You’re breaking the law as dangerous convicts! Cooperate to solve puzzles and make a break for it. Sweet, sweet freedom is within your grasp.
You’ve been caught, tried and convicted! During the transport to a maximum security prison, the secure vehicle taking you is involved in an accident. The vehicle is immobile, and a bit of a mess, but this is the perfect opportunity to stage a breakout! The police’s response time is 60 minutes; can you shorten your life sentence?
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Generally when we fail a room we still enjoy it but on a couple of occasions we've been so frustrated that the whole experience became a bit unpleasant. This room was one of those.
The game is played in a real prison van - so you have a split start in very cramped conditions. Larger people beware! I'm not a fan of passing articles when a leap of faith is required that it reaches its destination. We were also briefed that nothing was on the floor or above head height. Both of these locations are used which thwarted us quite a bit as we didn't search where we were told there was nothing to find! There was no flow, a lot of random puzzles that weren't signposted particularly well and whilst we are older than your average escapees we've done a fair few and this was our stinker!!
We failed dismally on this game, we worked out we would probably have needed at least another 10 minutes or so to complete it. It took a while to get a response when we asked for a clue as it seemed several games were running at once with not enough staff on duty.
Maybe it was down to us but we just didn't 'get' this game at all. Wouldn't recommend it either.
Obviously it scores on theming as you are playing in an actual former prison van, starting off locked in the various cells. The first task is obviously getting out and this is done in a relatively linear fashion, the higher the number of your cell the longer it may take for you to get out but there are elements in each cell you need to progress. Puzzles have a good flow to them but there are some red herrings mixed in there, which cost us some time, as ever, if something is seemingly taking too long then move on. Possibly not one to play if you suffer from claustrophobia, also if playing in winter, wrap up warm, I imagine if you play in summer it will be hot! Our host was Ruby who was fantastic and enthusiastic throughout.
Played: 3 Jan 2024Team size: 2Time taken: 54Outcome: Successful escape!
originalillogical
Good room but our issue is a few puzzles didn't seem to fit or was just thrown in to slow you down and waste time. Won't say its name, but a very specific lock was placed in the room with no clues on how it works, I bet 99% of people will never of heard of or know how it works, a second puzzle we wasted 10 minutes on because the lock was seized and we had thr correct code but wouldn't open, so sent us on a wild goose chase. Then there was a few things stuck to the wall near puzzles that you expect to be needed for that puzzle that arnt. It was an interesting idea and definitely original but not our cup of tea. We still had fun though, but not a real sense of achievement
Story - you're arrested for something you haven't done! You are on your way to prison which is a 60 mins away, this give you enough to escape the prison van!
A great idea with a unique setting. I feel the setting restricted the quality of the puzzles which is a shame. At times it flowed and then became illogical and more of a time filler. Worth the experience
It was our first room not within a room and being in a van is quite exciting and very unique but the puzzles let the room down. A lot of locks, not many interesting puzzles, a logical continuity a bit broken and clearly not enough space. I'm surprise that the room can host up to 5 people as the two of us kept stepping on each other. One of our padlocks was also open by mistake so it didn't help either. As you start locked in your cell, one of us spent 25 minutes locked in a cell, not really fun. But then again, the room itself is very different so you might want to try it out for its uniqueness.
Very small space (well, it's a van) and frustrating for at least one our teammates who was basically confined on his own for a large amount of the game. Interesting novelty factor.
A great setting, but I did not have the greatest of experiences as I was in my own cell on the van with nothing to do for quite some time after the game had started. Once I got out, there was nothing new for me to locate that had not already been found by my teammates.
Played: Team size: 2Time taken: Outcome: Successful escape!
Reviews by escape room review sites
Puzzlair is split across two venues, and strictly speaking Prison Van isn't in either of them - it's played in an actual prison van parked outside their Barton Road. If that sounds cramped - well, it's a pretty big van, and there were only three of us, and it was fine, but it'd get pretty cosy with a larger team.
As with many prison scenarios, the team starts split up, each in a separate cell within the van. First one player then another gets out into the main part of the van, with the final ai...
When we got to the location we were met with an actual prison van! We were each locked in an individual cell which is what made us give the theming a perfect score.
Such a fantastic set up – actually having to leave the building to walk over to the van and then hearing our briefing through our tiny cell doors built such a great atmosphere! There was a fantastic variety of puzzles for such a restrictive space too, not just unlocking doors and spinning padlocks.
