RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 11:25
Rumors abounding a long-abandoned mental hospital are far from the greatest dangers lurking in the shadows of this facility.
Seven Hill is a remote play version of an existing, physical escape game at the venue’s brick and mortar location – retrofitted to be offered as a live, online experience. Although altered slightly to better flow in this new medium, the game is, at it’s core, essentially the same as what guests will find should they visit Locked Room in person. To read our Pro-Tips on how to best enjoy this new Remote Play genre, click here.
A small, peaceful little town is plagued by the curious case of the abandoned Seven Hill psychiatric ward. Locals dare only talk about the strange happenings in hushed tones. Seems like the leaders of the city would swipe the whole case under the rug. Many people are unaccounted for and that puts a pressure on everyone. Dale Emerson a retired detective would dust down the old case files and take a fresh look at it. You have also showed interest and he quickly recruited you to find new evidence and bring peace to the family of the missing persons.
Seven Hill was once a symbol of prominence and technological advancement, but that was long ago. Decades later, the facility sits abandoned, rotting away in a state of irreparable neglect. Rumors abound about it’s downfall, but none seem certain of the real truth.
It is believed that among the many to pass away during their stay at Seven Hill, three patients were murdered in cold blood. Some say only one ever escaped the facility, and is still missing to this day. With the negative impacts this lore is having on the town, renowned detective Dale Emerson has put together a team to investigate: one of his junior detectives has boots on the ground inside Seven Hill, and the very best specialists from around the world will dial in remotely to guide her.
Surely the rumors that swirl around Seven Hill like a dark cloud are baseless, right?
The scenic found within Seven Hill is absolutely gorgeous – in a “we’re all going to die” sort of way. This is clearly a facility that at one time was a top of the line medical institution, but it’s equally clear that this time passed long ago.
Seven Hill has been left to rot in a state of disrepair for decades. The rooms are filthy, with doors rusting away and walls covered in mold. Just the same, the compound is sprawling, spanning several large rooms, each precariously sealed by heavy metal doors.
Locked Room created such a solid environment for this game that it evokes the flavor of some of the best haunted attractions we’ve seen – despite having no actors or jump scares. The mood is distinctly foreboding, and is likely to create apprehension from even the most experienced of investigators. Appropriately, though, the fear hidden within this insane asylum is the most impactful kind of all: physiological. One way or another, the lost doctors of Seven Hill will get inside your head.
The immersion doesn’t stop with Seven Hill’s movie-quality set pieces. Each puzzle throughout this investigation requires detectives to tackle real-world tasks that mesh in an entirely authentic way with its story.
Remnants that reinforce Seven Hill’s former use as a medical facility abound from room to room. Everything from eye charts to CT-scans of patient’s brains each have their own mysteries to hide about the horrors that occurred here long ago.
Impressive use of video technology allows a blind touch puzzle to be solved remotely online, leading to further discoveries in the Doctor’s private office. It is here that archived patient files reveal confidential information on what might be Seven Hill’s greatest secret: a narrative twist we never saw coming.
Even if it seems the investigation has reached a dead end, remote agents will need to keep their on-site junior detective focused if this mission is to be a success. Now more than ever, it will be time for her to show her mettle.
From start to finish, Seven Hill is a most impressive outing – rich in story, scenic and puzzles – making it a total package experience. The world is dark and dreary, both literally and figuratively, and easy to become immersed within whether you want to or not. The compelling narrative flows like a movie, complete with a twist ending that adds an even more tangible sense of urgency to getting out of there alive.
Locked Room has upped their ‘game’ with Seven Hill – producing an attraction that clearly is poised to become the venue’s crown jewel. Thankfully, this game was briefly available as a Remote Play option, allowing players around the world to experience first hand some of the very best that Hungary has to offer. Like all great Remote Play Games, we’ve learned that the host, and the degree to which they present the experience in character can make a huge difference in the overall wow-factor. We were fortunate to be paired with Roberta, a long-time member of the Locked Room team, who not only treated the lore of Seven Hill as if it were real, but evoked a clear sense of fear and consequences should our mission fail – all while infusing just the right amount of comic relief to keep the story entirely engaging.
As Remote Play Games begin to phase out, Seven Hill will continue to be offered in brick and mortar format at Locked Room, making it an easy must-see game in the already highly regarded Budapest market.
*Montu, Escape Authority’s VP, Dog Business™ and lead home game correspondent endorses the opinions found within this review.
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Venue: Locked Room
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Number of Remote Games: 3
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 6 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: beginning at €18.56 per person for groups of 2 / down to €6.19 per person for groups of 6
We thank Locked Room for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.