Steampunk
Professor Georilla has made a groundbreaking discovery. Tesseract, an ether-based inexhaustible energy source that would be able to power the entire planet for all time. What sounds like an instant solution to all energy problems, however, is a thorn in the side of powerful circles that profit greatly from the status quo. They want to retain the energy monopoly at all costs and prevent there from being a free alternative to the world’s hitherto steam-powered energy supply. The professor was captured, but even under torture she was not willing to reveal the secret location of her discovery and hand over her complete research papers. A commissioner is now in the professor’s office. Our team is supposed to help her via videoconference to find and interpret clues so that the invention can never come to fruition or reach the public.
Lost Escape in Kaunas, Lithuania has seven in person escape rooms, four of which are playable as remote versions via Zoom. We played them all, with Steampunk being our clear favourite. One small downer is that the game does not have an inventory system. Therefore, along with the zoom link, which came relatively close to the start of the game (which I always find a bit stressful), a few detail photos are sent, which can then be accessed at the appropriate time during the game. The photos also have to be distributed to the other players, and this naturally spoils the game a bit. Steampunk was 80 minutes at the time we played it, and we almost maxed out the time too (maybe we were just slow). In the meantime, the remote play time has been shortened to 60 minutes. I remember the game as being difficult. So, it is quite possible that a few puzzles have been adjusted or capped as well. Video and audio quality as well as camera handling during the game were good.
Our mission starts after a short tour of Professor Georilla’s pretty office by our contact person (avatar). But this is only the introduction. From here, the story picks up speed, in the later course of which we will make many interesting discoveries and find more exciting hidden rooms where the scientist must have conducted her world-changing research. What immediately catches the eye is the care and attention to detail with which the rooms are designed in steampunk style. The set designer did a fantastic job. Machines, equipment, gears, levers and switches, everything has a heavy metallic look. And, even better, everything, properly assembled and operated, also has a function during the game. I would have loved to play this room live but doubt I will get to Kaunas anytime soon. From that point of view, better this way than not at all.
Light and sound effects, mechanical puzzles and gadgets that fit the story and theme of the room very well. The game has no locks! A lot of revolves around finding pieces and putting them together to make a big whole that works in the end. Wow, that was pretty impressive! This game, which also made it into our Top 42, is also great fun remotely. Give it a try!
