The Sorcerer's Study: Based on the Harry Potter book series, this room demanded that we cast the magical spell to defeat the bad guy and win the day.
Pros: The gamemasters were exceedingly kind and helpful throughout the game. They introduced the story clearly and kept us moving along. The theme music inspired us as we played even when our frustration over the puzzles grew. The set design was generally basic with a few added touches to give the sense of being in a magical room. Cons: There were only a few puzzles but we found them mostly tedious to solve. Most were more trial and error than actual solving. We would suggest a few more perhaps less complicated puzzles. The technology puzzles were nice but not necessarily always functioning properly. Check it out and judge for yourself.
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The Great Car Heist: This mechanic is involved in some shady business. We had to figure out what was going on in his garage and then get out quick.
Pros: We loved the waiting area at Brainy Actz. It was filled with games and we spent some time playing these and warming up our brain before heading into our room. The gamemaster quickly briefed us and escorted us into the garage. The set was decorated to theme with lots of props that gave it a realistic auto garage feeling. The gamemaster was very helpful and the hint system convenient to use. Cons: We struggled and failed on several puzzles due to mechanical failures and some logical fallacies. We definitely recommend they revisit the puzzles and consider adding guideposts to help direct players to the clues associated with the puzzles. We escaped only after MANY hints and extended time. The puzzles could be reworked to facilitate better game flow. But don't let this deter you. We definitely enjoyed playing at Brainy Actz and recommend you try it out. Curse of the Mummy: Trapped in a mummy's tomb, we had to find a way out fast or risk permanent entombment.
Pros: This is definitely a great place to take kids to introduce them to escape rooms. The family-friendly environment is perfect for parents wishing to host a birthday party at MagiQ. The rooms are appropriately decorated to theme. The puzzles, though difficult for children, are manageable with adult guidance and help. We really enjoyed the variety of puzzles, including mechanical puzzles (our favorite!). The storylines are simple but effective. The gamemasters quickly briefed us and helped us throughout the game. Cons: Because MagiQ is kid-friendly it is perhaps less adult-friendly, especially for avid escape room fans. We were a bit overwhelmed by the birthday party that filled the lobby. The high-volume excitement of the children and cake fragments scattered around the lobby almost caused us to flee, but our love of the game encouraged us to stick to the game plan. In the end, we were glad we did because we enjoyed the game very much! However, adult teams be warned and consider playing a later game time or booking a room at PaniQ instead if you wish to avoid the birthday crowd. Bunker: As members of a terrorist cell, we were seeking to destroy crucial evidence hidden in a torture chamber.
Pros: The game master was exceedingly kind in allowing us to play as walk-ins. We zoomed through the puzzles with no need for a hint until we entered the final room where we stumbled a bit with a difficult lock and trouble finding the final clue. Ultimately we succeeded in escaping the bunker. The puzzles were all simple and logical, clearly aligned to theme. The game master was kindly and assisted as needed. The set had just enough of a dingy and dirty look to make it realistic to theme. A great gaming experience overall. Cons: Parking (or the lack thereof). You will know what we mean once you get there. Wild West: Locked up in the local jail, we had to make our escape before the sheriff returned.
Asylum: The inmates are running the asylum and our goal was to get out fast. Perfect Crime: Like the board game Clue only better. Who done it? When? With what weapon? Where? We had to figure it all out. PanIQ San Jose is a welcome addition to the San Jose escape room scene. They had only been open a week when we played all three of their rooms. We are happy to report that the experience was top-notch from start to finish. The waiting room was neat and tidy. All of the gamemasters were efficient and friendly. We started our day in the Wild West room and were immediately impressed with the quality of the set design. This room and the other two rooms were perfectly decorated to theme. The sturdy construction made for a great user experience. There was enough searching to make the game fun, but not so many props and so much furniture to prove overly distracting. The game play proceeded smoothly in a simple linear fashion. We did not easily escape, but the puzzles were logical and relatively straight-forward. We completed each game with ten minutes or less to spare and struggled a bit as a result of our own mistakes. The game master helped guide us with hints to keep our game perfectly on pace. We really enjoyed the mix of mechanical, kinesthetic, logic, deductive reasoning and symbol puzzles. Honestly we loved PanIQ room and will highly recommend it to all of our friends. We have played so many poor or middle of the road escape rooms lately that we were pleasantly surprised by our overall awesome experience at PanIQ room. Go play here! |
Cover photo taken at Countdown Live .EscapeologistsWe are escape room fanatics who have played over 370 games in the U.S. and Europe. We love the art of escapology and we wanted to share our adventures in playing room escapes with you! Our StatsRooms Played: 370 Categories
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