RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 23:18
It’s time to tap into that inner bandit to assist the most notorious duo of all time.
The famous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde are ready for the biggest heist in history, and they want you involved! They need you to get inside of Al Capone’s speakeasy headquarters and find his secret stashes while they wait in the getaway car. There’s one problem – Capone and his boys are returning to their headquarters soon, and if they find you there, they’ll make sure you “swim with the fish.” Capone doesn’t like intruders, so get in, find the goods, and get out fast!
That notorious duo, Bonnie and Clyde, is at it again. The couple has pulled off more heists and robberies than can even be knowingly attributed to them. This time, they need the help of some not-so-innocent bystanders to undermine the world’s most nefarious crime boss, Al Capone. The accomplices arrive at the speakeasy with just enough time to pull off the job of the century. With the clock severely against them, Bonnie and Clyde’s fresh recruits must use their wits and analytical skills to tear through the unoccupied hideout and take Capone for all he’s worth.
That reprehensible gangster was far from loose with his money, and extremely cautious about whom he trusts with his assets. It’s up to the newly appointed bandits to dig deep inside the speakeasy and uncover what Capone has locked up from all the world. Who can rise to the challenge set by the top tier members of the infamous Barrow Gang?
Bonnie and Clyde’s Great Getaway potentially can come across as unassuming upon first glance, but rest assured, it is far from it. Where this particular escape game finds its scenic design niche is in the details. The authenticity of the upright piano situated against the wall, or even the player’s stool for that matter, immediately transport first-time thieves into Capone’s safe house.
Photographs and notes are littered throughout the room, emitting signs of wear and age seemingly only possible from time. Even smaller furniture pieces such as a bottle stand or liquor cart easily fit within the narrative and roaring 20s vibe. This game doesn’t blow anybody away as a spectacle, but provides a realistic and accurate take on what a backroom of an Al Capone owned establishment might have looked like.
While Bonnie and Clyde’s Great Getaway all takes place in a singular room, it more than adequately immerses each occupant. Each little secret discovered along the way fluidly drives the narrative much like a classic mob film.
If Bonnie and Clyde’s Great Getaway has an area that just outshines the rest, it undoubtedly is the puzzles. While the locks, keys, and combos are relatively commonplace amongst escape games, the way they are implemented goes above and beyond creatively. Not only is each puzzle perfectly suited for the storyworld, but in its own individual way, each one pulls the Barrow gang’s newest recruits deeper into the immersion.
This escape game is designed with an overall non-linear style, which makes tearing through Capone’s hideout truly mimic an old-school looting job. Ne’er-do-wells can split up, using their separated efforts to ransack the safe house with more efficiency, combining found items and riddles to solve the games final puzzles. While dividing and conquering is the best way to collect all of the necessary components, many of the collaborative puzzles require multiple brains and outside-the-box thinking to ultimately crack.
The game also includes multiple instances where outlaws are required to perform tasks usually not allowed or acceptable in other escape games. The Architect encourages outlaws beyond their comfort zones, delivering satisfying payoffs in bunches with many of the puzzles. Much like the duo of Bonnie and Clyde, this company and experience play by their own rules.
Architect Escape Rooms has one of the most relaxing lobby experiences of any escape location. Lighting is provided mainly by interesting theatrical/stage lighting throughout the entrance hall and waiting area.
This venue delivers a large package in a small box with the exciting adventure developed in this experience. Many single room escape games can be monotonous, often lacking in story development or ingenuity. This experience could not be further from that notion.
Bonnie and Clyde’s Great Getaway oozes creativity from the puzzles, to the décor, and beyond. The Architect really proves that less can actually be much, much more.
#TylerForgotToTakeAPic
Show your support for Escape Authority and get social with us:
Venue: Architect Escape Rooms
Location: Reseda, CA
Number of Games: 3
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 8 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $29 per person