Pillaging, puzzling, and a puppy.
Location: East Greenwich, Rhode Island
Date played: July 15, 2017
Team size: up to 10; we recommend 3-4
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $29 per ticket
Story & setting
Captured by pirates who were in the midst of casting a curse upon humanity, we had to free ourselves and save the world.
Captain’s Curse was an office space filled with pirate-y props. The set was cute and hardly immersive.
Puzzles
Captain’s Curse was built around search and discovery. There were lots of little bits and pieces to collect. It heavily rewarded those with a keen eye.
Standouts
Throughout Captain’s Curse we uncovered historical information about various famed pirates. Most of this came in short bits and any instances of longer prose never became arduous. Captain’s Curse communicated a lot of information without slowing the pace of gameplay. In fact, two of our teammates left wanting to learn more about Ching Shih, a remarkably badass Chinese pirate queen.
We enjoyed the adorable staging depicted above. Who can say no to that cute cuddly face?
Riddle Room chose mostly old-timey boxes and locks that seemed to belong well enough on a pirate ship.
Shortcomings
Captain’s Curse contained a lot of itty bitty props and relied heavily on finding over solving. We were continually unlocking every little thing we uncovered.
The set design did not do a great job of conveying a plot or even a feeling. It was a vaguely pirate-esque office.
Riddle Room’s reliance on search collided with lighting issues and prop selection. Everything combined to deliver some tedious search work.
Much of the action in Captain’s Curse felt repetitive rather than layered. The repetition lead to an emotionally level game with few moments of intensity or deeper satisfaction.
Should I play Riddle Room’s Captain’s Curse?
Captain’s Curse was a solid execution of an older style of escape room: there was a lot to poke through and uncover, but it was not all scavenging… It ultimately led to some puzzles. Riddle Room had a few truly fun and interesting ideas here and then filled in the gaps with what have become escape room standards.
Newer players will likely enjoy Captain’s Curse. Much of what’s old hat to us will be new and fun. It would also be a great room for families, as an educational and not-at-all-scary pirate ship with plenty for children to uncover.
For more experienced players, if you find yourself in the area and want some light puzzling, step aboard, but don’t sail too far out of your way to plunder this game.
Book your hour with Riddle Room – Captain’s Curse, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Full disclosure: Riddle Room provided media discounted tickets for this game.
Went to the Website link and there is no offering for the Captain’s Curse.
I knew they were turning over a game, but I thought it was the other.
My previous post is in error. The review I read about this room was posted on the reviewer’s website. My Apologies to the Proprietors.!!!!