RATING: 1 Key RESULT: Win REMAINING: 28:47
The world’s most notorious bloodsucking fiend is on the prowl, and the fate of the world is… at stake.
New Orleans, 1862… You and your team of investigative journalists have been following the trail of the world’s oldest vampire for quite some time. Your interest, however, has not gone unnoticed. You have been lured to a mansion on the banks of this mystical city by a promising lead in your quest to expose Dracula to the world. Once inside, you and your team realize that the tables have been turned, and you now find yourself unwitting participants in a most deadly game. Racing not just against time, but against the darkness itself.
Captive should be commended for trying to tackle one of the most well-known horror characters as their theme, as it creates intrigue and interest in wanting to discover more. Sadly, they fall far short of the mark. Once through the door, all aspects of the vampiric lore disappear. There is nothing to indicate that tables have been turned, nor is there mention of any most deadly game. In fact, there is no sense of urgency or danger at all.
Instead, the focus shifts to a generic “locate a random object” theme. The so-called journalists must search for “the Golden Key,” an item which has no apparent purpose or value. Does this key have magic powers that can defeat the Lord of Darkness? No. Is it used to lock Dracula up in chains? Also no. Does it even serve any function besides existing? Once again, no.
There is no explanation as to the change in narrative, and the original spooky plot falls by the wayside. It’s frustrating to see the entirety of the Dracula pretext essentially get overshadowed by the quest to find this meaningless key. Rather than experiencing a monstrous adventure, only mediocrity awaits.
This game is unfortunately plagued by an utter lack of theming. It is a sparsely redecorated office space, complete with drop-panel ceilings and linoleum flooring. Despite being called a “library,” there is merely one bookshelf with a small handful of books upon it, a small wooden desk, and a rocking chair. There are zero details that evoke any sort of Gothic air, and nothing to indicate that investigators are in either New Orleans or an opulent mansion, let alone the domicile of one of literature’s most well-known characters; there is nothing even remotely vampiric or supernatural featured. Other than candles strewn about, even the lighting in the room does not fit – everything is lit with either modern incandescent bulbs, or actual daylight.
There are numerous elements present that, simply put, did not exist in the time period that Dracula’s Library is set in, which further dilutes any sense of immersion. Given the scarcity of actual decorations, there is a surprisingly large amount of anachronistically incorrect visuals. The most egregious of these are an early 20th-century telephone on the bookshelf, and a modern-day metal casket tucked into a small closet off the main space. Sadly, the casket does not even serve a purpose, other than to attempt to enhance the aesthetic.
Even more distracting is the presence of a large (real) window that overlooks both the boardwalk and the beach that surrounds the venue, letting in copious amounts of natural light. Witnessing people stroll past in bathing suits destroys any sense of thematic integration, and completely demolishes the illusion of the storyworld, seeing as vampires are nocturnal creatures that cannot physically withstand sunlight.
Dracula’s Library contains only the most rudimentary and basic of “find this combo for a lock” puzzles, and sadly, some are very much not intuitive on how to solve them. There are often no indicators as to which problem is being worked on, so there is a tremendous amount of confusion, even though everything is presented linearly. There is not even a clue or timing system present, nor cameras or speakers, so if a hint is needed, which happens fairly often, patrons must physically leave the room to speak with the game master.
There are many instances where logic leaps are required to solve some of the issues found within. One riddle involves reading a giant wall of text to locate hidden words, a task that is made more difficult by the fact that the text’s color is almost the same as its background. However, there is nothing present to notify visitors to the library that this textual mess is even a brainteaser, and not merely part of the scenery. Another defies the previously established rule from the venue itself; that of not touching or removing items from the walls.
The absence of variety of puzzles within the “library” results in repetition and a sense of boredom. There is nothing to capture anyone’s attention or focus, and the frustration of the illogical flow hinders the game play.
There is much that is left to be desired for this challenge. The lack of a cohesive theme, along with the disappointingly minimalistic array of puzzles, leads to an extremely anti-climactic experience.
Much of Dracula’s Library is empty, open space. The potential for a standout game is there, because it is an uncommon theme featuring one of the most prolific literary horror icons, but it is squandered by its presentation and execution. The storyworld of trying to outwit the evil Count Dracula could be amazing, if done properly. However, it’s as if any vampiric evidence has already been turned to dust.
Show your support for Escape Authority and get social with us:
Venue: Captive
Location: Ocean City, Maryland (Downtown)
Number of Games: 3
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 8 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $34.99 per person
