Want To Escape – Shimmy Shimmy Cocoa Pop

Want To Escape – Shimmy Shimmy Cocoa Pop
Location: Rushden
Game Date: 24/08/2020
Team: Amy & Ian

Theme:
“When Josh Baskin returned home after his “Big” adventure, he took more than he should, he took an exciting prototype toy from MacMillan Toys.

You are the competition and you want that prototype!

His bedroom – that must be where he’s hidden it.

Can you find the toy and escape in 60 minutes?”

O.K. I admit, I originally booked Shimmy Shimmy Cocoa Pop on the name of the room alone. Before I booked the other 2 rooms at want to escape! I (and admitedly I should have known this being an 80s baby) didn’t realise it was from the movie BIG, granted I’ve seen that movie once when I was little but it just gows to show that having a crazy name for an escape room can work to entice people to come and play it!

Anyway, moving on from my preamble the room was decorated fantastically, it was like walking into my childhood, albeit a boys bedroom, but there was enough 80s flair to give anyone flashbacks to an era of Carebears, Star Wars and much simpler times!
The decorated was finished to a high standard and again, there were absoloutely no red herrings in this room, everything that was in the room was used at some point through the game and this was an amazing feat considering the theme of the room.
Once the space opened up there was many more delights remisniscent of “that piano scene” (which, made for the best puzzle in the game imho!) and other childhood toys, games and decor!
The room was large enough for 7 people, and lighting was never an issue. The game was accompanied by a rockin’ soundtrack of only the 80s best! Retro.

Game Play:
An open game that was heavily based on searching and skill with a little bit of observation, logic and general puzzle solving thrown in. But, the mainstay of this room was skill, and the room is packed with skill puzzles, making this a very hands-on affair! The skill puzzles ranged in difficulty, with none being super frustrating and all acheiveable and fair.
The other puzzles in the room were all brilliantly on theme and completely logical, with ah-ha moments that when they came, made SO much sense!
There is a fairly heavy search aspect to the room to, but don’t let that put you off, there is nothing unfair in the searching and nothing is hidden within ridiculous places.
The flow was good, the natural pace of skill based rooms does tend to be a little slower than puzzle based ones as naturally if you come to a halt on a skill puzzle there isn’t any way of unblocking that flow and getting moving other than completing the skill task. Luckily Shimmy avoided these slow downs by being a wonderful open game!
Signposting was in theme, subtle yet well excecuted and never steered us wrong.
A room that would be fantastic fun for families, especially with younger kids who could really get involved with the skill and searching puzzles. Enthusiasts will appreciate the unique theme and intrinsic puzzles.

Clue System:
Clues were delivered via a screen in the room

Game Host:
James was our game host and his passion was clear from the moment we walked through the door, He is an enthusiast himself, having played over 200 games and it was great to have a good chat with him about escape rooms! He delivered a great brief and really set the scene and got us amped for going into the room! Clues were delivered with precision timing.

Covid19 Safety:
We felt very, very safe at Want to Escape, the foyer was large enough for us to social distance and everyone in the building wore facemasks at all times. The rooms themselves were scrupulosy clean.

Did we escape?
Yes, in about 55 minutes

Website: http://www.wanttoescape.co.uk
Price:
2 Players £20 per Adult, £15 per Child
3 Players £20 per Adult, £15 per Child
4 Players £20 per Adult, £15 per Child
5 Players £18 per Adult, £14 per Child
6 Players £18 per Adult, £14 per Child
7 Players £18 per Adult, £14 per Child