RATING: 4 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 17:47
Why yes, I would love to adopt an upset orphan ghost-child, thanks!
Be Quiet, you wouldn’t want to wake them up. Be Nice, you wouldn’t want to make them mad. Be Afraid, they’re waiting for you. The Fernvale Orphanage will take great care of any lone souls out there in need of care. Do you need care? You do, don’t you?
Trapped within the depths of this seemingly abandoned Orphanage lies the souls of tortured children that used to hide from the Principal that liked to engage in, well, less than conventional discipline techniques. Set them free, and you’re good to go. If you can’t… let’s just say you might be getting very familiar with this place. Welcome to Fernvale.
On paper, this story sounds both unique and compelling – and it’s chillingly brought to life throughout the halls of Fernvale. Several well-timed physical affects add a genuine layer of scare-factor to this game, making it among 60out’s most frightening offerings. In turn, that fear serves to jump-start the narrative of The Orphange itself, bringing the storyworld to life in truly immersive and impactful way.
Stepping into Fernvale, we are greeted by darkness as we look into a long hallway lined with multiple doors and a pretty spooky portrait of the principal and his orphans at the far end. The first of the rooms is the children’s bedroom. Much of the space was lined with wooden planks, which paired with the peeling wallpaper, faded paint, and cobwebs. The interior is lined bunk beds giving a childlike tone to an otherwise unwelcoming place. That, and the fact that it’s, you know, haunted.
The Principal’s office has a similar run-down vibe to that of the children’s room, but trades its bunk beds for a rocking chair, a desk, and a fireplace. It is here that this trip through the darkness takes a slight twist which you might just have to experience for yourself.
60out wastes no time in incorporating some really solid technical elements into their jump scares (á la Amityville) which catches you off guard, even when on edge. The sound design in this room was very well crafted in order to send chills down your spine, as if there might be something lurking around the corner, making for one of the most impactful design choices that they incorporated into the room.
Like many 60out games, The Orphanage incorporates a variety of opportunities to be able to interact with different tech-driven aspects of the room. Each is integrated in such a way that they really add to elements of immersion within the storyworld.
In a sense, the room “responds” to a given solution when a puzzle is completed – almost as if the spirits within Fernvale Orphanage were actually attempting to communicate with the living.
Some of these puzzles, however, seemed to have some small leaps in logic, and left us wondering exactly how we actually got the correct answer to them.
60out truly continues to prove that they know how to put out very solid escape games that can easily transport guests to a new and fantastical world, brought to life through immersive sets and technically innovative puzzles. The Orphanage kicks things to another level through its ambiance, enhanced by several well placed scares that may never let you look at a wooden horsie the same way again.
The Orphanage is a fun bit of warped playtime – which may in itself be an awkward statement to make at the expense of the tortured souls of the former children of Fernvale. But, if you can strip away its dark history with a clear conscience, this sinister shelter for lost souls is filled with a lot of disturbingly exciting moments that one will likely not soon forget.
Show your support for Escape Authority and get social with us:
Venue: 60out
Location: Los Angeles, California
Number of Games: 3
GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Duration: 60 minutes
Capacity: 6 people
Group Type: Private / You will not be paired with strangers.
Cost: $45 per person (a minimum of two people are required for booking, then prices vary for each additional player.)
We thank 60out for inviting us to play this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, that in no way impacts the opinion included within this review.