Da Vinci's Challenge

I would preface my review and experience in this room to be more related to our bad interaction with the GM rather than the game design itself (though it could probably use an update). Things went downhill as soon as we entered the room. My brother was reprimanded for trying to use the restroom. I had to tell the GM that we will make sure that he completed the waiver when he gets back. Then, he had the audacity to say that our bookings were wrong and that we didn't pay for four people. I explained that it was booked by another GM of QR because of a promotion they had in September but the guy said he had to double check and make sure we can play. I was so put off by his tone I just said to charge us the difference so we can be done with it. It was eventually resolved and the $12 missing from our payment was paid. Idk how management talks about their promotions or whatnot but it felt very disorganized and the implication that we were in the wrong was unprofessional. I wouldn't trust bookings made by the company ever again. The accusatory start to the game threw me off that I was ready to just walk out if it wasn't for my team. The terrible customer service doesn't end at the the door. It seeps through the game. The hint provided in the room was contradictory to the hint given by the GM. The first puzzle we had to do literally said to do one thing and then the hint given was to the the opposite. Then, after completing it, we kept trying to pull on the key which didn't budge. We kept going back and forth on the puzzle then after 30 seconds of us not doing anything else, it just magically worked. This happened several times throughout the game that we were not sure if we actually solved the puzzle or if the GM is opening stuff for us. There are no indicators on what puzzles should be done or how or if it's related to anything at all. We don't even know what the ultimate goal of the room was. Every time we asked for a hint clarifying what the clue we have means, we were given a vague non-answer. Something like "this goes with this" and when asked for further clarification, it was just the exact same thing. My team and I don't necessarily aim to do escape rooms to complete them although that is the goal. We like to enjoy puzzles and enjoy the game, whether we complete it or not. However, this game was just not it for us. Mainly because the GM was just really kind of a d-bag. When the game ended and we asked what one of the puzzles we were working on was supposed to do, we were hit by. "Oh, I can't tell you. You didn't finish the game" followed by a rush to take a photo (I really didn't want to cause I was passed at his attitude and it showed on my face) and to just get us out of the room. I would never go back to this room. I don't even care that we didn't finish it. I was looking forward to see how some of the puzzles worked specially the ones set on the wall, but this GM just turned me off so much that I think we're done with quest room for a while. This was a first for me because QR has some of the most innovative rooms we've done in LA...but it's time to take a break when after the game the only memorable thing we can talk about was how crappy the GM was, then it's a sign we need to take to heart.

We were really excited to do this room, however, we were disappointed with how the puzzles were and how “precise” you have to be with certain items. There were also puzzles that you had to assume essentially to solve. There were no clues to that puzzle to give you the “answer.” Also, our game master was not watching our game closely as there were puzzles that we solved where the mechanism clearly did not open as we kept saying, “so nothing happened? Nothing opened” while looking everywhere. Again, excited to try Quest Room again but this really left a sour taste. We also drove about 2 hours to get here.

This was one of the most beautiful sets I’ve seen ! The puzzles were so fun and also it was a very challenging room . I went in with two newbies who have only done one room and my partner who had done 9 rooms . I’ve done 52 at this point … and the GM was awesome and helped us get through ! Love Francesco !

A room with a ton of potential that was extremely frustrating and mediocre in practice. We had an excellent GM but this did not make up for non-functional or unintuitive puzzles. Has most of the tropes of mediocre games - Over reliance on books - Non linear set design and puzzle layout with linear gameplay - Incredibly dark for no reason We had THREE puzzles not function correctly. One didn’t trigger at all, one needed an override, and one had a critical game element not function. 4/10 overall, only so high for the great GM and beautiful set design. Like many Quest Rooms, this one is aging and needs some work.

As many mentioned it is quite dark the whole game. The theming and puzzles of the game were all fun but hard to see for a good portion. Getting the group split up, be strategic because we split up by coupling and one couple had done maybe 3 rooms before so they struggle more than us.

fun game! i will echo what some of the comments say and mention that it was definitely very dark lol. easy to miss things just because it’s hard to see in there. we did it with 3, i would probably recommend more than that!

Went back to back so the same thing I said in my last review

One of the harder rooms I’ve done, so definitely glad I brought more people. Intriguing and creative, though a bit on the darker side—heads up if you have visibility issues. I liked it more than some of the other ones I’ve done before and would recommend it. Just wish Quest rooms were more affordable.

The AC wasn't on so it was so hot in the room while we were doing it. Otherwise the puzzles were fairly interesting

so dark