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vaxis2113

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@vaxis2113
Morty score244
  • Escape rooms244
  • 594Wishlisted
  • 176Reviewed

vaxis2113

    Chuck Kaplan-Smith (he/him) | Tucson, AZ

    https://meetu.ps/c/535pR/11dXgC/a

    @minty@trixter3d@courtneylaturno

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    • Bio
    • Experiences (244)
    • Wishlist (594)
    • Reviews (176)>
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    • Escape rooms (176)
    The Collector

    The Collector

    Paradox Escape Room

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    The Collector is a serial killer room that specializes in committing escape room sins. Firstly, the maintenance leaves many props work to show what’s in play, but then the wear also renders it difficult to read or solve the puzzle. Second, half of the room uses darkness as a difficulty gate, which means you’ll either struggle with a dim flashlight or have to drag everything into the light. Lastly, this room’s calling card is its flagrant use of unsignposted escape room logic. Why are you doing this? Because! Why should you use this object? Why not?! This isn’t to say that there isn’t fun to be had, but this serial killer will target your buzz, so be warned.
    Heroes of the Galaxy Vol II

    Heroes of the Galaxy Vol II

    Action Hero Studios

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    This isn’t a perfect game, but it doesn’t deserve the negative rating it has. It’s got a fun and creative intro sequence, as well as some very clever input devices. It’s very nonlinear, and it’s got some fun moments that will make kids, Marvel fans, and kids at heart smile. It would greatly benefit from a progress bar and a little polish, but I admire its ambitions.
    The Isle of Wonder

    The Isle of Wonder

    The Greatest Escape

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    Save the Gingerbread Man!

    Save the Gingerbread Man!

    Ace of Escape

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    A light theme hides a gauntlet of connections to make! It’s got a fun environment, though the puzzles are sometimes smaller and less inclusive. Still, huge props to Ace of Escape for repurposing the less-than-stellar Mr. Toad into a challenging and fun experience!
    The Morrison Game Factory

    The Morrison Game Factory

    PostCurious

    • Escape room
    • Tabletop
    The story is heartwarming, the puzzles are ingenious, the props are novel, and the main character is a delight. The Morrison Game Factory is a whimsy factory. Cannot recommend this enough.
    Box Two By Neil Patrick Harris

    Box Two By Neil Patrick Harris

    Theory11 Online

    • Escape room
    • Tabletop
    It’s not quite a sophomore slump, but it’s close. A lot of risks were taken to make this game different, but they weren’t always worth it. One of the weirdest features of the box is hard to interact with, hard to read, and tedious to deal with. The hint system and chat mechanism is too robotic and limited, though it is a clever idea. I think everything attempted is better in concept than practice; it still is ultimately a fun experience. Expect tedium, expect awkwardness, and expect joy.
    Temple Of Doom

    Temple Of Doom

    Operation Outbreak

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    Indy may hate snakes, but I really like this room! Much like the 5th Indy movie, I think there are the makings of something incredible here. The three distinct parts of the set are all very well-decorated and immersive, showing a care for the small details. Some audio design choices also aid in building the atmosphere. However, the puzzles felt underclued by comparison. It wasn’t always obvious what to do, and then there was little connection between the lock and the puzzle. When the setup and win condition feel very thematic but the rest of the game utilizes stereotypical escape room logic, it feels like a missed opportunity. That said, there is a variety and subtlety that’s much appreciated with the puzzles. Many things can look like set dressing until it’s in play. This company is on the verge of greatness, and they absolutely are on the right track.
    Burial At Sea

    Burial At Sea

    Operation Outbreak

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    First off, the staff here are wonderful, and this company has ambition. While it’s novel for its Bioshock theming, its theming feels slightly underutilized and disconnected from the story. Operation Outbreak, would you kindly inject more purpose and flow into the puzzles? We had 3 clear goals, but it was never clear how any individual task helped reach any of those goals. Still, lots of tactile interactions with novel props. Really cool stuff that just needs a little polish and purpose. :)
    The Lost Temple

    The Lost Temple

    CU Adventures In Time And Space - Online

    • Escape room
    • Virtual
    Crazy puzzle gauntlet! This was a challenge in terms of prep and then brainpower. Nothing is watered down about this experience. I might recommend shelling out for the pre-printed materials if you don’t have a printer, as the digital PDF didn’t quite cut it for my teammate. Well worth doing, but be warned: This thing is a beast!!!
    Date Night Disaster

    Date Night Disaster

    Inferno Escape Room

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    Fair warning: you will be handcuffed to another person for the entirety of the room. That said, the puzzles are straightforward and are occasionally concurrent, so you’ll not be in them for long. I appreciate the direct cluing and signposting, as well as the variety of puzzles and props. While things generally veer low-tech, it’s still a joy to play.
    Lit

    Lit

    Inferno Escape Room

    • Escape room
    • IRL
    The party bro vibes of this room were funny. I wish the room leaned into the humor more, but it was still entertaining. Some of the puzzles used very unique props, even it is was mostly low-tech and lock-based. You should definitely play this room for a guaranteed good time with no red herrings! It’s finna be lit, bruh! 🤘🤘 **rap air horn intensifies **