LOCATION: San Diego, California, USA
Photo above is property of Steal and Escape
📝 ETR DECODER
🔑 GAME: The Missing Season
📅 DATE PLAYED: April 20, 2024
🎬 GENRE: Fantasy
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 7/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-5 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: $40.00/ pp (Min. 3 ppl required)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes
📖 THE STORY
You exist in a world of three seasons - fall, winter, and spring. Nobody has time to relax. Strategos Enterprises is a company created with the goal of building the fourth season. They are looking for applicants who are qualified to help with this important mission! Will you be able to pass the initial interview and then succeed in creating the fourth season, for the benefit of all humanity?
🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE
The progression through the experience is very much driven by the unique, well-developed story.
The puzzles are also centered squarely on the challenge itself. They all make sense and are fitting for the experience; nothing feels tacked on or put in 'just because'.
It's a very tactile room; the puzzles are highly interactive and appropriate for a wide range of ages because of their whimsical and fun nature. That is not to say the puzzles are simple! There was one notable challenge that we’d never seen before! The non-linear progression was also well implemented.
Our GM Manny was friendly and engaging, providing an entertaining introduction to the room, as well as donning a story-specific role (as GM) that was fully integrated into the experience, as well personalized around our successes, struggles, and celebrations during the solve. It was excellently managed and brought an extra dimension to the game.
The room itself is beautifully constructed, fully immersing us in the adventurous, magical undertaking. There is lots of care take and small details that create a wonderful ambience.
The ending is one of a kind and will put a lovely bow on the entire experience. We definitely left grinning!
🧩 MISSED THE MARK
There's a ton of tech in this room, all of which worked well - save one puzzle, which we actually had to operate in a counterintuitive fashion to achieve the necessary result.
🏹 TAKE A SHOT?
"The Missing Season" is a refreshing experience that will feel 'like the first time' for those who have dozens of puzzles under their belts, while also being approachable, fun, and interactive for anyone who has never played a room before. We did some things we hadn't done before, had to take off our 'I know how this usually works' hats, keep our eyes and minds open, and think creatively. It’s a true delight that we’d recommend for all but the most curmudgeonly of folks!
ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO
Steal and Escape puts a lot of thought into the storyline of their rooms, as well as the build process. They use reclaimed, authentic materials whenever possible for a fabulously realistic, immersive experience that transports you into the adventure you're having. There is ample free parking out front. Inside, the waiting area has lockers, a bathroom, and a fun mix of puzzles - including a ten minute puzzle box specially designed to introduce neophytes to the world of escape room puzzles.
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 Steal and Escape for offering us a media discount for our tickets to this game. Although a media discount was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.
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