Review Rundown: The One That Defies Physics
Labyrinth comes to Mini Golf, an ambitious escape room series begins in Brooklyn, we Hunt A Killer on ice and more! (Five Reviews)
This week the Review Crew is on two continents and at least two realities.
You’ll find Blake very excited about the Doors of Divergence escape game series in Brooklyn, Thomas getting shorted by a robot bartender in London, and Noah getting lost in Jarreth’s Labyrinth during a game of putt putt. Plus trips to Orlando and a delivery from Hunt A Killer.
A very, very wide angle look at summertime immersive.
Last week’s Rundown, the one with games that aren’t always fair? They’re right here.
Are you a creator who looks upon these reviews with jealousy? Okay, the positive ones, at least? Then you might want to check out our How To Get Covered By NoPro guide.
Don’t miss a thing by signing up for the NoPro Newsletter, and you can support our efforts by joining our Patreon.
Gothic Manor — New Generation Theatrical
From $35; Orlando, FL; Run Concluded
My absolute favorite trope in comedies is when the villain starts to monologue and unveil their over-the-top plan. However, the heroes irreverently interrupt causing the villain to lose their cool and have a complete meltdown. Gothic Manor, the newest work from New Generation Theatricals, creates a wonderful immersive theatrical experience that expounds upon that trope within the confines of a delightfully Gothic setting.
The dark lightning, ominous ambient music and steely gaze from the servers drew me into the space immediately. The Edgar Allen Poe meets Haunted Mansion aesthetic spoke directly to the kid in me whose first steps into immersive theater were Haunted houses. Not sure what to expect, I certainly wasn’t expecting a credo to set the pace for the evening delivered by the cast.
You were going to drink… You would be told when to drink… Have fun.
The audience has been invited to the Duke’s mansion for a dinner party of sorts. Through the magic of “elixirs” (the cocktails everyone is provided), the audience becomes willing sacrifices to an otherworldly entity seeking entrance into the world. The immersion aspect fits along more with an audience suggestion heavy improv show. Individuals are plucked from their seats for interactions with the cast. The big draw for extroverts in attendance lies in the joy of playing the role of “sexually suggestive statue” in one scene or writing suggestions for places, people and things that the actors must use. All the while, the Manors’ hosts and servants provide commentary on the encroaching ascension. The show isn’t perfect. Two ten minute intermissions breaks the momentum, especially with a busy third act that contains the majority of the story. The unmitigated enthusiasm of the cast coupled with writer/director Michael Knight pushing the boundaries of Immersive theater in the central Florida area more than make up for it.
The limited run is over, and the Manor has closed. I hope New Generation Theatrical took the show to heart and continues to summon forth devilishly delightful immersive productions in the same vein.
— William McCoy, Central Florida Correspondent
Heresy: 1897 — Doors of Divergence
$47.50 to $75 Depending On Day, Time, & Group Size; Brooklyn, NY; Through Nov. 2
Sometimes, there comes a seismic shift in a scene. Doors of Divergence is today’s shift.
Heresy: 1897 is the most exciting event in escape rooms since the debut of actor-driven The Man from Beyond. The promise of this new series of games is so obscenely ambitious that my first reaction upon hearing it was to laugh. Choices made in one room will be tracked through all rooms. Quick math upon registering for a save file suggests that with four endings a room, this would lead to 64 potential narratives. There was no way they could pull it off.
They pulled it off.
Let’s reduce our scope. The room itself is stunningly realized. These are some of the best sets I’ve ever seen across dozens of rooms, doubly impressive for an independent, non-franchised creator. The presence of the actor in the room was far elevated from a standard game master. Both monologues and improvised banter were top tier. They even managed to integrate into their dialogue my absurd lie that I was receiving dirty letters from Edmund Cavanaugh, the disgraced heretical alchemist at the heart of the room.
What’s even more impressive is the clear unfolding nature of the larger game afoot. Having ended our game by (not so) accidentally releasing a demon onto the world, we quickly learned that this action inadvertently led to WWI, the setting of the next room in the series. Of course, we could have caused WWI a number of other ways. The level of attention to detail gives me every assurance that my story will be maintained, though.
If anything I said made your heart race, go play it. If you care about the growth of escape rooms, go play it.
For anyone who reads this: go play it.
– Blake Weil, East Coast Curator At Large
Murder on Ice — Hunt A Killer
$195 for Six Month Subscription; Remote (At Home Box); Ongoing
Who killed Laura Palmer? This is the central question to the seminal classic TV show Twin Peaks. The secret, of course, is that it doesn’t matter. Season two suffered from studio intervention that forced a resolution. The thrill was in the chase.
Murder on Ice understands this. Who killed figure skating legend Nathan LaPalma? Was it his protege? His rival? His jilted ex? The answer doesn’t matter. What matters is that the world of the catty skating rink is realized, the production is lush, and the chase thrilling.
Clues are delivered through vibrantly produced ephemera (“feelies” to PC game fans) and custom web interfaces. There’s a shocking verisimilitude at play; at least five different weights of paper stock were used in producing all of the documents, some with intentional print and scan errors. Writing, especially for an in-universe Twitter stand-in haunted by figure skating stans, reads incredibly true to life. The functional tote bag and shiny medal were the cherry on top for those like myself who love to nab a trophy from every production they enjoy.
The mission-based structure for each box gave a strong throughline to a potentially ambiguous starting point. Only one puzzle, relying on an unintuitive and somewhat illogical capitalization requirement, fell beneath the general high quality of the production. I almost wish it had happened sooner though. The hint page where we ultimately had to look up the answer also was dynamic and well designed had incredible, featuring totally unadvertised accessibility options such as audio transcripts.
But again, we have to ask. Who Killed Nathan LaPalma? I won’t find out for another five months, but that’s fine. I’m happy to unspool my red string and tack up my murder board. Hunt a Killer realizes the dreams of the armchair detective, and offers a cozy, giddy who-done-it.
– Blake Weil, East Coast Curator At Large
Sandbox VR: London — Sandbox VR
£30–45; London, UK; Ongoing
Sandbox VR has opened its first UK experience, offering the opportunity for a group of up to six to play one of six different virtual reality adventures.
Before starting any VR experience, in the lounge the robot bartender ‘Toni’ begins pouring our Zombie Apocalypse cocktails. Using her two mechanical arms she selects measured shots from some of the 138 bottles above her. Sadly, after we were informed the robot was capable of making 80 drinks an hour, one of her arms lifted my nearly finished drink and poured it away. “That’s not supposed to happen”, the spokesperson said quietly. Clearly Toni was concerned for my liver.
Once you have your cocktail, you proceed to one of three VR areas known as the Holodeck. With a name like that we HAD to go on the licensed Star Trek adventure. Other adventures on offer contain ghosts, pirates and zombies. (Maybe ghost pirate zombies?)
Sensors are strapped to our limbs, along with a chestplate that reacts to being shot and a visor to dispatch us on a Star Trek away mission. We scan mysterious items and even do some shooting. With the avatar of fellow players appearing alongside me, many times we screamed “BACK TO BACK!” as the monsters came for us.
Sadly, due to a syncing issue, my vision kept jumping and I experienced motion sickness. Beware if you manage to fill up on cocktails before!
When finished saving the universe, the lounge area has comfortable sofas and large screens on which you can watch your highlight reel or even the virtual birthday party the game throws. Plus, the toilets have a big mystery red button which you are told not to push. I did so six times.
It would be good to return to experience the other adventures.
— Thomas Jancis, London Correspondent
Walkabout Mini Golf: Jim Henson’s Labyrinth DLC — Mighty Coconut
$2.99 (requires core game $14.99); Remote (Quest & Steam); Ongoing
It was already true that if you own a VR headset and don’t have Mighty Coconut’s Walkabout Mini Golf you were doing it wrong, as the game is hands down the best casual social gaming experience on the planet. Yes, on the planet. I’m talking any platform.
Now, however, the team has raised the bar with a fantastical treat for fans of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, also known as anyone with taste, turning key set pieces into putt putt holes that at points defy physics.
There are some major additions to the Walkabout formula in this inexpensive and tidy DLC, including animated characters rendered in the rough polygonal style of the game and the aforementioned physics bending. There’s also off-the-course surprises, in the form of a actual labyrinth, which I haven’t had the time to fully explore yet. (Thank goodness for the “return to ball” trigger.)
The whole thing takes on the feeling of Mighty Coconut having designed theme park attraction for Labyrinth centered around mini golf, complete with animatronic characters. While I did find myself somewhat bummed they didn’t go all out with gameplay triggered effects on certain holes, those would likely break the actual game. After all, if hitting you ball at a specific target shifted the playing field for everyone else it wouldn’t exactly be fair. (Ed.: You say that so often, I wonder what your basis for comparison is?)
As a sandbox — not a sand trap, mind — for social interaction Mighty Coconut has really eagled this one. Hopefully it brings some more converts to the cult of Walkabout.
— Noah Nelson, Publisher & Greater Golf Goblin
Discover the latest immersive events, festivals, workshops, and more at our new site EVERYTHING IMMERSIVE, new home of NoPro’s show listings.
NoPro is a labor of love made possible by our generous Patreon backers. Join them today!
In addition to the No Proscenium website, our podcast, and our newsletters, you can find NoPro on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, in the Facebook community Everything Immersive, and on our Discord.
