The Great Escape
Clovis, California
Mafia Bomb Squad: Sent in to dismantle a bomb in a 1920s speakeasy, our team of bomb experts had to get the job done before the mob made us their next hit job.
Pros: Great storyline and theme. The puzzles were generally generally logical with a good flow. We especially enjoyed dismantling the bomb with only 20 seconds left on the clock.
Cons: This company, like many others interested more in profit than player experience, crams too many people in a single, small room. Teamed with a group of 10 strangers added to the awkwardness of the game play experience. Despite the challenges of communication in a large group and the difficulty of locating and reuniting numerous misplaced puzzle pieces as a result of a room full of first-time players, we managed to carry our team to victory. Some of the puzzles were flimsily constructed, adding to the difficulty of completing the task. We objected to the overly complex nature of a few of the puzzles that only heightened our angst in an already tense environment.
This could be a fun experience if the group size was reduced to six or less, if we were not teamed with strangers, and if the puzzles could be redesigned to improve clarity and flow.
