Take a stab at it.
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Date Played: July 25, 2021
Team Size: 2-5; we recommend 2-4
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $28.50 per player
Ticketing: Private
Game Breakage: Yes – prop maintenance issues
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
Pirate’s Chamber seemed like it would have been a great room back when it opened in 2016, but in large part due to insufficient upkeep, it hasn’t quite stood the test of time. Everything about the room felt dated — from its somewhat sparse set dressing to its gameplay style. We enjoyed the puzzles in Pirate’s Chamber, but our overall experience was colored by the fact that many of the props we interacted with were literally falling apart.
If you’re in the area, I recommend checking out Captured LV Bethlehem’s newer, more polished offerings: The Haunted Theatre and The Mayan Temple.
Who is this for?
- Any experience level
- Puzzle lovers
- Aspiring buccaneers
Story
Upon being captured aboard the ship of Captain Bruce Bowing, we had to retrieve his treasure and escape before anyone noticed our disappearance.
Setting
The Pirate’s Chamber took place in a pirate’s chambers. While the set was distinctively pirate-themed, it was unclear whether we were supposed to be in a particular part of the pirate ship.
Gameplay
The Pirate’s Chamber was a standard escape room with a relatively easy level of difficulty. The gameplay was mostly puzzle-centric.
Analysis
➕ The puzzles in The Pirate’s Chamber were well integrated into pirate-themed props and/ or interactions. Most elements in the game felt like they belonged in a pirate’s chambers.
➖ The Pirate’s Chamber was in a state of disappointingly poor maintenance. A few props were so beaten up that they interfered with puzzle solutions, laminated sheets of paper were falling apart, and the entire room felt a bit grimy and in need of a deep clean.
➕ For an old escape room, The Pirate’s Chamber had a nice range of satisfyingly tactile puzzles. Had everything worked more as originally designed, the puzzle flow would have been fairly smooth and lock mapping clear.
➖ The physical flow through the room left some room for improvement. While the space was on the smaller side, it felt more cramped by having a long table right in the middle. Our 4-player team generally managed fine, but larger teams might run into some traffic jams.
Tips For Visiting
- Parking: There’s a parking lot behind Captured LV, as well as plenty of metered street parking in the immediate vicinity.
- Food: Captured LV Bethlehem is located in the heart of historic Bethlehem, with tons of great food options within a few blocks walking distance. In the shopping center where Captured LV is located, I recommend Stations Cafe for reasonably priced healthy and diner-style fare, and Bethlehem Brew Works for pub food and microbrews.
Book your hour with Captured LV’s The Pirate’s Chamber, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
