RATING: 6 Keys          RESULT: Win          REMAINING: 0:04

The modest flat of a notorious super villain; London’s best secret agent held captive; I’d say the only thing needed to make this an epic spy adventure is a martini (shaken, not stirred.)

Virtual X-Caper is completely unique live avatar game which can only be played online. This is not an existing, physical escape game at Agent November’s brick and mortar location. Although it shares a storyworld connection to each of their other games, Virtual X-Caper was created exclusively to be played in this medium. To read our Pro-Tips on how to best enjoy this new Remote Play genre, click here.

Agent November needs your help! Our best agent has been captured. Experimental gadgets allow you to see through his eyes… but only for 60 minutes. Can you solve the puzzles and help him escape?

London’s greatest secret agent has been captured. No, not that one. ​We’re talking about the legendary Agent November – and with nefarious foes the likes of Mr. E., Robin Yew, Major X Ploe-Shun and Marty Orri on the loose – it was probably just a matter of time before any one of them (or their puns) finally caught up to him.

After investigating a heist at the inconspicuously named Museum of Secrets, Agent November has disappeared. [PAUSE FOR GASPS.] With our hero missing, junior agents are brought online to investigate. After an informative (and highly classified) briefing by Agent Membrane, remote spies gain access to experimental cybernetic implants, grafted directly onto the eyeballs of Agent November himself. Through the magic of technology, remote agents will be able to quite literally see what he sees. If he ever wakes up.

Agent November has the authentic sense of urgency straight out of James Bond’s spy network, full of high tech, almost impossible to believe gadgets and a flare for the dramatic, perfectly juxtaposed with the laugh-out-loud funny, unknowingly bumbling and at times painfully pun-filled sense of humor of Austin Powers. It’s equal parts serious and hilarious, while remaining a compelling and immersive storyworld the likes of which even the best secret agents would be hard-pressed to uncover elsewhere.

As Agent November’s eyes blink open for the first time since his mysterious disappearance, he finds himself in a modest flat somewhere in London. Egads! It must be the home of that dastardly cad, his long-time nemesis, Marty Orri.

Handcuffed to the bathroom sink is hardly a position of high esteem for a spy of Agent November’s reputation; thankfully, his ocular implants allow would-be spies in training to quite literally see what he sees and hear what he hears, as they communicate from afar around the globe to add in his rescue.

Freedom lies just outside the bathroom’s small barred window, but no doubt many elaborate traps still stand in Agent November’s way. Once into the flat’s main living space, we learn that, despite being a master criminal behind some of the century’s grandest heists, Marty Orri is not a man of material possessions, to say the least. But hey, at least his fridge is well stocked! 

Virtual X-Caper’s puzzles follow an entirely logical flow, richly tied to its immersive storyworld. Every step along the way authentically evokes a sense of survival escape perfectly befitting any great spy movie on the silver screen.

From vital keys just out of reach to real world problem solving made possible through clever use of the internet, Agent November draws would-be spies into its world in a completely believable way. With a healthy mix of locks, tech and, well, sound effects to imply tech, Virtul X-Caper is a fun and refreshing dive into the world of international espionage.

Breaking free from Marty Orri’s flat is just the first problem Agent November must face, as he and his new-found eyes and ears quickly learn the entire residential building has been booby trapped – making reaching that outdoor freedom all the more complicated.

But don’t flush away all hope just yet; a clever and entirely topical bonus puzzle is hidden throughout the course of Virtual X-Caper, adding to the fun two-ply! We won’t explicitly give it away (mainly because it’s worth its weight in gold these days) but we can reveal that of five possible objects, we’re the only team to ever collect seven. That’s why they call me Agent Humblebrag.

We weren’t entirely sure what to expect prior to starting our mission in this Virtual X-Caper. With a game quite literally set up in the flat (British for small apartment) of the physical venue’s owner, our spy expertise told us this could either be something uniquely fun or really bad. What even our experienced team of operatives didn’t see coming, however, was that Agent November would become one of the very best Remote Play experiences on the internet.

A mix of the best spy problem solving with witty moments of comedy, it’s clear to even the least qualified detectives that Agent November is a pure work of passion. And at its core – that’s what the very best immersive character acting comes down to; passion. When an actor truly believes in their character, becomes their character, lives their character, it’s impossible for the audience to not buy into it as well. That, in effect, is the most concise summary of Virtual X-Caper.

This game works, not because it has a grand budget, not because it has Hollywood-quality scenic, not because it has jaw-dropping special effects – but because it has such heart and confidence in its world-building that it’s quite literally impossible not to become immersed and play along. And while, sure, the Escape Authority team did rescue Agent November, don’t worry; it’s not too late to get involved in the fun. Agent November still needs your help. In fact, he’s probably already handcuffed back in that bathroom. He really is more of a desk agent.

*Montu, Escape Authority’s VP, Dog Business™ and lead home game correspondent endorses the opinions found within this review.

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Venue: Agent November

Location: Remote online play at home, broadcast live from London, England, UK

Number of Remote Games: 1

GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Duration: 60 minutes

Capacity: 6 people

Group Type: Public / You may be paired with strangers.

Cost:  £12 per person

We thank Agent November for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.