Chamber of Hocus - Breakout Avenue K

Chamber of Hocus - Trapped forever!!!

Hocus Pocus Hocus Pocus... We were so hooked by the poster that we were so eager to play the room. I know that I have said this before, but the Breakout team deserves the credit for creating posters that are so unique and attractive. It's obvious that they have put in a lot of effort into this and their hard work has paid off. In my last post, I forgot to blog regarding the pin system and the avatar concept that Breakout has. They allow us to choose the avatar that we want and each of the avatar has his own power.  You can read more about the avatars on this page. http://www.breakout.com.my/characters/ 

Anyways, back to the room. The staff briefed us on the room and gave us the intriguing back story. Apparently we are a team that we were looking for a magician who is also a serial killer. He kills the victim by casting a spell that will turn the victim into mannequin. That was enough to get our mouth watering and we couldn't wait to get started. 

The room was well divided and the decor was really really good. I have to emphasize on this as they really have spent their time and effort to put decor that is related to the theme. The puzzles had a mix of logic and mechanical logic attached to it. We were so stumped on the first puzzle that we had to use the first hint within the first 10 minutes. When we got the solve, we were so puzzled on how we didn't see that coming.

Well, we picked up speed and tried our best to make up for the lost time. The final room was so elaborate and beautiful that we didn't feel like leaving, There were more than multiple WOW factor... Especially the final reveal which truly knocked our socks off. We didn't see that coming we really appreciated the different approach that this team has taken. Instead of the entire room being driven by number and combination locks, this room has mechanical and unexpected locks as well.

We didn't manage to break out within the time limit and we asked the staff to explain the final puzzle. We were rather disappointed at the fact that we were trapped but we just didn't see the answer coming at all. Now, we are looking at the prospect of spending a lifetime behind bars...

As usual, here's scorecard.

Room Theme

Puzzles

Thrill/Fear Factor

Music

Story-line Flow

Overall

As of this writing, this is the best room that we have played we feel that the Breakout team has brought another dimension to the escape game market in Malaysia. Well done and props to your designers! Stumped but not defeated... Adios!!!

Infinity - Breakout Avenue K

Infinity - Handcuffed Co-Op Mission

We were just walking around Avenue K when we discovered Breakout. The outlet is well designed with enough mystic to call you in. We were with 2 more friends of ours and we decided to give it a go. For those who haven't been to Breakout, you must know that they have mastered the art of posters. Their poster designs are to die for and we really wanted to play the Chamber of Hocus. Unfortunately, the room was fully booked and we settled for Infinity.

Although the concept of escape games are pretty straight forward, but we can see that the team has taken significant effort to differentiate itself from the competitors. The staff took his time to explain the room and what we were doing there. He gave a rather detailed back story and handcuffed us 2 to a team. The teams were then split and put in separate rooms. I have to emphasize that these were solid metal handcuff. None of those flimsy plastic ones. It was kinda cool to be handcuffed as it really felt as if we were in trouble.

We were placed in a labyrinth of rooms and we had to find our way to gather in the same room. The rooms were tiny and was filled with observational clues. the clue that we found was for the other team and their clues were for us. We had to find alternate means of communication as there was blaring music which made speaking/shouting pointless.

The decor of the rooms were extremely basic but for some reason it made sense. One of the novelty of breakout was the means of getting help. You had to sms the team using the phone that was provided by the team. The team will then slip an envelope with the answer. It was kinda cool as it maintains the feeling of being stuck with no help.

The handcuffs which we thought were kinda cool became a huge hindrance as we had to be handcuffed for most of the game. Nevertheless, the handcuffs and the fast blaring music added to the thrill of trying to break out. After laboring through numerous rooms in circles, we eventually found our way to meet each other. After solving one last puzzle, we broke out with 15 minutes to spare. One thing to remember about this room is, Door Stopper is your friend!!!

Here's the Infinite Scorecard.

Room Theme

Puzzles

Thrill/Fear Factor

Music

Story-line Flow

Overall

We enjoyed the room very much as it was challenging as well as thrilling. I can't help to think that this room with be perfect room to build comradeship and for team building. Anyways, till we meet the next time... I need to ice my bruised arm.

Wonderland A Magical Adventure - Berjaya Times Square

Wonderland - Simple with an Unexpected Twist!

Since it was the Professor's birthday, we were told that she gets a free game and as we were very unsatisfied thanks to the Vampire room, we decided to try another room. The only room available was the Wonderland room. Initially we thought that the room will be a bit childish but we were assure that the room is challenging enough for adults. Since I got to play the part of Jack Sparrow, the Professor got to relive her childhood playing Alice. Not literally... But y'all get the drift right?

I decided to the blog this entire chronicle from the third person. So Alice (Professor) and Mad Hatter (Captain) decided to try this room land after all. Apparently they were transported to an alternative land after eating a suspicious brownie :) 

This room land had a few doors to be solved to get out.

They did not find any rabbits or evil queen but they did find the first puzzle to be rather straight forward. Upon solving that they came across a puzzle that did puzzle them. They were so lost that they needed the help of the secret elves of that land.

The land was designed well and it did feel as if that we.. I mean that felt as if they were really stuck in wonderland. The wow factor of this land was at the end where a magnetic sensor was used to unlock the final door. They had to play a life size version of a famous board game and they needed to solve the puzzle to get the correct position of the magnetic sensor. The funny part was they didn't realize that the final door was triggered open and they kept trying to solve it. Finally, Alice tried to feel the final door and she realized that the door has been open for at least 15 minutes. So, both Alice and the Mad Hatter skipped away back to reality with a total time of 37 minutes. 

The room was interesting and the final wow factor pushed the room from below average to above average. The room was well decorated and brightly lit as if one was actually in a Wonderland. However, we.. I mean they felt as if that the room is much more suitable for teens and pre teens. Adults might be bored.. unless they found that suspicious brownie :)  Upon coming back to reality, they unveiled the scorecard. 

Room Theme

Puzzles

Thrill/Fear Factor

Music

Story-line Flow

Overall

The final wow factor was the main highlight of the room but we felt that the room was a bit too kiddish for us. Nevertheless... Happy Birthday Alice... I mean Professor...:) Stay tuned for the next Chronicle....

The Vampire Chronicles - Berjaya Times Square

The Vampire Chronicles - Taxing & Adventurous 

Professor Sherlock's birthday was around the corner and I decided to take her to Times Square to continue our escape chronicles. We asked the staff to suggest the best 4 star rooms and they suggested the Vampire room. As usual they cautioned us since its was just the two of us ad they added that this particular room has the most amount of locks in the whole Escape Room franchise. That challenge was too mouthwatering to pass up. Challenge Accepted!!!

The staff basically told us that we were stuck in the house of the vampire and he was going to come home in 45 minutes. We hated the back story and the staff was rather annoyed when we asked him for the clarification on the story. Oh well, we decided to make our own story and the clock started to tick. The room had like 100 locks. Ok ok... That is an over statement but they were not kidding about the number of locks. 

The room had riddles and logic puzzles that had to be solved for the lock combinations. So, for those who like these sort of puzzles, this may be the room for you. There is a secret pathway in this room which will trigger the inner child in you. Trust me.... You will enjoy the ride!

We felt that there wasn't any flow to the story and the puzzle didn't link between each other. Some of the puzzles had no link to the vampire and that really turned us off. The decor of the room was decent and the props were appropriate... But it still lacked the wow factor. The silver lining had to be the final section where they had a mechanical-electronic contraption as opposed to the over used combination locks. This section of the room requires one of you to be musical and thank god the Professor is extremely musical. I have no musical bone and we would have spent the entire eternity as the slaves to the vampire if it was up to me to solve this section of the room. Considering we had to unlock a zillion locks, we were happy with our time of 41 minutes. 

Check out the score card...

Room Theme

Puzzles

Thrill/Fear Factor

Music

Story-Line Flow

Overall

The room was rather average and we left wanting more.... Till we meet on our next 45 minutes of fame :)

Pirate Ship The Curse of the Adventure Galley - Escape Room Curve

Pirate Ship - Good Flow & Extensive

Arrrrr... I started preparing my best pirate imitation on my drive to Curve as I was really looking forward to the experience of my life long 1 day dream of being Jack Sparrow a pirate. 

Anyways, Hollywood aspirations aside, we were both hyped to try the the largest room at the Curve outlet. The room is themed after after a pirate adventure where you are out the search for the treasure. As usual, the staff was warm and welcoming. Professor Sherlock asked the staff the back story of the room and the staff gave a very sketchy story that didn't sound at all interesting. However, as soon as we stepped in the room we were rather impressed.

This particular room is very large and the first room looks as if you were in a abandoned ship. The Escape Room team deserves credit for the theme and the props as it matched the story and the mission. The room has multiple rooms within the room and you need to rely on some scouring skills as some of the clues are hidden rather well. In one of the room we had to rely on sheer strength to open a compartment and Jack Sparrow I thoroughly enjoyed that section.

Professor Sherlock's favorite was solving one of the cryptic puzzle involving the most minute part of a significant prop in the room. I know that the previous sentence sounded like a cryptic message itself, but I'm trying my best to tell you something about the room without any spoilers.

At the end, both of us managed to break out with 17 minutes remaining. It felt really good as the staff cautioned us that, escaping will be tough as it was only the two of us. Nevertheless, both of us found matching pirate hats and swords and completed the winners pic.

We enjoyed the room much more than the Mysterious Room and credit goes to Escape Room team. The room was well designed and the flow of the story made sense. We appreciate theme and the plot aspect of any room and we appreciate it more if there is flow to the story-line.  That is a critical aspect for Professor Sherlock and she concurs that this room scores high on that category.

Well here is the scorecard!

Room Theme

Puzzles

Thrill/Fear Factor

Music

Story-line Flow

Overall

We enjoyed the room and we were already starting to plan our next mishap adventure! Till we meet again.... Keep digging Watson :)

Mysterious Room - Escape Room Curve

Mysterious Room - Fun, Exciting & Absorbing

We walked past Escape Room so many times before finally deciding to try our luck at the latest craze that has taken our social media.  

As it was our first time we were extremely intrigued and excited with the notion of being trapped in a room and finding a way out using just our smarts. The staff were very professional and it was nice to see the enthusiasm as it rubbed off on us. 

We were told that we are both breaking into a room to recover/steal a precious jewel which is hidden in that room. As soon as they locked us in the room the time started!

I don't want to give any spoilers but I have to say that the room is well designed and the lasers were a really nice touch. The whole Entrapment scene came into our mind but we soon realized that you have to be extremely nimble to maneuver  through the maze. Since neither of us are national gymnast we used our brains and found a way through.

The room scores high on the theme and the use of unique puzzles. However, it does have its WTF moment as we had to use the Help button for one of the puzzle that didn't make any sense even after the staff explained to us. Long story short, we managed to steal the jewel and dashed out with 1 minute remaining. Being this was our time, we dashed out with huge grin as if we were being chased by NYPD. 

We rummaged through their extensive array of props for the winners photo and we knew at that point that we have found a hobby that fulfills our love for puzzles, riddles and investigations!

Room Theme

     

Puzzles                  

Thrill/Fear Factor    

Story-line Flow

Music

Overall

The room is an above average room that tickles your fancy enough to ensure that you will come back for a second dip. 

Till we get trapped again.... I mean till we meet again!!!!