UFO: Go for Launch is one of the best games in Orlando. Here are our other recommendations for great escape rooms in Orlando.
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Location: Orlando, FL
Date Played: February 25, 2023
Team size: 2-10; we recommend 4
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $41.99 per player
Ticketing: Private
Accessibility Consideration: Wheelchair accessible
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
UFO: Go for Launch was a quirky game with a delightful setup.
It was genius to put us into the home of a streamer, with chat as the hint system. I can’t believe it took this long to experience such a setup. This could totally be a genre.
The tactile interactions – and how they were woven into the narrative – were stellar. Possibly interstellar.
In our playthrough, we experienced a major tech failure that took way too long to resolve and thwarted any momentum. This was the coolest interaction in the game, and The Bureau needed to be ready and able to bypass it without the team having to beg for help. The Bureau loves making interesting and unusual interactions. This is something we love about their style. However, they need systems behind the scenes to make sure that these moments deliver for every team, every time, across every game.
If you love sci-fi, streamers, or just plain weird scenarios, don’t miss UFO: Go for Launch on your next Orlando trip.
Who is this for?
- Story seekers
- Puzzle lovers
- Scenery snobs
- Zoomers
- Sci-fi fans
- People who like tech
- Any experience level
Why play?
- Really nifty gadgets
- Delightful and well-rounded characters
- Strong ending sequence
Story
Our main character had been tracking the movement of a ufo for a while… until it crashed into the mother-in-law suite of her home and she went missing. With the help of her livestream chat we needed to figure out what had occurred.
Setting
UFO: Go for Launch was set in the home of a ufo conspiracy streamer in New Mexico after an alien had crashed into the home. It did a good job conveying both sides of this unusual Venn diagram. Because it was set in the present day, it made use of current technology, which made the home feel real.
Gameplay
The Bureau’s UFO: Go for Launch was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.
Core gameplay revolved around searching, observing, making connections, solving puzzles, and engaging with the “streamer” setup.
Analysis
➕ The staging in the home of a YouTube streamer was hilarious. Plus, The Bureau incorporated this aspect of the story into the mechanics of the game.
➕ The modern set and tech were on point. However, it was the second scene that stole the show, combining realism with sci-fi through decor and props. This launched a wonderful ending sequence.
➖ We experience a devastating tech failure that stalled our game for more than 10 minutes. The Bureau seemed unaware that a prop was broken. (There were 3 identical props, and 2 had activated immediately, so it was abundantly clear there was a malfunction.) Once we were finally able to communicate the issue, our gamemaster bypassed the puzzle. It was unfortunate that there wasn’t a working prop to swap in because we were drawn to this interaction. (➕ We imagine that when the tech works, this puzzle wows.)
➕ A couple of puzzles tested our collaboration and our reflexes, which were fun pairings. These were delightfully at home in this game world.
➖ There were a lot of audio puzzles, and much of the audio was hard to hear. Some of the audio was on its own timer, so if we missed it, we had to wait.
➖ On multiple occasions, the clue structure fell short. We’d take almost the right action, but not get it quite right. Then in another instance, we took a random action – not seeing any further cluing – and random was correct. This unevenness was frustrating.
➕ Midway through the game, we met a charming character. We loved bringing it along for our ride.
➖ What happened to the ufo conspiracy streamer who owned this home? A plot unfolded as we solved UFO: Go for Launch, but we never resolved this overarching mystery.
Tips For Visiting
- There is a parking lot.
Book your hour with The Bureau’s UFO: Go for Launch, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: The Bureau provided media discounted tickets for this game.
