Escape Rooms Ennis – O’Brien’s Cottage

Escape Rooms Ennis – O’Brien’s Cottage
Location:  Online (Physical Game in Ireland)
Game Date:  17/03/2020
Team: Amy, Ian, Gordon & Liz 
Duration: 60 minutes
Game Type: Online Avatar Led

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Theme: 
“Eddie O’Brien bought a plot of land in the hills of West Clare.  Against the advice of then locals, Eddie chopped down an old Hawthorn tree to make room for his cottage.  His neighbours warned him that the Hawthorn tree was a Faerie tree and a curse would befall anyone who cut it.  Since then, every generation of O’Briens to live in that cottage has suffered a sudden and unexpected death.  It happens always on a night with a strange and sudden storm, and the locals report hearing the wailing of a woman in the wind.   You have 60 minutes to find a way to appease the Banshee before she takes your life next!”

O’Brien’s cottage looked lovely, warm and inviting and decorated well, if not simply, but this simplistic decoration was good as it meant that nothing in the room was out of place, the game wasn’t cluttered and it was easy to see what we needed. That is to say, the simple nature was incredibly charming and finished perfectly to be a cute Irish cottage in the woods.
As the game developed the set got more interesting and excellent use of lighting a change in atmosphere and location was delivered well through the screen.
Escape Rooms Ennis also use a great introductory video, which adds plenty of story, and starts the game off with gusto. There is no over-arching soundtrack (for the benefit of the zoom call) but sound effects were used in places and they really added to the atmosphere!
A really pretty room that again, I wished I could have experienced in person!

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Game Play: 
A fairly open game that included lots of puzzles types, word, observation, logic, teamwork, codebreaking and searching.
The puzzles within the room were all on theme and logical, with a delightful sense of humour and play withing them, alongside fun and exciting ah-ha moments. A true romp with a massive dollop of Irish charm.
The flow was wonderful, this is clearly a well honed room and it translated very, very well to an online format. The game was slick, and each puzzle flowed naturally on to the next.
We were able to use telescape whilst playing but the game didn’t hang on it. It was used in a purely complimentary manner that aided the game but didn’t detract.
Signposting was lovely, subtle yet guiding and still leaving us to our own fun ah-ha moments.
A great family game, which oozes class, charm and more than a sprinkling if Irish magic.

Clue System: 
Clues were delivered very well by own game host.

Game Host: 
Sarah was our game host and avatar and she did a great job, friendly courteous and more than willing to take direction around the room, and giving us ample time to try all of our crazy ideas and she really ran without thought processes without being intrusive to our gameplay. She nudged us expertly with her camera work but never rushed us in our gameplay.

Did we escape? 
Yes, in about 45 minutes

Website: https://www.onlineescaperoomsireland.com/bansheelive
Price: 
2 Players €50.00
3-6 Players €75.00