Category: Alexandria, VA

Escape Quest – Black Widow (Review)

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Location: Alexandria, VA

Players:  2-8 (We Recommend 4-6)

Price: $34 per person

Time to Escape: 60 minutes

Y’know, after the death of husband #3, you’d think she wouldn’t be so alluring…

Theme:

The Black Widow is a notorious alleged serial killer whose previous three husbands have all died under mysterious and violent circumstances. Her fourth husband has recently gone missing, and though the police have nothing so far, they’ve hired your group of private investigators to break into her home and find out what happened. Uncover the truth quickly, though, as you don’t want to get caught in her web!

First Impressions:

The Black Widow’s home is lovely, and eerie, with signs of her subtle madness hidden throughout the room. As always from Escape Quest, the attention to detail and production values are wonderful and immediately immersive. Rooms feel nothing like the usual converted office spaces, and help transport you into a new space while telling their stories.

High Points:

Along with the immersive and beautiful room, comes a slew of thought provoking puzzling. Each item leads from spot to spot, but in a subtle way, allowing for quite a few moments of revelation. While building toward the meta puzzle, new revelations are found, and each step is satisfying in it’s feedback when solved. All details of the room are woven into the puzzling, and finding small details or prop interactions were very enjoyable. The reveal near the end is exciting, and the climax feels appropriate and fun. One puzzle in particular is tactile and feels great when solving, but also helps build a creepier atmosphere once it has been completed.

Low Points:

We accidentally skipped one puzzle, which was optional, but became a sort of an unintentional red herring for us near the end. The solution for a couple puzzles felt a bit tenuous and in one case, we found that a certain puzzle was used twice in different ways, which was fairly unusual.  

Verdict:

Black Widow was our final room during our DC trip, and I couldn’t have asked more a more enjoyable experience for our capstone. This adventure left me wanting more, and I cannot wait to return to Escape Quest to see what they can cook up next. As with all of their rooms, I very much recommend you give them a try. Beginners and Enthusiasts will find something to enjoy here, and I would say that Escape Quest is the overall best company to visit in the DC area, definitely give them as shot if you’re in the area. Book your investigation into the Black Widow here!

9/10 (Excellent)

Full Disclosure: Escape Quest comped our tickets for this game.

Escape Quest – Captain’s Quarters (Review)

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Location: Alexandria, VA

Players: 2-6 (We Recommend 4-5)

Price: $34 per person

Time to Escape: 60 minutes

We’re bad guys, but we’re not THE bad guys!

Theme:

As a crew of privateers, you’ve been patrolling the high seas with your letter of marque, taking down enemies of The Crown and keeping a tidy bit of the spoils for yourselves. But your pirate past beckons when you find a rival Captain has commandeered a large chest of gold and jewels for himself. Under the cover of night, you sneak into his quarters with a trusted few in order to take the bounty for yourselves! But be quick, the Captain will return shortly, and he’ll be none too pleased to find you lurking about…

First Impressions:

We were told that Captain’s Quarters was one of Escape Quest’s earliest rooms, and though our GM thought we’d be less impressed by this room due to this, we were still wowed by the great production value of this room. There was an exciting soundtrack playing to spur us along, and though this was our 3rd room in a row here, we were energized and excited to continue escaping!

High Points:

Though this was a strictly linear, Generation 1 room that included limited tech and mostly lock inputs, it fit the theme and remained an enjoyable escape. The room itself was comfortable for our group of 4, and could easily fit the maximum of 6, which is rare for escape rooms, I find. Props were convincing and enjoyable to work with, and puzzles connected well from one to the next. One particular teamwork puzzle was a fun surprise, and searching through the room turned up some entertaining hidden compartments. One thing I very much enjoyed about Escape Quest, was that they took the standard after escape photo inside of the room, using props you’ve found throughout, turning the usual memento into something a bit more exciting.

Low Points:

Some players will be disappointed by the lack of technical items in the room, especially if they’ve recently played one of Escape Quest’s more technology heavy games. One entertaining teamwork puzzle was a bit more well hidden than felt necessary, but was fun once we’d found it. A couple props felt a bit off theme, but weren’t enough to break the immersion. Some puzzles I had seen before, and were, we were told, part of a prepurchased set, so there may be some repeats for Enthusiasts, though the puzzles were well done overall.

Verdict:

The Captain’s Quarters is a fun experience, but is probably best suited for those new to the Escape Room hobby. Beginners will enjoy this as a low-tech introduction to escape rooms, but Enthusiasts will escape quickly, and may have a few repeats in puzzles. I recommend trying this one out if you’re into the theme or are introducing new players to Escape Rooms, but if you’re more experienced, check out the excellent Black Widow, King’s Ransom, or Lost Temple rooms at Escape Quest, which are newer, and should be more challenging for you! Book your heist in the Captain’s Quarters here!

7/10 (Good)

Full Disclosure: Escape Quest comped our tickets for this game.

Escape Room Live Alexandria – Poeanormal Activity (Review)

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Location: Alexandria, VA

Players: 2-10 (We recommend 4-6)

Price: $28 per person

Time to Escape: 45 Minutes

Nevermore!

Theme:

Edgar Allen Poe’s study has been opened up recently, as rumors of a secret manuscript have taken the nation by storm! Discovery Channel’s Destination America is the first on the scene, ready to seek out this lost tale, but unfortunately, one of the two reporters hitting the scene first have gone missing.  You are a paranormal investigation team hired by Destination America to seek out this manuscript, and discover what happened to the missing crew member! Act fast, though, as the lingering spirits have grown restless…

First Impressions:

Boasting a comfortable lobby, Escape Room Live Alexandria makes quite the first impression, that carries into the room itself, as no cost has been spared to bring Poe’s chambers to life! Hollywood style sets and lighting heighten the spooky vibe, and gets your blood pumping for an exciting escape! We’ve seen great sets before, though, and they’re nothing without great puzzling, so how did that go?

High Points:

Along with the set, there were several technological interactions to help you get immersed in the story, and are well hidden, adding to the supernatural aura of the room. You are separated into two groups at the beginning, and locked away from each other by a door in the middle, demanding teamwork in a puzzle-centric way. The final few steps through the room are a fantastic climax, and many of the puzzles along the way hearken back to the literature of Poe, which was fun for the Poe aficionados among us.

Low Points:

Unfortunately, with a large amount of tech, can come technical difficulties. We experienced only one, but it caused several cascading problems. In fact, due to the malfunction, we took a hint after minutes of aimless wandering, which informed us we needed to do the thing we had already tried twice and written off. To add insult to injury, we were denied the ability to get on the leaderboard because of it! We don’t usually try for best times, but the fact we would have made it without this “hint” made our quick victory feel a bit hollow. The experience went by entirely too quickly for the money, and we escaped in around half that time, even with this being one of the hardest rooms Escape Room Live has to offer. While the technical puzzles were impressive, there wasn’t a whole lot we hadn’t seen before in other rooms, and many of the fun looking props and set pieces did not play into the solving of the room at all. A couple parts of the room seemed to be leftover puzzles that were scrapped, but left in as red herrings, which was disappointing. Our customer service experience was just alright, as our GM was there to greet us when we escaped, but then quickly disappeared soon thereafter, leading us to wonder if we were going to take a picture, and with whom.

Verdict:

While the set of Poeanormal Activity impresses, the game overall is lacking in depth of puzzling. Newcomers will enjoy this room much more than enthusiasts, since they will probably speed through the room. I had a good time, however, but feel that the technical and customer service snafus dulled what could’ve been a more engaging experience. Sign up to investigate the Poeanormal Activity here!

6/10 (Alright)

 

Escape Quest – King’s Ransom (Review)

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Location: Alexandria, VA

Players:  2-10 (We Recommend 4-6)

Price: $34 per person

Time to Escape: 60 minutes

Long Live the King!

Theme:

The King has been taken hostage and a hefty ransom has been demanded in exchange for his safe return, but a firm deadline has been set, removing any hope for a negotiation or time to muster a force to find him. As his most trusted advisers, you are tasked with putting together a ransom of gold and jewels before the King is executed, which is sure to begin a long and bloody war!

First Impressions:

As previously mentioned in our Lost Temple review, Escape Quest boasts a beautiful and comfortable lobby, as well as an excellent space for briefings. Our experience with GMs here was also top notch, as they provided excellent customer service and help whenever needed.

High Points:

The room itself is, as we’ve come to expect from Escape Quest, beautiful and highly immersive. In fact, I’d say King’s Ransom is the best looking game we saw while in the area! Progression is linear, but builds in a way as to include multiple teammates and encourage teamwork. Tech is well hidden, and is used sparingly, in order to evoke a sense of mystery. King’s Ransom is Escape Quest’s hardest room, so puzzles are generally a bit more esoteric in their solutions, but were not frustratingly done. Once methods to solving were figured out, there were many ah-ha moments to be had. Props felt overall like they belonged, and were fun to manipulate and use in our puzzling. The story was light, but continued to be uncovered throughout, leading to a climactic and satisfying conclusion to the experience.

Low Points:

One puzzle in particular was very weakly clued, and we the connection between the solution and input was tenuous at best. An interaction we had solved fairly quickly was finicky and required a lot of unnecessary jiggling and guess and check in order to finagle it into the right position. One particular prop felt anachronistic, and confused us a little bit.

Verdict:

King’s Ransom is another great addition to the DC area escape scene, and delivers a more challenging experience for enthusiasts, while still remaining accessible to newcomers as well. I would, however, recommend getting at least a couple rooms under your belt before attempting King’s Ransom. In short, I highly recommend this room for it’s fantastic set design and exciting puzzling. You can help Ransom the King here!

8/10 (Great)

Full Disclosure: Escape Quest comped our tickets for this game.

Escape Quest – The Lost Temple (Review)

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Location: Alexandria, VA

Players:  2-10 (We Recommend 4-6)

Price: $34 per person

Time to Escape: 60 minutes

Fortune and Glory, kid. Fortune and Glory.

Theme:

Dr. Dakota James has gone missing in SouthAmerica while on the hunt for an ancient artifact, leaving you, his proteges, to find his campsite and figure out what happened. Unfortunately, you’ll have to act fast, because a nearby volcano is threatening to blow soon, taking the entire area with it! Find out where Dr. James went, and find the treasure before you go missing too!

First Impressions:

I don’t know what it is about DC, but it is the land of the amazing escape room lobbies! Escape Quest’s front door leads up a flight of stairs that leads to an excellent waiting area, filled with odds and ends, and a few interesting puzzles to while time away as you wait. Staff is extremely friendly and customer service is top notch here. The briefing room is separated from the lobby and the rooms, which is always a plus, and the briefing itself is succinct and to the point. The room itself was very well done, and felt immediately like stepping into a temple far from Washington!

High Points:

The immersion factor in The Lost Temple is top notch. Props and scenery feel realistic, and technology inserted within is hidden well, giving a magical feel to some puzzle solutions. Progression is mostly linear, but there are several instances where other puzzles can be solved, so there’s no shortage of things to do while exploring the temple. Puzzles are clever and give satisfying feedback when solved, and are mostly tactile in nature, which is always appreciated. The variety of things to do in the room mix escape room standbys and new interactions in surprising ways, and the build towards the climax of the room is excellent.

Low Points:

One late game puzzle felt a bit obscure in its cluing, but once it is figured out, is enjoyable to solve. The story itself was very front loaded, and while the room does not suffer from it, peppering more story bits throughout would not hurt.

Verdict:

The Lost Temple is one of the best rooms I experienced in DC, and would recommend it to enthusiasts and beginners alike. Despite a couple minor hiccups, it is an extremely entertaining and well thought out experience that will engage veterans and hook newbies into the hobby. Book your time in The Lost Temple here!

9/10 (Excellent)

Full Disclosure: Escape Quest comped our tickets for this game.