RATING: 3 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 4:23
Backstage takes center stage for this occult abduction mystery.
Compelling décor marries a 1920s movie set with a foray into the occult. Some puzzles are straightforward; others require careful thought and teamwork. Not a horror experience, but expect a few thrilling moments.
The year is 1920 and The Crypt, the latest creepy Hollywood offering, is nearing completion. The only problem is that the film’s leading lady has gone missing! Without her the film can never be finished, spelling disaster for all the hard work already put into it and oh yeah it might also mean that there has been a murder!
A team of detectives has been let into the starlet’s dressing room to search for clues and determine her whereabouts. Word on the street is that there might be more nefarious forces at play here, so investigators have to be careful or they risk meeting an untimely end.
The narrative for The Crypt is one of its most compelling elements, revealing itself to be more complex and exciting as detectives travel brings them beyond the dressing room and into a mystery much deeper and much darker.
The investigation begins in the dressing room. Generally speaking, not the most exciting location nor the most demanding as far as scenic elements go. Still, this room feels a little too sparse and unbelievable as the chamber of sanctum for a well paid Hollywood starlet. A desk with some make up and a few posters create the majority of the decor and leave much to be desired.
As things progress from dressing room to the actual movie set, the visuals get more elaborate and interesting, but not before a stop in an equally bare backstage area. Granted, one doesn’t expect a behind the scenes area to be the most thrilling space, but plain white walls and a few ropes and cabinets are not enough to make this location convincing.
The scenic highlight is the movie set of the titular film. It’s telling that in the promotional images provided by Escape New Haven are solely of this chamber, which in theory is a secret final reveal, and not of the two rooms preceding it. Still, even The Crypt’s most elaborate room feels a bit incomplete, with a coffin centerpiece that is constructed of unfinished wood.
The Crypt is a mostly low-tech affair, opting for a series of locks and their respective analog codes. This is not to say that this is a bad thing. In fact, we found many of the puzzles to be a real joy to complete as a small series of “Ah-ha!” moments were slowly fed to us, like compliments from an occult leader. Our favorite of which was one that required a keen sense of smell. We also appreciated one puzzle that truly put the team’s communication skills to the test all while forcing one unlucky detective into a truly nerve wracking position.
As the investigation develops, the challenges eventually morph from standard puzzles for puzzles sake to ones more directly linked to the narrative. Unfortunately, we felt that some of the final steps become somewhat bogged down in a text-heavy narrative dump that stilted what should have otherwise been a race to the final climactic moment.
The Crypt offers up fun and varied puzzles loosely tying together a seemingly mundane storyline that gets more interesting as events unfold. Still, there is a lingering sense of untapped potential. From the underwhelming scenic design, to the lack of narrative thread in the earlier stages of the adventure. The title of the game conjure up all sorts of creepy imagery, yet ultimately detectives spend the majority of their time exploring barely-decorated dressing rooms and backstage areas. When things really do start to heat up, the occult themes are only lightly touched upon.
While there is plenty of clever first generation puzzle solving to be found within, we wish The Crypt took the innovative opportunity to truly embrace the theming and ultimate conclusion of the game, going over the top with this abduction mystery.
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Venue: Escape New Haven
Location: Guilford, CT
Number of Games: 4
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 4 people
Group Type: Public / You may be paired with strangers.
Cost: $26 per person