Can U Escape?
You have nothing to do during the weekend with your squad. All that swag and no where to go. How many of us face this problem of being unsure of what to do when meeting up with friends?
By now, you might have watched all the movies playing in the cinema (including Train To Busan twice), gone bowling and even shot pool like a pro. Is there anything else a group of friends can do? Well, here's some great news — U can Escape! U Escape is a physical escape room adventure that has recently gained much steam here. Now open at Plaza Singapura, Level 7, owner TIMEZONE brings to you, not one, but FOUR unique escape rooms. And by golly, does it take a lot of wits and wriggling to #SetYourselfFree.
In groups of 2 to 10 players, you will be locked up in a room for exactly 60 minutes while you find your way out. Take your pick of the following themed rooms:
Szechuan Secret: Ever fantasized about stepping into the polished shoes of brilliant CIA Agents and tackle adventurous missions? Well, here’s your chance to live the fantasy!
The Atomic Bunker: Imagine stepping into an atomic bunker only to realise that the only way to save mankind from world destruction is to reset the reactor. And you only have 60 minutes – tick tock!
Room 13: You don’t know how you checked in but this is one hotel room you would want to check out of as soon as you can!
River Quay Casino: Take on the role of an eagle-eyed security chief and uncover corrupt employees who have been looting the Casino.
So the team decided to test this room out for you. Nothing like bonding over being in a high pressure situation with a timer, eh? During one adventurous Saturday, the TBNG squad took on the River Quay Casino. Before entering the room, the friendly U Escape crew gave us a quick run-through of the game. We had 3 clues to use anytime during the game, in case we got stuck. U Escape allows players to signal or talk to cameras placed all over the room over which they communicate a set of instructions via a television screen should you require help.
It was a game of hunting for cleverly hidden clues and a sort of 'putting square logic into round circles', so to speak. While one does not need prior knowledge of any sort to go through any of the rooms, the team made a surprising discovery: we were ALL casino virgins. *Cue a panicked, “Where does the card dealer stand at the poker table?” and three bewildered yells of “I don’t know!”*
While you won't experience any delusions of being in a Hollywood-esque set à la Casino Royale, you will forget very quickly that you are in the locale of Plaza Singapura. A combination of realistic props and adrenaline rush brought on by the room and that pesky little ticking timer will do that to you. Combined with a nice touch of sweet Russian roulette and high-tech gadgets like mounted televisions, plus a bona fide cellphone, this themed room really was a puzzle to work through. One hint we can let on about this room is that making use of the props in the game to piece together the casino narrative will help you, and it definitely showcases considerable ingenuity!
The flipside we felt was the frustration of not getting out of the room in time for the buzzer's ring. Unfortunately, the game ends when you don't make it out of the door. And, uh, just a heads up: the four of us who were in that room did not escape. In our defense, we were very close to the end! We were seconds away from figuring out the puzzle when the buzzer rang. We definitely were all RARING to escape! One of the TBNG guys quipped, “I don’t know how Sherlock does it in one episode,”.
Well, you don't have to be a Sherlock to get through these rooms because there actually have been some real smarty-pants who have made it through! The room had just caught the TBNG Squad on a slow day *hair flick*. Although us not making it technically means we only had a partial experience of the room, it actually really is what unfolds during the 60 minutes that counts!
So think you can outdo the TBNG team? Challenge yourselves mentally and give yourselves a reason to shout at your friend (heh) this weekend! Will U Escape?
U Escape Singapore
http://www.uescape.sg/
Plaza Singapura #07-08A
68 Orchard Road
Singapore 238839
Opening Hours:
Mon – Thurs: 10AM to 11PM
Fri – Sun: 10 AM to 12MN
Student Price:
$26 (peak) and $20 (off-peak) including GST
This review was written in collaboration with U ESCAPE.