“It’s the Inquisition, what a show!”
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Date played: December 1, 2017
Team size: 2-6; we recommend 2-4 (see below)
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $99 for 2 players, $129 for 3, $159 for 4, $179 for 5, $199 for 6
REA Reaction
Bloody Elbow was a fun adventure. We recommend it for experienced players.
It looked fantastic. However, a communicative audio track combined with a set lean on feedback made portions of the game difficult to follow. QUEST ROOM played a little looser with force and safety than we’d prefer… but through this Bloody Elbow instilled an urgency of escape.
Who is this for?
- Adventure seekers
- Scenery snobs
- Best for players with at least some experience
Why play?
- Immersive set design
- Thematic interactions
- Intensity
Story
Locked up as a heretic in the 14th century, we awaited slow, gory, and creative deaths at the hand of a sadistic executioner who went by the name “Bloody Elbow.”
Setting
We began our game isolated and restrained in the inquisitor’s dungeon. This was not a happy place. It was dark, bloody, and filled with torture devices. QUEST ROOM built a fairly detailed set.
Gameplay
Bloody Elbow was driven by set interaction and player resourcefulness.
Isolation and restraint played a critical role in the early game.
The puzzling was built around manipulating the objects that we found, in one instance by exerting a lot more force than one would typically expect in an escape room. Our gamemaster did warn us in advance, but the required action still surprised us.
Standouts
QUEST ROOM constructed a medieval torture chamber as the set for Bloody Elbow. It was intense, interactive, and exciting to explore.
Bloody Elbow felt like an adventure. As the escape room progressed and we discovered new interactions, we had to act resourcefully. This was especially satisfying and felt realistic.
QUEST ROOM integrated the hinting system with the experience. It felt clandestine and contributed to the adventure vibe.
In order to escape Bloody Elbow we had to manipulate the set and props in some unexpected ways. One invigorating interaction required force.
Shortcomings
This one more forceful interaction had a few drawbacks: It appeared so early that it could teach players to disrespect QUEST ROOM’s beautiful set. We were hung up on it for quite a while because we didn’t believe we should apply the level of force that it required. Additionally, the prop involved could cause serious injury to a player who mishandles it. This could be improved by having an interaction that “eats” the prop after it’s used.
While we liked the hint mechanism, it competed with the audio soundtrack. We found this frustrating.
Bloody Elbow had a light touch with interaction feedback. We didn’t always know what we’d triggered or revealed.
It’s hard to recommend a team size for Bloody Elbow. Too many players means that some folks will spend quite a bit of time waiting on their teammates without any way to contribute. Too few players will create red herrings.
Tips for Visiting
- QUEST ROOM doesn’t have traditional signage, but they do have a massive mural on their facade. We Instagramed it. By the way, we’re on Instagram.
- Wear comfortable shoes and clothing to this escape room.
- QUEST ROOM’s first two games were very different from each another: while Bloody Elbow was an intense adventure with some puzzles, Da Vinci’s Challenge was a puzzle game with some adventure. Choose wisely.
Book your hour with QUEST ROOM’s Bloody Elbow, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: QUEST ROOM comped our tickets for this game.
