RATING: 3 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 24:59
Uncle William has spent a long time collecting artifacts and so will you.
William Elshoff has scoured the globe for artifacts of great power. He claimed he had found the key to Nibiru! He locked himself in his study and began to work. When we went to check on him we discovered he had vanished. That’s why we have summoned you here. We are hoping with your unique skill set you can unlock the secrets to Uncle William’s whereabouts, and bring him home!
Uncle William Elshoff has always been into these artifacts of great power. He has gone to great lengths to obtain them, making trips around the world to collect them. He claims that he has finally made a breakthrough to Nibiru. One day, upon trying to visit him, it is learned that he has gone missing. Now it is time to go to his study and find where he is to bring him back to safety.
The story in The Secrets of Nibiru is cohesive but can be difficult to follow due to its complexity and the sheer busyness of the game. This lends itself to an experience that could be highly immersive to some, but easy to tune out for others.
The Secrets of Nibiru takes place in William Elshoff’s office. Complete with a desk, artifacts, skulls, and a mysterious locked door. The square room has a wooden floor and all the props authentically belong. The artifacts appear valuable and carry solid weight. Surprisingly, teams can manipulate and touch nearly everything. At the end of the day though, it is still just an office.
The space as a whole is nice, but does not have any major wowing elements. There is a nice reveal towards the end of the game, but sadly, teams will never uncover what is behind the locked door. It is perfectly okay to have the whole game in one space, but the tease of a mysterious passage sitting in plain sight leaves an itch that will never be scratched.
The Secrets of Niribu has fewer puzzles than most escape games, and this is because of the challenge and length of a few of them. They are thematic and fit the storyworld nicely. They tend to be tactile and while interacting with the space, every last inch has a secret within.
One search-heavy puzzle sequence is incredibly involved and could easily take over twenty minutes. All team members can chip in and be a part of it, regardless of the group size. The downside is that one player will be involved in a different way that feels like repetitive busy work. This role can be passed between the group, but it would slow everyone down and doesn’t make sense during the game. The puzzle received a tech upgrade that makes the quality of life significantly better, we cannot imagine solving it without it. If the group enjoys this task, then they will likely enjoy the room, but the opposite is easily true as well. This giant puzzle is a blessing and a curse.
The game finishes with a high-quality riddle that nicely ties the story together. The task is complex (see a theme here?) and provides a satisfying finish to the game if you ignore the locked door that never opens.
Although it is not mandatory to play first, this is technically a sequel to The Pharaoh’s Lost Relic at Hour to Midnight. Playing this first could help develop the storyworld.
Our gamemaster was fantastic in all facets. It was clear their acting abilities were top-notch, but this game did not give them a chance to fully embrace those skills. We hope the gamemaster can find a way to play a larger role in the game.
Hour to Midnight states on its website the game is designed for enthusiasts in mind. Make no mistake, there are complex (but fair) puzzles, but we feel that teams could get through this game with strength in numbers and a careful eye.
Show your support for Escape Authority and get social with us:
Venue: Hour to Midnight
Location: Portland, Oregon
Number of Games: 4
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 10 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $39-42 per person depending on the day of the week
