Clue HQ Blackpool – Quarantined

Clue HQ Blackpool – Quarantined.
Location: Blackpool
Game Date 28/01/2018.
Team: Amy, Ian, Sam & Jamie.

Next up on our whistle stop tour was ClueHQ, we’re used to their venues being situated under railway arches (Birmingham, Manchester and Warrington!) so this venue being on a farm was a bit of a shock! The farm also offers archery, laser tag, mini highland games and a whole host of other outdoor pursuits! An interesting, but astute choice to add some escape games into the mix… but will it live up to our previous ClueHQ experiences?

Theme:
“With the growing threat of a radiation leak due to the increase in nuclear power, the government seek a solution to radiation poisoning within humans. Deep within a high security facility, a group of scientists work to develop a vaccine to ensure immunity, but to run tests they need subjects. You regain consciousness to find yourself quarantined within the facility. You don’t know who got you here or how you got here but you know you need to escape before everything gets incinerated, including you!”

Theming was good, and standard of what we’d come to expect from Clue HQ – think bold theming that is evocative of a theme rather than wholly immersive, it’s a puzzle room with a theme overlaid. The story is well delivered and continues through the puzzles and riddles.
The room starts off small, confined and dark but soon moves on to a larger, brighter lit area that is plenty big enough for up to 6 people.
The lighting is used to good effect, and a soundtrack adds to the room and atmosphere

Game Play:
A linear game with plenty to do, puzzles were varied consisting of maths, logic, observation, codebreaking and some light physical. There were plenty of puzzles to get stuck into and enjoy, and each was logical, fitting to theme and had lovely ah-ha moments.
The puzzles were all fun and engaging and at points all 4 of us were working together on puzzles to come to a conclusion, and even when just observing the action it was obvious that this is a tried and tested room that is perfected in its design.
The puzzles aren’t going to blow enthusiasts away, as it’s a slightly older game you may have seen the puzzles before, but the execution was novel and on theme to the the story, with story layers being added with each puzzle solved. Joyous.
The flow was exceptional, with the end goal being set out from the moment you get out of your cells (you are separated at the beginning of the game). The end goal is clear, and the path taken to get there is slick and refined and still has that classic ClueHQ last minute twist, albeit in a singular and interesting way!
A lovely game that almost plays itself for the enthusiast, and would challenge but not frustrate a novice team!

Clue System:
Clues were delivered via a screen

Game Host:
Mike was our game host (and also the owner) and was wonderful, accommodating, friendly, fun and attentive. He delivered clues only when we truly needed them but never let us get frustrated or bored. EXCELLENT game hosting

Did we escape?
Yes, in 46 minutes setting the record for the room!

Website: https://cluehq.co.uk/blackpool/
Price:
3 Players £54
4 Players £60
5 Players £70
6 Players £78