RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 0:10
The evil owner of a mysterious house has trapped a young girl’s spirit inside – can the latest set of visitors finally set her free, or will they end up joining her in this infinite prison?
The abandoned house at the end of the road appears quite plain on the outside, despite a few dead things. Wandering late at night, a voice pulls you towards the house. Once inside searching through old artifacts, the house comes to life and you uncover secrets and visions you couldn’t dream of….
Little Amelia shares that, many years ago, her mother accidentally saw something that her malevolent husband didn’t want her to see and, in an effort to keep his dark secrets hidden, he ensnared their spirits in this dwelling. Investigators have been summoned to delve into the manor’s shadowed past and unlock the morbid truth about what happened here.
Once the forbidden lair is discovered (could this be what Amelia’s mother found?!), ghost-hunters are tasked with meticulously following the steps of a ritual to ultimately free the trapped souls, or else they too will be subject to the same terrifying fate for all eternity. With every passing minute, the boundary between the living and the dead grows thin, leaving no room for hesitation.
Wanderers begin this journey on the porch of an aging residence with a weathered white rocking chair and scattered potted plants. From the misleading sight of the almost welcoming exterior, it is hard to believe the atrocious tragedies that once happened inside. Finding a way to breach the front door is the first of many challenges.
As the first timid steps are taken across the threshold, the home awakens with frightening flashes and sounds. Unwelcomed guests find themselves in a dimly-lit living room with a time-worn sofa, a vintage gramophone, and a locked wooden rolltop desk. Framed black and white family portraits and an old-fashioned telephone hang on the wall as a solemn reminder that no one has occupied this space for quite some time. A deep sinister voice warns not to pursue this grim investigation any further. It’s not too late to turn back…
A hidden passageway reveals the diabolical vault where dark magic is practiced clandestinely. High on a brick wall, a framed mirror rests on a wooden shelf in the candle-lit hideout. An ancient text with faded pages sits beneath, revealing the crucial steps to both summoning and defeating the wicked spirit terrorizing this structure. The flickering lights and jarring audio effects in this space contribute to the eerie atmosphere and the unsettling sense of urgency of the task at hand.
Heritage Manor is packed full of puzzles. Investigators are given three free clues and should not hesitate to use them, as there is no time to struggle on any one riddle for long; the sheer volume of challenges requires that every moment is used wisely and leaves little room for mistakes or stagnancy.
Though there are some standard locks scattered throughout this escape game, many puzzles are unique to the storyworld and work well to advance the narrative while creating a fully immersive experience. The tasks are intuitive (aside from one riddle that left the team scratching their heads and required the use of one of the three allotted clues) and require careful observation.
In the opening minutes, there are instances where some challenges can be worked on simultaneously, but once the steps of the culminating ritual begin, teamwork is required of at least four brave souls to complete a variety of tasks in a very specific order. The linear nature in this last space causes tensions to rise as the clock counts down ominously while each procedure is painstakingly carried out.
Heritage Manor is a multi-sensory experience, from the ghostly story and creepy atmosphere, to the creative hands-on challenges. Due to the difficult nature and sheer number of puzzles involved, this escape game might be best suited for more experienced truth seekers.
Sequestered Escape has delivered a hauntingly good time, perfect for a spooky season visit. Taking a tour of this decaying real estate promises plenty of thrills, assuming permanent residence is not on the agenda.
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Venue: Sequestered Escape Room Adventures
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Number of Games: 3
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 8 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $30 per person
We thank Sequestered Escape Room Adventures for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.
