“This isn’t even my final form.”
Location: New Haven, CT
Date Played: December 18, 2017
Team size: 2-8; we recommend 4-5
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $26 per ticket
REA Reaction
We were pleasantly shocked by the second act after being underwhelmed when we set foot in The Initiative. Narratively, Elm City Escape paid off the banality of the opening sequence and they rewarded us with fantastic gameplay later on. Worth it.
Who is this for?
- Puzzle lovers
- Sci-fi and anime fans
- Any experience level
Why play?
- The second act
- Subtle character building and storytelling
- Three epic puzzles
Story
We made it! It was our first day of our dream job at the OMNE Corporation. Our excitement was swiftly dashed when we realized that we were going to be drones in a corporate machine that seemed like it was up to no good.
If we were going to continue working for this company, we had to meet the boss and learn his intentions.
Setting
We entered a large office with a few employee desks, a filing cabinet, and a break room station. Despite the motivational posters on the walls, it was as bland and mundane as a set could get… until the second act, which I simply cannot spoil… but it’s cool.
Gameplay
The Initiative was a standard escape room with a far greater emphasis on puzzling than on search.
Elm City Escape turned office essentials into puzzles that unlocked… more office essentials.
In the second act, The Initiative offered more inventive, interactive, and intriguing challenges.
Standouts
Throughout The Initiative we uncovered many fun, nerdy references.
The Initiative followed a narrative arc culminating in a great twist.
Elm City Escape designed some phenomenal puzzles. These late-game challenges were the highlights of the escape room. They were brilliant.
The Initiative escalated well.
Shortcomings
The opening set was large and lackluster. Elm City Escape could improve The Initiative with a stronger opening statement.
We suggest that Elm City Escape bolt down one more substantial prop and maybe consider making it easier for shorter players to interact with it.
The Initiative required parallel puzzling. In one instance, we tackled three creative and intriguing puzzles and a fourth typical process puzzle concurrently. The person tackling this fourth puzzle missed out on the most interesting parts of this escape room.
Tips for Visiting
- You’ll be underwhelmed by the first room. Puzzle through it, things get more interesting.
- Use the app Parkmobile to fill your meter on the street in New Haven.
- Enter the building, pass the security desk, turn left, and go downstairs.
- There are lots of great restaurants in New Haven.
Book your hour with Elm City Escape’s The Initiative, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
