-minute carefree escape. Of note, the somewhat tagged on "mystery" component is more of a bonus afterthought than the main attraction. Those seeking a true puzzle to solve will regrettably be missing the point. What really happened to to Adrian Rook is not only easy to figure out, but almost a bit too farfetched to be of logical significance. It is, however, an important plot device to drive home the writers' not-so-hidden moral: Cherish those around you while you still can. Life can be so fickle. The Strange Secret Of Mr. Adrian Rook | Credits: Strange Bird Immersive Production • The Perfect Ensemble Though the experience takes place entirely over Zoom, Strange Bird's dedication to elegantly produced theatrics remains apparent, and much effort is put into each individual set, no matter how limited the broadcast may be through the limits of a digital screen. Flickering lights, fuming smoke, and even an unsolicited PowerPoint presentation (everyone's favorite, I'm sure!), they have more than a few tricks up their sleeves to effectively draw the patrons in. I especially want to give some well-deserved praise to the fantastic, fantastic cast. Firstly, each actor dons full costume and makeup, never once compromising the integrity of the theater arts, whether it be in person or socially distanced otherwise. Next, the cast's seasoned ability to engage and interact with the players--and to know when to disengage with the more shy of the bunch (as it was the case with me)--helps tailor the ideal session for each guest. Perhaps most impressively, these actors really CAN act. Each entertainer plays one of the six diverse personalities with their own flair. Some play it straight-faced as their roles require; others channel inner temptresses with their most alluring demeanor. Even when the script demands an abrupt transition of emotion, the actors handle the materials with grace and sell the scene. The innocent, pure, and almost child-like Mr. Rook is even seen shedding a single but impactful tear on camera. And to know that he probably has to cry on demand for 5 times in one night--that's some masterful acting! No pretense. No lie. Just beautiful accidents. IYKYK. #AccPho. | Credits: Strange Bird Immersive Final Thoughts "The Strange Secret Of Mr. Adrian Rook" is curious and cute short story enacted by an extremely talented cast, and by far the most non-escape room experience I've ever taken great pleasure in. The lack of puzzle challenges didn't bother me, as I was too busy being in awe of one personable performance after another. Disjointed by 6 separate accounts and yet also extraordinarily cohesive at the same time, "Rook" is not only a unique byproduct of 2020's pandemic, but also an artistic--and optimistic--reflection of the world as we know it today. In fantasia veritas, ESCAPE MATTSTER Instagram @EscapeMattster ▪ Facebook.com/EscapeMattster Full disclosure: complimentary experience access was generously provided for review or testing purposes. All media are sourced from and credited to rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. In certain cases, media materials are made available under fair use doctrine of copyright law. SBIRook.

Pirate's Plunder from Trapped Puzzle Rooms (Based In St Paul & Minneapolis, MN, USA) ◣ GAME'S SPECS 🕹️ Stay At Home Games » Host Led Experience » Audio-Led Escape Game 💪 Difficulty not specified. ⏲️ 90 minutes duration limit. 🔢 Accommodating 3-6 players, private booking. 💬 Hints available by player's request at host's discretion; incorporated within story narration. 📝 Experience requires Discord for live audio and image sharing. Check for details. 📝 Note potential time difference between your location and the host's (check time zone). 🛒 If you BOOK GAME due to this blog, please give EscapeMattster.com a shout out! ;) ◣ MATTSTER'S TAKE 💪 Difficulty: For Mattster's team of 3, easy, 3/10. 🔢 Ideal Team Size: 3 (adults). Relatively easy and family friendly; minimum required booking of 3 will surely suffice. 🤷‍♂️ Best Fit For: Younger audience with a penchant for pirates, which shouldn't be hard to find. Because what kid isn't? 🍵 Boils Down To: A pirate narrative that doesn't go quite as expected, but with puzzles that pan out pretty much how you would expect. In other words, delightful story, so-so puzzles, but performed *flawlessly* by great game masters. 🙂 Overall Rating: I liked it! Trapped Puzzle Rooms continue to pump out great audio led escape games, and this one happens to be pirate flavored. It isn't as groundbreaking as I would've liked, but nonetheless remarkable enough. ◣ PREMISE Hear ye, swashbucklers! Can you remove the curse and get away with the loot? Or will the Dread Pirate Boberts put an end to your piratey ways? ◣ ANALYSIS Storytelling • Plunder Blunder Following the retirement of their dinos filled "Prehistoric Park", as they tend to do after certain bloody incident, Trapped Puzzle Rooms returns with their latest entry of audio led escape game, "Pirate's Plunder". As pirate themed options infamously proliferate in the escape room industry as one of the most common tropes, I shrugged "Plunder" off as yet another treasure hunt I was about to embark on. Except it was hardly that. "Plunder" tells the story of a reverse treasure discovery, if you will, in which (part of) the supposed reward is given to you point blank within the first minutes of the plot. In more ways blunder than plunder, gleefully accepting a valuable artifact, a beautiful diamond snake idol, from an unfamiliar fellow pirate brings upon misfortune aplenty. A curse befalls upon your poor soul--an unrelenting ghost crew shall recruit one more for their ghastly team--unless you collect 4 more of such idols and return them to their rightful home. Nothing's ever free, is it? A refreshing twist on the straight--and at times borderline boring--"X marks the spot" booty-seeking quest, "Plunder" avoids pirate clichés and invites the players on a path of redemption, though technically, the mistakes were committed long ago by someone else. Nevertheless, what results is fun and different, which is always exciting to find in an endless sea of pirate games. This game is part island treasure collecting, part local gourmet food tour, and eventually even part Sparrow-Jones crossover adventure; it manages to captivate my attention all the way through. Pirate's Plunder | Credits: Trapped Puzzle Rooms Audio Escape Adventures Puzzles • Wholesome One For The Family Much stood out in my last escape with Trapped in "Prehistoric Park". Somewhere in the midst of of dino manure and projectile vomit sample collecting, I came to fully embrace the ludicrous yet delightful out-of-the-box thinking required for a successful mission. Somewhat unfortunately, this seems to have been dialed back in "Plunder", where more goes according to common sense and less turns out unexpected or wonderfully haywire as I would've hoped. Still, "Plunder" offers its unique set of pirate island puzzles featuring an interesting cast: token grumpy lady who hates everyone, friendly pub owner who cooks one mean clam chowder, and hungry fisherman in distress who contributes little except waiting for your rescue. (Seriously, man, did you do anything right before my arrival?!) Though the setting is richly illustrated and with tons to interact with, such interaction offers little surprise. A hungry fella, you say? So you feed him somehow. That roughly describes the level of thinking needed to advance (for most the part), which isn't too challenging. What dipped in puzzle creativity however translated to increased playability: Because even though game design is not as quirky as I would've preferred, it is all-ages friendly and better accommodates users of all experience levels. There is a handful of instances where the challenges get a little more "escape room"-ish, some pattern recognition here, some key word or idea isolation there. Moments like these satisfy the more experienced puzzlers, but because majority of the solutions are so intuitive, even young children can now confidently participate, making "Plunder" a family friendly option. Pirate's Plunder | Credits: Trapped Puzzle Rooms Audio Escape Adventures Production • Arrr!-mazing Supporting Talents Due to the decreased puzzle "difficulty" as discussed, there aren't as many "ah-ha!" moments to procure that thrill that I seek and relish when I overcome a mind-bending riddle. Instead, much of the enjoyment now depends solely from the process; and consequently, the host's performance can potentially and significantly make or break the game. And to that end, Trapped Puzzle Rooms seems to have recruited some of the finest audio talents available. From both community anecdotes and my own first hand experience, there's a consensus that these expertly trained game masters consistently provide quality sessions. My host is a master of voice shifting, easily modulating his tone to better fit that of a rugged seaman, a dainty old lady, and even a mischievous monkey. Moreover, his experience and (re)flexibility as a D&D Dungeon Master adds on an extra layer of prowess, professionalism, and appeal to an otherwise already decent offering. Just as impressive, if not arguably more impressive, is the conspicuously and ridiculously well done art work featured throughout. Perhaps it is this exact stunning artistry that has led the past pirates astray. I mean, look at these idols. Who wouldn't steal these beauts? Numerous scenes appear in this pirate adventure--a lot more than expected, I may add even--and every illustration, all a masterpiece each, brings the scenario to life with absolutely eye-pleasing visuals. With art style consistent throughout, these colorful, painting-like graphics steal the show. Those are pirate hooks, in case you're wondering. | Credits: Trapped Puzzle Rooms Audio Escape Adventures Final Thoughts Though not quite as memorable as the previous giant lizard theme park misadventure, "Pirate's Plunder" exhibits its own distinct charm with exceptional artwork to boot. While I am sure it'd still capture the hearts of many fans, I just really wish they would've pushed the envelope further. Possibly better fitted for a younger and less experienced demographics, this is a decent and welcoming beginners level addition to Trapped's ever-growing roster of impressive audio led escape rooms. ◣ TIPS ★ Almost every single item/character you come in contact with, you will make use of them. So check 'em off as you go! ★ Those who rarely sail the seas should pay close attention to a certain poster back at the living quarters. ★ Graphics can be saved to your desktop and manipulated on Paint... Something to consider when dealing with maps. Signing off, ESCAPE MATTSTER Instagram @EscapeMattster ▪ Facebook.com/EscapeMattster Full disclosure: complimentary game access was generously provided for review or testing purposes. All media are sourced from and credited to rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. In certain cases, media materials are made available under fair use doctrine of copyright law. TPRPirates.

NHS, Thank You! from Cryptic Events Mobile Escape Rooms (Based In The United Kingdom) ◣ GAME'S SPECS 🕹️ Stay At Home Games » On Hand Items Required » Print & Play (PDF File Based) Puzzle Game 💪 Difficulty not specified. ⏲️ Time duration not specified. 🔢 Capacity not specified. 💬 Hints available via automatic responses on Facebook Messenger. (Actual person may also chime in.) 📝 Game requires printed materials and writing utensils. 🛒 If you ACCESS GAME due to this blog, please give EscapeMattster.com a shout out! ;) ◣ MATTSTER'S TAKE 💪 Difficulty: For Mattster's team of 1, easy, 2/10. Those unfamiliar with certain physiology terms may have a harder time. 🔢 Ideal Team Size: 1. The puzzles are pretty simple, best reserved for a quick solo run-through. 🤷‍♂️ Best Fit For: Healthcare staff! A fun, little treat designed specifically to honor our front line, essential workers. 🍵 Boils Down To: A cute packet with 7 neat puzzles themed after medical knowledge or general healthcare setting. 🙂 Overall Rating: A simple print-and-play doubling as a "thank you" message, this gets a solid A for intention and effort. ◣ PREMISE No premise given, just straight to the point: Cryptic Events Mobile Escape Rooms appreciates National Health Service (NHS) workers for their sacrifice during a national crisis, so they designed a delightful pick-me-up that may lighten the mood after a draining shift at the workplace. And it's FREE for everyone to play! ◣ ANALYSIS Background • Feeling Appreciated... Kinda While I normally won't cover a short print & play with a full blown blog entry, this one hits me differently. Cryptic Events from the UK wants to send a thankful message to their healthcare workers for all that they do, serving their community tirelessly during a global pandemic. And this company is doing so with what they do best--with fun puzzles! I don't know if being served brainteasers is everyone's cup of tea after an exhausting day, but *this guy* certainly won't mind! Having been a healthcare worker for most of my adult working life, (yeah, bloggers actually have to go to real life jobs, too... unfortunately!) I understand the struggles of Britain's NHS during the worst health emergency in years on a personal level. To effectively de-stress is of utmost importance, and a handful of fun puzzles can't hurt. And though this overseas package is technically not addressed to me in the US... Well, what am I to do? It isn't like any company in my homeland has made us one! So let me just feel some of this love from the other side of the planet. Aww. NHS, Thank You! | Credits: Cryptic Events Mobile Escape Rooms Puzzles • High School Science Lessons Finally Paid Off! Puzzle 1: Never did I ever suspect the word "stripes" to be an anagram. Until now. I've been enlightened! Puzzle 2: This was clever. It wasn't particularly troublesome to complete the first step. But to deduce and infer the actual solution from the previous clues was fun. Definitely a step up from the first round of warm up. Puzzle 3: A puzzle where basic physiological knowledge of the human skeleton system really came in handy. Though you can eventually crack the codes with a little bit of research, it's much easier if you can name bone(s) spelled with a particular number of letters off the top of your head. So allow me to bask in this glorious moment. Ah. Puzzle 4: It's a maze. Yup. Puzzle 5: Oh no. Placing items in a grid according to certain set of rules is a logic puzzle that I usually do not enjoy! This stands out as particularly difficult, but you need not to solve it for the meta finale... if you can guess well. In fact, I backtracked and solved this last. It's called being resourceful, and not cheating, mind you. Puzzle 6: I suspect this is a misplaced stock market index chart, and hopefully not a very grim looking EKG. Though if and when you do find out why an EKG was there, there's no denying it's wholeheartedly appropriate. Wink! Meta Finale: Thank you, but not for myself, but for all the hardworking heroes of every nation, not just UK, not just US, but every nation on Earth. I sincerely thank you. Be nice, be kind, and be understanding of one another. NHS, Thank You! | Credits: Cryptic Events Mobile Escape Rooms Final Thoughts I have reviewed quite an amount of at home entertainment since this crucible began, and to encounter a puzzle pack curated entirely with front line workers specifically in mind is indeed something special--so I cherish this moment. :) Signing off, ESCAPE MATTSTER Instagram @EscapeMattster ▪ Facebook.com/EscapeMattster All media are sourced from and credited to rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. In certain cases, media materials are made available under fair use doctrine of copyright law. CENHS.

Endgame from @RussBuilds (Based In The United Kingdom) ◣ GAME'S SPECS 🕹️ Stay At Home Games » Host Led Experience » Mobile Tabletop Escape Game 💪 Difficulty not specified. ⏲️ 60 minutes duration limit. 🔢 Capacity not specified. 💬 Hints given by host at user's request. Unlimited hints, but 0.5 point deducted from final score for each. 📝 Experience requires Zoom for live feed, and PDF reader for puzzles. Check for details. 📝 Note potential time difference between your location and the host's (check with host). 🛒 If you BOOK GAME due to this blog, please give EscapeMattster.com a shout out! ;) ◣ MATTSTER'S TAKE 💪 Difficulty: For Mattster's team of 2, not bad at all, 3/10. Only certain specific puzzles gave us a hard time. Rest are ok! 🔢 Ideal Team Size: 1-2. Can totally be done with a solo effort, though may need to activate a few hints. 🤷‍♂️ Best Fit For: Beginners to experts, anyone who wants to sharpen their puzzle solving skills with some practice. 🍵 Boils Down To: Solving gen 1 style escape room puzzles presented in a PDF booklet, to unlock a series of padlocks. 🙂 Overall Rating: Can't complain much about a complimentary game hosted by a friendly dude for a hobby! Ty, Russ! ◣ PREMISE Endgame is a cold-war inspired game that revolves around themes of war, weapons, politics and the game of chess. The premise is simple; prevent World War 3. ◣ ANALYSIS Storytelling • Jump Right In, No Further Knowledge Needed (Or Given) "Endgame" is an escape experience set during the Cold War era, and here's what I, a history idiot, know about the Cold War: I know Russia is a big player, and somehow, chess is a motif that appears over and over throughout. Perhaps something with secret spy codes? I am not sure, and I am not about to research deeper into this topic. High school is done with and behind me for a reason, people. However, I didn't need to anyway; as it turns out, this game does not actually expand upon these ideas much further. There's little attempt to narrate a story that the players can follow along, historical or otherwise. So fair to say, the plot line is minimal. As someone who has minimal propensity for world history studies, I think this is more than forgivable! Endgame | Credits: @RussBuilds On Instagram Setup • The World's Fate On The Table... Literally Much of the entertainment value derives directly from the actual game portion. And in that sense, it almost doesn't matter there is no story. All we really need is a bunch of solid puzzles, dressed in the aforementioned themed outfits, and it's good to go. And that's precisely what "Endgame" offers. (And yes, obligatory chess puzzle, a-check!) Similar to a mobile escape game service usually reserved for team building events, the experience consists of three portable tabletop devices guarded by a series of locks. Think of it as a extremely condensed version of an escape room, without any extra bells and whistles, just the puzzles laid out in plainly, begging for curious minds to crack the codes. Two other components round out the complete setup: 1) a PDF file containing all the relevant clues and actual puzzles, only to be opened when the count down starts, and 2) Russ himself as the mostly silent avatar over Zoom, acting as your hands, but not your brain. Russ isn't the psychic type, so be sure to command with specific directions! With one push of this red button, the world is saved! We need to order more of these. | Credits: @RussBuilds On Instagram Puzzles & More • A Strategy Game Of Point Budgeting The PDF file offers a small buffet of challenges that can be solved in multiple, non-linear order with some minor exceptions. Each solution offers a combo code to undo a corresponding padlock. Due to the nature of this setup, puzzles are gen 1 oriented, with pattern and symbol recognition being the main focus of most problems. Initially nervous that I won't be able to complete the game in time with two players, I found comfort in discovering that all the gen 1 puzzles are right up my alley! Some code cracking and arithmetic practice later, World War III is successfully averted with relative ease! Oh, how I would apply this superpower to today's endless chaos had this been real! One key feature absolutely worth mentioning that is "Endgame" is not just a time limited, but also point based game. You start out with 20 points total. 1 point is deducted for every 5 minutes ticked away, and 0.5 point spent for every hint requested. With the right strategy in mind, cunning players may want to minimizing damage by taking a hint at the cost of half a point, instead of being stuck for 5 minutes too long and lose one whole point. Endgame | Credits: @RussBuilds On Instagram Final Thoughts One silver lining in a world of pandemic quarantine is that I get to discover and connect with hobbyists around the globe, those who share the same interests and passions as I do, via remote gaming. Champs like Russ delightfully offer the community a taste of their talents, and I am so thankful for their hospitality during this strange, strange time in history. With "Endgame" retiring soon, and a new game already in the pipeline, follow @RussBuilds to see his latest updates, and tap those hearts away to show him plenty of likes and support. ◣ TIPS ★ The first 2 locks are light blue and pink. So, I suggest that you spy, with your little eye, something of the same colors. ★ Not familiar with chess pieces symbols? You have my permission to Google for those. (But maybe don't tell Russ. Wink.) Signing off, ESCAPE MATTSTER Instagram @EscapeMattster ▪ Facebook.com/EscapeMattster All media are sourced from and credited to rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. In certain cases, media materials are made available under fair use doctrine of copyright law. RBEndgame.

Villainous Vaccine Ventures from Control The Escape (Based In The United Kingdom) ◣ GAME'S SPECS 🕹️ Stay At Home Games » Online Puzzle Game » Point & Click Escape Room 💪 Difficulty not specified. ⏲️ 1.5 to 2 hours duration expected from company. 🔢 Suggested for 1-6 players by company. 💬 Hints available throughout in game. Actual solutions also available on a separate web page. 🛒 If you PURCHASE GAME due to this blog, please give EscapeMattster.com a shout out! ;) ◣ MATTSTER'S TAKE 💪 Difficulty: For Mattster's team of 1, easy, 2/10. Straightforward puzzles. (Hints used when I was confused by wording.) 🔢 Ideal Team Size: 1, maybe 2 max. A fun option to pass the time when bored and alone in the house. 🤷‍♂️ Best Fit For: Novice. A well done, but by the book escape game most apt for beginners. Experts will fly right through. 🍵 Boils Down To: An escape room like experience portrayed by photos of real life building(s), as opposed to those of a set or computer graphics. Features respectable gen 1 puzzles with emphasis on finding combo codes/passwords. 🙂 Overall Rating: Considering how this product is programmed by a uni student, and not an industry professional, this product is impressive! Interface is smooth running, though story and puzzle aspects will likely improve with time. ◣ PREMISE You have been kidnapped during a worldwide pandemic! You are two of the world-leading scientists working in the field of virus vaccinations. A known villain has identified the potential profit of a vaccination and is forcing you to discover one – as if it's as easy as that. Although the quarantined dungeon he is keeping you in is safe from the virus, you still need to get out so that you can get back to saving the world (properly)! ◣ ANALYSIS Storytelling • A Familiar Villain's Hideout Abduction As the real world races to find a viable vaccine for the coronavirus, in an alternate Control The Escape universe, scientists are doing the same. That is, except, it seems like in this time line, an illogical villain decides to capture two of the field's brightest minds, hoping they will make the breakthrough first, monopolize the invention, and pocket the profit. Except... he gives them no proper required materials or equipment, except some syringes, masks, and one single microscope. That's not how science even at its most basic level works, Mr. Evil! Due to this doofus's gross misunderstanding of how the scientific methods actually operates, or in real world terms, the lack of actual equipment and proper laboratory setting relating back to the central theme, one would argue "Villainous Vaccine Ventures" is either a deliberately sarcastic, humorous look at the burning hell that is the world today, or a simple villain's lair setup with a topical overlay. In either case, it sets up adequately for your two scientists' needs to escape, and quick! This place looks... Bleh! So grimy! Villainous Vaccine Ventures | Credits: Control The Escape Production • Easy & Enjoyable To Use Interface Perhaps the most impressive feature of this point and click online escape room is the interface. Players are given first-person perspective through photographs of an actual real life location--what looks like a claustrophobic basement at the start of the game--and the ability to navigate around the room via arrows on the far edges of the screen. This system is reminiscent of virtual mapping service like Google Map, so it is easy to pick up and works exceptional well for an escape game experience. Exploration felt natural and intuitive. I've once played another game which employs a similar (though more advanced) strategy, but developed by a more experienced industry professional. And to know that Control The Escape manages to provide a comparable production at a college student's skills set BLOWS! MY! MIND! Truly, bravo. The decision to include irl photos as the setting is a wise one. Without an actual set, many companies resort to using computer visuals, and depending on the artist's capabilities, some games turn out less than desirable aesthetically. The photograph approach eliminates this problem, and despite the props pictured look a tad modestly budgeted, it still brings an additional layer of authenticity, which I highly prefer over cheap graphics. Who's a good boy? Yes, you are. Yes, you are. | Credits: Control The Escape Puzzles • Common Tropes With Good Variety Since this is the creator's first escape room project to date, I assume, the puzzles department does reflect this sentiment. For the record, there is no shortage of puzzles to solve. Anyone would be fairly entertained by the sheer quantity of challenges they have to wade through, and a good variety at that. The designer does seem to have a solid grasp of how conventional escape room puzzles are written, so they are able to replicate a lot of commonly seen, gen 1 style riddles, and further customize them to better fit an "escape from the evil captor" narrative. You'll be opening a good amount of locks, and also, possibly my favorite part of the game, hacking into Evil's email. On the down side, however, most of them leans a bit formulaic, and lacks a true creative angle. Certain puzzles do not necessarily pertain to vaccine making at all, but are still rather--delicious--to solve. The final puzzle contains ambiguous wording that may benefit from sentence restructuring. In other words, a few hiccups here and there. Also imitating how a real escape room would work, "Vaccine" progresses the game play and plot through different room advancements, and I really enjoy the multi-room experience. Initially expecting myself to climb to freedom through a flight of stairs, coming to find out there is another entire room to play through was a pleasant surprise! Villainous Vaccine Ventures | Credits: Control The Escape Final Thoughts While there are some minor kinks to iron out, as is, "Vaccine" is a humble but definitely creditable effort for the mainstream audience to enjoy. Though there's room for improvement, there's already *plenty* to keep one busy, and for its price point, this is quite honestly a bargain. ◣ TIPS ★ If a found password doesn't seem to work, it's probably for the next step. Save it for now, use it later. ★ The final puzzle's wording leaves room for multiple interpretations. Consult a friend for a different perspective if stuck. Signing off, ESCAPE MATTSTER Instagram @EscapeMattster ▪ Facebook.com/EscapeMattster Full disclosure: complimentary game access was generously provided for review or testing purposes. All media are sourced from and credited to rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. In certain cases, media materials are made available under fair use doctrine of copyright law. CTEVaccine.

American Society For The Protection Of Magical Creatures: The Mysterious Moodus Marking from Green Door Labs (Based In The United States) ◣ GAME'S SPECS 🕹️ Stay At Home Games » Online Puzzle Game 💪 Rated as 5/10 by company. ⏲️ 2.5 hours duration expected from company. 🔢 Capacity not specified. 💬 Hint system provided below puzzle. Little bit of nudges reveals one at a time, until finally the solution. 📝 Game requires internet, email, or more. Check for details. 🛒 If you PURCHASE GAME due to this blog, please give EscapeMattster.com a shout out! ;) ◣ MATTSTER'S TAKE 💪 Difficulty: For Mattster's team of 2, moderately challenging, 5/10. Matches exactly with company's official rating. 🔢 Ideal Team Size: 2. My partner joined later after my initial solo play, and everything made so much more sense! 🤷‍♂️ Best Fit For: Fans of Harry Potter, with silly humor, that are also inclined to animals and/or collecting. 🍵 Boils Down To: ASPCA meets obvious Fantastic Beasts homage. Throw in bits of Pokemon/TCG for seasoning. 😃 Overall Rating: A fantastic/al story universe to get lost in. More investigations in the future, please! OOOH. ME LIKEY. THIS JOINS "RECOMMENDED" RANK! ◣ PREMISE Emerson Bradley, long-time board member of the ASPMC is obsessed with research on the Moodus Markings, the unusual symbols that have been familiar for centuries in the woodland settings of the Northeastern United States. Join Emerson on his quest to discover the truth about the markings! ◣ ANALYSIS Background • Gotta Catch... Uh... Protect 'Em All! No stranger to the art of collecting and/or hoarding, Little Mattster collected stamps; and even to date, adult Mattster is still well under the spell of Disney pins, Pokemon, and in recent years, the "Fantastic Beasts" spin-off from the Harry Potter franchise. Not exactly objects to collect, the fascinating creatures from the films are still quite a sight to see. To mentally capture them into an album in my memory, a Beasts-Dex, if you will, is good enough. Now that you've gained insight into the little mind of mine, you may now understand my attraction to ASPMC, The American Society For The Protection Of Magical Creatures, the puzzle game's equivalent of everything aforementioned. The obvious nod to "Fantastic Beasts" is deliberate, and unapologetically done so with delightful humor. Let's start with the name: ASPMC, a supernatural, parody version of the real life ASPCA. Heh. They both share the same objective: to protect and conserve beloved animals, except, of course, the former is magical! The current archives feature over a dozen of documented critters, all printed on familari Magic Trading Card style data sheets: the beautifully translucent Curiolemus, the endearingly ugly-cute Dagnabbit, and my personal favorite, the "unbearably delicious when boiled and generously buttered" Rock Lobguin. (I'll take a half order, please. Extra butta!) This game amused me to a smirk before it even began. ASPMC: The Mysterious Moodus Marking | Credits: Green Door Labs Storytelling • A Gathering Of Great Minds, Ours Especially The organization's first investigation, "'The Mysterious Moodus Markings", follows scholar Emerson Bradley's obsession with strange, shimmering symbols that have appeared in woodland settings for ages, dating back as far as 200 years ago! Two whole centuries in the making, and yet none has managed to uncover these peculiar markings' true origin. These magical folks may know how to cast a spell, but they sure suck at solving mysteries! But that's about to change, because ASPMC has finally hired the critical help it needs--from non-magical folks like me! And you! The lovely players! A foreign language baffling many, the Moodus Markings lead the players deeper into research, therefore requiring interaction with authoritative figures in various fields: a linguist, a magizoologist, an alchemist, and an Egyptologist. Each intellectual helps with a particular aspect of the cryptic marks, gradually developing an interwoven narrative, step and step closer to the ultimate reveal. (A magical creature at work, perhaps?!) A systematic, non-linear, and effective mode of storytelling, the above framework works well, and is easily digestible especially when spread over a few separate game sessions. "Moodus Markings" tells a simple but captivating enough story about the discovery of a fabled avian, against a magical story universe backdrop that is not often utilized in the puzzle market today. In other words, this isn't just entertaining, but also refreshing. (Bonus: Those brilliant enough to crack the case shall be rewarded with a rare... Err... data sheet. WAIT A MINUTE! Even the game officially calls it a card! All right, Green Door Labs, let's aim to publish an entire rare expansion set!) ASPMC: The Mysterious Moodus Marking | Credits: Green Door Labs Puzzles • A Research Effort Of Many Branches The story of "Moodus" does not exactly derail from what one may logically expect, but the puzzles accompanying along the way are charmingly random. Not a single challenge presented itself as something mundane or trite, or common tricks an escape room or puzzle game fanatic can see right through within minutes. Wonderfully, I really did feel like I was embarking on an actual research mission, doing everything from perusing over presentation notes, attending Eventbrite online lecture, to doodling on a children activity book. (Yeah, somehow, they made that work.) Due to the varying nature among the different specialties, each puzzle conveniently and completely switches gear, whether it be subject matter or game format, rendering a puzzle journey that never feels boring. Stripping away the outer layer of magical world theming, Green Door Labs serve up a great variety of riddles for everyone's tastes. Some are visual based, some necessitates the participants to draw, and some involve fiddling around computer technologies, summing together into hours of perplexing fun. I did find one particular logic puzzle less than perfect, partially due to the designer's admirable and persistent effort to ensure everything is written within the character and spirit of the story universe, but inadvertently, some wording has gotten lost in translation. While the clue sounds poetically mystifying to the ears, it was confusing and even just plain misleading for the brain to solve. Overall, it's a case of cute idea, but misstep in execution. ASPMC: The Mysterious Moodus Marking | Credits: Green Door Labs Production • A World Of Magic And Remarkable Talents The production value aspect of this magical quest is no less impressive. Since your investigation technically requires collaboration and assistance from field experts residing across state lines, you will "communicate" with them via video call, ie, there will be plentiful usage of pre-recorded video clips. The animated actors bring forth energy and enthusiasm that really liven up the experience. Each individual actor has their own flair, adding much personality to each scenario. However, the more seasoned cast outperformed those less experienced, who are occasionally seen reading off cue cards; perhaps, this is something later episodes can improve upon. Lastly, I also want to praise supporting props like the incredible art and authentic looking websites. There is absolute no hard requirement for the ASPMC to have documented so many creatures in the archives, and yet the team has gone above and beyond to prepare a setting so richly illustrated. Similarly, the aforementioned web pages (eg, Eventbrite) are fun, psuedo-authentic connections to the real world the help further blur the line between fantasy and reality. ASPMC: The Mysterious Moodus Marking | Credits: Green Door Labs Final Thoughts ASPMC, first conceptualized by Green Door Labs, is actually a sandbox structure for players and creators alike to try new things. Brand new talents will be recruited to create future cases, and they have much potential to introduce the audience something of the a different flavor, even within the same universe, owing to a diverse array of creative control. And for that reason, as much as I have enjoyed the pilot chapter, I am just as excited to cover the upcoming second investigation! (And snag myself another rare trading card. Yup. Can't forget that.) ◣ TIPS ★ What I thought was a ridiculous guess for the final puzzle turned out to be 100% correct. Never discount your instincts! Signing off, ESCAPE MATTSTER Instagram @EscapeMattster ▪ Facebook.com/EscapeMattster Full disclosure: complimentary game access was generously provided for review or testing purposes. All media are sourced from and credited to rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. In certain cases, media materials are made available under fair use doctrine of copyright law. GDLMoodus.

Legacy: Hellas 2019 (Demo Version) from Argyx Games (Based In France) ◣ GAME'S SPECS 🕹️ Stay At Home Games » On Hand Items Required » Escape Game Puzzle Box 💪 Recommended for ages 14+ by company. ⏲️ 75-90 minutes duration (for "Hellas 2019" portion) expected from company. 🔢 Suggested for 1-5 players by company. 💬 Hint system via hint page. Users can reveal little bit of nudges at a time, until finally the solution. 📝 Game requires box contents, internet, email, or more. Check for details. 🛒 If you PREORDER GAME due to this blog, please give EscapeMattster.com a shout out! ;) ◣ MATTSTER'S TAKE 💪 Difficulty: For Mattster's team of 1, not bad, 4/10. Certain demo error(s) might've made the experience more confusing. 🔢 Ideal Team Size: 1-2. There are portions that require keen observation. More eyes mean less frustrations. 🤷‍♂️ Best Fit For: Those who enjoy solving puzzle hunts and mysteries in a box with a few online components. 🍵 Boils Down To: A familiar treasure hunt base formula with an attractive family inheritance theme overlay. 🙂 Overall Rating: Current demo of "Hellas" portion felt only adequate, but the 2-part "Legacy" offers promising potential. ◣ PREMISE Marseille, Fall 2019. You receive the letter of a notary that comes with a mysterious black box. In his last will, your estranged father reveals the existence of a family treasure, hidden somewhere in Europe. To find it, he leaves you objects and documents that belonged to him as well as to your ancestor. You have to shed light on the past in order to be able to claim your inheritance... ◣ ANALYSIS Nothing Stops This Game Master Not very often do I feel an escape game box trailer sound and feel like a movie trailer, but the "Legacy" trailer did. The narration by your now late father details how one of your distant relatives made a huge fortune in France long ago, and now that wealth is safely buried away somewhere in Greece. And here comes the kicker: Daddy knows where it is, and he ain't telling you, even as he passes! With his dying words, "I want to play a game," he says. Who are you, Jigsaw?! The plot then leads directly into the game play for "Legacy", which is divided into "Eiffel 1889" and "Hellas 2019". "Eiffel" seeks to uncover who in your family tree struck rich in the 19th century, while "Hellas" has you actually embark on the treasure hunt. I received a demo version of "Hellas 2019" for review, so this blog post will strictly focus on the latter chapter only. (Fact of the Day: Did you know that Hellas mean Greece, and not the plural form of a slang for "very"?) Such a unique premise is not seen often, so I found it intriguing. Having events take place in both France and Greece, two countries popularly associated with romanticism and breathtaking sceneries, adds to the mass appeal. And did you catch this? The notion of having siblings work together in harmony as a subtle nod of telling customers this is a group effort, so play nice and not hog all the puzzles... Let's admit it, escape room and puzzle enthusiasts, who else feels attacked?! Legacy: Hellas 2019 (Demo Version) | Credits: Argyx Games Hi Again, High School Reading Even as a review only demo package, the contents are of decent quality. Certain items stood out. Take the lone sheet of paper for example; it's actually page 110 of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel "Treasure Island". Produced on actual and distinctive novel printing paper, it instantly takes me back to my high school days. Oh how glad am I now to encounter this leaf of paper for not a boring book report, but an entertaining game of puzzles! Other objects meriting of mention include a travel agency brochure that was done with just enough amateurism to imitate that local mom and pop shop look, and 5 photographs of the scenic city spots around the port. And yes, these're actual tangible photos, and not images printed on glossy cardboard made to look like photos. Both offer an optimistic preview of what "Legacy" could look like as a complete package. While I obviously can neither confirm nor deny the actual quality of the final product, per website, the full game will include 40 realistic objects and documents, such as newspaper, postcards, and everyone's assumed favorite, a 3D Eiffel Tower. If the game is reasonably priced, this could turn out to be a deserving investment in a puzzle addict's collection. Legacy: Hellas 2019 (Demo Version) | Credits: Argyx Games Puzzle Fanatic, You Got This The puzzle faction of "Hellas" felt a bit underwhelming. There is a total of roughly 7 objectives to complete in beautiful Greece, and none qualifies as truly challenging. I would, however, say they are well written, presented, and executed. Your quest begins with two letters, one from your father, and another from his designated notary executor. Both act as guiding flow charts, with the entire game's skeleton cleanly laid out, even providing distinct icons for each individual steps. With the exception of one erroneous icon (how does a passport picture magically transform into a sailor anchor?!), going from puzzle to puzzle is a breeze, if not too easy for experts. Many puzzles resemble those found in a gen 1 escape rooms, such as cipher decoding, key word and pattern recognition, and the likes. While not entirely groundbreaking, Argyx Games (AG) did manage to teach me a certain moderately well known flag codes that I hadn't seen until then, which coincidentally proved useful just days later. So thanks much, AG! Legacy: Hellas 2019 (Demo Version) | Credits: Argyx Games "Doh!" Along The Way Errors aren't uncommon in a demo, and I did encounter a couple: When I emailed a key character as instructed, my message bounced right back with an "address not found" error. Oy! Even a fictitious NPC AI doesn't want to reply me back, confirming my most dreaded fear-- that nobody likes me! Post profuse sobbing, I carried on via the handy hints page. When it came time to dig up the long awaited treasure chest... DOH! MY TREASURE MAP WASN'T PACKAGED IN MY DEMO PACK! At this point, I was convinced my father was just trolling me beyond the grave! Aw, Hell...as 2019. (Get it?) Quick note: This section's written strictly to inject some humor into your reading pleasure. Argyx Games immediately and graciously offered to send me the missing element upon contact, A+ customer service! Mistakes happen, and such is life! Legacy: Hellas 2019 (Demo Version) | Credits: Argyx Games Final Thoughts Despite minor but amusing issues, "Hellas 2019" is still a cute little at-home adventure that provided me a good hour of entertainment. Nonetheless, since accidents did occur, I cannot in good faith claim my own experience as an accurate representation of what "Hellas" sets out to achieve. Overall, I still got a the gist of it, and see great potentials for a decent escape box product if all issues are properly addressed by official release date. Meanwhile, why not take a look at what my blogger friends (TheHauntGirl & ETRs) have to say about Argyx Games? ◣ TIPS ★ Unpack and open every item before starting the quest. Some helpful icons may not be visible when first arrived. ★ Instructions state certain element may be used more than once. If you haven't by the final step, maybe it's time! Signing off, ESCAPE MATTSTER Instagram @EscapeMattster ▪ Facebook.com/EscapeMattster Full disclosure: complimentary game access was generously provided for review or testing purposes. All media are sourced from and credited to rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. In certain cases, media materials are made available under fair use doctrine of copyright law. AGHellas.

Season 1, Episode 3: Ancient Mysteries from Mobile Escape (Based In Canada) ◣ GAME'S SPECS 🕹️ Stay At Home Games » On Hand Items Required » Puzzle Mail Subscription Service 💪 Rated as hard by company. (Easy and regular setting also available.) ⏲️ No time duration specified. 🔢 No capacity specified. 💬 Hint system via hint page. Users can reveal little bit of nudges at a time, until finally the solution. 📝 Game requires mail contents, internet, QR scanner, scissors, tape, flashlight, or more. Check for details. 🛒 If you PURCHASE GAME due to this blog, please give EscapeMattster.com a shout out! ;) ◣ MATTSTER'S TAKE 💪 Difficulty: For Mattster's team of 1, easy, 3/10. Could've skipped hints had I examined every part of the temple. 🔢 Ideal Team Size: 1. Puzzle contents is comparably less for this episode. Not enough to go around multiple players. 🤷‍♂️ Best Fit For: Those who are proficient at crafts, or those who like an "Indiana Jones" archaeology theme. 🍵 Boils Down To: A paper art project followed by explorers theme puzzles, most of which follows a grid like chart. 🙂 Overall Rating: This episode fell a bit flat for me, mostly because I wanted more puzzles! More, please? ◣ PREMISE You came to JJ’s aid in Episode 2, and now he needs your genius once again! He has made his way to the site of the treasure, but he’s stumped. He has sent you scans of the temple layout along with all of his knowledge pertaining to the Joro people. Can you solve the puzzles and decipher the code? ◣ ANALYSIS We're Heading For The Jungle I genuinely look forward to receiving Mobile Escape's mail every month, a coveted sentiment not shared by most by-mail puzzle subscription service. What sets Mobile Escape (ME) apart is the engaging narrative baked right into game play. Much like a soap opera series, I am (metaphorically) dying to find out what's next, in Episode 3, "Ancient Mysteries". Somewhere else on the globe, however, cousin JJ may (literally) face mortal dangers with just one move miscalculated. With unknown and hostile enemies hot on his trail, he's arrived at the site of our long-lost treasure, just barely several steps ahead. He's sent you a postcard and to-scale scans of the Granje Temple on Joro Island--time to get mystery solving. Once again, your cos provides the brawn, and you give him the brain. Family power, unite! As predicted, I am captivated by this series's intriguing, developing plot. I am also impressed by the ongoing shift in setting and game play, a signature of this company's Escape Mail I've come to cherish. Thus far, it manages to cover 3 more or less common escape room tropes, first pirate, then undersea, and now ancient archaeological site adventure. This chapter also dabbled into a new territory of hands-on arts and crafts... How well will this work out? Season 1, Episode 3: Ancient Mysteries | Credits: Mobile Escape: Escape Mail Some Assembly Required I remember initially being beyond ecstatic for this installment to include an actual miniature "replica" of the fictitious historical locale; I honestly thought, "Hey, what a cool feature!" Nonetheless, my excitement promptly dissolved upon the actual task of having to reconstruct the ancient architecture. You see, I totally forgot that I have zero talent in Arts period during grade school. God did not bestowed upon my fingers the ability to operate scissors with grace or to fold paper with sharp precision. Or perhaps it is my own sense of entitlement of expecting everything should be done for me, instead of by me, in an age where everyone has grown accustomed to the idea of absolute convenience. Whatever the case may be, frustrations grew as I painstakingly assembled my paper version of Granje Temple, a first that I've felt with a ME product. It took me roughly 20 minutes to finish the job. (Yes, I was slow.) When it was finally done, an almost exact polar opposite rush of feelings immediately consumed my mind--did I actually do it? Did I make... ART?! The sense of accomplishment taking over is almost worth the ordeal. Almost. Season 1, Episode 3: Ancient Mysteries | Credits: Mobile Escape: Escape Mail An Ancient Exploration Too Short Once the stage is set, players are tasked to uncover the true meanings behind 8 myths (aka puzzles) of the indigenous Joro people. This actual puzzle portion was overall still enjoyable. Nevertheless, because the entire scenario is so focused on uncovering the hidden messages from within the temple, this limited the variety of challenges possible. Specifically, every key element presented itself in the form of painting on rocky surfaces of the temple chamber, which quickly became monotonous. Riddles repeatedly relied on either "counting what you see", or "let's see which tile you end up at" to truly carry an exhilarating momentum in my 30-minute research. Considering how I spent a comparable amount of time building the replica, this felt regrettably short. More mysterious to resolve would've helped mask any shortcoming. But to say I did not have fun is a gross misrepresentation, because I did. To illustrate, one puzzle invites the participant to take on the actual perspective of an explorer first stepping afoot the site through its main gate. With my head lowered onto the table, and my one eye actually staring through my temple's tiny entrance way, GASP! I see the answer! What a glorious moment! Alas, perhaps, we needed more of those magical moments. With my skills, I'm surprised my temple didn't fall apart in minutes! | Credits: Escape Mattster / Mobile Escape: Escape Mail Final Thoughts I typically spend an hour cracking codes and conquering puzzles with each Escape Mail offering, but for "Ancient Mysteries", half of that time was invested in making a prop, and the other half spent actually gaming was too little reward returned. While I hate to fault the company for daring to try something different, not all experiments yield perfect results. At least, I take solace in ME's consistent production value, because look, my proud little art project still looks pretty damn snazzy. And most important of all--I made it. :) ◣ TIPS ★ If you're having a hard time with a certain "noble horse", think of it as a knight on a checkerboard. ★ Don't just stare down on the ground, observe the surrounding walls as well. Some may even forage on them. Signing off, ESCAPE MATTSTER Instagram @EscapeMattster ▪ Facebook.com/EscapeMattster Full disclosure: complimentary game access was generously provided for review or testing purposes. All media are sourced from and credited to rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. In certain cases, media materials are made available under fair use doctrine of copyright law. MEAncient.

► SECTION I • INFO ◄ ◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: CSI: Stranglehold 💪 Difficulty: Medium ⏲️ Time: About 1-2 Hours 🧑 Capacity: 1-8 Players 🏢 Company: The Panic Room • Online Games 🏘️ Location: Various In United Kingdom 🛒 To Purchase Game ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: Online Puzzle Game 💻 Platform: Web Browser 🔊 Media Used: Text, Images, Audio, Videos ► SECTION II • ANALYSIS ◄ ◣ THE PREMISE Blood has been spilled across the streets of London, "The Eastside Strangler" has yet to be caught, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. You must follow in the footsteps of the previous detective on the case and finally get some justice. Find out his identity and location before he strikes again! The power is in your hands detectives. • • • • • ◣ THE FEATURE Have you ever noticed how so many detectives would bite it on the job, leaving you to clean up their leftover mess, but only to find out they're this close to cracking the case? They gotta start training these men better. Or at least stop dying. CSI: Stranglehold | Credits: The Panic Room THROWN INTO THE DEEP END So an unnamed detective following the hot case of "The Eastside Strangler" has unfortunately gone out of commission. Was he murdered for getting too close to the truth? Or from a heart attack due to excessive donut indulgence? Dunno. Not mentioned. What we do know is he's got boxes and folders of evidence, in the order he collected them in, safely (or inconveniently) locked away, ready for re-investigation by you. The killer's still on the loose, ready to claim another victim. There're only 7 suspects, so work fast, undo those locks, and deduce away! "CSI: Stranglehold" is my first CSI game with The Panic Room, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I thought I'd be fed bits and pieces of info at a time, as the story slowly and gradually unfolds. "Stranglehold", however, point blank threw everything at me on the first game page. Notebook, profiles, deduction board, evidence packs. Whoa. Truth be told, though it makes sense given the scenario, it's still very overwhelming and disorientating right off the bat. What seems to have compounded this issue is that "Stranglehold", by design, lacks a clear cut plot line to follow. Aside from a short intro video, you're given little else. Consequently, in the initial stages, the game feels rather dry. The first few puzzles only serve to provide the next combo codes to open the subsequent evidence packs, ho hum; though once audio and video testimonies start popping up, things start to get more interesting. CSI: Stranglehold | Credits: The Panic Room EYEWITNESSES SAVE THE DAY! Just when I started losing steam while playing, a savior in the form of Claire Turner came to the rescue. Appearing in the first of a handful of witness testimony videos, the actress playing Claire made some fascinating choices while delivering her lines with much gusto. Portraying a barmaid that coincidentally overhears the serial killer's flaunting of his murders, and subsequently unable to alert the police in time, Claire's actress enunciated clear disbelief, anger, frustration, and even a bit of self-blamed guilt through surprisingly impressive facial expressions and tone fluctuations, all in a brief 1-minute clip. I don't normally expect much from the casual acting filmed for the sole purpose of an online escape game experience, but this actress's commitment to play her character in a straight drama angle, without an ounce of levity, actually worked really well. She's made the one pivotal moment that grabbed my attention once again and sucked me back into the game. You may think I am being sarcastic--rest assured--I am really not. In fact, looking back, the inclusion of well acted and well produced video clips in "Stranglehold" is probably the one best feature I enjoyed the most in the production value aspect. To their credits, the images throughout also look aesthetically pleasing, but the short film clips take home the win this time. (As a bonus, The Panic Room's consistent and unapologetic plug of their famous tag line "Don't panic" with every opportunity possible is an amusing treat in itself.) CSI: Stranglehold | Credits: The Panic Room WIDE ARRAY OF "EVIDENCE" The long list of puzzles... err... evidence packs guarantees a solid hour of detective sleuthing fun, though I definitely felt a bit distraught when I couldn't, like AT ALL, even begin to untangle the mystery of the very first deduction board challenge. If this was to set the tone for the rest of the game, I was in deep trouble--and I finally kinda understand why the last guy failed. Fortunately for me, the difficulty quickly de-escalated, and besides a one single gray beard, barely visble, that did me a quick confuse (*insert confused dog head tilt meme here*), everything else was well within doable range for most escape room fans. One even took just a quick glance to solve, giving the audience quite an extreme spectrum of experience. Puzzles variety is aplenty, ranging from standard tropes like pattern recognition and application, to more police specific activity like facial composite construction. While I don't think majority of them contributed directly to the plot line, they do at least, on the surface, carry the theme of CSI, with a decent fun level to boot. Take note, however, several solutions came out to be gibberish that don't necessarily make sense. If you land on a random string of letters & numbers, like 52GH09AK, it could still be the right answer! A bit unusual, and I prefer an answer that is ALSO a word, but let's soldier on. A certain meta puzzle near the end needed crucial elements from previous puzzles, and while in most cases, I would know exactly what I needed to compile, this time, I hadn't gotten the slightest clue! Every well hidden key info skated by me without raising any suspicion, for which I highly commend. The moment when I finally connected the dot, that escape room high I am all too familiar with took over, and the satisfaction felt was golden. CSI: Stranglehold | Credits: The Panic Room ACTUAL DEDUCTIONS REQUIRED Last but not least, I found it extremely rewarding for the creators to actually give the participants a chance to deduce which suspect is logically the infamous Eastside Strangler. Instead of just hand feeding you the one last standing answer after going through a laundry list of puzzles out of routine, this game progressively assist you eliminate unlikely options. For instance, the culprit's "weapon of choice" is his own two strangling hands, and therefore, someone inflicted with a rare health disorder, brittle bone disease, would probably have his ulnas and radii broken long before asphyxiating someone to their death. The DNA test based puzzle, in particular, appropriately injected a dose of reality and science into a crime based escape game, while also cleverly weeding out other incorrect suspects, setting up a final showdown in the finale challenge. For this reason, it ranked as one of my personal favorites in "Stranglehold". ◣ FINAL THOUGHTS "CSI: Stranglehold" is a solid effort in their crime mystery series from The Panic Room. It's undoubtedly got its high points, and if not for the actual puzzles, that aforementioned breakthrough performance by barmaid Claire Turner certainly makes this worth a look. ;) Signing off, ESCAPE MATTSTER Instagram @EscapeMattster ▪ Facebook.com/EscapeMattster Full disclosure: complimentary game access was generously provided for review or testing purposes. All media are sourced from and credited to rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. In certain cases, media materials are made available under fair use doctrine of copyright law. TPRStranglehold.

► SECTION I • QUICK GLANCE ◄ ◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: Season 1, Episode 2: Missing Person 💪 Difficulty: Hard (Easy & Regular Also Available) ⏲️ Time: N/A 🧑 Capacity: N/A 🏢 Company: Mobile Escape 🏘️ Location: Based in Canada 🛒 To Purchase Game ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: Puzzle Mail Subscription Service/Online Puzzle Game ✂️ Tools: Pencil, Eraser, Scissors 💻 Platform: Web Browser, QR Scanner (Smart Phone) 📰 Media Used: Various Media From Mail, Text, Images, Video ◣ "TL;DR!" SNIPPETS 📝 "...Mobile Escape seems to have done it! They've found a way to drastically change both the setting and game play format [when transitioning from Episode 1 to 2.]" 📝 "Due to [JJ's] being stuck in the submarine for the entire episode, story wise, not much else happens, (or more accurately, not much can happen in one stationary location)..." 📝 "[G]ame play is...markedly different... one MUST obtain crucial information online... [because] your cousin JJ and you are working in sync while being geographically apart..." 📝 "The puzzle steps induce enough struggles even for seasoned players; some actually prompting gridlock moments that had me surrendering to defeat..." 📝 "Running at about an hour game time, this quest's duration and difficulty both feel right near optimal level; and truly, what great values in a very affordable package." 💪 "Is it Hard?" (Team of 1) Yeah, some puzzles really trumped me this round. A 5 or 6/10! 🔢 "How Many?" Due to above confession of a solo defeat, group of 2-3 is recommended. 🤷‍♂️ "For Who?" Those who purchased Episode 1 should subscribe; so far, it's been good! ...OOOH. ME LIKEY. WILL MY COUSIN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE NOW? THIS JOINS "RECOMMENDED" RANK! ► SECTION II • IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS ◄ ◣ THE PREMISE After a harrowing cliffhanger in Episode 1, we’re back with cousin JJ in Episode 2. You find that he has been taken hostage by the Hunters but is alive and communicating with you. He’s even sent you an emergency protocol package with which to rescue him. Do you have what it takes to release your cousin from captivity? ◣ THE REVIEW Last we saw JJ, he told me that he and I are heirs to treasures beyond my wildest imagination. But what I got instead is the witnessing of his untimely kidnapping and the liability of rescuing his life from the said abduction. Ummm... false advertising much, JJ?! A TOTAL CHANGE OF SCENERY As I might've mentioned in my previous review for Episode 1, Mobile Escape's subscription service aims to bring a little something different for its customers every month, a feat potentially challenging to pull off, if the overall plot was to still remain coherent. But my gosh, Mobile Escape seems to have done it! They've found a way to drastically change both the setting and game play format whilst featuring an Easter egg cameo from their mobile escape room called "Sunken Submarine". (Yup, nothing escapes me, wink.) Nice job, guys. Give yourselves a pat on the back. JJ, I've only just met you, and you're already depending on me for survival. | Credits: Mobile Escape: Escape Mail THE STORY SO FAR "Missing Person" continues some time after where Episode 1 left off. Right before being violently shoved into a mysterious vehicle by his captors, JJ managed to activate an emergency protocol the very last second, resulting in your receipt of a special package that somehow grants you remote communication access to wherever your poor coz's been forcefully transported to. A little bit of make-belief technology there, but if you allow yourself to suspend disbelief for a brief moment, this is actually quite the intriguing and reasonable plot development. Next logical step, of course, is to rescue your relative in trouble. As it turns out, JJ has been imprisoned in an unknown submarine, currently docked above sea level somewhere in the world, (a believable and suitable villain's hideout, I approve). With his handy hacker skills sets (just who is exactly this JJ?! What is his job?!), and your assistance off site, together you two can override the marine vehicle's security system, granting your cousin's sweet sweet freedom. Due to his being stuck in the submarine for the entire episode, story wise, not much else happens, (or more accurately, not much can happen in one stationary location), so I would rate the narrative somewhere in the average range, though I am 99% sure this is only the calm before the storm. Things are sure to heat up in future installments, hopefully! Season 1, Episode 2: Missing Person | Mobile Escape: Escape Mail HEAVY USE OF ONLINE ELEMENTS Aside from the shift from treasure hunt theme to submarine rescue mission, game play is also markedly different when transitioning from Episode 1 "Family Secrets" to Episode 2 "Missing Person". While I was largely able to complete all my objectives via mail contents offline for "Secrets", one MUST obtain crucial information online in "Person". This appropriately reflects the idea that your cousin JJ and you are working in sync while being geographically apart, and only when combining elements from both parties can you find proper resolution to each challenge. Taking this into consideration, I've come to appreciate this (possibly) deliberate choice of puzzle presentation. Season 1, Episode 2: Missing Person | Mobile Escape: Escape Mail Practically speaking, this means Episode 2 will resemble most other online and by-mail puzzle games on the market, in which you will lay out all your physical items from the mail on the table, get your online portion clue for a particular problem, and correspondingly pick out the matching key item on hand to solve your puzzle. Once you get the proper rhythm, it becomes almost too easy to determine which object is next in line to be used, something that was a bit more challenging to figure out in the pilot episode. (Note: previous statement is only applicable when playing on Hard difficulty without a guiding flow chart.) This is neither a pro or a con necessarily, simply an observation. Also worth a mention: Both the style of the puzzles and the mode of solution input felt very "escape room-y", if you will, which could be dominantly due to repeated code entering. It feels similar to unlocking padlocks and safes with combo codes. SOME OF THIS EPISODE'S FEATURES For what it's worth, the designers know you'll be constantly jumping back and forth from their website, so they did make sure the web portion of the game looks fantastic, as one would already expect from the Mobile Escape brand. Never a disappointment in this department. The puzzle steps induce enough struggles even for seasoned players; some actually prompting gridlock moments that had me surrendering to defeat and resorting to using the hints page, which I always resist until absolutely necessary. Times like these feel both humbling and satisfying, but ultimately I find solace in knowing that there's always something I haven't seen before out there, despite having reviewed numerous puzzle games to date. One particular check point requires very obvious outside knowledge, and for those who's well traveled and familiar with certain long established international nomenclature, it'll click instantly. Even then, nonetheless, a proper Google search is most probably warranted. In contrast, other players like my partner are left in the dark without proper background clues included by default, so I think a bit of tweaking there would be substantially beneficial! Season 1, Episode 2: Missing Person | Mobile Escape: Escape Mail ◣ FINAL THOUGHTS Overall, I found "Missing Person" to be more entertaining than the first episode, due to the puzzles' having a heavier escape room challenges influence, and also a lighter inclusion of cipher based riddles. (I am not the biggest fan of code translations, sorry folks!) Running at about an hour game time, this quest's duration and difficulty both feel right near optimal level; and truly, what great values in a very affordable package. With JJ's becoming a free bird once more, I can't wait to see what kind of antics he'll bring forth in my mail box next! (I am, secretly and morbidly, hoping for a faked death and bogus funeral at some point! I do not know the why and the how, but I do know that'd make for some crazy drama and one hell of a plot twist. Writers, let's make it happen!) ◣ PARTING TIPS ★ Whenever all else fails, always look to see if unscrambling letters would yield a solution. ★ If a triplet of letters means nothing to you, try a quick Google search. (It's fair game.) ★ Pay close attention to art patterns and details! They may not just be decorative! Signing off, ESCAPE MATTSTER Instagram @EscapeMattster ▪ Facebook.com/EscapeMattster Full disclosure: complimentary game access was generously provided for review or testing purposes. All media are sourced from and credited to rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. In certain cases, media materials are made available under fair use doctrine of copyright law. MEMissing.

► SECTION I • QUICK GLANCE ◄ ◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: The Missed Flight 💪 Difficulty: Recommended For Ages 13 & Up ⏲️ Time: 45-60 Minutes 🧑 Capacity: N/A 🏢 Company: Puzzle Post 🏘️ Location: Based in United Kingdom 🛒 To Purchase Game ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: By-Mail Puzzle Game ✂️ Tools: Scissors 💻 Platform: Web Browser, Mobile Phone 📰 Media Used: Various Media From Post (Mail), Text, Images ◣ "TL;DR!" SNIPPETS 📝 "Compose a secret message... Puzzle Post uploads the said message onto their online vault... then pack up some intriguing puzzles and pop 'em into the actual post (aka mail)... Recipient solves them puzzles upon arrival to uncover the message!" 📝 "Each puzzle details a glimpse into poor Lucy's original itinerary before things went south... All 7 challenges felt organic, all thanks to Lucy's story as a plausible backdrop..." 📝 "Puzzle formats vary, though of more or less standard contents... Though not groundbreaking, all is well executed and genuinely enjoyable throughout." 📝 "[I] nonchalantly dumped out the entire contents from the package, and out came materials that blurred the line of fantasy and reality... Production value is insane!" 📝 "Puzzle Post's true joy derives from the ability to personalize a hidden message... to express your affection in a fun, unusual fashion..." 💪 "Is it Hard?" (Team of 1) Nah, this is 100% beginners friendly. Perhaps a 2-3/10. 🔢 "How Many?" Great for 1 to 2 players, and aim to not use any hints. You got this! 🤷‍♂️ "For Who?" A great option for anyone who wants to puzzle-encode a message. • • • • • ...OOOH. ME LIKEY. REVOLUTIONIZING GREETINGS FOR HOLIDAY & GIFTING SEASONS... THIS JOINS "RECOMMENDED" RANK! ► SECTION II • IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS ◄ ◣ THE PREMISE Lucy Kingston has been on a conference tour of Europe but after speaking some uncomfortable truths to a journalist, she’s found herself caught up in a story of lies and corruption. She’s in way over her head... She was supposed to deliver your message but has had to cut her trip short and go into hiding. She’s stashed the message in our vault and managed to put 7 puzzles together from her trip. • • • • • ◣ THE REVIEW You think you can read your message just by opening the mail? Think again! CUTE PREMISE WITH A SUBPLOT Remember sending your friends encoded messages (like secret super spies) in grade school? Puzzle Post takes it to the next level--with 3 simple steps: 1) Compose a secret message. (Could be a happy birthday, or could be a secret love confession. Texts, images, and videos all accepted.) 2) Puzzle Post uploads the said message onto their online vault (aka server), then pack up some intriguing puzzles and pop 'em into the actual post (aka mail). 3) Recipient solves them puzzles upon arrival to uncover the message! This service alone is already awesome, but the makers made it downright tantalizing: The puzzles won't be just puzzles for puzzles' sake. They are fully incorporated in a mini thriller mystery, one starring (fictitious) personal messenger Lucy Kingston in "The Missed Flight". Lucy was supposed to deliver your news in person after her conference tour, but had to, as the title suggests, abandon her flight and go into hiding! Ack! That's bad news for her career, maybe her survival, but more importantly, YOUR top priority letter! Better start piecing together her clues to recover your lost information (and possibly also Lucy's whereabouts). The Missed Flight | Credits: Puzzle Post PUZZLES FOR EVERYONE! There is a total of 7 puzzles one has to conquer before granted access to the secret message vault, all of which requires a numerical solution ranging in between 1 to 100. One can obtain the final pass code by stringing together all 7 acquired solutions in the correct order. Each puzzle details a glimpse into poor Lucy's original itinerary before things went south: Girl's performed a keynote speech, got her multiple coffee fixes, mingled with them hotties at the bar, and even took care of some dirty laundry. All 7 challenges felt organic, all thanks to Lucy's story as a plausible backdrop, rendering your experience even more realistic. Puzzle formats vary, though of more or less standard contents I've seen before. A couple of easy warm ups like classic ciphers and mazes, mixed in with more complex problems that require astute observation and perhaps even a bit of paper crafting. Though not groundbreaking, all is well executed and genuinely enjoyable throughout. Upon beating "The Missed Flight" in roughly 25 minutes, my initial reaction was, "Oh, that wasn't hard at all." In fact, I managed to finish swiftly with but one very minor nudge. Moments later, I realized, the target demographics for Puzzle Post isn't exactly just hardcore puzzlers like me, but everyone. After all, heartfelt messages by post/mail is for everyone. In that sense, to ensure everybody in the general audience has a fair shot of succeeding and therefore a great time, the difficulty setting felt... fair. It's still easy, but fair. The Missed Flight | Credits: Puzzle Post YES... THAT IS A REAL NAPKIN Perhaps the most shocking moment was when I nonchalantly dumped out the entire contents from the package, and out came materials that blurred the line of fantasy and reality. And if you know my track record, I am a big sucker for psuedo-reality immersion. What I mean is, logically, I know Lucy does not exist. However, the goods that she supposedly sent me--menu card, beverage coaster, conference flyer, everything--they look every bit as real as they come in actual real life! Production value is insane! Had they printed out the newspaper article on actual newspaper stock, this would've been an A+ perfect score. But who am I to complain when every package comes with a complimentary napkin tissue for easy clean up? Puzzle gamers, (or just I,) tend to snack and play concurrently to refuel our brains of much needed brainteasers-solving energy. Extra points for a thoughtful gesture! Hmmm. Oh... wait. Aw, crap. AN OLD CONCEPT REFRESHED Such a simple yet brilliant concept... In fact, this is a concept isn't completely new. Have you ever received a gift card (or cash) in a maze gift box, (or even just a straight-up cryptex,) the kind that you gotta work hard for your sweet rewards? Well, Puzzle Post is similar, in that you still have to work out your noggin to get to your end point. But Puzzle Post is also better. You don't just play one game, but 7 mini games for success. It makes communications all the more interesting, trumping a boring, ordinary greetings card by a long, long shot. Move over, Hallmark. Perhaps this is why these 7 puzzles tend not to be too difficult, as alluded. Puzzle Post's true joy derives from the ability to personalize a hidden message for dear grandma, to express your affection in a fun, unusual fashion, and NOT to give her a rage induced aneurysm due to frustrating mental acrobatics. (Unless you hate your granny? In which case, you're terrible.) The Missed Flight | Credits: Puzzle Post ◣ FINAL THOUGHTS I love solving puzzles. I love gifts. And I love getting mail as long as they are not mortgage or utility bills. Puzzle Post combines all 3 and left me more than impressed. As a reviewer, after completing the entire game, I unlocked a warm and lovely greetings from creators Bobbie and Will; though I can only imagine, how wonderful it would be had it been a enthusiastic congratulations from my own family and/or friends. It was at that exact moment, with that exact sentiment, that I know what I will be sending out for the upcoming holidays! Thanks in advance, Puzzle Post! • • • • • ◣ PARTING TIPS ★ Don't fixate on a free drink reward for too long--even if it's free--it is just your starting guide. ★ If something's important, they'll tell you it more than once... or maybe even 3 times! ★ Don't be shy. If you someone gives you their number at a bar, or wherever, use it. Signing off, ESCAPE MATTSTER Instagram @EscapeMattster ▪ Facebook.com/EscapeMattster Full disclosure: complimentary game access was generously provided for review or testing purposes. All media are sourced from and credited to rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. In certain cases, media materials are made available under fair use doctrine of copyright law. PPFlight.

► SECTION I • QUICK GLANCE ◄ ◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: The Profoctor Predicament 💪 Difficulty: N/A ⏲️ Time: No Time Pressure 🧑 Capacity: 1-4 People Recommended 🏢 Company: Oblivity 🏘️ Location: Based in United Kingdom 🛒 To Purchase Game ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: Online Puzzle Game 💻 Platform: Web Browser, PDF (Reader/Print) 🔊 Media Used: Text, Images, Audio, Music, Videos ◣ "TL;DR!" SNIPPETS 📝 "The story is [not] complex, but the execution pushes it over to the realm of excellence." 📝 "[T]he personality, charm, and humor infused into 'Profoctor' are possibly together the single strongest factor that makes it stand out from the crowd." 📝 "...[A] collection of very solid challenges to ensure a well packaged experience..." 📝 "Inclusion of original music in the guise of...punk band sensation is a nice touch; incorporating its lyrics into one of the brainteasers is a whole another level of clever." 📝 "Everything...looks very aesthetically pleasing." 💪 "Is it Hard?" (Team of 1) Took maybe 2 nudges, but overall, not terribly difficult. 🔢 "How Many?" Like with most online puzzle games, I recommend 1-2 players. 🤷‍♂️ "For Who?" Enjoy silly space narrative (think "Futurama" x "Star Trek")? Try this! • • • • • ...WHOA! LOVED IT. AND I GOT THE ENDING THAT I DESERVED! THIS JOINS 🏆 "MUST DO!" 🏆 RANK! ► SECTION II • IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS ◄ ◣ THE PREMISE Travel to Pluto to learn what happened to the missing team of Research Base Persephone. Take on perplexing puzzles and a fiendish foe, as a ferocious creature stalks ever closer to the base… • • • • • ◣ THE REVIEW ...What is this "podcast" you speak of? ADORABLY ENGAGING Believe it or not, I've never once ventured into the podcast territory in my life. I suppose due to my not particularly strong listening skills, I've never inclined myself to audio books and the likes. And "The Profoctor Predicament", an online escape game inspired by a UK podcast program "Oblivity", is probably going to be as close as I'll get to a podcast any time soon. Now, I may not be a patron of any podcast service, but I still understand that great story writing and telling are pivotal to success. And the guys behind "Oblivity" got. This. Down. Perhaps their background expertise has always unknowingly paved way for this quarantine project, but this online puzzle adventure greatly benefited from all the skills in their arsenal. Of note, you do not need have any prior knowledge from "Oblivity" to play this game. The plot is a standalone episode, and easily digestible by any newcomer. It's relatively simple, in fact: Pluto's research team of 4 at Base Persephone have gone missing, captured by 13 year old Profoctor, nemesis to all. Locate everyone's whereabouts before it's too late, because a genetically modified ferocious beast is also on the loose, and it's hungry for its next meal... The story is honestly not particularly complex, but the execution pushes it over to the realm of excellence. Firstly, the script is written by professional writers, and delightfully obviously so. Effective word choices strung together in the most concise, most effective, and also most entertaining way possible, "Oblivity" writers make painting a picture with text look so effortless. (Web)pages upon pages of engaging scenarios, always tightly grasping my interests. Next, the interspersed animation video clips feature audio performance from the program's original voice actors. Since the animation itself is mostly confined to a few still images shown in a "slide show", kinda, it really depends on the voice actors to bring the story universe to life, and they've also done a commendable job. (To be expected, after all.) Last, but certainly not least, the personality, charm, and humor infused into "Profoctor" are possibly together the single strongest factor that makes it stand out from the crowd. Multiple funny scenes come to mind, but one specific running gag throughout I appreciate immensely is the entire crew's uniform reaction to being held captive against will--none seems fazed at the slightest! Despite being in mortal danger, they all just collectively shrug off the teenaged villain as nothing more than a minor nuisance. The irony is palatable! WELL DONE PUZZLES Exceptional storytelling isn't exactly a huge surprise, but "Profoctor" also brought forth a collection of very solid challenges to ensure a well packaged experience that isn't just an interactive story, but also an actual respectable escape game. For starter, the very first puzzle that kicks out the interplanetary journey is shockingly difficulty; not in the sense that it isn't solvable (though even I had to resort using a hint), but daunting enough of a roadblock to stop some players from starting the game, I'd imagine! Fortunately, the difficulty fluctuates quite dramatically from puzzle to puzzle, so there's actually something for everyone of all experience level. The variety is also impressive; these puzzles test skills of observation, hearing, logic, and more. I want to specifically praise their logic puzzles, because while some game designers prefer to challenge their audience with ridiculously hard logic conundrums with over-complicated clues, the examples from "Profoctor" are fine tuned just right. Ambiguous enough to stimulate (active thinking), but not overly cryptic to frustrate. Inclusion of original music in the guise of an in-game space-punk band sensation is a nice touch; incorporating its lyrics into one of the brainteasers is a whole another level of clever. A puzzle or two may benefit from minor tweaking, but no major issue found whatsoever. And like all great at-home puzzle adventures, the climax is preceded by a meta puzzle! For a freshman effort at creating an online escape game, these guys surely did their research and know their craft. Dare I say even, some companies that run escape rooms for a living haven't even reached this level of awesome. BEAUTIFULLY PRODUCED One of the advantages of running a podcast is that the visual component can be largely ignored, and all available resources can be allocated solely for what one hears, and not what one sees--such is not the case for an online escape room endeavor. Yet, this switch in art form did not falter Oblivity. Everything--from the general website to the actual game contents--looks very aesthetically pleasing. So pleasing, in fact, I see potential for "Oblivity" to be fully animated one day. The art style is somewhere between comic and cartoon, befitting nicely for the often borderline ludicrous tone the story goes for. Also, the 5 human (or humanoid) roles have great character designs, each with unique features that help bring their various personality traits to life. Though cliche, I still enjoy the ever so popular bowl hair cut reserved for nerdy big bads: Profoctor's hairdo instantaneously reminds me of Vector Perkins's, certifying his villain status crystal clear. ◣ FINAL THOUGHTS I've reviewed more than a handful of online escape quests, and not all achieves trinity of excellency in plot, puzzles, and production (triple P, huh). "[The] Profoctor Predicament" (double P, coincidentally) checks off all 3 Ps gracefully, and have me yearning for another go. The brilliant minds behind "Oblivity", if you're reading this, please make more. • • • • • ◣ PARTING TIPS ★ Numbers usually tell quantity, but sometimes, they define order. ★ Some say rock band lyrics have hidden satanic messages... I say it's more mixed. ★ When it comes time to decide for the well being of self vs all, let your morals guide you. Signing off, Escape Mattster If you've enjoyed this, why not get regular updates by following our social media? Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS ⤻ Though game access was complimentary, this article was written basing on unbiased and genuine opinions. ⤻ All media credited to and used with permission from contents owners. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RESOURCES ⤻ The Profoctor Predicament • "OProfoctor" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s): "Oblivity" or "Profoctor Predicament"

► SECTION I • QUICK GLANCE ◄ ◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: Cocktails, Spies & Murder 💪 Difficulty: Main Mission (Medium), Side Mission (Easy) ⏲️ Time: 60-90 Minutes 🧑 Capacity: N/A (Multiple Households Allowed) 🏢 Company: Questventure 🏘️ Location: Based in United Kingdom 🛒 To Purchase Game ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: Online Puzzle Game 💻 Platform: Web Browser, Phone/QR Scanner 🔊 Media Used: Text, Images, Online Map 📝 Puzzles include references to alcohol and spirits throughout ◣ "TL;DR!" SNIPPETS 📝 "Though the overall story sounds a little bit 007, unfortunately to say, it really does not develop further over the course of the game." 📝 "While the drama aspect leaves a bit more to be desired, the game does provide the perfect excuse for numerous liquor related puzzles, reference, and jokes." 📝 "Questventure opts for its own spin of an interface, and in the process, injects much personality into its visuals department... Simply put, this looks fantastic." 📝 "I took a liking to an upwards of 80 to 90 percent of all brainteasers found...furthermore, a handful of them stuck out on my mind even days after finishing the game..." 📝 "[T]he most unexpected reward is a dorky, tongue in cheek, pun based joke, congratulating you for a job well done after each puzzle completion..." 💪 "Is it Hard?" (Team of 1) Except for some UK specific culture trivia, quite easy. 🔢 "How Many?" I would recommend most to do this solo for an extra challenge. 🤷‍♂️ "For Who?" Welp, due to alcohol contents, anyone above legal drinking age? ► SECTION II • IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS ◄ ◣ THE PREMISE You’ve been assigned an undercover operation that without your help, could result in disastrous consequences. Agent Foxtrot was found dead in the early hours of this morning and after an initial toxicology report, we found a poisonous substance, along with a mysterious cocktail. We believe it’s the work of an undercover spy operating within our organisation. Foxtrot was last seen on CCTV at Escape & Tonic Cocktail Bar and there’s only a 90 minute window before the staff begin to arrive, and all the evidence is tampered with or destroyed. So you must go undercover, work out which was the deadly concoction and reveal the identity of the double agent, before they strike again. • • • • • ◣ THE REVIEW Usually, I would think being inebriated while attempting to solve puzzles is probably counterproductive. However, since alcohol (or as the Brits say it, spirits) is very much in theme, for this time, bottoms up! AGENT DOWN The plot revolves around one fellow spy's untimely death and your attempt to arrest the culprit before more colleagues bite the dust. And since the murder stage is a cocktail bar, this is one case mixing pleasure (of drinking) and business is appropriate and even required! Though the overall story sounds a little bit 007, unfortunately to say, it really does not develop further over the course of the game. True to the game's title, "Cocktails, Spies & [a] Murder" are involved, but the extent only goes as far as your missions to uncover which mixed drink and which spy are responsible for the crime in question. While the drama aspect leaves a bit more to be desired, the game does provide the perfect excuse for numerous liquor related puzzles, reference, and jokes. Think of it as happy hour for your mind. (Unless you're sipping on a little something something at home while playing, then it's just happy hour all the way.) POSH AND POLISHED One resounding similarity with James Bond "Cocktails" does manage to achieve is its ever so classy appearance. No, this online game isn't wearing an actual casino tuxedo, but the digital equivalent of slick men's fashion, whatever that may be, it's got it. Often, online escape games fall into the habit of presenting materials in a more or less standard, unimaginative kind of way: here's a bunch of text, then an image for illustration, and then more text, and finally a password input field at the bottom for your solution. While there is nothing inherently wrong with the above (overused) scheme, Questventure opts for its own spin of an interface, and in the process, injects much personality into its visuals department. The map view of the investigation scene exudes a high tech spy gadget vibe, while the two concurrent missions are clearly indicated with respective icons. Each individual puzzle is then loaded in its own "pop up" window, decked out with vibrant colors and sharp looking images. The cocktail menu card used throughout (as a key clue) looks as authentic as they come! Simply put, this looks fantastic. (happy) hour of puzzling fun Two main objectives are laid out very clearly in the beginning. You are to identify 1) which cocktail, made with exactly 6 ingredients, was used to poison the victim; and 2) which rogue agent, who shall be revealed by 7 numbers, weirdly enough, committed the deed. Players then systematically go through 6 main puzzles and 7 side puzzles to collect the aforementioned info, or "evidence", that will essentially culminate to final meta puzzle answers, closing the case. Though each challenge is either alcohol or bar themed, tastefully so even, I would not exactly call this CSI procedure--the mystery solving component is light. They are, however, engaging puzzles with fun twists, and with a wide range of variety to boot. I took a liking to an upwards of 80 to 90 percent of all brainteasers found--which is an impressive score in itself--furthermore, a handful of them stuck out on my mind even days after finishing the game: My personal favorites include a bingo card based puzzle, which is not only brilliant in puzzle design, it also employs "physical" prop interaction that transiently blurs an online experience into something less virtual, coming closer to creating an actual escape room moment. Also memorable was a surprising encounter with ethanol's chemical structure. The dormant biochem degree holder hibernating deep within me awoke with gushing excitement upon this unlikely reunion with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. A gleeful reminder that I was once upon a time a science nerd, and now, full time puzzle nerd. (And proud to be one!) Perhaps, the most unexpected reward is a dorky, tongue in cheek, pun based joke, congratulating you for a job well done after each puzzle completion--with the joke corresponding back to the very solution just given. Gin-credible writing, indeed. minor buzz-kills Admittedly, there're a few drawbacks that made the experience slightly less than ideal: For instance, one puzzle makes use of bar snacks knowledge from local areas of UK, and being an American, I asked Google for a helping hand. However, as with my past experience, Google's individualized search algorithm for USA residents seems to deter the engine from producing specific and helpful answers for UK focused queries. Well, either that, or I am just absolute crap at online research. Could be the latter. Hmm. Also, as pointed out earlier, while the entire "crime investigations" function quite cleverly and entertainingly as brainteasers, they did not satisfy the true notion of cracking a murder case in the traditional whodunit sense. I would've enjoyed elements of forensics samples, testimonials, or alibi to further authenticate the scenario. Finally, while adult Mattster and his friends of 18 and up can freely delight in "Cocktails", there's at least hesitation to recommend this game for anyone younger due to its omnipresent ethanol contents. It's a shame, because this is such a decent game with puzzles suitable for users of all experience level. Hey, bartend, can you possibly make this virgin? ◣ FINAL THOUGHTS As a whole, Questventure's newest boozy adventure still scores way more hits than its very occasional misses. It isn't that often when an escape game company chooses to dedicate such comprehensive coverage on the topic of alcohol in puzzle form, and seeing how QV has brewed up such a lovely and delicious concoction in the end, I say, CHEERS to that! • • • • • ◣ PARTING TIPS ★ Objects in puzzles are often movable. That means, if something is underneath... ★ Pay attention to little key words hidden in plain sight as part of everyday speech. Sneaky. Signing off, Escape Mattster If you've enjoyed this, why not get regular updates by following our social media? Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS ⤻ Though game access was complimentary, this article was written basing on unbiased and genuine opinions. ⤻ All media credited to and used with permission from contents owners. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RESOURCES ⤻ Cocktails, Spies & Murder • "QVCocktails" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s): "Questventure" or "Cocktails Spies Murder"

► SECTION I • INFO ◄ ◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: Level Up 💪 Difficulty: N/A ⏲️ Time: 1 Hour 🧑 Capacity: 2-6 Players (Per Website) 🏢 Company: Escape Hunt (UK) • Play At Home (UK) 🏘️ Location: Various Internationally 🛒 To Purchase Game ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: Print & Play Puzzle Game ✂️ Tools: Color Printer, Papers, Scissors 💻 Platform: Web Browser, Facebook Account/Messenger 📰 Media Used: Print Media, Text, Images, Audio, (Videos) ► SECTION II • ANALYSIS ◄ ◣ THE PREMISE When you discover a mysterious old console from the 1980s in the attic, a dangerous computer virus hiding in the software starts to escape. Through a combination of printed puzzles and online hacking, can you play your way through the retro levels and shut the console down before the virus gets out? It's your job to hack into the mainframe, attack the computer virus and Level Up! • • • • • ◣ THE FEATURE While a certain other virus ravage the outside world as we know it, why not play "Level Up" safely at home and rid of this video game virus instead? ARCADE THROWBACK Ahhh, the 1980s. A decade of video gaming that would soon be defined and dominated by from industrial giants like Nintendo and Sega. I am no expert on the matter, so I did a quick research: it turns out that though this print & play puzzle game features an image of a video game console looking suspiciously similar to the SNES, the SNES did not debut until the 90s. However, other obvious in-game homage, like "Cube Calamity" and the computer virus representation (inspired by "Q*bert" and "Space Invaders", respectively), rose to the popularity in the late 70s and early 80s. Ok, so we're sorta taking an average and lumping a couple of things together, but the theme is clear--retro! All aboard the nostalgia train! A DANGEROUS GAME TO PLAY Ahh, a neglected video game console from the attic, an artifact from the once famous, but now defunct Seiyako Technologies. You power up the system, and hey, it works! A game comes up on the screen, "Virus Detected". What a weird name for a title, you thought... ...WAIT A MINUTE. It was at this moment, you knew, you [messed] up. THIS VIRUS'S GONE LOOSE! A little bit of a Jumanji situation on hand, but thankfully, the video game "Genie" soon appears, informing you to revert disaster, simply initiate the shut down sequence by playing all video game levels. Play to save the day--if only all heroic acts are this fun. A fitting and precise approach that emulates the actual "procedure" of beating a video game, the overall play structure makes good sense and is easy to comprehend. VISUALS FOR DAYS One can easily tell that an ample amount of hard work has gone into the design of this print and play PDF file. In the 11-page document, every single sheet was visually impressive. The meticulously chosen graphics and fonts authentically portray a 1980 arcade machine interface. Those who grew up in this era will easily detect pictorial reference to classic video game elements, from specific vintage title "Asteroids" to the more general side-scrolling genre. Various mock title logos add yet another layer of retro-charm. And the colors! Oh my! The first level, "Cube Calamity", features all the hues of a rainbow, and is very exhilarating to look at. Other levels, though a bit more muted by comparison, employ logical but still vibrant colors choices, making "Level Up" an optical treat from start to finish. (ALMOST NO) PRINT & PLAY Alas, the very reason why this game looks so awesome also held me back from completing it for the longest time! Under the impression that I MUST print certain pages in colors, and not having access to a color printer, I thought I was out of luck... Game Over for me! But I was wrong. You absolutely do NOT need to print anything in colors. A black and white print job would suffice, given that you periodically refer back to the full color version when puzzle solving demands so. In fact, alternatively, virtually all puzzles given can be solved by digitally manipulating screenshots in Paint instead. So not only isn't color printing mandatory, printing itself is also somewhat optional! With this new method in mind, the only thing I (arguably) absolutely needed to print out was only the spaceship origami! VIRUS DECONTAMINATION At first glance, the game seemingly would take no time at all to complete, due to its having only 3 main levels. In reality, each game level requires multiple steps to conquer, and goes much beyond than expectations. You got me there, Seiyako! Early puzzles are creative variations of cipher decoding, neatly involving ASCII and binary. While both tie slickly back to a computer related premise, they are not especially challenging or outstanding. I did, however, appreciate a quick refresher on certain nautical terms. Thankfully, latter parts of the experience feature more uncommon and unique challenges that I found strangely satisfying, with one featuring the very annoying sound of a dial-up modem, no less. A blast (to my eardrums) from the past, indeed. The overall style of having the players bouncing from printed materials (or the PDF document) and various online resources was a fairly expected routine, though I give huge props for the creators for whipping up more eye candies that are (fictional) Seiyako webpages. Again, being visually stunning really is a strong point from Escape Hunt. Lastly, a Facebook messenger interaction is required for 100% game completion, and while I actually liked and welcomed the immersion created by this particular modality, I did find it quite odd for a company that was shut down in 1987 to actively maintain a Facebook account, a social media platform launched 17 whole years later. But to debate about this in the same universe in which a software virus escaped into the real world, on multiple occasions even, is a moot point. ◣ FINAL THOUGHTS Though the puzzles of "Level Up" were not excessively difficult that even younger kids can confidently tackle, the chief subject of retrospective video gaming seems to aim more at older kids at heart, tugging at their heartstrings and evoking happier, simpler times. No matter which end of the spectrum you fall under, this pleasantly entertaining option is worth your consideration. Just push the START button when ready. Signing off, Escape Mattster If you've enjoyed this, why not get regular updates by following our social media? Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS ⤻ Though game access was complimentary, this article was written basing on unbiased and genuine opinions. ⤻ All media credited to and used with permission from contents owners. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RESOURCES ⤻ Level Up • "EHLevel" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s): "Escape Hunt" or "Level Up"

► SECTION I • QUICK GLANCE ◄ ◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: The Witch's Forest 💪 Difficulty: N/A ⏲️ Time: 90 Minutes 🧑 Capacity: Max Of 8 Players 🔐 Booking: Private 🏢 Company: Daydream Adventures 🏘️ Location: Toronto, Canada 🛒 To Book Game • To Check Time Zone 📝 Note potential time difference when booking! ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: Remote Escape Room 💻 Platform: Zoom (Live Avatar, Video, & Audio Feed), Web Browser 🎒 Inventory: Yes, Featuring "Visions" Videos, Photos, And Story Line ◣ "TL;DR!" BRIEFS 📝 One obvious standout feature of "The Witch's Forest" is that you're playing the role of a forest spirit, an ally of Hilda the witch. That's right, the witch isn't the villain, but the antihero. 📝 Linear game play, puzzles and relevant clues are hand fed to players at each step, a perhaps oversimplified format that takes away some inherent joys of an escape room. 📝 However, the very same linear structure paves way for excellent story telling. With Hilda's dedicated performance, this becomes a remarkable immersive theater adjacent experience. 📝 The entire set--both the vibrantly colorful magic forest and the detailed rustic cabin--is absolutely gorgeous. The only downside is that online players can't witness this in person. 💪 Difficulty rating: (Team of 6) It was, on occasions, perplexing. Otherwise, not hard. 🧑 Best team size: Some puzzles are headscratchers, though a group of 4 should suffice. 🧑 Best audience: Family, children, or anyone who likes fairy tale fantasy with a personality. • • • • • ...WHOA! LOVED IT. HILDA MUST HAVE PUT A SPELL ON ME, BECAUSE I LOVE HER. THIS JOINS 🏆 "MUST DO!" 🏆 RANK! ► SECTION II • IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS ◄ ◣ THE PREMISE In a realm of dreams and magic, a trickster has upset the witch who lives here. Hilda has been away from the forest. Upon returning home, Hilda discovers someone has mischievously interrupted what she was working on. She is locked out of her cabin. She suspects a human may have done this, as she knows many humans detest her. In this realm, spirits often watch and listen. Spirits of the forest, such as yourself, are very wise. A witch calls upon forest spirits for guidance. When Hilda calls for your help, your spirit can tell Hilda exactly how to undo the trickster’s mess. • • • • • ◣ THE REVIEW For this one time only, I shall align myself with the dark arts. I stand by Hilda--A WITCH! THE TALE OF AN ANTIHERO Years of society norms and conventions have trained us not to trust the likes of witchery. Those who practice black magic, witches and warlocks, are evildoers. But stop, and think, not in the perspective of a human, but in that of a forest spirit: Hilda the witch lives in harmony with mother nature, minding her own business. Humans, on the other hand, are well known for systematic deforestation and global warming. Hmmm. Forest spirit, who are you gonna side with? In "The Witch's Forest", you'll get a chance to discover who the real monster is. Is it Hilda? OH GOSH. YIKES. Ok, so Hilda does look a bit scary with her green tinged wrinkly face, but never judge a book by its cover, or a witch by her dry, leathery skin, for Hilda understands the sanctity of life and shares a mutual respect with the woods she calls home. Some humans, on the other hand... The lack of regards for others is despicable. Why are they trashing someone else's home? Whatever happened to common courtesy and basic decency? In an uncommon twist of events, this escape game gives rise to an unlikely antihero Hilda, and for once, you are rooting not for, but against, your own kind--mankind. Play as a forest spirit and exact revenge for all those years of human hubris, selfishness, and entitlement! A PUZZLING JOURNEY HOME Game play follows Hilda's return home after being away. During her absence, a human trickster (ptooey!) littered in her garden, broke into her home, and made a mess! The nerve! Hilda needs to, step by step, figure out what happened, and teach this brat a lesson. While most avatar led games would have the players do some searching and item collecting before diving into an actual puzzle, this game presents them to you, flat out, at each step: On an "inventory-like" webpage, participants will watch a video (known as a "vision") as the puzzle premise, look at puzzle itself and associated clues, then they can get to work. Once the puzzle is solved, players gain access to the next puzzle page, and this cycle repeats. Player clicks on the blue button, inputs the correct password, and advances to the next puzzle. From fiddling with poisoned apples, to potion mixing, and to casting spells with magic wands, these challenges are theme appropriate, convey a sense of fantasy and wonder, and are overall decently enjoyable. They are not especially challenging, sans maybe one or two. However, because there is so much direct hand-holding with the presentation format--you know exactly what the puzzle is (for example, encrypted message on a scroll), what you're solving for (lock combo), and what specific props are needed to solve this--it does take away a certain level of satisfaction. Part of the joy of playing an escape room is figuring out what is relevant and having an "ah-ha!" moment when a connection is made. Nevertheless, the wonderful trade-off of using this extremely linear approach is perfect storytelling. There's a reason why I rated this room as a "Must Do!", and I shall circle back to why in a bit. In the mean time, let's move on to the gorgeous set. HILDA'S COLORFUL, TWINKLING FOREST Daydream Adventures promised you a magical forest, and they delivered! Glowing mushrooms, smiling trees, a rainbow spectrum of colors enveloping the entire area, this is a fairy tale vision realized in real life. The interior of Hilda's cabin reveals even more painstaking details, with every inch of the room filled with all things witch essential. Smoking cauldron, countless ingredients cabinets, and of course, brooms and magic wands, this is easily a Disney Park quality showroom. It's such a shame that I don't get to witness this in person, because something of this caliber, a work of art, really, beckons true appreciation that Zoom will never be able to do justice. (Cast a teleportation spell on me if you can, Hilda, I wanna go to Canada!) THE ULTIMATE REASON TO BOOK As alluded to before, the decision to direct game flow in a rigidly linear, one puzzle at a time format has its drawback; but at the same time, this structure made for superb storytelling, and it actually contributed to the game's very success! In truth, all it took for me to realize they were doing something right was really just a minor adjustment in expectation. While technically billed as an "escape room", this is more of a semi "immersive theater experience". This is less of a game with theater elements, but more of a show punctuated with brainteasers. Indeed, there were puzzles, but they were distinctly overshadowed by the narrative surrounding Hilda, and Hilda herself--her acting, her interactions with us, her everything. Hilda was more than just an avatar. She was lively, she was humorous, and she was FUN. She was part of our team, the star of the plot, and the main attraction of the game. What I also appreciated about Hilda was that, while she was committed to her character, she was also flexible. She didn't necessarily stick to a script. Even though the game itself was family friendly, depending on the team makeup, she made suitable adjustments. For our team, a casual jest referencing happy hour and alcohol consumption explained her kookiness--she might've been a little buzzed this entire time?! (Jk, 'course.) She also performed an eye opening, jaw dropping, finger falling magic trick. She's unstoppable, y'all!! Furthermore, there were key moments embedded within the game that are reminiscent of a "choose your adventure" book, rendering each experience a little more unique. A roll of a dice turned our game into an impromptu Harry Styles karaoke sesh. For the grand finale, we got to decide what punishment shall befall the human race among a list of options. Fun times. Ultimately, perhaps--though we didn't realize it at the moment--Hilda's most potent spell was her ability to make people fall in love with her. A sinister hex this may not be, but if there is one thing we can learn from this experience is, not all witches are wicked. Some, just like you and me, simply despise blatant irreverence for others, and what's so wrong about that? ◣ FINAL THOUGHTS Daydream Adventures has dreamed up a wonderful remote entertainment, led by one of the most memorable characters I've encountered to date. I don't usually recommend people to voluntarily offer themselves at a witch's lair, but this time, you've got my full blessing. On a more solemn note, due to the COVID pandemic, Daydream Adventures has endured government mandated forced closure for a few months, and as a new small business, it's currently struggling financially. A GoFundMe page has been set up by the owners to help raise much needed funding to sustain business and to restore magic back in the forest. Please visit link for details on how you can support this worthy establishment. • • • • • ◣ PARTING TIPS ★ Nobody likes vermin, but at least calm down, and find out how many you need rid of. ★ Yin-yang dualism: Where there's sun, there's moon; where there's light, there's shadow. Signing off, Escape Mattster If you've enjoyed this, why not get regular updates by following our social media? Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS ⤻ Though game access was complimentary, this article was written basing on unbiased and genuine opinions. ⤻ All media credited to and used with permission from contents owners. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RESOURCES ⤻ The Witch's Forest • "DAForest" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s): "Daydream Adventures" or "Witch's Forest"

► SECTION I • QUICK GLANCE ◄ ◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: Pandora's Box 💪 Difficulty: N/A ⏲️ Time: 60 Minutes 🧑 Capacity: 2-8 (2-6 Recomennded) 🔐 Booking: Private 🏢 Company: Trapped! Escape Room • Branch 🏘️ Location: San Dimas, CA, United States 🛒 To Book Game ◣ "TL;DR!" BRIEFS 📝 The overall plot is a twist on a somewhat modernized version of Pandora's Box. It's an intriguing cross between Greek mythology and Disney/Indiana adventures. And it works! 📝 Linear story and game play originate organically from the geometric structure of, well, a box. The overall format vastly succeeds; majority of puzzles are GREAT, 1 or 2 are... eh. 📝 Most challenges are less "traditional" or less "escape room like" than other previous Trapped! games; when coupled with special effects, they achieve maximal immersion. 📝 "Pandora's Box" is an atmospheric masterpiece. The aforementioned special fx--heat, water, and strobe light--are state of the art. Dim lighting could benefit from some tweaking. 💪 Difficulty rating: (Team of 2) Moderately difficult. Appreciated all the nudges from my GM. 🧑 Best team size: 3-4. Certain "Lights Out" puzzles are difficult to solve; some people get it, and some just don't. Buy yourself some insurance by bringing in an extra brain or two. 🧑 Best audience: Fans of archaeological artifacts theme mixed with mythological supernatural happenings; great for bold thrill seekers. Maybe too intense for kids (12 & under). • • • • • ...WHOA! LOVED IT. NO POINT IN KEEPING THIS ONE IN THE BOX! SPREAD THE WORD! THIS JOINS 🏆 "MUST DO!" 🏆 RANK! ► SECTION II • IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS ◄ ◣ THE PREMISE Max Fortune is an adventurer, archaeologist and collector. He has recovered the prize of his collection, the artifact known as “Pandora’s Box”. His arch-nemesis has discovered this and is on his way to take it in order to harness the power within. Can you discover the secrets contained within Pandora’s Box? • • • • • ◣ THE REVIEW Having seen the staff working hard on a secret project when I last visited Trapped! for "Grandma's Surprise", now more than a year later, with much anticipation, I finally got to see their effort come into fruition. At last, it's time to think outside the "Pandora's Box"! And man, what a BEAST Trapped! has opened and released upon our world. A BIT OF GREEK, A BIT OF DISNEY Adventurer Max Fortune discovered an artifact known as the "Pandora's Box", and of course, mysteries and omens surround the said container. His rival, as per yoush, is up to no good, wanting to harvest the immense power within. You're here to stop this. Standard stuff so far. Sharp patrons with an affinity to theme parks may notice the game trailer, entitled "News From Around The Globe", is a not so subtle nod to the Indiana Jones attraction at Disneyland. So they're basically setting up Max to be Trapped!'s Dr Jones, I presumed. As one may suspect, this entire premise was just a backdrop to the REAL STORY, one you're about the experience, head first, front and center, movie protagonist style. This was never about Max. This spotlight was always meant for YOU. The adventure--and perils--are about to unfold right under your nose. Good luck. And try not to die. Because the very title is named after Greek mythology's Pandora's Box, you already know you will inevitably release all evils contained within the titular curio at some point. An then you probably have to undo the mess. I am not technically spoiling much here. But how this played out, according to Trapped!'s vision, was what made it spectacular. This could've gone in myriad directions, but what they ended with was divine. (And I do mean this in more senses than one.) The incorporation of elements from yet another Disney Adventureland classic, The Enchanted Tiki Room, made the experience all the more powerful, both as a compelling narrative and a well-structured escape game. Indiana Jones AND Tiki Room?! Will you dodge huge, rolling boulder and enjoy a Dole Whip by the end of it all? Not likely, but you'll just have to play to see what I mean. A BOXED CHALLENGE "Pandora's Box" is a very classic Trapped! Escape Room production. The creators tend to follow a basic formula that works: you'll do challenges in "sections", and once you complete these "sections", there will be a meta finale. You then proceed to difficult bonus puzzles, should you have any time leftover. (Really getting your full 60 minutes worth of value here.) In this specific scenario, however, I found it especially ingenious how the geometric shape of a box, the Pandora's box no less, translated so well for game play. You see, a box, or a cube, has 6 surfaces. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we can wreck havoc upon the customers, one surface at a time, so they can easily track their progression of misfortune? Trapped! proudly thought, heck yes! The resulting linear game play was easy to comprehend, smooth to play, and (the accompanying story) easy to follow. The overall experience felt organic, real, and impactful. The actual puzzle themselves, however, strayed a bit from Trapped!'s usual MO, and though they did make sense within the story universe, a couple were controversial choices. In the past, Trapped! tended to favor more "traditional" mental puzzles, ones that encourage patrons to find patterns, isolate key info, and the likes. These still exist, but now come additions of "Lights Out" like challenges. Have you done puzzles that require you to toggle all lights from on to off, but you're limited by certain pattern changes with each move you make? Those. Those kinds of puzzles, albeit different but with similar logic, are in this room. These challenges are iffy because they're extremely easy to mess up on, and you may have ZERO idea if you're making helpful progress or not. I've always solved these by luck, and this time was no different. (Whew!) Hence, I recommend 3-4 players despite the game's linearity--you will want multiple brains to rotate through should one get horribly stuck with these. Besides these, however, other puzzles making up the other 80% of the (main) game will undoubtedly and positively challenge, entertain, and wow the audience. They still deviate from more "traditional" escape room puzzles, such as code breaking, and in effect they offer participants something new and different for a change. One may even blow you away. (Wink.) Interestingly, every single puzzle encounter was in some form of box: Pandora's, wooden, tool, and more. Was "box" a theme in itself? Intentionally or not, I thought this was sly, almost like an extra layer of sophistication to an already highly polished game, just for funsies. SENSORY & IMMERSION OVERLOAD Opinions may differ on puzzle selections, but there's probably only one consensus on the set: it's friggin' awesome. Visually, it's perfect. The wooden floor panels, the many shipping crates, and the magical box of the hour sitting in the dead center-- everything's perfect. I uncontrollably let out a "Wow!" of amazement within seconds I walked in. Audibly, a classy yet mysterious soundtrack played throughout the game, adding an extra bit of ambiance I much appreciated. What made this extraordinarily even more impressive was that even though the entire event supposedly took place within only one very specific location inside Max Fortune's estate, the amount and magnitude of "adventures" I got to experience was way beyond expectation. I didn't have to go out to seek the "adventures"; they came to me... or rather, at me. Multiple stimuli will thrust upon your senses. You will see, hear, touch, and LITERALLY feel the magic on your skin, and quite dramatically so on several occasions--and I LOVED it. The website does plainly reveal that you would be exposed to multiple special effects, such as heat, water, and strobe light effects; but fret not, you'll only get cozily warm and barely wet. These effects only helped amplify immersion while causing no discomfort whatsoever. Of note, the lighting, as effective as they were at creating an impeccable atmosphere, leaned on the dim side, at times barely illuminating what needed to be seen, rendering puzzle solving more difficult than intended due to low visibility. On the contrary, while the official source claims this experience is not scary, I would argue it's at least startling--sometimes creepy even--but in the best sense possible. Much like a good action movie (starring you), you want excitement, you want suspense, you want thrills, and this room delivers like Domino's! High five! (Do people still make this joke?) Lastly, to briefly mention for completion sake, your game master will be in full character when proctoring and giving clues, therefore immersion was never even once broken. Magnificent. ◣ FINAL THOUGHTS Every single time I go to Trapped! Escape Room to try a newly published game, I would find that they have somehow elevated their craft to another level of expertise, and "Pandora's Box" continues this trend with steadfast momentum. There are lots of great rooms out there, but to find one that excels while exploring a theme as rarely used as a fabled box of evil forces is truly a great discovery. Indy might've found his Ark, but you, you found something arguably even more epic. You found "Pandora's Box". • • • • • ◣ PARTING TIPS ★ A large piece of cloth is great for covering furniture AND other purpose as well. ★ If you read Chinese, you may have a slight edge, potentially shaving off a minute or 2. ★ If all else fails, try random, simultaneous buttons pushing. You may just luck out... like I did! Signing off, Escape Mattster If you've enjoyed this, why not get regular updates by following our social media? Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS ⤻ Though game access was complimentary, this article was written basing on unbiased and genuine opinions. ⤻ All media credited to and used with permission from contents owners. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RESOURCES ⤻ Pandora's Box • "TERPandora" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s): "Trapped" or "Pandora's Box"

► SECTION I • QUICK GLANCE ◄ ◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: The Curious Elevator Of Mr. Hincks 💪 Difficulty: N/A ⏲️ Time: 2-4 Hours 🧑 Capacity: 1-4 Players Recommended 🏢 Company: Bluefish Games 🏘️ Location: Based in United States 🛒 To Purchase Game ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: By-Mail (Boxed) Online Puzzle Game ✂️ Tools: None Needed (Technically) 💻 Platform: Web Browser 📰 Media Used: Various Media In Box, Text, Images, Audio ◣ "TL;DR!" BRIEFS 📝 Though technically not having a strong central plot line, "The Curious Elevator" utilizes a flexible Hincks with many talents, thereby gluing all puzzles into one coherent experience. 📝 Each puzzle level, or "floor", possesses its own personality, though most, if not all, challenges are rooted in some form of word play--English fluency therefore is a must. 📝 Virtually all but a couple of challenges feature puzzle contents, tasks, or formats, that I personally haven't seen before, highlighting a great magnitude of cleverness and creativity. 📝 Impressive production value, with artistic choices consistent with the overall theming. Details implemented are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also effective as guiding clues. 💪 Difficulty rating: With Mattster's team of 2, moderately difficult. Needed a few hints! 🧑 Best team size: Doing it solo proved to be quite difficult, so I recommend a duo approach. 🧑 Best audience: Have a wide vocabulary? Don't mind the randomness? This is for YOU. • • • • • ...WHOA! LOVED IT. INVENTOR HINCKS MAY BE MAD, BUT HE'S BRILLIANT. THIS JOINS 🏆 "MUST DO!" 🏆 RANK! ► SECTION II • IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS ◄ ◣ THE PREMISE Stephen Hincks, "Hello there, Puzzlers! I am renowned inventor Stephen P. Hincks and I am delighted that you’ve accepted my invitation to test your wits with my cryptic and confounding puzzles! To embark on this adventure, I’ve invented a contraption to guide you on your journey. This elevator, unlike an ordinary elevator, won’t take you from the parking garage to the food court to acquire a delicious hot dog on a stick. In fact, this elevator has a bit of a mind of its own. But don’t fret, it will always take you where you need to be... Good luck, Puzzlers! I know I’ll be seeing you soon!" • • • • • ◣ THE REVIEW This one is a special one. I've known Bluefish Games creators, Ace and Anna, for a quite a while. I still fondly remember trying out their teaser puzzles more than a year ago on their Instagram, getting accustomed to their wonderfully weird MO, to finally participating in a crowdfunding for their very first project, "The Curious Elevator Of Mr. Hincks". Today, I digitally pen this review on my own site (which didn't exist then), for this very game that the community helped bring alive, and now widely regarded as a fan favorite. Both Bluefish and I have come a long way, and it's truly come a full circle for me to finally recommend this gem to everyone. Ladies and gents, here's "The Curious Elevator"! WHO IS MR. HINCKS? Officially, Stephen P. Hincks is an inventor first, puzzle lover second, and full fledged madman third, fourth, and fifth, and not necessarily in that order all the times. Shaping up this strange but sagacious protagonist in a "mad yet brilliant" angle was, well, brilliant in Bluefish's part because the Hincks universe isn't focused on one central, concrete narrative. While each individual puzzle somehow relates back to the titular elevator tower, they span across quite many distinct topics. And who can better string all these items together into one coherent experience than a weird scholar with a multitude of talents? Much like Barbie, whose career choices range from surgeon to cat burglar, Hincks is whoever you want him to be. He's smart; he's well read; and he's rich! He publishes newspaper; he owns the stocks market; and he critiques TV programs! To be that powerful and resourceful, Mr. Hincks and his malleable persona offer a freedom that opens up a wide array of possibilities that, despite not having a compelling plot, manages to always be wacky, captivating, and most of all, constantly fun. ASCEND TO THE TOP So, the game boils down to you riding this one of a kind elevator that operates by the power of puzzle solutions. Solved a puzzle? Great, to next destination floor you go. Not yet? Then enjoy this floor's elevator music* until you do! (*Not actually in-game, but great suggestion?) With this unique premise, each floor is given its own personality, both in the mini backstory and the puzzle aspects, rendering each stop a self-contained puzzle adventure. With the exception of the final "boss battle" meta puzzle, no floor relates to another directly, granting the players convenient checkpoints to pause and resume the game as they please. In regards to the actual challenge components, very early on, my partner and I both realized Bluefish Games, or at least Mr. Hincks, is very big on word based riddles. Well expected of a world class puzzler, I suppose. Word scrambling of sorts is a recurring motif, and while you need not to speak perfect English to play this game, mastery of a wide vocabulary seems to be quite advantageous. As for me... "Elevator" doubled as an education. Chuckle. Aside from the wordplay commonality, though, the variety of tasks Hincks asks for his guests to do is not only great, it is also original. Of the 10-ish puzzles included, perhaps 1, at most 2, is something I've seen before. The rest shine brightly with cleverness and creativity. For instance, as an escape room lover, I've seen many (often trite or obvious) methods to encrypt a keypad code, but none like the trick found in this game. In fact, this package sets forth more ways to hide key words and/or messages than most average escape games, thus giving even the most experienced veteran a welcoming breath of fresh air. Also worth mentioning: healthy doses of tongue in cheek humor are injected into a number of puzzles, most obviously manifested when the inventor himself authors various ridiculous publications. So do watch out for those "LOL" or "WTH(eck)" moments surely to come! DRESSED IN ELEGANCE Finally, production value. Well, why not take a look at the company's website here, and here. The impeccable quality reflected in their website design is also an accurate portrayal of what to expect in your by-mail, in-person parcel: Vibrant colors. Amusing, diverse, and always pleasing graphics and visuals. Materials produced in assorted and situation appropriate media. To sum up: Gorgeous product, immaculate execution, worth every penny. Even better is that the clue pieces make good sense. Not only do they look good, they also guide well. Every floor requires a certain set of associated materials, and if you pay close attention, it's easy to discern which goes with what. Look for similar art style, colors, font face, texture, or circumstances. A lot of details and thoughts went into production than first meets the eyes, and though not often attainable, this is, indeed, beauty and brains. LET'S END WITH A QUOTE... ...By me! I once casually mentioned this to the game creators, and it's since then quoted on their site (thanks for that!), I guess I would ironically re-quote myself to fulfill the prophecy of this long overdue review: "[The Curious Eleveator Of Mr. Hincks] is weird and eccentric. It’s almost like [Charlie & The Chocolate Factory,] but mixed with an intellectual Hincks." Well said, Mattster, well said. Much like the factory, this elevator tower is absolutely random, sometimes a little over the top, but it's most certainly worth a visit! • • • • • ◣ PARTING TIPS ★ I prefer not to write on any prop pieces, though doing so makes solutions more apparent. ★ Having an online dictionary handy helps a heap for all these word based puzzles! ★ Yes, you are, indeed, "destroying" that one item. No worries, a replay "refill" is included. ★ Sign up for FREE weekly secret puzzle at (the bottom of) Bluefish Games website. Signing off, Escape Mattster If you've enjoyed this, why not get regular updates by following our social media? Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS ⤻ All media credited to and used with permission from contents owners. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RESOURCES ⤻ The Curious Elevator Of Mr. Hincks • "BFGElevator" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s): "Bluefish Games" or "Curious Elevator"

◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: Season 1, Episode 1: Family Secrets 💪 Difficulty: Hard (Easy & Regular Also Available) ⏲️ Time: N/A 🧑 Capacity: N/A 🏢 Company: Mobile Escape 🏘️ Location: Based in Canada 🛒 To Purchase Game ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: Mail Subscription Online Puzzle Game ✂️ Tools: Scissors, Clear Tape 💻 Platform: Web Browser, Email Access 📰 Media Used: Various Media From Mail, Text, Images, Video ◣ "TL;DR!" BRIEFS 📝 Episode 1, "Family Secrets" takes on the ever so popular pirate-esque theme, which may excite beginners, while possibly boring more jaded puzzlers. Not a deal breaker, though. 📝 However, upon thrusting deeper into the plot, you'll learn the story will become more immersive and engaging, particularly if you choose to subscribe for later contents. 📝 Puzzles surrounding a treasure hunt theme, laced with a bit of family mystery, were entertaining to play; do note, cipher based challenges seem to prevail in this chapter. 📝 For its rather fair price point, materials bundled in the mail were of considerable quality, but still did leave some room for improvement, production and budget permitting. 💪 Difficulty rating: With Mattster's team of 1, easy, but with minor hiccup(s). 🧑 Best team size: Doing this solo or in an intimate setting of 2 seems most suitable. 🧑 Best audience: Those who enjoy puzzles in monthly doses with an overarching plot. • • • • • ► OOOH. ME LIKEY. ◄ SUDDENLY GAINING A NEW COUSIN ADDS JOLTS OF EXCITEMENTS TO MY DAY! THIS JOINS "RECOMMENDED" RANK! ◣ THE PREMISE Welcome to Escape Mail, Season 1. The adventure begins with an encrypted introduction to a long-lost relative - Joshua Jordan Fitzpatrick. • • • • • ◣ THE REVIEW Mobile Escape from Canada invites players to go on treasure hunting quest. Adventure shipped to your mail box, no sailing required. And oh, you have a new cousin now. PIRATES, BECAUSE, OF COURSE Well, "Family Secrets" is not exactly a pirate themed game, though the elements of treasure maps, compass, gold coins, and cryptic messages are all present. Before you shrug it off as "yet another treasure hunt" of the many similar options out there, consider this: Isn't it smarter to get the most commonplace theme(s) out of the way early on when a series begins? I bet that's what Mobile Escape is doing here. From the looks of it, each episode from ME would tackle a different topic, so there's probably something in store for everyone within the season. Frankly, I am even more excited to see where it goes from here. Most important of all, the narrative takes on an interesting twist: You are still in modern time, the present, to be exact, and you aren't even actively seeking treasures in the first place! It all started from a letter addressed to you from your cousin, Joshua Jordan Fitzpatrick. "I don't know a cousin named JJ," you thought to yourself. WELL, YOU DO NOW! He informs you a great deal of valuables, rightfully yours and his, is hidden out there in the world somewhere. He needs your help to locate them, and you mustn't trust his family! Ohhhh, how the plot thickens! And family drama, who doesn't like those, huh! AND THEN, PLUNGE RIGHT IN From there on, you're on your own. No further instructions, (unless you choose to consult the hint page), you figure out where you want to start. There is quite a few items included in the mail, so do take the time to organize wisely; still, gotta love the anxious but heart pumping feeling of seeing everything being unpacked for the first time! Side note: From what I understand, this is only applicable if you choose to purchase the "Hard" setting. Any setting below would include a guiding flow chart. I commend the company's meticulous catering for an audience of different experience level. So some delicious brownie points to ya, ME. Luckily for me, this was not my first puzzle solving gig, and indeed, the strange mail written from cousin JJ contained subtle but essential clues on what to do next. Once my train of thought set into motion, it traveled quite nicely along the tracks, and literally, one thing led to another, and I was contacting my long lost relative within the hour. Overall, this episode is fairly "crack the code" heavy, which fits the scenario at hand, once you learn of the reason and objective. However, one particular deciphering step bothered me more than others, all due to the very small font size that made me squint my already small eyes even smaller, as such: -_-!! An improvement in this department would sure be nice. Episode 1 was a healthy mix of puzzles, featuring enough variety and interesting hands-on moments, all served under a unifying premise. Though only a couple was truly brand new challenges I haven't seen before, (but keep in mind, this is all that I do; puzzles all day, every day, every night, la ta ta,) execution was on point, and there is little doubt that general public will find a considerable amount of genuine entertainment within this package. IMPRESSIVE PRODUCTION Moreover, I think the quality of the materials were also worth noting. Episode 1 included the envelope (Ahem, it's listed here for a reason... it's part of the game! Shhh!), encrypted documents, map pieces, compass and coin print outs, twine, and fabric. And everything felt and looked pretty darn good. (I particularly enjoyed the fabric; it's quite the unusual medium.) I do recognize there is still room for improvement. For instance, the treasure map pieces could be aged and purposely damaged for even greater authenticity, and the print outs of Polaroid photos can be actual Polaroids instead. However, I will leave the possible tweaking and adjustment up to the company's future endeavors. The props as they are now still deliver a very respectable presentation, and when bolstered by a collection of well developed and executed puzzles, this is a clear winner. Especially considering the affordable price point, Mobile Escape offers a value jam packed bargain. A QUICK CONCLUSION... At the episode's end, Mobile Escape thoughtfully provided a debrief video, which is always a nice touch for all online puzzle games. It really helps tie up all the loose ends, and also bring a sense of closure with our newfound cousin, Joshua Jordan. JJ, I guess this is goodb- ...What?! What exactly just happened?! Are these episodes not self contained?! "Family Secrets" turned out to be more immersive and extensively planned than I initially expected. JJ, oh, what am I to do now? And I barely know you! To be continued in Season 1, Episode 2... • • • • • ◣ PARTING TIPS ★ Always a good tip: lay out all received items on a table in an organized fashion to start. ★ When the time comes, a strange piece of foldable fabric shall lead your way. Signing off, Escape Mattster If you've enjoyed this, why not get regular updates by following our social media? Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS ⤻ Though game access was complimentary, this article was written basing on unbiased and genuine opinions. ⤻ All media credited to and used with permission from contents owners. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RESOURCES ⤻ Season 1, Episode 1: Family Secrets • "MEFamily" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s): "Mobile Escape" or "Family Secrets"

◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: Hanna Unlocked 💪 Difficulty: N/A ⏲️ Time: N/A 🧑 Capacity: N/A 🏢 Company: The Escape Game • At Home 🏘️ Location: Various In United States 📝 In Association With Amazon Prime Video ⌨️ To Access Game ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: Online Puzzle Game 💻 Platform: Web Browser, Phone 🔊 Media Used: Text, Images, Videos, Animations • • • • • ► OOOH. ME LIKEY. ◄ THERE HASN'T BEEN AN "UNLOCKED" GAME I DON'T LIKE. THIS JOINS "RECOMMENDED" RANK! ◣ THE PREMISE John Carmichael, "Hello, agent. Welcome to Utrax. You've just been recruited to a very important mission. I'm John Carmichael, and you'll be reporting to me throughout the course of this operation. This next part is critical, so listen up. You have three main objectives. One: Report what happened at the Utrax facility when Heller and the girl paid their visit. It's a mess. It's your job to make sense of the events. Two: Marissa Wiegler could have been involved in the escape. Some things aren't adding up. Find out if she played a part in all this. Three: Track down Hanna and Trainee 249, we're done being two steps behind. Get us caught up... " • • • • • ◣ THE FEATURE The Escape Game Unlocked series received a bonus chapter, but this one has nothing to do with Vincent Hahn. But rather, Hahn-na. Err, Hanna. From Amazon Prime Video. A TREAT FOR HANNA FANS Ok, so, let's first address the obvious--"Hanna Unlocked" is a commercial disguised as a game. Or is it a game disguised as a commercial? Either way, you're gonna meet Hanna. Having only seen the 2011 motion picture by the same title starring Saoirse Ronan, I had absolutely no idea that Hollywood has rebooted the same story universe, albeit now adapted to the small screen, let alone its having already run an entire season prior. As a casual non-fan who's had no prior knowledge of the TV program whatsoever, it's great to know you can, for the most part, complete and enjoy the game just fine. Awesome. Meanwhile, I would imagine, this must be quite a treat for its intended fan base, for them to see their action heroine permeate even further into their lives, this time as an online escape game that they can actively participate in, vs a TV show to be only passively consumed. On either end of the spectrum, one common fact remains--this is FREE due to Amazon's sponsorship! The high quality contents of what you expect from the Unlocked series, but for the price tag of nothing. So really, what's not to like? A TASTE OF SEASON 2 As mentioned, I had no idea what the narrative was going in, and they did a good job catching you up with brief show recaps, trailers, and various video clips. In addition, I didn't truly have to commit any attention to the plot during the game, either. In a nutshell, you're tasked to investigate 3 things: the event at the Utrax facility, Wiegler's level of involvement, and the whereabouts of two missing girls. No need to jog any notes down, however, because all that would be conveniently outlined for you as you progress game play in a linear fashion. Works for me! I didn't find the story particularly compelling, partially due to my having such limited investment in the series, but that's still perfectly okay--because nothing is really supposed to happen in this promo game anyway. If a stronger plot is what you crave, then that's what season 2 of the show is for. (Ah-ha! Marketing success right there!) THE FAMILIAR SPY INTERFACE The game aspect, however, I really enjoyed (with one minor exception). First off, the agent interface takes on the familiar format of other Unlocked games, pleasing to the eyes, easy to navigate, and intuitive enough for any new player to just pick up and go. One thing The Escape Game is renowned for is its attention to details, and every little part of the said game interface (aka the Utrax's classified program) shows the designers' deliberate effort to stay true to this goal. The font, the icons, the jargon, the format--they did everything they possibly could to immerse its players in the Hanna universe. GREAT PUZZLES WITH ONE BAD APPLE The actual puzzle portion is arbitrarily divided into 5 levels, more or less plot point driven, with each requiring the audience to solve a certain set of challenges before being allowed to advance to the next... which was why it was slightly provoking that the weakest and my least favorite puzzle took the lead in step number 1. Oh, step number 1, how you started off the game on the wrong foot. It's purely my conjecture that the game developers had to include some sort of Hanna video footage somehow somewhere as part of the contract, because the resulting "puzzle" basically forced me to learn some characters names, watched some actual show clips, and subsequently organize items in chronological order utilizing such info. First off, filing anything in order is not my idea for a good time. It's a tedious task, within an escape game or otherwise. And to require players, who may or may not have knowledge (or even interest) for the show to organize NINE events correctly into a time line is just way too many. Even had I been a Hanna fanatic, it would've been still a reach for me find it favorable. Hence, I flat out refused the challenge, used the included handy dandy hints/solutions guide, and skipped the first level altogether. So huge props to TEG for setting up such an option! Thankfully, however, everything that followed step 1 was thoroughly pleasurable, and as if they could read my irritated mind at the moment, the puzzle immediately following was just pure joy. An audio based riddle that was written so organically and so ingeniously into the scene, executed so smoothly with an irl element, and well acted out by the cast, it was perfection! It was fun to do, just hard enough to challenge, and so rewarding when solved. And that was just one excellent example of what the rest of the game offered. Planting bugs, cracking safe, doing a bit of detective work via actual Google search, and later, what was essentially a standalone police station mini escape room, it was one wave after another of solid, in theme puzzles that undid any damage incurred by first few moments of frustration. Furthermore, ladies (and gentlemen), a dashingly handsome Dermot Mulroney will congratulate you (well, kinda) for hitting each milestone, so really, all can be forgiven! A final cherry on top was the game completion certificate you receive upon beating all levels, in the form of a Utrax personnel ID card. Just look at how snazzy I look! GET UNLOCKED TODAY To be frank, dressed in a Hanna facade or not, a well produced online puzzle game (with top notched graphic visuals, even!) from the seasoned producers of The Escape Game is always worth the time. And I have a hunch that you'd agree as well. Having finished "Hanna Unlocked", I am crossing my fingers for TEG to release the sure to be fantastic chapter 3 of "The Heist" saga some time soon; or if I'm really lucky, another free cross-promotion but featuring a TV program that I'm already familiar and/or obsessed with? Signing off, Escape Mattster If you've enjoyed this, why not get regular updates by following our social media? Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS ⤻ All media credited to contents owners, and are used under fair use doctrine of copyright law, in an effort to advance interests for the companies, their products, or otherwise all parties involved. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RESOURCES ⤻ Hanna Unlocked • "TEGHanna" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s): "The Escape Game" or "Hanna"

◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: Miss Jezebel Online 💪 Difficulty: N/A ⏲️ Time: 60 Minutes 🧑 Capacity: 2-8 Players/Connections 🔐 Booking: Private 🏢 Company: 60Out Escape Rooms • Branch 🏘️ Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States 🛒 To Book Game • To Check Time Zone 📝 Note potential time difference when booking! ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: Remote Escape Room 💻 Platform: Zoom (Live Avatar, Video, & Audio Feed), Phone (Optional) 🎒 Inventory: No 📝 Features live actor and immersive theater interactions, 18+ only restrict for adult contents and language ◣ "TL;DR!" BRIEFS 📝 "Miss Jezebel" resolve around gathering evidence to end the lady of impudence's ceaseless murder (happy) trail. Into the mistress dungeon we go--18+ participants only! 📝 Not a typical escape room. Immersive theater is as much as, at times if not more, of a show than it is a game. Those who want a straightforward puzzle game will be in for a shock. 📝 Abandon your typical routine for a remote escape room. Adapt to a new style of game play: Let your host lead. Solve using what you're shown. So a bit of a curve ball here. 📝 Outside the box thinking, going beyond your comfort zone, and dipping into adult only humor territory are all "must" in this game. So be aware of what you're signing up for. 📝 Brilliant avatar & iconic Jezebel actor. Do look forward to their phenomenal performance. 💪 Difficulty rating: With Mattster's team of 3, it's a little difficult at times! 🧑 Best team size: For everyone to get a piece of Miss Jezebel, limit to 4 guests. 🧑 Best audience: 18+ players with open minds and willingness to be risque and wild! • • • • • ► OOOH. ME LIKEY. ◄ MISS JIZZYBEL IS NOTHING BUT GOOD VIBES ONLY. THIS JOINS "RECOMMENDED" RANK! ◣ THE PREMISE You are cordially invited to the residence of a killer, an assassin of men who’s showing no signs of stopping. Can you and your friends survive her ‘hospitality’ and collect all the evidence against her before this bizarre black widow traps you in her web for good? Come experience 60Out’s wildest, weirdest, and raunchiest adventure against the devious debutante herself at Miss Jezebel’s Tea Party! • • • • • ◣ THE REVIEW Miss Jezebel, a night of steamy action, or your last supper on Earth? Before continuing, please note, like the subject, this blog post is rated 18+. Adult language ahead! Miss Jezebel: Please do not venture beyond my nether region if you're under 18. FROM DINNER GUESTS TO A SNACK "Miss Jezebel" is 60Out's first immersive theater option in their long roster of great escape games. The in-person experience invites patrons to dine as dinner guests in the home of the titular character, but also tasks them to secretly gather evidence for the femme fatale's cold blooded murder of her ex-husband (and many of her other unfortunate flings). The live streaming version sees a slight adjustment, though the basic premise remains the same: our team of police officers are still assigned to the same goal, except we the players will remain safely at HQ, providing remote assistance to our on-site colleague's earpiece. Posing as Tinder user BeefyDaddy69, a hunky bait date here for dinner (and maybe more if things go right... or awry), Officer Hanson aka Handsome (an alias we got to select) will infiltrate deep into the murderess's lair to ultimately (and hopefully) end her killing spree. But officer, better watch out. No matter how beefy, this girl's ready to carve, slice, and dice into her prey, and gobble up whatever's in her way. With an insatiable appetite, she can certainly devour a whole lot of man. I am guessing 12 inches. DEFINITELY NOT YOUR TYPICAL ESCAPE Having boldly branched into a brand new territory of immersive theater play, 60Out Downtown branch is giving its audience something different, and excelling at it at the very first try. Somewhat resembling of a traditional escape room at times, this is mixture of puzzles, theater show, interactive role play, comedy and slight horror, all in one glorious orgy where parts are mashed together, and it just feels. So. Right. And if you're uncomfortable at the sight of the word "orgy", you better man/woman up, honey, and do it fast, because this headliner is nothing but constant 18+ adult dirty fun. If it ain't dirty, funny, or both, it ain't happening here. Within the very first 5 minutes of meeting the fierce Jezebel, who's rocking a plunging low cut blouse, exposing her lusciously hirsute cleavage, we were also soon introduced to her "special friend" whom I shall refer to as Double Dong. Alliteration because I'm poetic and classy, and dong because, you know, penis! And it's from this very first of many penises that set the right tone for the rest of the game--"Miss Jezebel" is big, solid, and one hell of a ride. SMARTS ARE NOT ENOUGH Because the shift in gear, your usual puzzle solving experts who would dominate...trix (keeping the adult theme going) an escape room may not fare nearly as well. And sadly, myself included. Gah. Instead, the lovable jokesters in your social circle may get to shine their brightest here at J's apartment of death. Those quick on their feet, possessing power to fire back witty comebacks and not afraid to get a little risque in the process--in other words, improv masters with dirty minds--will most likely have the best time. Even though this is technically still an avatar led remote escape game, I would argue it's more a of story, even a stage show, if you will, with game elements. Very early on, I could tell we won't need to direct our avatar much, but instead, he would lead his camera angle where it needed to be to further the narrative in a linear fashion. Once he's where we should be, the story moved along its pre-determined track, the "puzzle of this step" was presented, and we would solve it to advance to the next segment. As far as puzzles went, they were technically easy, though occasionally perceived harder in the moment due to the added pressure of live actors interaction, and the relatively limited active control from the participants. The key approach here is, let them lead the way, take notes of what you're shown, and use what you're given. Shockingly though, the most enjoyable "puzzles" were not even nearly like the ones you'd typically expect in an escape room, though there was still a couple that fit the usual bill. And that's understandable, because, again, this is NOT your typical escape room. Of ones that erected (*grin*) from the rest, there's one particular challenge that was so very immersive, it broke the fourth wall even. (Although I now wonder if this "puzzle" would differ if we were overseas customers?) A close runner-up was a mission that required such outside the box thinking, my team let out a collective "Ohhhhh!" when epiphany finally hit. FRESH NEW COAT OF P... Nope, this p is not for penis. P is for paint, because fun fact, I've already once visited this very same residence back when it was inhabited by the Krampus monster. Though the basic layout remained the exact same, the new story, characters, and decorations made the same location feel strangely unalike. In fact, I was so attentively engrossed and delightfully distracted by the entire situation, my prior knowledge, which should've been a slight advantage, completely vanished. What's left behind was an almost brand new experience. P is also for personalities, for the actor and avatar involved would truly make or break this online game. It always takes some balls to establish an adult themed entertainment, and these two gentlemen indeed have the exact pairs needed to commit and perform this level of lewd and hilarious absurdity. Shout out to Patrick, (ah, the P force is strong with this blog post), the actor who reprises as his usual role, who's now become synonymous as the face of "Miss Jezebel" in the LA escape room community. Ahhh, to be graced by the queen's presence, we did get lucky after all. A NIGHT TO REMEMBER To be honest, though being absolute the worst at anything improv, I still thoroughly enjoyed myself. But of course, any game that had me legitimately asking "May I please play with your p****y" in the most literal, respectful way possible deserves a special page in my play book. "Miss Jezebel", much like a certain other type of... errr... encounter, is a smashing blast no matter in person or over the net. Give our girl a (booty) call, experience her "special package" (100% her words--can't make this up), and fondly reminisce together the morning after... if both of you survive the night, that is. • • • • • ◣ PARTING TIPS ★ Let your inner beast of an actor run wild. Provocative role play encouraged. ★ Whatever that you're thinking of, however ridiculous, it's fine! Just do it. ★ Phallic object(s) can save lives. Yep. You read that right. In my case, anyway. Signing off, Escape Mattster If you've enjoyed this, why not get regular updates by following our social media? Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS ⤻ Though game access was complimentary, this article was written basing on unbiased and genuine opinions. ⤻ All media credited to and used with permission from contents owners. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RESOURCES ⤻ Miss Jezebel Online • "60OJezebel" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s): "60Out" or "Miss Jezebel"

◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: Gold Rush 💪 Difficulty: Intermediate (84% Success Rate) ⏲️ Time: 60 Minutes 🧑 Capacity: Up To 10 Connections 🔐 Booking: Private 🏢 Company: Mindtrap Escape Room 🏘️ Location: Temecula, CA, United States 📝 In Association With Labyrinth 🛒 To Book Game • To Check Time Zone 📝 Note potential time difference when booking! ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: Remote Escape Room 💻 Platform: Zoom (Live Avatar, Video, & Audio Feed), Web Browser 🎒 Inventory: Yes (Developed By Owner!) 📝 Features 360° room view, interactive mini games ◣ "TL;DR!" BRIEFS 📝 Avatar One Eyed Bill is a brilliant addition to remote play version of "Gold Rush", actually augmenting the game's value by giving us some comic relief that even the original can't offer. 📝 Superb production value; realistic looking wooden cabin, complete with (faux) window! This is a given, but a nicely built room with attention to details is always a plus. 📝 Mostly gen 1 puzzles, and they fared very well in a remote game setting. The challenges made sense with Jack's day to day routine, propelling the story forward naturally. 📝 Mindtrap developed and implemented their own easy to use, web based inventory system for their virtual games, and it's nearly perfect--just missing a timer. A 9.9 point effort! 💪 Difficulty rating: With Mattster's team of 3, quite easy. 🧑 Best team size: 2-3 players for most, up to 4-5 if all beginners. 🧑 Best audience: Fun for everybody. Puzzles lean on the easier side for pros. • • • • • ► WHOA! LOVED IT. ◄ THIS IS NO FOOL'S GOLD. WE'VE STRUCK THE JACKPOT! THIS JOINS 🏆 "MUST DO!" 🏆 RANK! ◣ THE PREMISE Can you feel the fever?! El Dorado county is hiding the richest secrets of the country right below the surface. Kanaka Jack is rumored to know the location of a hidden mine – finding it will make you rich beyond your wildest dreams! This is an escape game with an explosive secret that will bring the whole family together. Raid Jack’s cabin, unlock the entrance to his hidden mine, and blast your way out! • • • • • ◣ THE REVIEW Mindtrap Escape Room is a household name in the Southern California enthusiast community for having high quality rooms, though I have yet to visit in person due its being just a bit too far from home. Enters Virtual Play over Zoom. Hey, problem solved. AIM FOR THE GOLD(EN GLOBE) Based on an already available escape room in their Temucula location, Mindtrap converted one of their most popular games "Gold Rush" for online remote play. The original has players secretly break into Kanaka Jack's cabin, rumored to hold the hidden entrance to a yet to be mined tunnel, full of valuable metals. You goal: strike it rich with loads of gold! The live streaming version follows the standard narrative closely, but subbing in the silly simpleton One Eyed Bill as the patron's remote avatar. You and he still want the gold, but One Eyed Bill is missing an eye ball and apparently much of his cerebrum, so he needs your help! Though usage of an avatar is a necessity for running a online escape room, in this case, it was more of a delightful bonus. Bill wasn't just your eyes and hands; he was very much part of the experience. Undoubtedly dopey, but like the dwarf by the same name, Bill manages to still be adorable and funny. I am also partial to his charming Southern accent. Fun fact: did you know the award-worthy performance of One Eyed Bill was played by none other than owner Nathan himself? impressive production Continuing with our movie theme reference (did you catch my poor attempt at humor prior?), it's the set! I don't have a joke here--it's just the set is really good, easily of movie set quality. Once our vision moved past the room entrance, reality transformed. From the floor panel, to the centerpiece table, and all the way up the ceiling, the room really became a wooden cabin. Under atmospheric lighting, not one single inch gave away the lodge's false facade. We could even gaze into pine tree galore through a window overseeing a nearby forest. There's even a large, functional, mobile element! Really, excellent build of a room. Experience and logic also taught me that major secrets are probably hidden in plain sight, though the impressive production design deceived even the most discerning eyes. Once came time to enter the not-so-spoiler-y gold mine, rest assured, it still looked fantastic. Playful country music was faintly heard in the background throughout game play, and though it was largely non-essential, it was the first time I distinctively remember hearing a soundtrack during a remote game, and heck, it was kinda nice! BECOMing KANAKA JACK "Gold Rush" is the Mindtrap's token beginner's room, meaning all the puzzles are intentionally easier, more straightforward, and basically suitable for everyone's experience level (and ego!). Most will successfully complete their mission and walk away triumphant; in other words, it's a "feel good" room. Despite that, expert players, myself included, will most likely still fall in love with this awesome western adventure because the puzzles are well written and executed artfully within the context of story logic. In a mostly linear fashion, the team would live a day--greatly condensed into one hour--like Jack would starting at the moment he wakes up. Get out of bed, start the day right, practice the local dialect, hang out with the fellas, and eventually and stealthily visit his personal underground treasure cavern--the puzzles flowed well and felt organic. They don't come off feeling like puzzles necessarily, but more like just another lazy Friday in El Dorado County. Majority of the challenges are gen 1, ie lock based, and they translate exceptionally well from irl to remote play. Even just playing from home, I enjoyed and appreciated the many creative ways leading the participants to their various combo codes. I especially praise the creators for including puzzles that actually promote and require active thinking, instead of just a laundry list of cheap to-do tasks. The scheme of "Do this, do that, do this, do that, and hey, you completed the game" doesn't impress me much. A handful few but certainly memorable tech-assisted moments round out the ride perfectly, making "Gold Rush" a truly balanced option that caters to both fronts--pleasant puzzles and impressive immersion. The grand finale, in particular, reminded me of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and it was a worthy winner send-off as visually impressive as the theme park ride. IN CLOSING Lastly, I want to give a specific shout out to Mindtrap's self sufficiency for developing their own web based inventory system. It's a clean, easy to use, intuitive interface I've previously encountered during "Operation: X-13 (Online)", which was outsourced from Mindtrap. This system offers 360° room view, eliminating Zoom video feed's limited field of vision at any one given moment. Also available are close up photos of found items, and a list of action unlocked mid-game to further simulate an in-person session across a computer screen. (I won't divulge what the action(s) could be, but I hope you're feeling lucky!) All things considered, with top notched production, a charismatic avatar, and solid puzzles, "Gold Rush" sets the bar way high for what a novice remote escape room could be. If you do end up trying your luck at this gold digging business, tell One Eyed Bill that Mattster says hi! • • • • • ◣ PARTING TIPS ★ There is a always a good place to start when it comes to solving puzzles in a cabin. ★ Huh. They don't seem to speak proper English... or even English... where Jack lives. Signing off, Escape Mattster If you've enjoyed this, why not get regular updates by following our social media? Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS ⤻ Though game access was complimentary, this article was written basing on unbiased and genuine opinions. ⤻ All media credited to and used with permission from contents owners. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RESOURCES ⤻ Gold Rush • "MTGold" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s): "Mindtrap" or "Gold Rush"

◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: Houdini's Secret Room 💪 Difficulty: N/A ⏲️ Time: 45-60 Minutes 🧑 Capacity: 2 to 6 People Per Group 🏢 Company: Smart Play 🏘️ Location: Based in North Macedonia 🛒 To Purchase Game ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: Print & Play Puzzle Game ✂️ Tools: Color Printer, A4 Papers, Glue, Scissors, Pencil, Stapler/Tape 💻 Platform: Web Browser (For Playing Along) 📰 Media Used: Print Media, Text, Images ◣ THE PREMISE The 150-year-old house that belonged to the most famous illusionist Houdini is now a museum. You decide to go there and learn some of his greatest tricks and illusions. Walking around, your curiosity leads you to a secret room, one in which no one has set foot for over a century. As you enter the room, the door slams shut, leaving you locked inside while the walls start closing in slowly. On the table is Houdini’s testimony, which says: “You are the chosen one who managed to enter this secret room. Whoever finds a way to break out of it will have the privilege of becoming my heir.” The key, which unlocks the door, is hidden somewhere in the room. If you want to get out of this room, you need to get inside the mind of the greatest illusionist and start thinking like him. Can you escape and become the next Houdini? • • • • • ◣ THE FEATURE Meticulously designed, beautifully illustrated, thoughtfully with everything packaged: "Houdini's Secret Room" provides you with all the benefits of hosting an interactive escape party without any of the hard work! Well, technically, maybe some color printing. But that's about it! BE THE GAME HOST FOR ONCE In the past few years, I've been an active participant of both physical and at-home escape games, and even becoming a blogger in the process. However, fulfilling the role of a host--hmm, that's a first. Another first for EscapeMattster.com, "Houdini's Secret Room" is first "Print & Play" product featured on the blog, and it sets itself apart from other options in more ways than one. The most prominent difference, undoubtedly, is that the purchaser will most likely not be playing, but instead, moderating. The pre-packaged bundle features 5 digital files: main game materials, set up guide, answer key, party invitations, and photo op posters. Everything you need in one easy package. (Friends to invite not included.) It couldn't get any easier. However, if you prefer to play along, an alternative, no set up experience is also available. QUITE THE WAGER AND THE LOOKER The basic narrative is quite simple; it's a game mainly aimed at youngster after all. Inquisitive children discover a secret room once belonged to late magician, get locked in, and must find a key--and their inner Houdinis--in order to regain freedom. Innocent enough. That is, until an unexpected twist of a warning at the final moment: failure to use the correct key will result in a speedy death by ruthless crushing of the room walls! WHOA! May I say, that escalated quickly?! Houdini was a bit of a death-defying daredevil after all. Channel his spirit wisely. Players will probably not even notice their potential mortal danger, however, because they'll rightfully be distracted by the dazzlingly gorgeous graphics! If there is one thing that stole my attention and heart about "Houdini's", it's 100% the art. Everything is original, no stock images utilized, and all is perfection. Though I don't personally know who's the artist responsible for pages upon pages of masterpieces, I give my utmost praise. Unique character style, adorable where applicable, and the colors so, so very vibrant. In fact, the six in-game character cards are so attractively drawn, they potentially make beautiful posters with just minor tweaks. And trust me, that's really not a sentence I can confidently make about many games! SHORT BUT SWEET Once properly set up, a group of Houdini wannabes are expected to face challenges for up to 45-60 minutes, but factoring in my experience as an expert escape room player, my game duration understandably ran on the lower end. Strictly speaking, the overall journey is composed of 3 main interactive, multi-step puzzles, and each step realistically takes around 10-15 minutes to complete, depending on one's dexterity for arts and craft. For instance, my clumsy fingers continued their lifelong struggles with a pair of scissors, but this hands-on segment made "Houdini's" more immersive. The critic in me wished there were more than 3 main puzzles to solve, but he also took note of just how carefully written and how expertly executed the puzzles were. Not to mention, a good variety of formats, too. One may say, the game's going for quality, not quantity. I applaud the artist for sneakily hiding little details essential to solving the puzzles, all cleverly and organically embedded within the context of the art. (Hello, rose tattoo?! Brilliant!) I also relish their choice for spreading the clues out physically over different game components, thereby slightly but effectively increasing the challenge difficulty. Note to American audience: be sure to print puzzle pages out according to directions, preferably on A4 papers. Otherwise, some placement based step(s) may not work. MAKE IT YOUR WAY Though intentionally skewed for younger audience, "Houdini's" print & play still offers a value and superb quality that I, as an adult (and a kid at heart), can recognize. With explicit creators' permission for you to print as many copies as you like, and to share with your closest friends and family, "Houdini's Secret Room" is a worthy buy. (See restrictions in FAQ.) With a bit of creativity and all the flexibility at your disposal, awesome parents, cool uncles, and boss teachers, why not use this prepackaged deal as a base, borrow a few suggestions here and here, and conjure up a magical party like no other? Or just set the game up, pour yourself a glass of Pinot Grigio, sit back, grin, and watch 'em little ones struggle. Provide help at your discretion. I'm not the boss of you. You got your personal style, and you have fun your own way. Signing off, Escape Mattster If you've enjoyed this, why not get regular updates by following our social media? Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS ⤻ Though game access was complimentary, this article was written basing on unbiased and genuine opinions. ⤻ All media credited to and used with permission from contents owners. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RESOURCES ⤻ Houdini's Secret Room • "SPHoudini" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s): "Houdini's Secret Room" or "Smart Play"

◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: Sector X - The B.R.U.C.E. Project: Part 1 & 2 💪 Difficulty: N/A ⏲️ Time: 60-90 Minutes (For Each Part) 🧑 Capacity: Up to 6 Connections 🏢 Company: Bewilder Box Escape Rooms Brighton 🏘️ Location: Brighton, United Kingdom 📝 In Association With Eltham Escape Rooms 🛒 To Purchase Game ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: Online Puzzle Game 💻 Platform: Web Browser, (Conference App) 🔊 Media Used: Text, Images, Videos, Animations ◣ "TL;DR!" BRIEFS 📝 Game features synchronized interface for true, real time, co-op session. This is a unique selling point since I haven't seen any other competitor actually being able to do this. 📝 The plot follows our attempt of reviving a now melted, gooey scientist. Bewildering, indeed! This backstory is chuckle inducing, though it made little impact to actual game play. 📝 There're over 10 sectors worth of great variety puzzling fun. Some challenges caught my eyes more than others. Graphics style could benefit from more uniformity across the board. 📝 B.R.U.C.E. the android loves cracking jokes and making puns, putting forth a wholesome charm that keeps things from being bland. Who knew? This is an escape game and a show! 💪 Difficulty rating: With Mattster's team of 1, pretty easy. 🧑 Best team size: 1-3 connections to minimize chaos. 🧑 Best audience: Family friendly, puzzles are well suited for beginners. ◣ THE PREMISE Renowned scientist Dr Wilder Sr., dies tragically after a routine dimension hopping adventure goes hideously awry. He's reduced to nothing more than a brain in a tank of fluid. His son, Wilder Jr., aka Benji, is determined to resurrect his father's genius and so begins the B.R.U.C.E. project. The plan? To create a robot that can be controlled by a human mind. Work is completed on the prototype... Now the final phase of testing begins. The droid is passed to Dr Dirk Banana so that it can be deposited in his experimental holographic testing chamber. Will these magnificent minds work as a cohesive unit or will all of Benji's work have been in vain… It's time to find out as you enter 'Sector X'. • • • • • ◣ THE REVIEW "Sector X - The B.R.U.C.E. Project" is technically served as a two part experience, though now that both are published and available for sale, let us dive into Sector Zero and traverse all the way to Sector X. A TRUE CO-OP EXPERIENCE The biggest selling point of "B.R.U.C.E." is the probably the synchronized game interface, accessible by six connections simultaneously. (For you IT geniuses out there, it resembles a collective remote desktop access... I think. For I am not one.) A minor drawback does occur when two participants want to examine different areas of the game at the same time. For instance, if one opens a puzzle, this will effectively force everyone else, ready or otherwise, to look at the same materials instantly. This is easily remedied through the use of an online conference app, such as Zoom. As long as communication is maintained among players, "B.R.U.C.E." is the only online puzzle game I've seen so far to truly allow teamwork to visibly solve challenges together in real time. Bravo! A VERY KOOKY SCIENCE PROJECT The game intro consisted of a narrated summary of what's happened so far for those not so familiar with Bewilder Box's sci-fi saga. Though I tried my best to catch up, the text was scrolling a bit quick, and there was an earful to listen! Oh boy! This was a puzzle in itself. What I managed to gather: An accident turned a scientist into a puddle of gooey plasma! His son hopes to revive said goo as an android; and now, some banana doctor and we shall run some final tests to ensure this experimental procedure will be safe and successful... That can't be right. That sounds outrageous! ...Except, it was! It wasn't until I heard the same story again in Part 2 that I confirmed, my gosh, the story was indeed that zany! Fans of the company should be delighted to find "B.R.U.C.E." is basically a sequel to Bewilder Box's in-person escape game. So here's to more crazy science antics! SECTOR-FUL OF FUN OBSTACLES This game is composed of two halves: Part 1 (Sector 0 to 5), and Part 2 (Sector 6 to 10). I've managed to finish both chapters all in one go, though you can always decide otherwise. The visuals--it wasn't the best I've seen, and it wasn't the worst, either. While there was a deliberate attempt to portray everything as wacky and cartoonish, the art style of individual pieces was not consistent enough. Some scenes hit the mark, while others fell flat. The puzzles, on the other hand, I surely enjoyed. Sector 0, basically the tutorial on how to navigate the game, was cleverly written. Knowing most gamers wouldn't bother reading the instructions manual, the game designers unapologetically threw the first puzzle inside the manual. The tedious task now became mandatory AND magnitudes more interesting. The puzzles that followed included cipher decoding, logic deduction, and other children friendly brainteasers. While I've seen variations of most of these prior, there was enough variety to maintain both my attention and interest. After powering through the first few sectors, it became obvious there was a formula to solving each level: Solve puzzles, log in to PC, solve more, and exit via keypad. I felt ambivalent: On one hand, the standardized input was easy to master. On the other, this quickly became repetitive and even a bit lackluster. Again, the individual puzzles themselves packed enough excitements to help overcome said weaknesses. The more interactive challenges--those that involved dragging elements across the screen, or required clicking through options (colors, for example), or included an audio listening component--they were quite entertaining and stood out from the rest. EMBRACE THE DAD JOKES Solving puzzles was satisfying, but the true reward came in the forms of robotic Dad jokes. Perhaps to adequately prepare the android named B.R.U.C.E. as the new home of a paternal soul, the programmers uploaded a series of "so bad it's good" pun based banter, to be delivered after each successful stage clearing. Every bit as corny as they came, I appreciated the amount of bionic inspired word plays the writers managed to cram in. B.R.U.C.E.'s little stand-up moment at every sector made me a fan. I progressively went from going meh at the very first joke, to eventually looking forward to hearing new funny/punny remarks on final levels. Yasss, B.R.U.C.E.! FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION If players choose to enjoy the two installments separately, they get to take a breather and let their exhausted brains reset, if necessary, between Sector 5 and Sector 6. I as an expert player opted to complete both in one sitting, reaching the conclusion after about 80 minutes. To me, if time and skills permit, it most definitely feels more organic to sustain game play without interruption. Ultimately, it's up to your personal preference and mental endurance. Try out Part 1 for taste, and come back for more if one should desire. B.R.U.C.E. will be waiting with his punchlines. • • • • • ◣ PARTING TIPS ★ First to do: check exit keypad, and find out how many digits you'll need. ★ In-game screenshots are allowed; use them in Paint to your advantage. Signing off, Escape Mattster If you've enjoyed this, why not get regular updates by following our social media? Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS ⤻ Though game access was complimentary, this article was written basing on unbiased and genuine opinions. ⤻ All media credited to and used with permission from contents owners. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RESOURCES ⤻ Sector X - The B.R.U.C.E. Project: Part 1 & 2 • "BBBRUCE" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s): "Bewilder Box" or "B.R.U.C.E. Project"

◣ GAME FACTS 🎮 Game: A Death In The Red Light 💪 Difficulty: N/A ⏲️ Time: 120 Minutes 🧑 Capacity: N/A 🏢 Company: Mystery City Games 🏘️ Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands 🛒 To Purchase Game ◣ FORMAT SPECS 🕹️ Format: Online Puzzle Game 💻 Platform: PDF Reader, Web Browser 📰 Media Used: Text, Images ◣ "TL;DR!" BRIEFS 😺 THE GOOD: Amazing graphics! An engaging narrative incorporating accurate historical facts that is not boring, and in fact, quite amusing, especially for its candid and comical look at the adult industry in Amsterdam. And one killer jazz music playlist. 🙀 THE NOT SO GOOD: Several puzzles belong in the same category of "logic deduction", which isn't a fault on its own, but may become repetitive, or frustrate players that are not good at that certain type of games. Certain rules or instructions could be more explicitly stated to avoid confusion. 🤝 BEST FIT FOR: If you enjoy unraveling murder mystery, solving crime cases, and that general sort of thing, this is a special one to try. Especially if you go in without knowing anything about the game, the conclusion is remarkable. Do take note that this game contains references to murder, violence, drug use, and prostitution, so it may not be an ideal game for younger audience. Most easily enjoyed by 1 or 2 players in front of the same PC. ► A ROUND OF APPLAUSE! ◄ solved an *actual* "murder mystery" took place in the 1980s! 🏆 "A DEATH IN THE RED LIGHT" OFFICIALLY JOINS THE "MUST DO!" RANK! 🏆 ◣ PREMISE Amsterdam, 1988. The city smells of sex and drugs. A detective walks the streets, with whiskey on his breath and a gun by his side. Another night, another dead body bathed in the red light. Follow the clues, chase the leads, and connect the dots to solve the case before the trail goes cold... • • • • • ◣ THE REVIEW LOOKING SHARP, DETECTIVE When I was first fiddling with "A Death In The Red Light" after downloading the game PDF file off the website, it became super apparent that the visual aspect of this game would easily knock out most, if not all, of all its competitors. (Not to mention the cheap price tag!) Both the website and the PDF graphics were consistent in color, theming, and style. Embodying an obvious Hollywood crime drama black & white films from the 1940s influence, the colors mostly remained monochromatic, interspersed with different shades of red as main accents (as in "Red Light District"). Even after many browsing, it was pleasing to the eyes. Photos were cleverly edited to resemble individual grids of printed comic book media. This unique approach of comic panel motif not only looked neat, but also made sense in coming the closest for maintaining its retro noir vibe without actually employing film. AN AUTHENTIC STORY To be honest, I wasn't familiar with Mystery City Games and did not know of its MO. I merely walked in thinking I would solve a run of the mill murder mystery as the lead detective, bringing to light who died, how they died, and at whose hands. And it did start that way. A stiff, dead body outlined by chalk on a bloodied street, a short list of evidence items lying nearby, a whodunit mystery scenario all too familiar to a trained puzzler's mind, nothing really out of the ordinary. As evidence, witness, and testimony led me further down the path of truth, the story was enriched with details that I thought more detailed and specific than usual. My virtual running all over town gradually had me more invested and immersed. It was until the very last moment that I had the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle to complete the entire picture, and the outcome wasn't quite what I anticipated. With one last "twist" (best to find out on your own), I was sold. What an epic adventure, so much more than at first glance. A FUNNY STORY, TOO The adult subjects and humor scattered throughout also made this exceptional. As Mystery City explained, "[A Death In The Red Light] takes place in Amsterdam in the late 80s. The city was a lot scarier and grimier back then." A detective manning this city would behave correspondingly. When the story introduced its protagonist through the slightly debasing memo from his superior, openly referencing his excessive drinking, I appreciated both the pseudo-realism and absurd humor it set forth for the rest of the game. When it came time to investigate the multiple sex theaters in town, (nope, not just the one), the game REALLY went there. Privates were hidden in shadows, and a leg was up in the air. (Relax, no actual body parts were ever explicitly revealed.) The performance were descriptively captioned, and illustrations ever so cheekily invoked my imagination to fill in the gaps. I snickered at the ridiculous yet possibly historically accurate sight. And I slowly came to terms that I may never think of fruits and giraffes ever the same again. Indeed, an eye (and/or other orifice) opening experience. Looking back, I should've known--this was Amsterdam, after all. THE PUZZLES, AKA CASE FILES The decision to (almost) completely ditch an online interface gave the company an innovative, standalone format (PDF) to achieve a smooth running hybrid of escape room game, murder mystery, and "choose your adventure" story. No bandwidth concern here! The adventure flat out opened with the entire city accessible from the get go. It looked overwhelming at first, but by taking it piece by piece, everything fell into place. The puzzles began innocently enough. Low level of difficulty, it took me no time at all to fly through. Two-thirds of the way in, however, I started to falter... Time to use a friend/hint! Although the game contained a good amount of puzzles, there was a tendency for these challenges to converge in the "logic deduction" sub-genre area. You'll need to put things in order, figure out who's telling the truth, eliminate suspects, and the likes. Most riddles might not appear very "escape room" like, but they were adeptly written and executed. One thing that did slightly irk me was when things got stuck, it was due to my not having enough information to move forward, though it wasn't always made clear that was the case. So theoretically, I could end up failing to solve, not knowing why, frustrated; or I could get lucky, solve it somehow, move on, and miss out on certain contents. Neither is ideal. BONUS FOR YOUR EARS Worth mentioning was that a Spotify playlist to set the mood, and a self start timer to track the time, were both included, optional features. In particular, the song list showcased soothing jazz numbers performed by industry legends like Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Chet Baker, Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong. Their music readily transforms your home into a comfortable jazz lounge where pajamas are permitted. Bathe in the melodies of film noir (literally in your bath robe even) while you chase down the killer. Who knows, maybe somewhere hidden in those notes will even inspire an unlikely clue? a little footnote On the official game webpage, at the bottom lies the message, "All our games are historically accurate. We love making games that tell stories, that teach us about our surroundings and our past. We hope you enjoy playing our games as much as we enjoy making them!" That I did, Mystery City, that I did. And so sneaky of you to fool me into learning some Amsterdam history, a school subject that I am normally not a fan of... if only all history classes were this fun. • • • • • ◣ PARTING TIPS ★ Keep a clear check list--especially places to visit--and make sure to visit ALL of them. ★ Certain puzzles may benefit from using the first hint to clarify puzzle rules/instructions. Signing off, Escape Mattster If you're enjoyed this, please consider following us on our social media: Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS ⤻ Though game access was complimentary, this article was written basing on unbiased and genuine opinions. ⤻ All media credited to and used with permission from contents owners. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RESOURCES ⤻ A Death In The Red Light • "MCRedLight" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s): "Mystery City" or "Red Light"

◣ VENUE FACT SHEET 🏢 COMPANY: District 3 Escape Rooms • Website • Online Games 🏘️ ADDRESS: 2237 6th Ave, Regina, SK • Google Map 🗾 COUNTRY: Canada • Check Time Zone Before Booking! ◣ GAME INFO & BOOKING 🕹️ GAME: Haunted (Remote Escape Room) • Booking/Pricing ⏲️ DURATION: 60 Minutes 💬 DIFFICULTY: 5.5/10 (Company) • 4/10 (Mattster's Team of 3 or 4) 👬 CAPACITY: 2-8 Players (4-6 Players Recommended) 🔐 BOOKING TYPE: Private ◣ REMOTE: SPECIFICATIONS 🖥️ PLATFORM: Zoom (Video/Web Conferencing App) 🚶 LIVE ELEMENTS: Live Avatar Control, Live Video & Audio Feed 🎒 INVENTORY/SUPPLEMENTAL: Telescape Live, Soundtrack/Timer Webpage 🔎️ OTHER NOTES: Features 360° View ◣ PREMISE & OBJECTIVES The family of this home is searching for a good trustworthy group of people to house sit their manor for the Winter. During your time there, you learn about the caretaker and the family, the manor's secrets, and that maybe this isn't the dream stay you were after. ► TL;DR: REVIEW SUMMARY ◄ 😺 THE GOOD: A fascinating tale of an unfortunate family to uncover through a variety of enjoyable puzzles, notable for increased use of one's hearing, rather than constant looking. (No excessive required reading!) Liked the eerie final reveal, but loved my avatar's amusing escape. A handful of surprises and illusions made the "Haunted" manor set and experience unique and memorable. 🙀 THE NOT SO GOOD: Production was decent, though improvements could be made for even better visual results. Would love to see more "house" details implemented. A couple of puzzles did not translate online as perfectly as one may hope; they may not invoke players' co-op effort as intended. 🤝 BEST FIT FOR: Fans of slightly disturbing theme, or just a great story otherwise. Due to the complexity of the story, this is more appropriate for older teens and up. Would recommend max of 4-5. ► A ROUND OF APPLAUSE! ◄ found house sitting largely pleasant, sans the frequent supernatural disturbances. 🎖️ "HAUNTED" OFFICIALLY JOINS THE "RECOMMENDED" RANK! 🎖️ ◣ THE REVIEW the JOB OFFER OF YOUR LIFE The web has job listing galore, but be careful what you're applying for. On first read, housesitting a lofty manor seems like an easy enough gig. That is until you notice... you're hearing things. Whispers. Sentences. Knocking even. A thought immediately flashes across your panicking mind, "Can this mansion be... 'Haunted'?" You take a quick glance at the game title, and thought, "Aw shi-" Conspicuously and appropriately titled, District 3's supernatural inspired entry features ghosts and ghouls. The manor, hidden with sordid history, and the rightful owners, not so alive anymore. You will gradually learn about the true history of the house's past residents, and more horrifyingly, how you fit into the bigger picture. Given the short pre-game synopsis, it came somewhat surprising that this game featured such an extensive and intriguing backstory. Compared to my previous virtual play, "The Cabin", this estate visit was much more story heavy, and thereby, several folds more immersive. Thankfully, plot progression was broken into manageable sizes, served to participants little by little through puzzle challenges. Text reading was periodically punctuated by audio exposition, sparing the patrons the true horror scarier than little girl ghost--excessive required reading. Because much enjoyment was interwoven with the narrative, I can't comment more without spoiling the experience. I can tell you, however, that the story was well thought out, characters fairly developed, and I was invested in the story as much as I was in solving the fun puzzles. The remote experience is best described as slightly spooky, and far from outright frightening; but, the final eerie reveal, if you catch one certain detail, may send chills down your spine. A MANSION OF ILLUSION This escape room's overall production value was decent, on a comparable level of what I'd previously seen in "Cabin". "Haunted", however, was a clear winner at space management. Realistically, one would assume the game took place in an office building far smaller than an actual villa. District 3, however, utilized a few tricks up its sleeves--a little forced perspective here, a little deceiving prop there--and magically out came a fairly convincing second floor! The grand light fixture overlooking the entire lobby was a nice touch; it also played a hidden dual role, rendering it creepily decorative and functional beyond plain illumination. What impressed me most about the set was perhaps the very first moment when our avatar took off his blindfold. I literally went, "Whoa!" Entirely taking me by surprise, this would probably be the signature feature that most customers would remember for ages. Nonetheless, this time, I do clearly see potential unrealized. Specifically, for the different "parts" of the mansion that we discovered throughout, it'd be great if one area was themed after a coat closet, another themed after a bathroom, and so on so forth. This was a home sweet home once upon a time, after all. It should, therefore, provide all assumed amenities. SURVIVING THE NIGHT Early in the game, it was made clear that those who entered the manor would not walk out alive, unless they could defeat the many, many challenges lying ahead. Menacing? Not much, for that is exactly our specialty as escape room experts. Entertaining? Yes, considering how this unnerving building was constructed on a large variety of puzzles and a good amount tech assisted moments, combining to a satisfying stay... mortal dangers aside. There were still a fair amount of padlocks to unlock. So your usual gen-1 skills of locating metal keys, finding combos, and translating cryptic codes would still apply. What stood out, however, was a shift from a dominantly visually focused game play to a much more audibly involved experience. This was partly why I found "Haunted" likable--it offered something not so common. Being a great listener is not just a great virtue, it's become a critical tool for staying alive... so make sure your speakers are on, loud (enough), and clear. Watch out for a special family "Q&A", one of the most interactive moments of the hour! Finally, there was a particular section that placed great emphasis on team work; and while I liked the overarching theme of cooperation based challenges, it might've worked better in person versus during a remote live streaming play. Puzzles were still 100% solvable--ironically not by co-op, but by solo effort in some instances--they just came off a little awkward. unscathed departure Overall, my extremely brief stint as a housesitter ended up exactly how I'd imagined it to be, a fairly well ported remote escape game converted from an existent physical option on site, supported by excellent and professional service from District 3. Lindsay was again a great host, exhibiting all the same desirable qualities as our avatar: quick, responsive, patient, funny, and committed to his character. His decision to abandon his camera on a nearby desk during the final moments of the game was baffling at first, then his intention quickly clarified when the final exit opened and he bolted out of the cursed estate, Scooby Doo style! No longer mortally threatened by hostile spirits, he literally left all his worries, and us, behind. It was, by far, one of the most unexpected and humorous escape I'd witnessed to date. Moments later, Lindsay wondrously reemerged behind the camera, as if to keep the paranormal game theme fully intact. It was then I realized, with his auburn hair color, Lindsay made a decent Shaggy after all. ◣ PARTING TIPS ★ Following the previous housesitter's guidance is a surefire way to avoid perish. ★ Even if something looks physically impossible, request your avatar to try anyway! ★ If you hit a brick wall, calm down, you're closer to salvation than you think. ;) Signing off, Escape Mattster If you've enjoyed this, please consider following us on our social media: Instagram @EscapeMattster • Facebook.com/EscapeMattster ◣ DISCLAIMERS "Escape Mattster" thanks the company's hospitality. Though game access was complimentary, review was written basing on only unbiased and genuine opinions. All official media are credited to respective contents owners, and are used with proper permission for the purpose of this publication. No copyright infringement intended. ◣ RELATED RESOURCES ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s) "District 3" ⤻ Search For All Posts With Key Word(s) "Haunted" ⤻ Haunted • "D3Haunted"