11th Hour Escape Rooms – Victoria’s Last Challenge

11th Hour Escape Rooms – Victoria’s Last Challenge.
Location: Chippenham
Game Date 29/10/2017.
Team: Amy & Ian

Theme:
“A race to escape the attic room of Echoes Hill Manor with your inheritance.
It’s a very sad day. Your beloved Great Aunt Victoria has passed away. At the ripe old age of 104.
She had a long and good life but she will be sorely missed. Whilst there is no way to take away your grief, there is some positive news. In her last will and testament Victoria has left her vast fortune to you, yes you, her last living relatives. However it’s not just a case of giving you the money. You have to earn it!
Everyone who knew Victoria knew that she was a prankster. Over the years she liked nothing more than setting up tricks and puzzles for people and it would seem this has continued, even in her death.
A passage from Victoria’s last will and testament reads :-
“To my last living relatives, I leave to you equal shares of my life savings. However I have one last challenge for you. My money is hidden in the attic room of the family Ancestral home, Echoes Hill Manor, and a set of puzzles and riddles await you which will lead to your inheritance. To make things interesting, I’m giving you just 60 minutes to find it. If you don’t succeed, the fortune will be left to the local cats home !! Good luck, you’ll need it! All my love, Aunt Victoria”

A beautiful take on an attic room, with gorgeous wooden furniture and the cutest dolls house (as every attic has to have a dolls house) – I expected a dark room but was pleasantly surprised as the room was very well lit and we had no problems seeing anything.
The room was immersive, it felt like the attic was lived in, well loved… cosy and you could feel Aunt Victoria’s presence pervading the atmosphere!
The sloped ceilings helped the immersion, but beware of the low eaves. That being said the room is spacious enough for 5, 6 may feel a little tight at certain times, but there is no extended moments of “having to get cosied up”
A charming, whimsical room with just the right decor to lend itself to the attic theme, without being dark, depressing or dusty.

Game Play:
A fairly linear game, which excelled in its game play, with puzzles being logic, math, word, decryption, searching, skill, & code breaking a very eclectic mix!
The puzzles were all entirely sound in their logic and very enjoyable. Especially the end puzzle, which once you realise the parameters, what you need to do the end result is very, very satisfying!
The searching and collection aspect in the room ties nicely into the end puzzle, further pushing you through the game and towards the key.
The ah-ha moments came thick and fast, with every puzzles being such, that once the components were set and the work done they were a joy to solve.
One puzzle in particular I shouldn’t have enjoyed, but it was executed in a way that was clear, fostered team work and communication and was satisfying!
The flow was exemplary and after a slow start (our fault entirely) we sailed through as it was so clear where each clue & puzzle led to next, again the only stalls we had were due to our incompetence at looking for things!
A slick game that would be a perfect introduction to escape rooms, but still plays incredibly well for enthusiasts as its logic is impeccable and puzzles are solid, and clear.
Wonderful, Whimsical fun

Clue System:
Clues were delivered via a monitor, with the option to accept or decline when the time came!

Game Host:
Tim & Lizzie were our game hosts, and owners. It was wonderful to see them again. They were warm, friendly and funny.
Tim delivered a fantastic brief (where his acting background shines!) and we really felt ready for the story ahead of us! Clues were delivered with impeccable timing.
It is a shame we couldn’t stay later as I’m sure we could have chatted all night!

Did we escape?
Yes in 52 minutes!

Website: http://11thhourescaperooms.co.uk
Price:
2 Players £50
3 Players £60
4 Players £60
5 Players £80
6 Players £80