Big Screen Escapes (Mount Pocono) - "Solitude"

LOCATION:  Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania, USA

Photo above is property of Big Screen Escapes

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

📝  ETR DECODER

• 🔑 GAME: Solitude

• 📅 DATE PLAYED: July 27, 2023

• 🎬 GENRE: Supernatural, Western

• 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 5 ppl): 5/10

• 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-8 ppl

• 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins

• 💰 PRICE: $30.00/ pp (2 ppl), $25.00/ pp (3 ppl or more)

• ☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private

• 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes [39:00]

📖 THE STORY

After a terrible blizzard traps your group inside a long-abandoned cabin, it’s a race against time to avoid dying of hypothermia. A flare gun that could be used to signal for help lies somewhere in the cabin, but first the group must follow the clues in a series of letters that speak of a troubled family and supernatural powers.

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

• "Solitude" has strong set design that is both interesting to look at and very playable.

• Clever integration of technology creates good puzzles that don’t compromise the period aesthetics.

• Though mildly tedious to repeat in the event of a mistake, the final puzzle was rather original and did a great job of adding to the room’s story.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

• Puzzle sequence is highly linear, relying on clues written into letters at almost every step.

• One electronic puzzle was a little finicky to operate, leading to missed information.

• No countdown timer in the room means we had to use a phone to keep track of how much time had passed!

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

From the colorful lobby area to the detailed props and clever lighting, it’s clear that the designers at Big Screen Escapes have put a lot of effort into their business. “Solitude” has great cabin decor with puzzles that both look and play very well, and the puzzle design features some unique ideas that keep the overall experience fresh. The game’s final puzzle in particular used an idea I’ve never seen in another room, and it did so in a way that capped off Solitude’s underlying story nicely.

One drawback to this room’s design is its linearity. Puzzles lead directly into one another, with each providing a new letter containing the clue that will unlock the next puzzle. While the puzzles themselves are good, the use of letters as a delivery method for information means this room doesn’t employ much organic exploration and discovery. For a small group or one interested in the room’s mysterious story, a linear chain of letters isn’t such a bad thing. For a larger group, however, there is little room to branch out and do more than one thing at a time, especially when the whole experience is confined to just one room. In the future, I would recommend the designers incorporate some wider segments with multiple puzzles active at a time.

That said, my first experience at Big Screen Escapes was still a good one, and my critiques of the room didn’t keep me from enjoying myself. Despite its linearity and focus on written clues, Solitude creates a cool experience with its immersive atmosphere, enigmatic story, and a unique puzzle or two along the way. It’s a solid escape room, and one I’d recommend to people in the area.

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

• Parking available on site

• Lobby area features merchandise, games for sale, and a detailed leaderboard displaying recent completion times

• One player gets a polaroid victory picture

• Complete the interactive video puzzles on the website for a discount code!

Photos above are property of Big Screen Escapes

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Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of the game:

Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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BOOK NOW

(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)

#KevinHelock #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #BigScreenEscapes #Supernatural #Western #Pennsylvania #USA