The Fortune Teller
Unlike our previous visit to The MacGuffin project (to escape The MacGuffin room), we were immersed in the experience from the second we stepped through the door into the waiting area. ‘Alexandra’ welcomed us, ran through the necessary sign-in process and kept us entertained while we waited for another group to join who were booked into a different room.
Once we were ready, the front door was locked behind us, the lights were turned out and ‘Alexandra’ disappeared, carrying a human skull with her, after telling us that we must wait for the bell before going through a curtain and then through the door beyond. A video then played on a large screen covering the reception desk starring MacGuffin himself.
When the bell rang, we entered and were confronted with the familiar red and white circus tent material on both sides of us, lots of balloons, some enthusiastic but mischievous clowns and a very short ‘scare maze’. Despite the length of it, it was still something different that had been added for Halloween and was a fun introduction to lead us into the corridor of escape rooms.
Puddles the Clown showed our group of two down to The Fortune Teller room. Puddles was mute throughout the whole experience and only communicated by holding up scraps of paper with notes written in red on them.
Of course, as to avoid spoilers and clues, we can’t disclose what happened in the escape room, but we can say that this room is very well themed. There are so many props in there that it was difficult to tell what was going to be useful or not, but that’s part of the game! Our objective was to overpower the MacGuffin machine which had banished Rosa, the fortune teller, to purgatory 150 years prior.
Like the main MacGuffin room, the clues and puzzles are quite ingenious but with some logical thinking and brainwork, we’re pleased to say that we were successful, and escaped in 40 minutes 49 seconds!
Once we were ready, the front door was locked behind us, the lights were turned out and ‘Alexandra’ disappeared, carrying a human skull with her, after telling us that we must wait for the bell before going through a curtain and then through the door beyond. A video then played on a large screen covering the reception desk starring MacGuffin himself.
When the bell rang, we entered and were confronted with the familiar red and white circus tent material on both sides of us, lots of balloons, some enthusiastic but mischievous clowns and a very short ‘scare maze’. Despite the length of it, it was still something different that had been added for Halloween and was a fun introduction to lead us into the corridor of escape rooms.
Puddles the Clown showed our group of two down to The Fortune Teller room. Puddles was mute throughout the whole experience and only communicated by holding up scraps of paper with notes written in red on them.
Of course, as to avoid spoilers and clues, we can’t disclose what happened in the escape room, but we can say that this room is very well themed. There are so many props in there that it was difficult to tell what was going to be useful or not, but that’s part of the game! Our objective was to overpower the MacGuffin machine which had banished Rosa, the fortune teller, to purgatory 150 years prior.
Like the main MacGuffin room, the clues and puzzles are quite ingenious but with some logical thinking and brainwork, we’re pleased to say that we were successful, and escaped in 40 minutes 49 seconds!
The MacGuffin Project
In a dark and creepy steam punk circus, a diabolical machine has come to life and taken control of everything. Therefore on a bright Saturday morning, we found ourselves locked in a room, to try and disable it!
From the moment we stepped into the foyer, the attention to detail and theming around The MacGuffin Project is completely immersive. Even the corridors linking the different experiences are beautifully designed and add to the incredible atmosphere. There will be new rooms coming online soon, but our task for this visit was the incredibly complex MacGuffin itself.
The experience starts with an hysterical safety warning that soon turned to the dark side the second the operator popped outside the room. The production of this video was outstanding and was a great start to the actual room escape itself. Of course, escape rooms are only as good as the puzzles inside – and here is where the MacGuffin project really excels.
In the past we have done so many room escapes that rely on padlocks and combinations that it was completely refreshing to find that the puzzles here were far more physical. Buttons need to be pressed, handles pulled and connections need to be made. The room is completely automated and after a long period of experimenting, we stared to realise that the room was giving us subtle nods of assurance with sound cues throughout.
One interesting point about the room was that there was no clock so we had NO clue how we were doing. At one point in the narrative, something happened that could have drastically altered our remaining time, and if we had seen this on a clock it really would have made us panic.
Our final few minutes were hectic as we struggled to solve one particular puzzle and get to safety before the impending “storm” hit. It was touch and go as to whether we would make it out, but we completed the final part of the mission with just 8 seconds spare!
From beginning to end – we loved every element of The MacGuffin Project. The puzzles were easily some of the most imaginative and tactile ones we have seen and the ability to play with the “machines” around the room added to the reality of the experience. Although it isn’t a full on scare room escape, the topic and the theming really create a dark atmosphere of foreboding and dread. So if you get the chance to go up against the MacGuffin machine, we would highly recommend it. Just be prepared that you won’t see a single padlock or combination lock!
From the moment we stepped into the foyer, the attention to detail and theming around The MacGuffin Project is completely immersive. Even the corridors linking the different experiences are beautifully designed and add to the incredible atmosphere. There will be new rooms coming online soon, but our task for this visit was the incredibly complex MacGuffin itself.
The experience starts with an hysterical safety warning that soon turned to the dark side the second the operator popped outside the room. The production of this video was outstanding and was a great start to the actual room escape itself. Of course, escape rooms are only as good as the puzzles inside – and here is where the MacGuffin project really excels.
In the past we have done so many room escapes that rely on padlocks and combinations that it was completely refreshing to find that the puzzles here were far more physical. Buttons need to be pressed, handles pulled and connections need to be made. The room is completely automated and after a long period of experimenting, we stared to realise that the room was giving us subtle nods of assurance with sound cues throughout.
One interesting point about the room was that there was no clock so we had NO clue how we were doing. At one point in the narrative, something happened that could have drastically altered our remaining time, and if we had seen this on a clock it really would have made us panic.
Our final few minutes were hectic as we struggled to solve one particular puzzle and get to safety before the impending “storm” hit. It was touch and go as to whether we would make it out, but we completed the final part of the mission with just 8 seconds spare!
From beginning to end – we loved every element of The MacGuffin Project. The puzzles were easily some of the most imaginative and tactile ones we have seen and the ability to play with the “machines” around the room added to the reality of the experience. Although it isn’t a full on scare room escape, the topic and the theming really create a dark atmosphere of foreboding and dread. So if you get the chance to go up against the MacGuffin machine, we would highly recommend it. Just be prepared that you won’t see a single padlock or combination lock!
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