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Random review
Read all reviews*The Detective*
Ailyne H.
Damn Gina - we didn't escape! :(
But overall the entire experience was super fun and a nice alternative to do something different!
Diving into the deets:
You go into this kinda shady looking building and wonder if you're at the right place, on the outside it looks pretty rundown and nondescript, but trust you're at the right spot. Once you arrive, you'll be waiting in the hallway with others until they call you in.
Check in is simple: show your email confirmation on your phone or print out. After, they asked we go around the room and introduce ourselves and give a tiny blurb about yourself, which was a nice icebreaker especially since we didn't know the others that signed up for the same event. Next, they went over the rules and hinted at a couple of things, but nothing that would take away the guesswork from us. The staff waited a couple of minutes past our slotted time for the 2 missing people in our group, but they ended up a no show. There's a last chance to use the restroom, make sure you take it because once you ask to leave the room, you aren't allowed to go back in.
Once in the room, they started a clock and we broke into an immediate frenzy. It's good to work in pairs and call out to everyone if you found a clue. Meanwhile, there was a staff member dressed as a detective inside the room and a few times he hinted at something if we half-uncovered a clue and were struggling, in a major way. Without him, I honestly don't think we would have solved 3-5 clues... I could see how some people would be really frustrated if they got stuck.
Anyway, the next hour went by REALLY quick! Like a lot of the other reviews say: Teamwork + Communication is KEY to well, find the key! The puzzles overall were fun, some more challenging than others, but clever nonetheless and you had to solve all of them in order to find the key. Time ran out and we didn't escape but had a great time anyway. I'd be interested in trying The Cavern.
In the end, the only thing I could think they could improve on is:
-Rather than allowing 12 people into a room, I'd say 6-8 max is better.
-Allow an additional 10-15 mins
The staff was great in offering to take pictures after the event, even when they were literally given 7 different cameras and took multiple photos on each device. We left with a coupon for their other events, i.e. RaceLA, CityRace.
Anyway, last tips:
Plan ahead by allotting plenty of time before your scheduled event. Parking is in DTLA where majority of the streets are one-way and if you're trying to save yourself a few dollars, you'll most likely circle around a couple of times before deciding on where to park. The lot right next to building where you do the event was $7 on a Saturday, cash only.
HAVE FUN and GOOD LUCK!!!
Description:
Step back in time into the world of a 1940s private detective. Inside the detective's office, you'll find yourself trapped in a film-noir style Hollywood mystery where you must work together to identify suspects, solve challenging puzzles and clues and find a way out of the room. Will you escape?
