RATING: 3 Keys          RESULT:  Loss          REMAINING: X:XX

Keep your hand close to your chest and take a gamble… but remember, the House always wins.

This game experience suits those who want a real challenge. We have an ace up our sleeve, so you better have a good poker face to beat our bluff and walk away a winner.

We’re all invited to partake in a poker tournament in a seedy card hall. The stakes are high as everyone must determine if they have what it takes to beat the dealer. Bluffing skills are put to the test when it comes to light that the game room is really a front for a Prohibition-era speakeasy.

The mood shifts from having fun playing cards to a more serious tone of “this bar must be kept secret.” There is an air of danger, and the chances of law enforcement discovering and cracking down on the bar grow with every passing moment.

Uncover Atlantic City’s sordid history with the Mafia and Prohibition, and cash in your chips while evading the police.  Make sure to have a winning hand, lest you be left behind in the casino.

The card hall initially looks to be fairly plain and not overly attractive. There are a few poker tables around the perimeter of the room, and several large bookshelves line the walls. A wooden sideboard sits opposite the main card table, with packs of cards and cases of chips ready to played with. There is a distinct lack of decorative embellishments that would typically be found on a casino floor, so as not to draw attention.

The sole door is padlocked shut, seemingly leaving no way out. Hidden away, however, is a whole bar; an antique cash register sits on the counter while bottles of booze line the mirror-backed cabinet that rests against the rear wall. A large fireplace crackles off to the side, its intricately carved mantle acting as a shelf for patrons’ glassware. The speakeasy is cast in shadows, both from the dim lighting found within, and from the limited illumination that spills in from the card room beyond, providing a sense of secrecy.

Most of the puzzles are low-tech, combination lock-style. There is also a tremendous amount of them- so many, that multiple people can be working on different aspects simultaneously.

There are some more tech-based challenges present, including some where it is required to interact with the set, even manipulating the electric lighting at one point. The game’s hint system is actually included in this notion of physically incorporating the room; the keyboard used to communicate with the game master is physically locked up, and must be opened, after completing a scavenger hunt,  to be able to ask for clues.

Luckily, no prior knowledge of poker is required; all necessary information can be found within the various riddles. The puzzles do make use of common elements found within casinos- decks of cards, poker chips, even the sound of slot machines off in the distance. All of the tasks make sense within the storyworld, and help to further the immersion. Everything is presented non-linearly, and with the sheer number of activities, multiple problems can be solved at once.

This is an extremely challenging game, but very enjoyable. While the first half  is frustrating with having to earn the hints, the second half is fast-paced and exciting.

Escape AC embraces the fact that the venue is located within a casino, and does an excellent job of blending its real-world locale with the fictionalized tournament and speakeasy found within Poker Room. The game takes pride in demonstrating how sometimes, it’s the most illicit activities that are the most fun.

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Venue: Escape AC

Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey

Number of Games: 4

GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Duration: 60 minutes

Capacity: 10 people

Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.

Cost: $44.39 per person