Tag: Theresa Piazza

CodeCandyBlue – Cadets Training Day [Hivemind Review]

by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind

Cadets Training Day is a free point-and-click game created by CodeCandyBlue.

Cadets Training Day, Home Office Communicator video.

Format

Style of Play:

  • Online native experience (can NOT be played IRL)
  • Play on-demand
  • Includes video segments
  • Point-and-click

Who is it For?

  • Any experience level

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection

Recommended Team Size: 2-4

Play Time: about 60 minutes

Price: free

Booking: play at your leisure

Description

After starting your adventure, a short video segment plays and you’re presented with information to help you start solving your mission. While the game is self-contained in one web browser, you can use the video conferencing platform of your choice to connect with your teammates and solve puzzle after puzzle. Each player solves independently (you’re not logged into the same “team”, so it can be solved with just one person presenting their screen). Once you solve the puzzle, you enter the answer, and you’re passed to the next puzzle.

An image of a desk witha. safe on it and assorted papers and books.
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Lost in a Jigsaw: The Diagonal Maze Puzzle [Review]

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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BibRave – Run to Escape: Mission Mt. Olympus [Hivemind Review]

by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind

Update July 7, 2021: Note that since this review published BibRave released a less expensive mini version of this experience. See the comments.

Run to Escape: Mission Mt. Olympus is a digital experience that mixes running with puzzles.

Homepage for Run to Escape: Mt. Olympus by Runkeeper. An assortment of illustrated god-characters are scattered about.

Format

Style of Play:

  • Play on demand
  • Audio game

Required Equipment: mobile device with the RunKeeper app, running shoes

Headphones are technically optional, but highly recommended.

Recommended Team Size: 1

Play Time: No timer on each race – run or walk at your own pace. Total of 27 miles across all the races.

Price: $75 per player

Booking: purchase and play at your leisure

Description

You’re tasked with helping Atalanta prove to the Olympian gods and goddesses that she deserves to be on Mt. Olympus. To do so, you accept the challenge of 6 gods/ goddesses and complete a series of races.

This is a single-player audio game intended to take place over the course of several different runs and post-workout follow ups.

After signing up for each race in Runkeeper, you lace up your sneakers and prepare for your cardio workout. During each run, a god will talk to you through your headphones, providing some story, entertainment, and clues for the puzzle you’ll be able to solve once you finish the race and make it back to your computer. These puzzles are of easy-to-medium difficulty. The solution to the puzzle is the access code to the next race. When all races are over, solve the metapuzzle to get into the afterparty where you have access to discounts and giveaways.

Page reads, "Get to know the gods." 8 illustrations of modern interpretations of the Gods of Olympus are illustrated.

Hivemind Review Scale

REA's hivemind review scale - 3 is recommended anytime, 2 recommended in quarantine, 1 is not recommended.

Read more about our Hivemind Review format.

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BH Escape – The Mystery of Santos Dumont [Hivemind Review]

by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind

The Mystery of Santos Dumont is an avatar-led adaptation of a real-life escape game played over livestream, created by BH Escape in Santo Antônio, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

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 internet connection

Recommended Team Size: 2-4

Play Time: 60 minutes

Price: ~$50 per team

Booking: book online for a specific time slot

Description

This is a standard avatar-led experience plus a companion website for verifying codes (that the avatar still needs to unlock physically), viewing information, and tracking unopened locks.

Avatar view of an escape room with antique furniture. A large locked chest is in frame.

Hivemind Review Scale

REA's hivemind review scale - 3 is recommended anytime, 2 recommended in quarantine, 1 is not recommended.

Read more about our Hivemind Review format.

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Scott Weiss’s Virtual Escape Rooms – Book Smart [Hivemind Review]

by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind

Book Smart is an audio escape game created by Scott Weiss.

Wired, over-ear headphones laying on a surface.

Format

Style of Play:

  • Online native experience (can NOT be played IRL)
  • Audio game

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection, pen & paper

Recommended Team Size: 3-5

Play Time: 2 hours

Price: Pay-what-you-want with a recommended $15 per player (as payment to the creator or donation to a charity)

Booking: fill out the form to book at a specific time

Description

This is an audio room with accompanying Google drive links. The host provides a map of the space, and then describes areas as you request them. Most of the game is solving puzzles provided as Google documents, with some puzzle interactions handled by asking the host questions or describing your actions.

Hivemind Review Scale

REA's hivemind review scale - 3 is recommended anytime, 2 recommended in quarantine, 1 is not recommended.

Read more about our Hivemind Review format.

Continue reading “Scott Weiss’s Virtual Escape Rooms – Book Smart [Hivemind Review]” →