RATING: 4 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 8:43
Join, or die!
IT IS OCTOBER 26TH, 1776, AND PHILADELPHIA IS ALIVE WITH EXCITEMENT…
The American Revolution has ignited the colonial town into a fervor. Crowds are pouring into the streets singing songs and firing guns, nervously awaiting the invading British from across the sea. Benjamin Franklin has just been elected as ambassador to France and he has a monumental task ahead of him – convince France to join the colonies in war and secure a 10 million dollar loan from the French government. The only tools at Mr. Franklin’s disposal are his skill with the written word and your help…
Mr. Franklin has just raced away to board the final ship to France before the British naval blockade arrives. As Mr. Franklin’s invaluable assistants and fellow rebels, he has entrusted a critical task to you: search through his study and secret print studio to find the Seven American Reasons.
These Seven Reasons inspired him to write the document that will convince France to give us 10 million dollars and join the fight! Quickly locate the Seven Reasons and print the document that Mr. Franklin needs for his journey. The future of the rebellion and American independence is in your hands! Do you have what it takes to complete your Quest for Freedom?
What better place to step back into 1776 Philadelphia than Olde City itself? On a street that Benjamin Franklin once walked, mere blocks from some of America’s most historic locations, A Quest for Freedom gives visitors an opportunity to step back in time to join the revolution!
A Quest for Freedom is authentic throughout the entirety of the game. The first space that revolutionaries explore is Benjamin Franklin’s personal library. His office is furnished with old, heavy, wooden bookcases and desks.
A map of 1776 Philadelphia and several old paintings adorn the walls. Statues, artifacts, and an abundance of books help build the world of Franklin’s study.
The scenic quality and authenticity is even greater inside the secret print studio. The darker, more ominous space appears grittier. Aged hardwood floors, brick walls that have seen better days, and real printing press equipment make it believable that this may actually be Benjamin Franklin’s secret studio.
A highlight of this games set design is how it utilizes a unique space that came with the property. A simple, yet extremely enjoyable reveal will bring about childlike wonder from any team of rebels searching for the important document.
Olde City Escape Games has curated and refurbished set pieces that fit perfectly in the storyworld. Once such example is how they have incorporated a genuine letterpress cabinet, taking something that would have been found in a printing press studio and turning it into a puzzle.
With Ben Franklin’s love for the written word, it could be easy for a game with this theme to rely too heavily on long-winded reading and deciphering. Luckily, that is not the case here.
A perfect blend of code cracking, old locks, and riddle solving helps rebels find their way through A Quest for Freedom. Hidden tech is certainly used, but it is not so blatant or obtrusive as to remove players from the storyworld of 1776 Philadelphia.
One puzzle technique that Olde City Escape Games does well, as seen in their other game The Midnighters, is hiding information or secrets in plain sight. There were several instances in A Quest for Freedom where we smiled at the simplicity of an answer once it was reveled through new information.
A Quest for Freedom was Olde City Escape Game’s first foray into designing and building such a product. It doesn’t show. This is a well thought out, high quality escape game that would be an impressive end result for designers with much more experience under their belts. While it is sure to be a fan favorite for history enthusiasts, it manages to provide a lot of fun for those who don’t particularly like that theme as well.
Olde City Escape Games designs their adventures in-house. The creativity of the team is on full display as they showcase a unique approach to deliver a fun experience. With a brand new game opening in the not-to-distant future, as well as possible plans for further expansion, this is without a doubt one company to keep an eye on.
Show your support for Escape Authority and get social with us:
Venue: Olde City Escape Games
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Number of Games: 2
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 10 people
Group Type: Public / You may be paired with strangers.
Cost: $30 per person ($45pp to book privately)
We thank Olde City Escape Games for inviting us to play this game. Although a discounted admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.