RATING: 3 Keys          RESULT:  Win          REMAINING: 0:43

Wizards, and Knights, and Kings – Oh My!

You and your guild are the Knights of the Kings Court and are sworn protector’s of the throne and all the people of Thornwood. The wizard Zolamax was the King’s royal advisor for many years. Zolamax has revealed himself to be untrue to the King and plans to overthrow the crown with his evil magic. Your band of royal adventures are on a quest to stop Zolamax to bring peace to Thornwood and the throne!

While tales of Knights, Kings, and thrones begging to be overthrown are becoming commonplace in the escape game industry, only one such story pits adventurers against a wizard named Zolomax. This is that story.

Unfortunately, once inside the game, it becomes easy to forget the narrative driving the action. There are certainly many nods to chemistry, astrology, and other wizardly elements, but the overarching story of protecting the throne is lost somewhere along the way.

Like all Amazing Escape Room games, throne protectors enter The Knight’s Quest through a door painted with a relevant mural. This introduction to the world of Thornwood falls squarely in the middle of “wow immersive!” and “wow I’m in a dentists office!”

Luckily, once inside the kingdom, adventurers are greeted by a slightly higher level of set design. Textured walls, plenty of “stone”, and a few thematic lighting elements help to sell the notion that this space is a castle in the land of Thornwood,

The game is divided into two rooms, clearly separated by a large door that draws attention immediately upon entering the game. The second section is significantly more intriguing from a scenic standpoint. A rotating stone pedestal, a small prison cell, and several colorful flags and ropes wait exploration. Sturdy construction and craftsmanship in this area outshine the scenic work in the first room.

The initial space hides some fun surprises in its scenic, but several flaws detract from the immersiveness of the game. Light from a hidden exterior window seeps through the facade, some wiring is visible within one puzzle, and a puzzle issue that will be discussed below can also be attributed to scenic malpractice.

First impressions in an escape game are important. They set the tone for the rest of the experience. A confusing, misleading, and frustrating opening puzzle does not make for a good first impression. Our group of adventurers spent nearly thirty minutes trying to work through the first big task. We were informed that this was the average time spent on this ONE puzzle.

This particular puzzle had several issues. First, a knowledge of Roman numerals is needed. The team here at Escape Authority agrees that this does not quite reach the threshold of “prior knowledge” as Roman numerals are widely used in society, but it does fall in a gray area. A simple guide somewhere within the room would help any groups that may not know their X’s, V’s, and I’s.

Second, this puzzle used colors. There were two distinctly different shades of one color that were meant to represent the same group. These items need to be painted with the same paint, unless deliberately tricking players is the goal.

Lastly, this puzzle had multiple steps that required slight logic leaps. All of this combined to make for a frustrating first thirty minutes.

Once that challenge was out of the way, the rest of the game proved to be a vast improvement. Some really clever hiding spots, creative use of the space, and a fun physical task brought the quest to protect the throne back to life. However, this game would greatly benefit from added sound effects when puzzles are completed or compartments open. The game master needed to nudge us forward several times simply because doing something in one room triggered an event in the other room that went entirely unnoticed.

The Knight’s Quest is another step in the right direction for Amazing Escape Room, but still leaves a bit to be desired. Scenic shortcomings, a bad opening puzzle sequence, and not knowing when tasks were successfully completed overshadow the high points of this game.

The fun physical puzzle towards the end of the adventure requires team communication, and helps the game end on a positive. That, along with a handful of other creative challenges make The Knight’s Quest a worthwhile experience if you are in the immediate area and want a game to play.

In speaking with the Regional Manager, James, we were informed that Amazing Escape Room customers can expect to see this newer tier of escape games rolled out at their other venues as the older generation offerings are being phased out. With continued development and adaptation, The Knight’s Quest is hopefully a sign of even better games to come!

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Venue: Amazing Escape Room

Location: Princeton, NJ

Number of Games: 5

GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Duration: 60 minutes

Capacity: 10 people

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

Cost: $30 per person

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