Reviews Archives - Page 3 of 269

The Escape Game – The Mysterious Benedict Society [Hivemind Review]

16 July 202123 July 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind, The Escape Game

The Mysterious Benedict Society is a free avatar-led escape game to promote the Disney+ show of the same name. It was created by The Escape Game in Nashville, TN.

An ornate hallway with portraits and many curious objects.

Format

Style of Play:

Online native experience (can NOT be played IRL)
Avatar controlled by the players
Web-based inventory system

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection

Recommended Team Size: 2-4

Play Time: 45 minutes

Price: This was a free event, promoting an upcoming Disney+ series.

Booking: book online for a specific time slot

Description

This was a typical livestreamed escape room, played via Zoom with the gamemaster as the avatar. It included a separate custom inventory interface that kept track of locks in a separate list, and played game-related videos.

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District 3 Escape Rooms – Interrogation Room [Hivemind Review]

15 July 202115 July 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in District 3 Escape Rooms, Hivemind

Interrogation Room is an avatar-led, livestreamed adaptation of an in-person game created by District 3 Escape Rooms in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Two people opening a briefcase in an interrogation room viewed through a black & white security camera.

Format

Style of Play:

Adaptation of an in-person game (can be played IRL)
Avatar controlled by the players
Web-based inventory system

Required Equipment: computer with an internet connection

Recommended Team Size: 3-4

Play Time: 60 minutes

Price: $22 CAD per person

Booking: book online for a specific time slot

Description

You play through Zoom as usual, with a Telescape inventory website and an avatar. There is also one bonus puzzle and other achievements you can earn.

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Amazon Prime Video – Panic The Experience [Hivemind Review]

12 July 202114 July 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind

Panic The Experience is an online game created by Swamp Motel to promote the Amazon Prime show Panic.

A woman viewed through a camera on video chat.

Format

Style of Play:

Online native experience (can NOT be played IRL)
Video-based experience
Web-based inventory system
Light puzzle hunt

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection

Recommended Team Size: 2-4

Play Time: 30-60 minutes

Price: free

Booking: book online for a specific time slot (but this experience is no longer running)

Description

Players join a video meeting as volunteers helping to find a missing high school student. From that starting point, players must solve puzzles to find more information, moving the story along until the student is located.

Closeup of finger inputting a combination into a padlock.

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Morpheus – Manor of Lies [Hivemind Review]

11 July 202114 July 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind

Manor of Lies is an audio role-playing game created by Morpheus, based in the UK.

In-game: A completely black image with nothing visible. — First person view

Format

Style of Play:

Online native experience (can NOT be played IRL)
Audio game
Interactive NPCs
Immersive theater

Required Equipment: computer with an internet connection, blindfold, and headphones (preferred)

Recommended Team Size: 3-6

Play Time: about 2 hours

Price: £39 per person

Booking: book online for a specific time slot

Description

Manor of Lies is a fully audio game. Players are asked to wear a blindfold and headphones for full immersion as they play a dice-free role-playing game. This game focuses more on investigation and interrogation of NPCs.

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Lost in a Jigsaw: The Diagonal Maze Puzzle [Review]

10 July 202114 July 2021 by Theresa Piazza, posted in Jigsaw Puzzle, Products, Reviews

Tell me Sarah, what do you think of my labyrinth?

Location: at home

Date Played: May 2021

Team size: we recommend 1-4

Duration: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Price: about $25

Publisher: Buffalo

REA Reaction

Lost in a Jigsaw: The Diagonal Maze Puzzle was a challenging twist on a traditional jigsaw puzzle. It had “I Spy” elements that reminded me of The Magic Puzzle Company, though it seemed to have been produced much earlier (1997!). Given that every piece fit with any other, this puzzle was challenging, and demands your absolute focus.

Once you’ve completed the challenge of assembling the puzzle, it is up to you to escape from the maze you find yourself trapped in the center of.

If you’re a skilled jigsaw puzzler looking for a difficult jigsaw puzzle that doesn’t take up too much space, I recommend Lost in a Jigsaw: The Diagonal Maze Puzzle. Solving it made me want to solve this puzzle’s sequel.

Closeup of Trapped in a Jigsaw assembled, it looks like a fantastical garden maze.

Who is this for?

Jigsaw puzzle lovers
Scenery snobs
Players with at least some experience

Why play?

Incredible attention to detail
It’s more than just a jigsaw

A pile of jigsaw puzzle pieces almost all of them have them same cuts.

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