The Search for The Golden Fleece
Location: Pleasanton, CA
Date Played: May 20, 2023
Team Size: 3-10; we recommend 3-4
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: $36-40 per player depending on the number of players
Ticketing: Private
Accessibility Consideration: None
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
When Clockwise Escape Room permanently closed their San Francisco location early in the pandemic, I was dismayed. I’d greatly enjoyed playing all 4 of their rooms (read our review of their now-closed The Incredible Machine.) And in the local Bay Area escape room scene where the premium games stand out for pushing the envelope (and often at a particularly high price point), Clockwise’s rooms were always amongst my top recommendations for creative, thoughtful, accessible takes on a more classic escape room format, especially for newer players just getting into escape rooms.
I’m delighted that Clockwise has returned to the Bay Area, now located down in Pleasanton. They’ve opened with 2 rooms and have 2 more on their way in the coming months.
Revenge of Medusa was a well-designed game filled with some satisfying puzzles and creative inputs. The environment was well themed around Greek mythology and Medusa — relatively uncommon escape room themes. While it didn’t capture the charm and home-baked creativity that characterized Clockwise’s previous offerings, it was nonetheless a delightful offering for a small team. My hard-to-impress teammates were especially dialed into a clever multi-layered puzzle sequence that made use of multiple elements throughout the room.
If you are looking for an enjoyable and accessible escape room for small teams and/ or newer players in the South Bay, I recommend checking out Revenge of Medusa. Plus, keep an eye out for whatever Clockwise cooks up next.
Who is this for?
- Puzzle lovers
- Any experience level
- Mythology nerds
Why play?
- A modest but attractive set
- Strong Greek mythology theming
Story
Medusa had turned the warriors of ancient Greece to stone with her gaze. We had to appease the gods and defeat Medusa if we hoped to regain the Golden Fleece.
Setting
Revenge of Medusa was set in an ancient Greek building — perhaps some sort of temple. Full-scale warriors were frozen in stone in the corners, and stone- and marble-looking objects filled the room. Floor-to-ceiling columns brought further depth to the room.
Gameplay
Clockwise Escape Room Pleasanton’s Revenge of Medusa was a standard escape room with a moderate level of difficulty.
Core gameplay revolved around searching, communicating, and solving puzzles and riddles.
Analysis
➕ The set was relatively simple but looked wonderful, with stone wall textures, marbled flooring, various plinths and vases, and life-size statues of frozen warriors who’d caught Medusa’s gaze.
➖/❓Some printed paper props didn’t fit the environment, though we were told that the company was in the process of upgrading them to a nicer material.
➕ The gameplay flowed well and fit the theme. We especially appreciated a layered puzzle sequence that cleverly made use of light and position.
➖ The audio cuing for one puzzle interface lacked clarity. It was hard to differentiate between when each input was registered and when the sequence timed out.
➖ An excess of modern padlocks broke the immersion and made Revenge of Medusa feel more “escape room-y” than it needed to. With the addition of some paint or modeling clay, these locks could have matched the otherwise consistent aesthetic.
➕/➖ A reveal near the end fulfilled the game’s namesake and was accompanied by a cool interaction sequence. Unfortunately, during our playthrough, the main set piece had been knocked out of place by a previous team, rendering this sequence initially impossible for us (though our gamemaster almost immediately noticed and came in to fix it, after which the interaction worked seamlessly.) While some precautions had already been taken to prevent this from happening, I suspect certain tech-based solutions could help provide an additional deterrent.
➖ The ending fizzled out. Upon obtaining our final target, the game just sort of ended, without any effect or narrative conclusion to match the visual impact of the previous interaction.
➕ Our game host was incredibly friendly and attentive, both in and out of our games.
Tips For Visiting
- Revenge of Medusa was purchased from Legendary Escape Games in IL, with some number of customizations and modifications made in house. We’ve been informed that Clockwise Escape Room Pleasanton’s upcoming rooms will be fully original.
- Free street parking was available nearby.
Book your hour with Clockwise Escape Room Pleasanton’s Revenge of Medusa, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: Clockwise Escape Room Pleasanton provided media discounted tickets for this game.
