RATING: 2 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 15:53
🎵 Come with me, and you’ll be, in a world of IP violation. 🎵
Everyone knew something wasn’t quite right when the old chocolatier missed an order of his famous chocolate treats. Rumor had it that the old master was growing ill and on the lookout for a successor but no one could quite live up to his impeccable standards. Soon after, the newspapers announced his passing. The great Chocolate Factory closed its doors forever. The town was in a frenzy to take over his delicious treats but the doors to the factory seemed to be unbreakable until one day you and your friends discovered a series of clues left just outside the factory. Your mission is to get into the factory, get it up and running, and retrieve the master’s newest creations.
The inner workings of The Chocolate Factory is the stuff of sweet legend. Not since 1971, when five lucky children were allowed entry, has the general public been able to step foot inside to gain a glimpse at the behind-the-scenes magic.
The good news is that one lucky team of sugar maniacs have been given the opportunity of a life time, a chance to entered these hallowed halls and learn the secrets of the master chocolatier. But we won’t sugar coat it, the bad news is that the only reason this opportunity exists is due to the untimely death of the resident cocoa craftsman (who, for legal reasons, shall not be named).
Killing off a beloved central character before the one hour countdown even starts is one heck of a downer for a world typically associated with frivolous fun and decadent sweets. It’s a bold move that could pay off if handled delicately. Unfortunately the adventure that follows is as lifeless as the factory owner himself.
Although would-be chocolatiers are promised an opportunity to break into the the most famous confectionery in the world, any fantasies of exploring a luminous world composed of all variety of sugary treats are quickly quashed when the adventure begins inside a relatively plain room boasting mostly unadorned faux brick walls.
It would seem that the journey doesn’t exactly start outside of the factory, as promised, but perhaps in… the waiting room? It’s never exactly made clear. In addition to the store bought exposed brick, there are several vaguely candy-themed items such as a desk… and a cabinet.
With the initial scenic elements decidedly lacking, we were eager to enter the titular factory. Perhaps the rather bland first act was meant to serve as contrast to a wildly colorful and vibrant world behind the locked door. Sadly, what comes to follow is mostly more of the same. The most this Chocolate Factory has going for it is some colorful paint splattered on several walls and one (one!) multicolored PVC pipe snaking along yet more faux brick.
Those wishing to become the next great candy maker will have to put their skills to the test in a series of puzzles that are varied enough to keep visitors on their toes yet never really linked solidly enough to the saccharine story world to create a true sense of immersion.
Are there puzzles that involve candy in some way shape or form? Yes. Do any of those puzzles or tasks concretely relate to breaking into a factory, getting it up and running and discovering the secret ingredient? Nope, not at all.
While we could imagine a scenario in which a mischievous chocolatier takes delight in leaving behind a trail of clues for those with enough sense of wonder to discover them, nothing within the story world speaks to that fact and as a result a visit to The Chocolate Factory feels more like a rough assemblage of candy colored puzzles than an engaging adventure.
The puzzles found within The Chocolate Factory are both its strongest element as well as it’s greatest source of frustration. One of our favorite puzzles required one of the five senses not typically utilized in escape games. While it was exciting to venture into some relatively unexplored puzzle territory, these brief glimpses of creativity unfortunately often served to highlighted the lack of inspiration found throughout.
We entered this adventure with high hopes. Visions of chocolate rivers, golden egg laying geese, and edible everything danced in our heads. Sadly, The Chocolate Factory seemed content to only borrow the title and location of a much-beloved classic, leaving behind all of the wonder and magic. The prospect of entering the world’s most famous sweet-maker to save the day for millions of adoring children was enough to get us salivating. Unfortunately, we were only left with a sour taste in our mouths.
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Venue: Escape Out
Location: Asheville, NC
Number of Games: 2
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 6 people
Group Type: Public / You may be paired with strangers.
Cost: $20 per person