So some Saturdays ago, we assembled a ragtag team of Escape Gamers to join the Survey Corps and escape not just a room, but an entire stadium at the Real Escape Game: Attack on Titan. It took place on the 13 and 14 of December 2014, and I joined their 13 December evening game.
Here’s their website, and this is their Facebook page. Support support OK! They’ll bring in more games if it becomes popular.
OK bluff la I didn’t assemble so much as jio people to play, as much as I was jioed to play. But anyway, here’s some background.
If you’re not familiar with escape room games, Wikipedia is your friend. Basically you’re locked in an enclosed area, and to escape you need to find clues and solve puzzles to escape. It’s like LARPing without the costumes (you can wear costumes if you like). You get to pretend to be Sherlock Holmes, but with less IQ and more EQ.
Attack on Titan is, you know, that show where humans have to defend their world against Titans, and thus launch an attack on the Titans? The human heroes are from the Survey Corps, who are armed with sharp blades and devices that let them web sling across the air in battle.
The premise is that they live inside a city with giant walls to protect them from the marauding Titans. And the premise of this game is that you’re in one of the Walled Cities, but you have to escape it. Hence the escape game concept!
Although this game is over, you can follow their Facebook page and join their other themed games. I hope a Marvel/DC one comes soon, or maybe even a Sailor Moon one! What. I like Sailor Moon.
So they’re all decked in their Survey Corps cloaks. Nifty! I should have cosplayed or something but it was outdoors and warm. I brought my Swordbrella though.
They even stand at attention when you enter the stadium! They really take their Survey Corps duties seriously.
Everyone gets seated on the stadium steps, but the briefing begins on the other side of the stadium, by Erwin Smith. Don’t worry, I had to Google that, so if you don’t remember that character, here’s the Wikipedia link for him.
The surroundings of the stadium. Didn’t take too many pictures because I didn’t want to spoil the game or give away any clues… but seriously, you’ll need all the help you can get. I don’t know whether Googling will provide the answers you seek.
And that, my friends, is your final objective – Eren. I wonder how much a life-sized statue would cost – and to ship, since the game is on a global tour right now.
And the game begins! Then it rained.
They gave us ponchos – that were green. I applaud their effort to pick green ones, because remember the Survey Corps cloaks? In any case, we had to head back to the stadium because it was Cat 1 weather, and it wouldn’t be good if anyone got struck by lightning.
It was an hour plus delay, but I think they handled it pretty well! The Survey Corps entertained us with teachings of salutes, and the occasional announcement. For such a stormy disaster to occur before the game, they certainly weathered it well. Haha.
After this, the game started in earnest! We got our game kits and started solving the puzzles at different locations – each one a significant place from Attack on Titan. The gaming staff helped with the verisimilitude by constantly saluting and making Shingeki no Kyojin references. But it’s still a stadium after all.
The castle walls were one of the locations we had to head to. I estimate there were maybe 400 people at the game? I’m a bad estimater though so don’t take my word for it.
The puzzles were best solved with teamwork. Good organisation and leadership is necessary for – ah whatever la, just have fun. But the puzzles were not easy. And as I mentioned earlier, we never escaped the Walled City.
But hey, at least Eren started steaming (you know because the Titans have high body temperature?) and that meant he was awakening.
Anyway, it was fun for a first escape room game (although I’m very sore I didn’t escape/win). Check out their Facebook page and website for other anime-themed games (I hope!).
Also, the creator of the Real Escape Game came to Singapore and made a special appearance at the end. I think it was to see how many people didn’t solve his puzzles (I know I would be that sadistic), but it was nice gesture. His name is Takao Kato (I THINK), Google him if you have time!
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