Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.The graphics in this puzzle game are quite simple and flat, which is definitely the current trend in the iOS space. We thank 60out for inviting us to play this game. Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.Ĭost: $40 per person (a minimum of two people are required for booking, then prices vary for each additional player.) Number of Games: 4 GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION: Show your support for Escape Authority and get social with us: This game is so different that it plays out like a breath of fresh air and just as the name implies, brought our experienced group of game designers and owners our own little taste of zen. Whether you’re a novice player, whether you’re the jaded veteran like myself, you’re absolutely guaranteed to have fun in Zen Room. Well 60out answered that question with a resounding “hold my white beer.” This game is so silly, so goofy, so wacky that it’s absolutely impossible to not have fun. How in the world could anyone ever pull that off to a degree that I’d fall in love with it? I mean, I’ve played enough games to have an idea of what to expect based on the theme, scenic, etc – and let’s face it – there’s just nothing that I loathe more than a square box office room with plain walls and a drop panel ceiling. Let’s just put it right out there - prior to playing, we expected Zen Room might be our least favorite 60out game ever. Makes sense? Well it shouldn’t – and that’s exactly the beauty of what makes Zen Room such a fantastically fun experience. At any given moment, you may be signing karaoke, doing pull-ups, or yes, washing a cat. This is a fresh and new take on what the genre can be. But don’t expect to find any of your standard escape game puzzles here. At times we chose to all work together, while at others, we split up to each focus on our own individual objectives.Įvery step, as unique as they may be, are logical and intuitive. A literal checklist of items must be completed, and it’s up to the test subjects to choose their order and how to split them among the group. Rather than rigidly linear, the majority of Zen Room’s tasks can be completed in any order. This is a very different style of game from 60out, but frankly it’s one we hope to see more of. It’s just a bunch of goofy activities shared with a group of friends, and as such, it’s guaranteed to be an enjoyable and memorable time. Zen Room is refreshing, because Zen Room never takes itself too seriously. And in a game like this one, with the mood it creates, “silly” is the biggest of compliments. They’re something we’ve rarely ever seen before they’re silly. Zen Room’s puzzles are beyond outside the box. The room itself becomes a narrative payoff! It’s an over-exaggeration of a boring existence, and even better, it directly connects to Zen Room’s storyworld when certain objects in the space actually change color right before our eyes as we achieve milestone steps in our testing process. Everything in the room follows suit, including a plant, and even a cat. And it’s not just the walls and furniture that are solid white. This is really us giving some of our highest scenic marks to a room that is nothing but four white walls and a drop panel ceiling.īut here’s the thing – 60out embraces the blandness of it as a very intentional design choice. And no, Escape Authority has not been hacked. Look, I know this is going to sound crazy coming from us. ![]() “Ok – so let me get this straight, you’ve read Escape Authority before, and now you want me to play a game set in a square box, white office, capped with a drop panel ceiling? Has that ever ended well for anyone before?” I realize much of this sounds a bit “off” when read on (digital) paper – and it did to us as well before we entered – but in execution it’s one of 60out’s most entertaining storyworlds. Once inside, we find ourselves in a very bland testing facility of sorts, where we must solve various sensory-based puzzles to bring color back into its drab existence. The sudden opening of a clunky garage door snaps us out of that blissful moment – offering the perfect paradox to the peaceful splendor we were promised, and instantly setting up the realization that Zen Room does not take itself too seriously – in fact, this may be 60out’s very first comedy game. A soothing voice prepares us for our impending nirvana, putting us into that aforementioned deep trance prior to beginning our experience. Solid black, it’s a stark contrast for what’s to come. A transitional hallway from the venue into the game’s storyworld provides a bit of a preshow moment. Our experience in the Zen Room begins before even entering the space.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |