MagnificoEscaparium - LavalEscape roomIRLMagnifico was a feast for the eyes that falls just a bit short in the other aspects as an escape room. Visually this room is a 10/10. The set design, props, costumes... everything is done so beautifully that it has the effect of transporting you to the world of their story. A few moments even felt downright magical. However, the puzzles were very linear and fell on the easy side. Hints were doled out quite liberally, almost immediately whenever we showed the first signs of being stuck (usually not because the puzzle is difficult, but because we overlooked a prop or something). While this certainly prevented any frustration, it also took away our chance of discovering the solution on our own. In retrospect, because Magnifico has a lot of scenes and materials to go through, I do wonder if this was done to ensure that the group can finish on schedule. In the end, playing Magnifico felt more like going on a Disney ride where we saw places and characters of wonder, and less like an escape room where we had to put our wits and skill to the test. It certainly has a lot of appeal to many, but it left me wanting for more.
