TLDR - High tech laboratory with puzzles covering every inch of the room!
Details
Team - 6 players
Theme - Laboratory
Outcome - Escaped
Time Elapsed - 41:36 / 60:00
Overall Thoughts
“Kensie Research Lab or the ‘Secret Lab’ was a marvel of the 70’s with technology that no one could ever imagine, ran by Dr. Lyall Kensie, a brilliant bio-chemist, specialising in virus’ and disease. Do you have what it takes to discover the secrets that he was working on and help save Edinburgh.”
The Secret Lab has one of the most impressive lists of awards I’ve seen at an escape room including TERPECA top 20 and Best of Morty 2023, giving me high hopes going into the game. Our gamesmaster Felix was super friendly and incredibly enthusiastic, giving us a short but informative and hilarious briefing before sending us into the lab.
At the start of the game some players are separated into “cages” and have to solve a puzzle to get out, this puzzle relies heavily on communication. The other players on the team are free to roam the room while those chosen players solve their way to freedom! This aspect of the game is somewhat unique but did leave myself feeling left out as my team uncovered and solved other puzzles around the room, hearing “oh that was really cool” from outside our cage.
This room is incredibly puzzle heavy and runs in a somewhat nonlinear manner, making it the perfect game for larger teams, we had a team of 6 which was comfortable but definitely achievable with 4 or so experienced players. The puzzles in the room ranged from observation to using sprays, lab equipment and other technology to progress through the room. This room relies heavily on technology which is always a big risk, but everything within our game worked perfectly and even in a nonlinear fashion the game still ran smoothly.
The hint system (although not usd by ourselves) was incredibly impressive, being delivered through hat looked like a typewriter in the centre of the room. The decor of the room suits thatlerfectly of a secret lab making great use of the buildings original architecture and history to really add to the room.
Overall a great, high tech game more suited to larger teams or experienced players! Can’t wait to go back and play the other games!
Final Review
Difficulty - 3.5 / 5
Puzzles - 4.25 / 5
Theming - 4 / 5
Set Design - 4.25 / 5
Enjoyment - 4.25 / 5
Value For Money - 4 / 5
Location - Edinburgh