RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 12:36
An ancient artifact shrouded in secrets contains centuries-old spirits from the world-over, and you’re trusting it in our hands? Yeah, we’re all screwed.
Max Fortune is an adventurer, archaeologist and collector. He has recovered the prize of his collection, the artifact known as “Pandora’s Box”. His arch-nemesis has discovered this and is on his way to take it in order to harness the power within. Can you discover the secrets contained within Pandora’s Box?
Pandora’s Box has vanished from the Calcutta Museum of Mysteries. There’s only one vile ne’er-do-well who could be to blame: known rapscallion Niles Cavendish!
Local legends claim that the box has been used throughout the centuries to capture mischievous spirits. Now in Cavendish’s grubby mitts, there’s no telling what could be released should he manage to crack the code. And being as clever as he is dastardly, there’s no doubt he plans to try!
With a case of such global implications, Max Fortune has sent his trusted confidant, Rowan, to personally assemble a skilled team of adventurers to recover the box from where ever Cavendish has it hiding. One can only hope it’s not too late, because if released, there’s no telling how difficult it will be to capture these angry spirits once again.
The adventure primarily originates from within a single attic-like storage room, but that hardly means eager global trotters shouldn’t be prepared for surprises. Sitting in the center of a creaky wooden floor is Pandora’s Box itself, shrouded by a sheet as though that could ever possibly contain its mysteries.
Every corner of Pandora’s Box is lined with dials, switches and steampunk-styled gadgets. All of them can move or function in its own way, but what to do with them is part of the mystery.
Each spirit contained within the box has an elemental connection to the earth itself – able to control fire, water, wind or even the ground beneath this very room. Should any manage to break free, so would the forces they command, potentially causing irreversible perils and natural disasters the likes of which the world has never known.
The adventurous storyworld of Max Fortune’s colleagues and the dangers of these angry elemental spirits is omnipresent. Once opened, Pandora’s Box takes control, and decides the challenges that must be faced.
Lighting cues draw attention to any part of the box that becomes active, making the flow sensible and intuitive throughout the adventure. Each puzzle the Box unleashes connects directly to one of the spirits imprisoned within, linking them to the elements both stylistically and physically thanks to a clever array of atmospheric effects.
Adventurers will need to not only contain each of the freed spirits, but also find a way to seal the box once again – and all before Cavendish returns to claim his ill-gotten victory.
Pandora’s Box proves that one should never judge a book by its cover. What at first glance instantly seems like a small, modest game unlocks a series of surprises even the most seasoned of adventurers will never see coming.
Trapped! puts heavy focus on the story of Fortune and his nemesis Cavendish, crafting a storyworld that is organically real for an adventure that on its own could never be believed. Despite its outwardly simple appearance, Pandora’s Box hides charm, wonder and wow-moments that set it apart.
What results is a character-driven immersive narrative where the Box and its puzzles become living members of this cinematic storyworld. Atmospheric effects are used in surprising ways that give personality to these spirits, and through them, to the puzzles they’ve crafted in hopes of preventing explorers from ever again containing them.
Pandora’s Box may not have meant to be opened, but, despite the chaos it sets free, true adventures will never want to see it closed.
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Venue: Trapped!
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Number of Games: 4
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 8 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $42 – $52 per person depending on total party size and date selected.
We thank Trapped! for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.
