Rumble in the jungle
Location: Cibolo, TX
Date Played: August 28, 2023
Team Size: 2-8; we recommend 4
Duration: 75 minutes
Price: $36.95 per player (discounted on weekdays)
Ticketing: Private
Accessibility Consideration: N/A
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A] Push To Release
REA Reaction
Kwest Club Escape Adventures has a vision for what they’re aiming for in their experiences: rich adventures defined by interesting sets, atypical puzzles, and interwoven narratives. Mayan Jungle Rescue employed these features to create a newbie-friendly experience with a particular strength in setting. It offered a variety of environments, intriguing transitions between spaces, and a forward momentum to our efforts.
For me, the authentic effects, props, and scene transitions set this adventure apart from other experiences in the San Antonio area. It was interesting to observe the puzzle content change alongside the drastically different settings, allowing us to do a wide variety of things that might therefore appeal to a wide audience. This room also took puzzling tropes and made them come to life in satisfyingly tactile ways using realistic objects and effects. The best parts involved clever, task-driven puzzles that fit their context and helped us achieve necessary goals in our adventure.
It was clear that the story was intended to be central to the experience. We earned snippets of it throughout our journey, revealing twists and turns along the way. The plot line was delivered through a consistent and interesting mechanism, making it obvious how to piece together the story. However, some thematic audio issues made the content difficult to understand at times, and the balance of flavor to actionable information made it too easy to ignore. Regardless, the final moments of the game brought the puzzling and story together with convincing effects and a dramatic flourish that helped focus our attention.
Ultimately, Mayan Jungle Rescue was a well-rounded experience with approachable puzzles in an evolving environment. It aimed for more than it achieved narratively, but the effort was still worthwhile. It is a strong addition to the San Antonio scene for any experience level.
Who is this for?
- Adventure seekers
- Story seekers
- Scenery snobs
- Any experience level
Why play?
- To adventure through a variety of well-interwoven settings
- To introduce your friends to escape rooms in fine fashion
Story
A renowned biologist had gone missing in pursuit of jungle knowledge, so we had been commissioned to rescue him. We boarded a plane to take us to his last known whereabouts, but you know how planes are these days…
Setting
Having been coerced into this rescue mission, we buckled ourselves into the cabin of a sparsely accessorized rescue plane. Before we knew it, we encountered turbulence, and our jungle adventure unfolded splendidly before us.
Gameplay
Kwest Club Escape Adventures’s Mayan Jungle Rescue was a standard escape room with a low-to-moderate level of difficulty.
Gameplay involved observing, making connections, a bit o’ speed, and some puzzling.
Analysis
➕ The set was varied, was appropriately decorated, and incorporated multisensory features to enhance the ambiance of the experience.
➕ The transitions between scenes were interesting, unusual, and well-executed. The interplay between the different areas was effective and delightful, hitting a satisfying middle-ground between surprise and anticipation. It made so much sense, yet I hadn’t seen it before.
➕ The puzzles were well-clued and felt at home in their environment. Combined with the variety of settings, this yielded a variety of activities. The overall effect should suit a variety of audiences.
➖ One dexterity puzzle required quick reflexes over an extended period of time. Although we appreciated the opportunity for teamwork, the stress overstayed its welcome.
➖ The audio experience was muddled. Sometimes other effects overpowered audio information, and other times the audio quality itself was hard to understand. Also, the open-ceiling set design allowed external sounds and music to interfere with the ambiance.
➕/➖ One puzzle took a common coding pattern and implemented it both realistically and responsively. The input mechanism was well-considered and fun to use, a highlight of the game. However, a valuable feedback component had a significant delay, detracting from the momentum the puzzle.
➕/➖ The story was intriguing and delivered in a well-paced way to develop interest. It was also lengthy and separate from most of the puzzles. There is an opportunity here to more fully integrate the narrative with the puzzling to make the story feel more essential to the experience.
➕ The effects surrounding the final sequence created an appropriate sense of urgency while ensuring that we found the information we needed to succeed.
❓ There were content tie-ins to Kwest Club’s other room, Voyage of the Crimson Ruby [review coming soon!]. With just two rooms right now, it’s unclear where this potential cinematic universe might lead, but I’m intrigued.
Tips For Visiting
- There is plenty of parking on site.
Book your time with Kwest Club Escape Adventures’s Mayan Jungle Adventure, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.
Disclosure: Kwest Club Escape Adventures provided media discounted tickets for this game.
