LOCATION: Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
Photo above is property of Mind Factory Escape Games
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
📝 ETR DECODER
🔑 GAME: Breathless
📅 DATE PLAYED: May 31, 2021
🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): 6/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 1-8 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: $30.00/ pp
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes
📖 THE STORY
After receiving an encrypted transmission at Mind Factory, the agents were able to decode it and all they heard were two words... "Help us"!! The rest of the message was full of static and weird sounds. In a remote section of Colorado, something strange has occurred inside a high security biohazard laboratory. Across the United States, there are hundreds of labs that handle dangerous biological substances, but this location has a safety level that shouldn't even exist and apparently it contains a label classified as: "Unknown Entity". Your mission as a Mind Factory agent is to infiltrate the lab, determine what has happened and contain any threat to the outside world!
Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE
The backstory for "Breathless" is Sci-fi story-telling at it's best! The whole "unknown entity" and what's to be expected really builds the anticipation. As a Mind Factory agent, our mission was to infiltrate and investigate a high security biohazard laboratory that isn't even supposed to exist! The intro video really set the tone for what's to come next.
The set design started before we even entered the room. The black door with blacked out windows and purple accent lighting will draw anyone's attention. Once inside, the atmosphere becomes intense right away as if we really entered a dangerous biohazard lab.
There was a decent amount of puzzles which all correlated with the location and theme of the game. One challenge in particular was quite unique. We really had to work together in separate locations in order to save ourselves from running out of time. We've never seen this idea used in an escape room before but it suits perfectly with the narrative.
Mind Factory spared no cost at making this game as immersive as possible. The voice acting you will hear during the game is done by Jeff Steitzer, voice of the Multiplayer Announcer of the Halo series.
🧩 MISSED THE MARK
Since Mind Factory is located on the street level, you will hear some outside noise during one part of the room which took away some immersion but they did their best at trying to incorporate that part into the set design.
The intro video seem to indicate something horrible had happened in the lab but the game itself felt not scary as it should have been. I guess that's good for players who doesn't like horror or jump scares as there were none in this game.
Some parts of the game needed more sound warnings or activation noise as at times we didn't know if we had done something correctly or not.
Adding a stronger "wow" factor for the ending would greatly enhance the unique storyline.
🏹 TAKE A SHOT?
As soon as you enter the lobby of Mind Factory, it really gives off a steampunk feel like you're inside a cool garage. They have a huge waiting area, perfect for private events and corporate gatherings. If you like sci-fi thrillers films that involve unknown alien entities, "Breathless" is a great way to get into character and investigate. Mind Factory Escape Games is a new escape room company with "Breathless" being the only game that's currently available but their new room "Invasion" will be coming soon! We had the pleasure of taking a peek and it looks MASSIVE. We can't wait to check it out when it's ready!
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)
Disclosure: We thank Mind Factory Escape Games for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.
