RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 14:25
Ah, the lucky 13th performance for our dear friend Casey. What could possibly go wrong?
The Vanishing Act 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 Locurio in person. To read our Pro-Tips on how to best enjoy this new Remote Play genre, click here.
The Great Noximillian, world-renowned magician, is hiding more than just tricks up his sleeve. His past five assistants have mysteriously gone missing, each after their 13th performance with Noximillian. Now his latest assistant, Casey, is desperate to uncover the truth behind these disturbing disappearances.
Casey’s roommate, Sam, plans to investigate The Great Noximillian’s private dressing room while Casey and the magician are busy on stage…but Sam needs your help.
Find out what Noximillian has been hiding and solve the mystery before the show is over and Casey’s time is up!
Casey has enlisted the help of her friend, Sam, to get to the bottom of these disappearances. Sam has in turn reached out for some remote assistance from his friends who will be patched in via a video conference to aid in the investigation.
The team must act swiftly, seeing as time is quickly… vanishing. The Great Noximillian is on stage with Casey, wowing the audience in what just happens to be her 13th show. If Sam can’t figure out exactly what is going on before the ninety minute performance finishes… well let’s just say that the mysterious magician might have a new assistant for tomorrow’s matinee.
The break-in to Noximillian’s dressing room, aided by Casey opening the backstage door, begins outside on the streets of Seattle. Sam briefs his friends in the halls as he makes his way towards the dressing room. Thanks to the magic of remote play technology, this part of the experience takes place in an authentic theater. With a seamless transition into the actual gameplay, this environment building intro does an excellent job of creating a realistic immersion.
Immediately upon entering the space it is undeniably a quintessential magician’s dressing room. Well worn furniture provides plenty of storage space for costumes and tricks. Posters lining the walls highlight performances that The Great Noximillian is particularly proud of. Nods to magic cliches are scattered about, almost as if they are Easter eggs to be found by “guests” to this backstage space.
Everything about The Great Noximillian’s room appears to be normal… that is except for one item. A rather large and colorful armoire of sorts stands tall in one corner of the room. It’s begging to be opened, particularly thanks multiple heavy duty chains keeping it locked shut. What secrets is The Great Noximillian hiding away in there anyway?
The Vanishing Act showcases a series of non-linear puzzles that make Sam’s investigation much trickier than it otherwise would be. The Great Noximillian has made sure that anyone snooping around his dressing room would not be able to uncover anything quickly.
A healthy mix of challenging roadblocks and perfectly cheeky magic tricks keeps the team guessing as to what could possibly come next.
One of the aspects that sets The Vanishing Act apart from the majority of other remote investigative experiences is the cooperative nature needed to solve many of the puzzles. While Sam is physically on location, and in the most danger of course, his remote team can be in up to four different locations anywhere in the world. Each team member has access to limited information for certain tasks and must accurately communicate with the rest of the group to successfully complete the challenges.
The puzzles in the second act of the show take a surprising turn that highlights The Great Noximillian’s true nature. The sense of urgency becomes palpable while the team must race to save Casey, Sam, and any future assistants that may land their final on stage role.
Locurio has crafted not just an escape game, but an experience that has a clear beginning, middle, and end. The Vanishing Act showcases many remote play tricks that use the unique medium to its fullest advantage. A pre-show that begins outside on the city streets before sneaking in to a real theater immediately builds the storyworld. The seamless transition into the gameplay creates a believable immersion that will engage investigators from the start.
The Vanishing Act is driven by both its deep narrative as well as the puzzles that The Great Noximillian has rigged his dressing room with. Sam, the eyes and ears on the ground, plays the part of remote game avatar exactly as it should be done. His willingness to try any crazy ideas the team may have and his seemingly unfamiliarity with the space makes it believable that it is also his first time in the dressing room – further building authenticity into the show.
Locurio is an often recommended venue, and thanks to the powers of remote play it can be experienced by anybody in the world, all from the comfort of their own home!
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Venue: Locurio
Location: Remote online play at home, broadcast live from Seattle, WA
Number of Remote Games: 1
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 90 minutes
Capacity: 4 Connection
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $140
We thank Locurio for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.