Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who’s the bigliest of them all?
- Website: Confined
-
Address: 2020 32 Ave NE L, Calgary, AB T2E 6T4
- Private Booking: No
- Price: $25 per person
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Linearity: Mixed
- Group size: #medium
- Player Level: #competent
- Features:
- Premise: n/a
RATING | PAULIE | BEN |
---|---|---|
Service | ||
Puzzles | ||
Look | ||
Immersion | ||
Theme |
Service | PAULIE
Standard overall. |
|
BEN
One thing that I know has been consistent with my visits to Confined has been the friendly service! I love going there – everyone has always been very welcoming and warm. |
||
Puzzles | PAULIE
The puzzles played on the POTUS’s controversies in his campaign, speeches, and policies. There were equal parts of humor and camp here. The puzzles were self-referential and the room never took itself seriously. However, while funny on paper, the humor and campiness fell flat in execution. The puzzles’ novelty factor wore thin and just became a series of references. The puzzles were a confusing paradox: The room is built around the Trump product which is all about money and grandeur, yet the puzzle components felt cheap and consisted of Mr. Potato Head and Lego pieces. |
|
BEN
I have to say that the solution to some of the puzzles in this room made me laugh out loud. It definitely helped to know a few of the more common ways in which Trump has been made fun of. You’ll need to be very observant in this room, since you need a keen eye to find all the pieces you need to solve certain puzzles! |
||
Look | PAULIE
Size-wise, some parts were tiny. Prop-wise, it was juvenile. Atmosphere-wise, it was unnecessarily dark. |
|
BEN
Compared to Alice in 3D and Cabin Fever, this room wasn’t quite as incredible looking. That said, the setting of the theme isn’t something that is as inherently amazing as their previous two rooms. I thought that what was there did look good though – a bit standard, but good. |
||
Immersion | PAULIE
I smirked at the references, in an “Oh I get it” way. Beyond that though, the room didn’t carry much weight. I wish there was more as I felt the room had an overreliance on its theme. |
|
BEN
What Confined is really good at is transporting you to another world with their decor. I thought that without the strength of a really good setting, I didn’t feel as drawn-in as in their previous rooms. To me, the puzzles also weren’t as engaging. |
||
Theme | PAULIE
Tackling a public figure that is so omnipresent and current is a massive and brave undertaking. They get bonus points for offering another out-of-the-box theme, which is consistent with Confined’s other rooms. However, I’m not sure if there was any substance to the room other than escaping from Trump Tower. |
|
BEN
This is definitely one of the most unique themes I’ve seen, and that theme was echoed consistently throughout the puzzles. It was nice to see something a bit lighter than the typical escape room thoroughfare (bank heists, secret labs, killers, etc.). |
||
Overall | PAULIE
This room gets a rating of #silver. Underneath the smokescreen of having Trump as a theme, the room was a campy offering that never took itself seriously. The novelty eventually wore thin and substance was sorely missed. |
|
BEN
I give this room a #gold. It wasn’t my favourite, but If you’re into something a little bit more campy, then give this room a shot! |
- Completed: April 2017
- Escaped? Yes (4 people)
- Our Time: 0:52 (/1:00)
- # of hints used: 1