This game, at the Bristol location, is quite possibly the worst escape room open in the UK at the moment.
When the game starts you step outside of the reception (a scruffy but completely functional portacabin-type thing) and into a totally pitch black barn covered with tarpaulin, and no floor. That's right. No floor. You are basically standing on dirt.
You have to do everything by torchlight as there are no lights at all. The props are literally filthy. I don't mean a bit dirty, or a bit worn, I mean FILTHY. Covered in mud, dust and dirt. The "Case Files" you find that help you along the way are laminated bits of paper which are soggy (as in actually wet) and faded.
There are about 5 puzzles in the room. They are made very difficult by the fact everything is so dirty and worn and you can't really see anything and some relevant information you need to be able to see has faded. My hands were so cold they felt a little numb, which also made opening padlocks uncomfortable. A large physical puzzle at the the end required at least 4 hands to complete it, which is borderline impossible for a group of 2 when you remember that one hand has to hold a torch as it's pitch black otherwise. Some colours that are used for signposting have totally changed from their original so you have to guess. "I think the yellow must be red".
Not every room at this venue has this outside/barn situation. The Runner, for example, is definitely inside. So if you find yourself tempted as we were by one of the many, many offers that City Mazes run, perhaps check ahead with them to find out what you are letting yourself in for.
Friendly GM, free parking.
