RATING: 6 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 19:29
The journey to discover the Elixir of Life has led to a lost soul in need of rescuing.
Years in the making, this incredibly detailed experience is bursting with technomagic, smoking potions and a dangerous ancient ritual.
The Alchemist has been on the search for the Elixir of Life, but hasn’t been seen in an alarming amount of time! Rushed up the tower of a historic building in Amsterdam, a team of scientists equipped with the intellect and sleuthing skills necessary to solve the mystery get straight to work after stepping into the study.
It doesn’t take long before the remnants of a lost soul reaches out as if in a benign seance. Guiding the investigators through the quirks of the space left behind by the Alchemist, this spirit relies on the physical beings in the room to sift through desks, papers, books, and lab materials to bring closure and rest to what’s become a one-way ticket in the quest for immortality.
The adventure begins in the study seemingly to follow the footsteps of the Alchemist, almost as if to prove the worthiness of the group to enter the locked laboratory upstairs. And then once successfully inside the secured scientific room, even more is revealed about the works of the ephemeral presence and the path toward what lies beyond.
Collecting and configuring the remaining trinkets necessary for safe passage requires a hasty yet careful hand – one that would be rewarded by a magnificent conclusion brought about by everyone’s companionship. The goodbye is fleeting and sudden, and the silence that remains after can be an unsettling foil to the moment of celebration. But in the end, the memory of the journey along the way can remain forever imprinted in the minds of the kind, connected souls.
The first steps into the study are met with darkness – that is, until the search party can restore the electricity in the room. At that point, the grandiose two-story library lights up with an elaborate stained glass window and stunning central altar-like pedestal.
A spiral staircase leads to a locked door to the Alchemist’s laboratory, where tantalizing experiments lay waiting for the science-minded, should they be deemed worthy to gain access. The process of doing so creates a truly unique memento not unlike a broken version left behind by the spirit. All throughout the space, the lost soul’s ushers are met with beautiful displays that embrace the steampunk, electronic, astronomic, and borderline magical.
For those scientists swift enough to recreate old projects and complete unfinished works, a return to the study provides a tremendously rewarding finale. The prestige includes a spectacular transformation of previously familiar fixtures where it all began. Standing back and taking everything in is all any noble adventurer ought to do.
Nearly every reveal shows itself to be practically breathtaking, regardless of whether it is a surprise or it is easily anticipated. It’s as if everyone is an alchemist in their own right, with a satisfying level of magic that unfolds before their eyes.
Detectives tasked with solving the mysterious disappearance must be prepared to tackle puzzles of many different kinds. Larger rescue groups likely find themselves with an easier time given the volume and space to be covered. Whether it’s sifting through a journal with a variety of cryptic diagrams, running about to interact with contraptions around the room in an inspired sequence, or performing carefully measured chemistry to concoct literal solutions, scientists will have no shortage of diverse mental challenges to overcome.
Hardly a physical lock in sight in this quest – puzzles and spaces unfold in front of investigators as the correct actions are taken. The game’s qualities shift beautifully through exquisite use of sound, light, and physical movement that guide the party’s eye intuitively while also paired with the spiritual guide.
At one point, there’s a visual and tactile mixture of mechanical, digital, and physical puzzle components seeking to harmonize in a common space. Taking it all in simultaneously, rather than compartmentalizing, will be important for the investigators to allow those elements (and each other) to collaborate for success.
The Alchemist at Sherlocked is repeatedly cited as one of the highest regarded spaces, stories, and scenarios of the industry – and deservedly so! A stupendously gorgeous space filled with satisfyingly elegant puzzles wrapped in an especially captivating story – this is a must-see for curious and adventurous minds visiting (or living in) Amsterdam in the Netherlands!
In the pursuit for immortality, the Alchemist becomes trapped in a purgatory stasis that is neither of this world or the next. Scientists turned spiritual escorts learn along the journey that the impact left on others is what actually lives on forever. In that way, true legacy can be etched through generations.
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Venue: Sherlocked
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Number of Games: 4
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 90 minutes
Capacity: 6 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: €41.50-109.50 per person (depending on group size)
