Tulleys Escape Rooms & Games: SpellCraft

Stunning room design but with some broken bits of tech (our gm had to pop in at one point as something didn't open that should have and had to give us an answer to another puzzle as the puzzle mechanics weren't working as they should).

We knew it would be a challenge as 2 players, but even with prompts from our gm (we said we didn't care how many hints so long as we made it through) we were only able to make it 75% of the way through. 

Our GM somewhat reassured us (if that's the right phrase) that no team of 2 has ever completed Spellcraft, so do be aware of that even if you're an experienced team of 2!

Spellcraft has the feel of a kiddie/family friendly room, but don't be fooled. There's a whole lot going on, and in true Tulley's style, each room feels like a Tardis as it unfolds. We were a team of two, so we knew it would be tough - but we were definitely disadvantaged by not having more bodies in the room working on puzzles simultaneously where possible. 

Some of the puzzles were quite abstract and perhaps a bit random - which made me wonder how many teams find and get through them by themselves without clues. Our GM did a good job of chivvying us along to try to stop us falling too far behind - but he did have to shortcut us around a few bits of broken tech. Overall a lot of fun, with great set design, but quite a lot to take on for a small team!

Everything about this room was just so cool! One element in particular really took me by surprise and is one of my all time escape room highlights. All the puzzles were really fitting with the theme and it truely felt like an adventure. Our host Michelle was superb and even showed us the behind the scenes control room afterwards! Fascinating to play and then see how it all works.

Looking at other reviews, I seem to be in the minority here. No one can deny that this room is absolutely stunning. It's clear to see where the money has been spent. But unfortunately that's the end of my positive points. Our team is very experienced, having played hundreds of games, and just felt like this was another installment of Tullys money-grabbing empire. After failing other rooms here, we were a little hesitant to return. But after being told that spellcraft was a family friendly game, we thought it couldn't be that difficult right?

I won't go into details, but overall, signposting was awful, most puzzles felt illogical or simply impossible without help, which wouldn't be so bad if we actually got help. We asked for help on multiple occasions and received nothing back. At one point someone even asked how to get out to go to the toilet, and heard nothing back. We were then told about 10 minutes later after repeated asking, that we were in a part of the game that we couldn't leave from, which begs the question, what if there was an emergency?!?! Not to mention the numerous broken props and puzzles (par for the course with Tullys rooms.

After a frustrating experience, and a deflating ending from a host with no enthusiasm or personality, we all agreed this was the last straw for this place. We were once again offered 50% to come back, but why would I travel all that way again? Next time we're in the area, we will try somewhere else.

Overall... Amazing production quality, but that's about it. 

My personal favourite at Tulleys and this is a stunningly beautiful adventure. There were points where I could have just stayed in one area and marvelled at the detail of the production and set design, but there's too much to do in this game to stand about.....
This adventure excels on transitions and keeping you progressing through the narrative, but there was a couple of points where I didn't "get" the relevance of the area to the story, but it didn't detract from the gameplay, it was just one of those "I wonder what that was" ponderings I had afterwards. 
Amazingly beautiful adventure, its a stunning build.  

Another beautiful addition to the Tulley's portfolio with some cool props and a fun back story. As is par for the course with us as a pair, we failed to finish in the hour and no doubt will return in a couple of years to see how the story ends after they open their next room...