Spy

Secret Agent Men… – Adventure: Espionage – January 21, 2019

~ Mike K. ~ 4 Comments

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you love the James Bond (or Austin Powers) franchise.

Avoid if… you waffle on making important decisions in a timely manner.

THE BASICS

5 Wits Adventures – Arlington:

Address: Ballston Quarter Mall, 3rd Floor, 4238 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 703-997-9694
https://5-wits.com/arlington/

The Room – Espionage:

Description (from the company website):

Espionage is a covert spy thriller, placing you in the role of a secret agent.

The evil CABAL Corporation is threatening to launch a false flag event, inciting worldwide chaos… unless your team of agents can stop them! Your mission: dodge lasers, crawl through real air ducts, hack their computer system, and put a stop to their nefarious plan; and think before you act — with several possible endings to your mission, your mistakes could have global consequences.

Difficulty (1-10): none given

Time Limit: 30 minutes

Cost: is based on how many adventures you purchase:

    • 3 adventures: $39.99 per person (can use over different days/doesn’t expire)
    • 2 adventures: $36.99 per person
    • 1 adventure: $29.99 per person

Identifier: R1

Party Size: Minimum of 2; maximum of 12

Staging Area: There is a very large lobby where you can check out previous groups’ scores and buy some merchandise. Additionally, they have party rooms for corporate/private events.

Metro Access/Parking: It’s in Ballston Quarter Mall so you can take the metro to the Ballston-MU Station, or drive and park in the parking lot (or on the street).

OUR EXPERIENCE

This is the video we took before we entered the adventure:

This is the video we took just after we completed the adventure:

Note: The ERG were given the opportunity to try out this adventure for free, with the understanding that we would continue to provide an honest review and follow the same process that we’ve used on all of our other ratings.

Logistics:

Description of the room: You start off outside in an alleyway with graffiti on the walls. You need to find your way into the experience, and then have your choice of entrances for the first room.

Understanding of the Mission: Infiltrate the safe house, find a way to disarm the missiles, and escape the safe house without being captured.

Did We Escape: Yes, in multiple ways (and multiple times)

Scores: 93%, 96% and 97% (our best score to date)

Our Suggested Party Size: 6 is good

Did the adventure challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Heather, Brittany, Tara, and Chris

Worth the time and money? Yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

  • Punch Bowl Social – it’s less than a 30 second walk from 5 Wits and has good food and drinks and more games, if you haven’t had enough

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So This is What It Feels Like to Be a Sardine – Room: Abandoned Submarine – August 6, 2017

~ Jason

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you love underwater thrillers like The Abyss or Leviathan.

Avoid if… you dislike dark, creepy, and eerie places.

THE BASICS

A-Escape:

Address: 353 New Leicester Highway, Office Suite F, Asheville, NC 28806 (click address for Google Map) – look for the red door

Note: Check out our interview with Kyle, one of the owners of A-Escape, for some more background on the design and what thinking went into the development of this room.

Contact and Website: 252-621-0341
www.a-escape.com

The Room – Abandoned Submarine:

Description (from the company website): Approximately three days ago  the U.S.S. Fortitude failed to check in at its scheduled time. What followed was a series of eerie communications from the submarine, followed by complete silence. The sub has gone dark, and the status of its crew is unknown.

Your team is being sent down to investigate. Just remember: In the deep, no one can hear you scream.

Difficulty (1-10): not rated

Time Limit: 60 minutes

Cost: $15 per person

Identifier: R1

Party Size: Up to 8 people

Staging Area: A lobby with a few chairs and some puzzles on the walls. They have puzzles on the bathroom walls as well.

Metro Access/Parking: It’s in Asheville, so you’ll need a car.

OUR EXPERIENCE

This is the video we took before we entered the room:

This is the video we took just after we completed the room:

Logistics:

Description of the room: Your initial room (and part of the mission) is to travel  down to the abandoned sub in an underwater craft and dock with it.

Understanding of the Mission: Enter the submarine, SECRET MISSION POINT 2, find out what happened to the crew, and SECRET MISSION POINT 4.

Did We Escape: Affirmative

Time Remaining: 18:29 – number 2 on the Leaderboard!

Our Suggested Party Size: 6 was perfect

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Corey, Brittany and Heather

Team Disturbed Friends (Corey, Brittany, Heather, Jason and Mike) solved the mystery of the missing submarine and made the leaderboard at A-Escape in Asheville, NC!

Worth the time and money? Yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After: Lots of places in Asheville, so Google it.

Continue reading →

Rather It Be a ‘Nocturnal Emission’ – Room: A Nightly Reminder – June 10, 2017

~ Jason

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you like a good mystery, groping around in the dark, or you’re just plain weird.

Avoid if… you are claustrophobic or are prone to getting seizures. This room is NOT for kids.

THE BASICS

Immersion Escape Rooms:

Address: 2125 Ivy Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 434-249-8797
https://www.immersionescaperooms.com
[email protected]

The Room – A Nightly Reminder:

Description (from the company website): For months, Dave has been haunted by a tragic memory. Every time he closes his eyes he is forced to re-live devastation and loss. This room, a specially made experience for two people, is a dark and intense exploration into the mind of our main character, and it is up to you to save him from himself. Enter the dream and help Dave recover, because in 30 minutes he will wake to the greatest adventure of his life. (see House Arrest).

Note: This experience may be intense for individuals who are sensitive to low light situations, confined spaces, and eerie audio/video effects. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Difficulty (1-10): N/A, no record or success rate listed

Time Limit:  30 minutes

Cost: $15

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 2 (you CANNOT do this with one person)

Staging Area: The location is downstairs in the strip mall and does not have an outside door to the parking lot (you have to go in through the building and down the stairs). Waiting area is clean, several chairs; place looks nice and cozy.

Metro Access/Parking: There’s no metro or anything nearby, but there is plenty of parking.

OUR EXPERIENCE

This is the video we took before we entered the room:

Logistics:

Description of the room: You are in a mostly-dark room that’s about 3′ x 12’… we can’t describe anymore without spoilers, but even that small space seems… smaller for some reason.

Understanding of the Mission: We set out to learn what’s keeping Dave up at night and how he became a conspiracy theorist.

Did We Escape: Yes

Time Remaining: About 3 minutes (we had some technical difficulties at one point, so we lost about 3 additional minutes).

Our Suggested Party Size: Must be 2 people. It’s physically impossible to do this on your own.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): None

Worth the time and money? YES

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

Continue reading →

His Roar Was More Like a ‘Meow’… Room: Lion’s Den – June 10, 2017

~ Jason ~ 1 Comment

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… your sleuthing skills are high and you love the smell of books.

Avoid if… you hate libraries.

THE BASICS

Immersion Escape Rooms:

Address: 2125 Ivy Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 434-249-8797
https://www.immersionescaperooms.com
[email protected]

The Room – The Lion’s Den:

Description (from the company website): The Silver Lining computer virus is spreading and the world is now on the brink of total collapse. Alfred Roland, the CEO of Locus Industries, is harnessing its power to locate items of great value without remorse of the destruction it is causing. He is hosting a party at his private manor and Dave has been put on the guest list, thanks to some help from a friend. Jump into Dave’s shoes and sneak into Alfred’s study to disable the core of the virus. It’s a stealth mission, and security is on high alert at this corrupt billionaire’s abode.

Difficulty (1-10): N/A, but the record is 42:15 and it has only a 41% success rate

Time Limit:  60 minutes

Cost: $25

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 2-8

Staging Area: The location is downstairs in the strip mall and does not have an outside door to the parking lot (you have to go in through the building and down the stairs). Waiting area is clean, several chairs; place looks nice and cozy.

Metro Access/Parking: There’s no metro or anything nearby, but there is plenty of parking.

OUR EXPERIENCE

This is the video we took before we entered the room:

This is the video we took just after we completed the room:

Logistics:

Description of the room: You start off in a library surrounded by books. There’s a desk, a full wall of bookcases, and a podium with a map.

Understanding of the Mission: We had to break into the office and find out how to steal the virus. And then escape.

Did We Escape: Yes

Time Remaining:12 min

Our Suggested Party Size: A slightly larger group (7/8) is great for searching this room, as there’s a lot to look for.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Amanda, Mike, Corey, Brittany, Rohan

Team Disturbed Friends (Rohan, Amanda, Mike, Corey, Brittany, Mike and Jason) infiltrated the Lion’s Den and found the code for the computer virus!

Worth the time and money? Yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

Continue reading →

I Don’t Remember Putting on That Ankle Bracelet… Room: House Arrest – June 10, 2017

~ Jason ~ 2 Comments

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you live in a messy house or apartment. Or you think escaping death is thrilling.

Avoid if… you are prone to wetting yourself or truly believe the moon landing was faked.

THE BASICS

Immersion Escape Rooms:

Address: 2125 Ivy Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 434-249-8797
https://www.immersionescaperooms.com
[email protected]

The Room – House Arrest:

Description (from the company website): The world is heading for a catastrophic collapse since the release of Silver Lining, a cloud-based computer virus developed by Locus Industries. Dave Benson, Chicago journalist and conspiracy theorist, knows this and Locus will stop at nothing to keep him quiet. Enter his apartment and retrace his steps during the final moments leading up to Locus’ arrival at his door. Does he get out in time? The story is in your hands.

Difficulty (1-10): N/A – website lists a 40% success rate with a record of 36:45.

Time Limit:  60 minutes

Cost: $25

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 2-8

Staging Area: The location is downstairs in the strip mall and does not have an outside door to the parking lot (you have to go in through the building and down the stairs). Waiting area is clean, several chairs; place looks nice and cozy.

Metro Access/Parking: There’s no metro or anything nearby, but there is plenty of parking.

OUR EXPERIENCE

This is the video we took before we entered the room:

This is the video we took just after we completed the room:

Logistics:

Description of the room: You enter a small studio apartment that is somewhat in shambles. Obviously, the person living here has other things to be concerned about than regularly cleaning the place.

Understanding of the Mission: Escape your locked apartment before agents from Locus Industries show up and cart you away.

Did We Escape: Yes

Time Remaining: Roughly 2 minutes.

Our Suggested Party Size: 6 would have been the sweet spot, but 7 didn’t hurt us

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Amanda, Mike, Corey, Brittany, Rohan

Team Disturbed Friends (Rohan, Mike, Corey, Brittany, Amanda, Mike, and Jason) embraced our inner conspiracy theorist and escaped our apartment before being captured by some very bad men.
Photo courtesy of Immersion Escape Room’s Facebook page.

Worth the time and money? Yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

Continue reading →

Let’s Take Another Crack at This – Room: The Heist (Redux) – June 2, 2017 – SECOND ATTEMPT!

~ Mike K.

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you get pissed off at not completing the mission and have the cojones to go back for round 2.

Avoid if… you think things should always be easier the second time around.

THE BASICS

Brain Storm Adventure: LOCATION CLOSED

Address: 312 Victory Drive, Herndon, VA 20170 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 571-375-1123
email: [email protected]
www.brainstormadventure.com

The Room – The Heist: RETIRED

Description (from the company website): An extremely dangerous, criminal mastermind and his crew have stolen Johnny’s – my top client – very valuable diamonds, gold, and more. Johnny has given us the information necessary for you and your team to complete this operation…

Dimitri Chechenkov:

  • Wanted by all International Security Agencies
  • Considered Extremely Dangerous
  • Professional Thief/Assassin:
    • Historic Art & Jewelry
    • Precious stones, diamonds, and gold
    • Classified Documents
  •  Beware:
    • Travels with highly trained bodyguards
    • Many connections
    • Security on Premises

WARNING! THERE HAVE BEEN MANY AGENTS BEFORE YOU THAT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. ALL HAVE FAILED THE OPERATION TO RETRIEVE MY CLIENT’S STOLEN ITEMS.

Protocol:

  • Assemble your team
  • Report to location

BE PREPARED • BE DILIGENT • BE FOCUSED

Be ready:

  • Find the clues
  • Solve the puzzles
  • Search all rooms
  • COMPLETE EACH TASK AS DIRECTED!
  • Don’t set off the silent alarm
  • Find all stolen items
  • Follow THE directions
  • Be careful of the lasers

Difficulty (1-10): not listed, but no one (to date) has ever successfully escaped with all 10 items

Time Limit: 55 minutes

Cost: $30 per person up to 4, and slight price breaks after that. We paid $22 each for 7 people this time vs. the $18 per person discounted rate that was offered. On your second attempt, if you pay $22 up to full price, you are eligible for the whole pot of prize money if your team is the first to complete the room. If you take the $18 per person discounted rate, you are only eligible to win back half of the prize money.

Identifier: R1 (but this room has the clues and puzzles reset every week, allowing you to come back and try again)

Party Size: up to 10 (max), but at least 6 is suggested

Staging Area: This is located in an indoor game room facility (indoor golf simulator, anyone?), and has plenty of seating on couches and chairs. Restroom is right next to the seating area. Food and libations are also available in the Bar-n-Lounge area.

Metro Access/Parking: Not metro-accessible, but it’s out near Dulles Airport and easy access from the Dulles Toll Road.

OUR EXPERIENCE

NOTE: We suggest you read about our first attempt on this room (Better “Safe” Than “Dead”) before continuing with this post.

This is the video we took before we entered the room:

This is the video we took just after we completed the room:

Logistics:

Description of the room: You start in your mission briefing area outside of Dimitri’s house with your handler (handlers for this mission, not Game Masters). After your briefing, you enter the first room…

Understanding of the Mission: Go through Dimitri’s house and accomplish the objectives for each room, solve the tasks assigned, avoid security, make your way to the safe room, and find and escape with all 10 of your boss’ stolen items within 55 minutes, PLUS two secret documents of Dimitri’s that your boss now wants because you didn’t complete the mission last time. So, now you have 12 items to find, and only three clues available to you (versus five on the first attempt).

If your time runs out, you get captured and executed (even if you have found some items). Otherwise, you can abort your mission and escape with what you recovered.

Did We Escape: Well, we escaped this time by the skin of our teeth (aborted said mission) with six items, so we definitely got better this time. And, we did make the leader board again because we recovered 50% of the stolen items and escaped with those.

Time Remaining: 1 second

Our Suggested Party Size: We had 7, and that worked pretty well, but 6 would work too.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Hell, f#$&ing yeah!

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Tara, Eric, Steph, Heather and Mark

Worth the time and money? Absolutely

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After: Try Google. This time, we headed back to Kingstowne for drinks at Fiona’s Irish Pub.

Continue reading →

Where’s Our Tricked Out Automobile? – Room: Spy’s Demise – August 6, 2016

~ Mike K. ~ 3 Comments

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you’ve always wanted to be a secret agent.

Avoid if… you can’t tell your right from your left.

THE BASICS

Cville Escape Room: (MOVED TO NEW LOCATION June 1, 2018)

Address: 218 W Main St, 2nd Floor, Charlottesville, VA (click address for Google Map)
New location is: 310 E. Main St., Charlottesville, VA

Contact and Website: 434-566-9499
https://www.cvilleescaperoom.com

The Room – Spy’s Demise: RETIRED

Description (from the company website): Deadly toxins, double agents, and other nefarious elements conspire to eliminate the secret agent players.

Difficulty (1-10): unlisted

Time Limit: 60 minutes

Cost: $25 + tax per person

Identifier: R1

Party Size: Up to 8

Staging Area: They put us in a conference room and came in to give us the briefing.

Metro Access/Parking: There’s a pay-parking lot about 1.5 blocks away and street parking, if you can find it.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Logistics:

Description of the room: Saying the room was cluttered would not be doing it justice. It was full of props and propaganda (propsaganda?), but almost everything was used.

Understanding of the Mission: figure out what happened to our comrade, who the double agent was and complete his mission.

Did We Escape: We did!

Time Remaining: Thinking it was under 10 minutes

Our Suggested Party Size: We had 10 because it was a special event, but we would definitely recommend no more than 8.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Rohan, Steph, Chris, Cecilia, Trish, Brittany, Corey

Team Disturbed Friends (Brittany, Corey, Chris, Jason, Mike, Cecelia, Trish, Stephanie and Rohan) found the plans and celebrated Jason's birthday in style. Photo courtesy of Cville Escape Room's Facebook page.
Team Disturbed Friends (Brittany, Corey, Chris, Jason, Mike, Cecelia, Trish, Stephanie and Rohan) found the plans and celebrated Jason’s birthday in style. Photo courtesy of Cville Escape Room’s Facebook page.

Worth the time and money? Absolutely

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After: It’s downtown Charlottesville right off the main pedestrian walkway, so there are tons of options. We ate dinner at the place below.

  • Fellini’s – good cocktails and beer selection. Food was okay.

Continue reading →