Operation Mindfall at Escape Hunt Birmingham
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Freelance journalist with a passion for theatre, the arts, food and books.
Published July 25th 2019
Review of new outdoor game by Escape Room company
For fans of escape rooms, there is a challenge with a twist that is adding outdoor adventure and augemented reality to the detective game.
Operation Mindfall is the latest game to be added to Escape Hunt in Birmingham, giving up to four players the task of saving the world from a deadly virus.
Instead of an hour, there's two hours to complete the adventure and it takes you out of a locked room and on to the streets around the city centre to complete a series of challenges using latest technology.
Escape Hunt is particularly good at creating detailed plots for its games. That is already clear from the exciting narratives around pirates, ancient Japan, World War II espionage and even Doctor Who in its escape rooms of Blackbeard's Treasure,The Fourth Samurai, Our Finest Hour and Worlds Collide.
The premise of this latest story, Operation Mindfall, is a James Bond style spy thriller. A game-master explains that in 120 minutes time, a deadly virus with the power to control the minds of the human race will be activated by Spider Tech from a secure location in Birmingham city centre. Under the code name Operation Mindfall, players must take on the role of undercover detectives and foil Spider Tech's plans in order to save the world.
Using the latest in augmented reality and geolocation technology, teams must take to Birmingham's streets, working together to find the anti-virus and destroy Spider Tech's servers before it's too late.
The team is equipped with an electronic tablet and briefcase containing gadgets, including a test-tube, that will be needed to solve riddles en-route before reaching the final conundrum. A smart phone is also necessary during the game.
As the tablet steers the team around the city, pointing out where clues are on a map, there is a race against the clock to complete the mission.
I experienced the game from Escape Hunt's base at the top of Corporation Street with a team of four friends and the riddles get everyone involved with a range of problems to solve from observation techniques to mathematics puzzles and even a scientific experiment.
Travelling around the city on foot - leisurely covering about half a mile or so - it feels a little like being Anneka Rice in Treasure Hunt, especially as you are surrounded by the general public getting on with their lives. It's fun, different and there is something about tracking down clues on the electronic map that gets the adrenaline pumping.
I've grown up in and around Birmingham but this game even highlighted parts of the city centre that I wasn't aware of, which add to the satisfaction at completing this game.
The only drawback is that while it was a lovely sunny day during my experience, if the weather turned, it wouldn't have been so enjoyable. That's part of the problem of needing to book in advance. If it's rainy, it could get uncomfortable as the team is exposed to the elements for the whole two hours of the game.
Technology is moving on and allowing for mystery games to not be limited to a locked room. By taking it out on to the streets, this is a unique, ingenious way to add something fresh to the puzzle game genre.
Operation Mindfall is a unique, lively experience that would work for relatives, friends or even work colleagues. The game is open to teams of between two and four players, and costs £45 per team.
For tickets, or for more information on how to book, go to the Operation Mindfall page on the Escape Hunt website.
Operation Mindfall is the latest game to be added to Escape Hunt in Birmingham, giving up to four players the task of saving the world from a deadly virus.
Instead of an hour, there's two hours to complete the adventure and it takes you out of a locked room and on to the streets around the city centre to complete a series of challenges using latest technology.
The premise of this latest story, Operation Mindfall, is a James Bond style spy thriller. A game-master explains that in 120 minutes time, a deadly virus with the power to control the minds of the human race will be activated by Spider Tech from a secure location in Birmingham city centre. Under the code name Operation Mindfall, players must take on the role of undercover detectives and foil Spider Tech's plans in order to save the world.
An electronic tablet and other tools help teams to find clues
Using the latest in augmented reality and geolocation technology, teams must take to Birmingham's streets, working together to find the anti-virus and destroy Spider Tech's servers before it's too late.
The team is equipped with an electronic tablet and briefcase containing gadgets, including a test-tube, that will be needed to solve riddles en-route before reaching the final conundrum. A smart phone is also necessary during the game.
As the tablet steers the team around the city, pointing out where clues are on a map, there is a race against the clock to complete the mission.
I experienced the game from Escape Hunt's base at the top of Corporation Street with a team of four friends and the riddles get everyone involved with a range of problems to solve from observation techniques to mathematics puzzles and even a scientific experiment.
Travelling around the city on foot - leisurely covering about half a mile or so - it feels a little like being Anneka Rice in Treasure Hunt, especially as you are surrounded by the general public getting on with their lives. It's fun, different and there is something about tracking down clues on the electronic map that gets the adrenaline pumping.
I've grown up in and around Birmingham but this game even highlighted parts of the city centre that I wasn't aware of, which add to the satisfaction at completing this game.
The only drawback is that while it was a lovely sunny day during my experience, if the weather turned, it wouldn't have been so enjoyable. That's part of the problem of needing to book in advance. If it's rainy, it could get uncomfortable as the team is exposed to the elements for the whole two hours of the game.
Getting out and about with friends is unique and fun
Technology is moving on and allowing for mystery games to not be limited to a locked room. By taking it out on to the streets, this is a unique, ingenious way to add something fresh to the puzzle game genre.
Operation Mindfall is a unique, lively experience that would work for relatives, friends or even work colleagues. The game is open to teams of between two and four players, and costs £45 per team.
For tickets, or for more information on how to book, go to the Operation Mindfall page on the Escape Hunt website.
Why? Fun new outdoor detective game perfect for summer holidays
When: Booking available between 10am and 10pm every day
Phone: 0121 233 3023
Website: https://escapehunt.com/uk/birmingham
Where: 120 – Escape Hunt, 122 Corporation Street, The Square, B4 6SX
Cost: £45 a team of up to 4 people
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