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Frankie cruz
Escape Apprentice
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Lid sinds
02-09-2024
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Escaperooms4 reviews
4 kamers gespeeld
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4 reviews
A masterpiece
Now I must say that if there’s anything that I wish to avoid in escape rooms, it is a horror theme. My bladder is not built for such things. I would push all the buttons except for the big red one that is clearly labeled ‘emergency’. I would run in the opposite direction of the exit. I would attempt to hide under a table three times smaller than me. And so on. So I tend not to want to actively engage with such themes. But my last escape room day trip to Tokyo Lab got me into a rabbit hole, and *that* was something I certainly could not escape from. *That* rabbit hole was TERPECA.
Upon reading reviews of Molly’s Game, I noticed that it was highly praised for its storytelling and design. It seemed to be different from the premises of the other games I’d experienced, few as they were. And some reviews said it was tear-jerking, not a word that I normally associate with horror-themed escape room games (unless the emotions are ‘scream in terror’, ‘run for your life’ and so on). So even as I dreaded the spooky theme, I once again found myself with a group of brave souls who were as curious as I was (i.e. my friends), on a day trip to the Netherlands.
Let me say this before going any further: Molly’s Game delivered. It does not just draw you into a world, but into someone’s first-person perspective, almost akin to virtual reality RPGs. It was conceptually reminiscent of movies like ‘The Cell’ or ‘Being John Malkovich’, in that I felt I was slowly being drawn into a state of mind rather than an actual physical place. The mindboggling (and mind-blowingly good) set design only reinforced this feeling, so much so that our group spent a good deal discussing *both* the story and the architecture long after we had finished. I thus find it almost impossible to discuss this room's mechanics in greater detail without giving spoilers, the narrative and construction are just that intricately connected.
As for the last room, I can say that out of all the rooms I’ve experienced so far, it gave me the deepest sense of closure, in that I knew the game was about to end. It felt right. I also felt that it absolutely honored the narrative that was introduced at the beginning of the journey, and that everything we had done thus far had built up to this moment of awe...just the emotional and visual weight of it is hard to describe. The moment I received the first clue in the last room, I knew what was coming. And I welcomed it whole-heartedly.
Now a word of warning. Even as I praise how the narrative is presented mechanically and thematically, it doesn’t mean that this is a narrative that I find very appealing to think about. It is gruesome. It is disturbing. It’s certainly not what I want to think about before I go to bed on a Saturday night. But the way that it is executed is nothing short of a masterclass in storytelling, design, and engineering. And if Molly’s Game, as the #1 rated game in TERPECA in 2023, is a sign of things to come for escape rooms, there is a bright future to look forward to.
10
Sfeer: 10.0
Spelbeleving: 10.0
Service: 10.0
Gespeeld in september 2024
Gespeeld met 5 personen
Ontsnapt: Ja
- Ambiance
- Puzzles
- Original
- Great service
- Experience
- Storyline
1 like 
Memorable, Photogenic, and Exciting? Sounds a lot like Japan!
Call me a weeb, but I judged this from its cover and my fascination with Japan kicked in even before I cared to know the premise. Upon doing more research, I found out that this room was actually quite highly-rated, which only increased my motivation to go to a city almost an hour away from where I live. So off I went to Brussels, with some friends in tow who I talked into doing this with me. As we were looking for Escape Rush's location, we nearly passed it by as it was cleverly disguised as a shop for suits (?)…naughty, naughty. Very Kingsman-like. It was a good thing that there was some insistence in the group on the accuracy of Google Maps, or we probably would have circled around the area like a flock of confused pigeons. The idea of this facade was a cheeky little homage to spy movies, where a posh-looking shopfront is rarely what it seems. Even if a welcoming reception is almost a minimum in my book for escape rooms, this one made me feel that I had a credit rating much higher than what my dismal bank account would reflect. A lobby befitting of a boutique, if-you-know-you-know, exclusive hotel that made me think that Michelle Yeoh, playing Eleanor Young, would come around the corner and purchase it? A separate game reception room that felt like I was going to be introduced to Q from James Bond? All of that deserves recognition, as it contributes to the overall atmosphere of the game, not to mention that it was a thoroughly positive first impression of Escape Rush itself. Now if there is anything thing else to laud here, it’s simply the amount of attention the designers paid to detail, and how much the room is an ode to the various reasons why foreigners fall in love with Japan. Most of the websites that advertise this place show the picture of the first room, which evokes a cute little alley in an urban space in Japan. I would like to declare that this picture is not a catfish: it is indeed as spectacular as it looks. In terms of the narrative, it was a rather run-of-the-mill one for escape rooms, but well-integrated into the structure and decor of the game. Did the puzzles and games suit the narrative? Somehow. I feel that some of them digressed slightly from the main theme, in a tongue-in-cheek way - but I won’t get into details. But did I care? Not really. I had a great time, a great day, the room far exceeded the already high expectations I had of it, and I would absolutely and highly recommend it for lovers of Japanese-style aesthetics and escape rooms alike.
9.5
Sfeer: 10.0
Spelbeleving: 9.0
Service: 10.0
Gespeeld in juni 2024
Gespeeld met 6 personen
Ontsnapt: Ja
- Ambiance
- Great service
- Experience
- Exciting
- Diversity
- Took time to notice a technical glitch
Decent Adventure
I went here for a birthday celebration, a nice cozy group of five. I quite enjoyed the lobby, which was roomy and had lots of games. The location of Escaping Antwerp is near Groenplaats, Grote Markt, and Sint Andries, very central and easy to reach. Patient X takes what seems to be quite a standard narrative in escape rooms and comes up with a decent variety of puzzles to aid the narrative. Some of the scenery changes were a bit jarring, but it was an otherwise enjoyable experience. Is it out of this world? Not exactly. But it’s a good option if you’re new to escape rooms or are looking for a nice afternoon of fun in Antwerp.
7.5
Sfeer: 8.0
Spelbeleving: 7.5
Service: 7.5
Gespeeld in april 2024
Gespeeld met 5 personen
Ontsnapt: Ja
- Ambiance
- Not really original
Brings a magic touch to escape rooms!
This was my first escape room, and I was terribly excited when I learned about the theme: A magician pulling off his final act, who happens to be from Antwerp (bonus points for incorporating some local flavor!). The various rooms reflect the titular illusionist’s wandering lifestyle, with keepsakes from across the world and quirky, whimsical knickknacks often found in a magic act. I cannot fault The Illusionist in terms of decor, and the first and last rooms were particularly eye-catching. The last task in particular was exhilarating and fun, and somewhat unexpected! Great variety of puzzles, although it would’ve been even better if each theme selection got its own narrative entry to tie everything together. I’d definitely recommend this room if you happen to visit Antwerp, it's well-situated near MAS and the historical center of the city.
8
Sfeer: 9.0
Spelbeleving: 8.0
Service: 7.5
Gespeeld in juli 2023
Gespeeld met 5 personen
Ontsnapt: Ja
- Ambiance
- Original
- Exciting
- Puzzles