RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 16:10
What do you mean we’re going to be “the hero Gotham deserves?!” We keep telling you… WE’RE JUST A REVIEW SITE!
Gotham City, a metropolis plagued by crime and injustice, is in dire need of heroes. In response to the escalating threats, Batman has initiated a new Gotham City Guardian training program. You have been carefully selected for the program to attempt a new and intense training exercise that includes stopping a training device Batman planted in the heart of Gotham City filled with a non-harmful chemical compound designed to mimic a legitimate chemical leak without the fatality. The device is fitted with a countdown clock that will release the gas in exactly 60 minutes after your mission start time, so you’ll have to work quickly.
Home to perhaps the most iconic world of criminal supervillains, for years Gotham City has been protected by the Dark Knight himself. But the threats continue to evolve, compounded by the inexplicable release of The Penguin, Two-Face, Catwoman, The Riddler, and Clayface from Blackgate Penitentiary. It would seem that even Batman could use a little help.
With such a dangerous mission ahead, the Caped Crusader has tapped into the Batcave’s powerful technology to establish the Gotham City Guardian. This comprehensive program, geared toward training civilians to be Gotham’s newest protectors, will test their wits, strength and courage in the face of the darkest dangers – including a simulated chemical weapon that must be disarmed.
There’s just one problem: in true Gotham fashion, things can always get worse, and they will. The Joker has escaped Blackgate, and to spread a little carcinogenic chaos, he’s hacked the practice device and swapped its non-hazardous training compound with his highly toxic laughing gas. With five other villains monopolizing Batman’s time, the fate of the good people of Gotham now rest squarely on the shoulders of its least experienced crime fighters, and time is of the essence.
Batman: The Dark Knight Challenge takes place across three distinct and familiar Gotham City locales. Beginning in a training room within the Batcave, powerful computer screens surround heroes-in-training, setting the tone for the Dark Knight’s high tech approach to crime fighting.
Once properly equipped, it’s off to one of the maximum security cells at Blackgate Penitentiary in hopes of gathering evidence for the Joker’s plan. Inmate jumpsuits are strewn about, providing a stark reminder of just how dangerous these super villains are.
Then finally, it’s off to the gargoyle-lined rooftop of Wayne Tower, where the training device was positioned. Hacked by The Joker, it now spews a toxic, glowing green gas into the air, right in the heart of the surrounding Gotham City’s sky towers.
Though the scenic as a whole might be on the moderate end with its finishes, its familiarity straight out of the established DC Universe helps to tie it together. Each room is a fairly small space, and, though their different settings would not actually be connected ‘if it were real,’ they largely work within their context to set the stage for this live-action Batman adventure.
Escapology put evident effort into crafting a series of challenges that largely feel organic within the Batman universe. Perhaps best of all, the few that come a bit closer to being ‘generic puzzle’ flavored are more easily accepted thanks to the framing construct that everything would-be heroes are to complete was gamified by Batman to test their mettle.
Familiar items like Batarangs and other recognizable crime fighting tools straight off Batman’s own utility belt play into intuitive puzzles to directly bring the world of the Dark Knight to life. Moreover, the flow is constantly in synergy with its storyworld settings, changing tone from training exercises in the Batcave, to classic detective work in Blackgate Penitentiary to heroic life-or-death problem solving of The Joker’s trap left high atop the roof of Wayne Manor. Tasks often lead to pre-recorded character interactions from both the Batman and the Joker, helping make many of the puzzles all the more authentic.
Batman: The Dark Knight Challenge shines as brightly as the Bat Signal across the midnight sky to spotlight a clear evolution for the Escapology brand. Gone are the days of simple rooms full of generic puzzles. This ‘new’ Escapology has clearly set out to be a real player in the themed entertainment landscape.
Simply put, this is the most we’ve enjoyed an Escapology game to date, and for good reason. Each room within the game carries an identifiable theme which organically connects to the storyworld, while also full of puzzles that blend logic and tech to progress it toward a clearly defined climax. Even better, it embraces one of the world’s most iconic intellectual properties – with several more to be found across Escapology’s current portfolio.
Harvey Dent once famously said “The night is darkest just before the dawn.” Well this is clearly a new day for Escapology, and we’re here for it.
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Venue: Escapology
Location: Kissimmee, Florida
Number of Games: 8
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 8 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $39.99 per person Monday – Thursday, $44.99 per person Friday – Sunday
We thank Escapology for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.
