Ops CognitionEscape OpsEscape roomIRLCognition was a really cool game and I am glad we got to experience it before it is officially retired. The puzzles were pretty cool and creative, but what really blew me away was the set design. This was a super original room concept and something I had never seen before. The rooms were amazing and each came with it's own special twist. I'm really excited to see what Escape Ops' other rooms have to offer in the near future!
Mindmaster IndustriesEscape City - CalgaryEscape roomIRLMindmaster has one of the coolest stories/room setups that I've seen. My only complaint with this room is that we went with 6 people, meaning I couldn't engage with every single puzzle that we had to solve! Escape City makes you want to be involved in every aspect of the room, and getting to be a part of every little thing is a treat. There was a really cool game flow that we went through pretty quickly with our large group, and a great ending, which was super exciting and different from anything I've done before. It caused chaos within our large group, but that made it all the more satisfying to finish. The advancement of the story throughout the rooms is done well, and the high-pressure ending was a perfect finish to it all. They really made you feel like you were in an experiment that you found out more about throughout the rooms, with a nice physical aspect at the end that added to the immersion.
Dynamic DuoEscape OpsEscape roomIRLDynamic Duo was a great experience that achieved its goal of being a fun, strictly 2-player game... one of only two that I am aware of in Calgary! The puzzles were really cool and required teamwork and coordination between two people. They weren't too far-fetched and made sense; Escape Ops always has cool and unique puzzles! The set, although minimal, accomplished its purpose and provided a unique experience in many ways. There seemed to be a lack of storyline and theme, but I think the main idea is that it's just a fun, enjoyable puzzle experience for 2 people, and it certainly was!
Ye Olde Horrible DungeonArcadia Adventures Escape RoomEscape roomIRLThis was our first experience at Arcadia's new location! It is quite the step up from their recent location and as such, the facility is super nice! It is a large space as well and I am excited to see what else they can come up with to fill this location! However, Ye Olde Horrible Dungeon in particular was a really cool game. It's a nice large room with a really cool design to go along with the neat theme and challenging puzzles. Due to it's size, it is better to have a bigger group, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. Really cool game flow as well. We got stumped at a few points as the puzzles are quite challenging but they were satisfying to solve and were well integrated into the theme as well as into each other. Really excited to visit Arcadia again soon!
ShrineEscape OpsEscape roomIRLThe Shrine room was a fantastic experience! This was our third game at Escape Ops, and we were once again NOT disappointed. The puzzles were creative, well-thought-out, and very cohesive with a nice overall game layout. The staff here are super friendly and definitely want their customers to have the best experience, always chatting with us afterwards. The adaptive difficulty is really nice, and the puzzles had just the right amount of challenge/satisfaction within them.
Eldritch EmporiumEscape OpsEscape roomIRLEscape Ops' newest game was once again fantastic! They always do a great job with their puzzles and have something creative that you haven't seen before. The game definitely builds on itself as you progress, with the really cool sets developing later into the game. The immersion wasn't all there at the start, but that was likely how it was intended to play as you work your way closer to gaining access to the emporium! There were some REALLY unique puzzles that all flowed really well and made sense and weren't far-fetched or overly difficult... just the right amount. Overall, it was very different and unique in all the best ways. It wasn't the most elaborate storyline, but I definitely recommend all the rooms I've done with this company. The staff is super kind as well and happy to chat about their vision and the experience.
Turtle PowerEscape 60 - Downtown Escape Room ExperienceEscape roomIRLOur group had a really great time with the Turtle Power room at Escape 60! It's relatviely small, but this is not indicative of how well its setup and designed, as well as the number of puzzles. It's a very linear game and flows very well. The turtles theme was really nicely done and I liked the originality of the puzzles in here (specifically the very very first one) as well as how they rebuilt the world that the room was based on. I loved the props, colouring, and design of the room; it really felt like being in some underground hangout that you go with your friends to chill. Their is lots of locks and they are pretty direct with how you should navigate each of them (where to go next, what lock corresponds to what puzzle). Maybe could do with a little more creative puzzles as most of the puzzles end with a number/letter lock, but overall this was a great room and we had a great time!
King Durin's CurseTrapped - CalgaryEscape roomIRLDurin's Curse had a really cool theme, story, and setup. I was very impressed with the tech and the creative vision behind some of the puzzles. The theme was emphasized at all stages in all of the puzzles, and it made the experience very immersive. There was another part of this room that was particularly unique, but I won't spoil that; however, it was a very cool element to add to a room about the Dwarven kingdom. There was a wide range of difficulty within the puzzles, some being super basic and others being quite difficult. I'd say 3-4 people would bring a good blend of ideas for this room without causing everyone to step on each other's toes. There was a fair amount to do, and I found there to be quite a few red herrings, but that's normal for Trapped. Their style of puzzles is also just more difficult for our group, but they are still super well done and make sense after getting some help! Good flow and story, Trapped always thrives with their stories and immersion!
Jack The RipperTrapped - CalgaryEscape roomIRLIf you are looking for a horror room in Calgary, this is the one! Trapped has large rooms and sets, and all have had a great level of immersion. Jack the Ripper built anticipation really well, and all of the rooms helped you get more and more into the story, leading up to an exciting ending. The use of the live actor was great, and it's nice to know how much effort they put into giving you a good (Scary!) experience. One of our team members accidentally through a prop at the live actor out of fright, and they handled it great, even taking pride in scaring someone that much. The fear added to the difficulty, and the type of puzzles that Trapped employs requires more outside-of-the-box thinking that may not be catered to our group's usual strengths. The story/set was what made this experience so great and I hope to do another horror room done this well soon.
The WoodsmanEscape City - CalgaryEscape roomIRLThis was our final room at Escape City, which has become my favourite escape room company across Calgary. My only complaint is that we will now have to wait for their next room! The Woodsman was by far the most satisfying solve we've had... one thing I believe Escape City does super well is making the puzzles involve just the right amount of creativity and difficulty. This being their most difficult room made it that much more satisfying to solve on time without using any hints, which helped us stay immersed in the amazing set and atmosphere. The technology is incorporated into the room super well, and the puzzles also all relate to the theme of being trapped in a creepy guy's cabin in the woods. The synergy between all these elements shows how much effort goes into all aspects of the room's creation within this company.
