Chamber Of Illusions at Enter The Imaginarium – Full Review

Chamber Of Illusions at Enter The Imaginarium is a Escape Room located in , .

32 Alpha Drive W, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
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Chamber Of Illusions at Enter The Imaginarium Website

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This attraction was reviewed on May 27, 2018 by Team Houdini.

Final Score: 9.72

Summary:

Team Houdini recently received an invitation to ‘Enter the Imaginarium.’ Once inside, we had to navigate the ‘Labyrinth on the Minotaur’ and delve deep into the madness of The Inventors Paradox and the Chamber of Illusions, two of the Imaginarium escape rooms. We were also lucky enough to discover that a third room is in production. Unfortunately, we could not get any additional information on this new room.

The Imaginarium offers a mix of first generation (basic locks and puzzles) and second generation (advanced puzzles using computers and advanced technology). What sets the Imaginarium apart from others is that it’s a collaboration between the Scarehouse, one of Pittsburgh’s most theatrical haunted attractions, and the Bricolage Production Company, an immersive theater experience in downtown Pittsburgh. I have had the pleasure of visiting the Scarehouse on numerous occasions over the past 20 years and have never been let down. Knowing the Hollywood style sets and detail that is put into the horrors at the Scarehouse, I had high hopes for these escape rooms. I am unfamiliar with Bricolage Production. However, after our experience, I will definitely be looking into their theater experiences!


Atmosphere & Customer Service: 9.5

We had no trouble finding The Imaginarium using Google Maps on our GPS. They are located in the heart of Harmarville, in an old nightclub. It is difficult to see from the main road as it sits behind a few buildings. There is a sign on the corner with the name and a picture of a brain. The building has a quiet, industrial look, with only a small awning with the name listed on it. Although plain, the lack of d������cor adds to the mystery of what is to come.

As we approached the doors, we noticed the glass of the doors was blacked out, providing no clue of what was inside. The doors were locked and we had to ring the doorbell for entrance. As we waited after ringing the bell, an ominous voice instructed us to enter. As we opened the door, we arrived in what I would refer to as a pre-lobby. We don’t want to spoil what’s inside, but after a minute or so, the ominous voice returned and instructed us on what to do next. This provided a cult-like vibe, like we were a part of something secret. My recommendation; be prepared. The Imaginarium will begin to reveal itself soon.

Before the games begin you will be taken to a different world. While looking around, we were surprised when our game master (Liz) appeared from a large room. She was calm, intense, and slightly arrogant in her role. The d������cor was antique, except for the bathrooms; they were modern and very clean.

The game master did not break character, keeping the immersion and illusion of being in another reality. Although there are no puzzles to warm up your brain, that doesn’t mean that you won’t need to work your brain. The Imaginarium definitely has some interesting concepts that I have not seen before. Pay attention.

This was the 2nd of the two rooms that we visited at Imaginarium. We were expecting the same spiel as our first time through, but this time was completely different, making it a completely unique experience.


Immersion: 9.72

The Chamber of Illusions is a sort of funhouse, or maybe a madhouse of magic and illusion where you must out-think the creator of the most elaborate tricks and illusions of all time. The sets were expansive and creative, tricking your senses, and providing the ambiance of supernatural mysticism with modern magic. The amount of detail is incredible. Surrounding you are famous magicians of the past, magic paraphernalia, and mystery. As a fan of magic (obviously, we are Team Houdini after all), I found the sets very enjoyable, but you do not have to be a fan of magic to enjoy this.

These areas are not just decorated or detailed areas, but they were completely immersive. You’re not just in a room decorated with a magic theme; you are definitely in this magician’s world, which provided a very unique experience. Unlike other escape rooms, the game master did not provide detail before entering the room, nor did she provide how to contact them for questions. You will hear an auditory backstory as you arrive and progress through the puzzles, unlocking more story and clues and you complete more and more puzzles. The music playing in the background fits the magic theme and the surroundings will provide additional sounds. Lighting provided even more enhancements as you make your way through the game, fitting the areas or story as needed. The story was interesting and completely unique. Unfortunately, it was not our day and we did not get to learn the ending to the story.


Gameplay: 9.83

The challenges were definitely distinct and perplexing. It has a great mix of puzzles that require memory, deduction, attention to surroundings and teamwork, to name a few. The puzzles followed a linear pattern, although multiple puzzles could be worked on at one time, which we feel is a good idea. Some puzzles may require multiple teammates working together, while some may be completed by a single person. The mixture of puzzles were exclusive and interactive to the magician theme.

Speaking of magic and misdirection, you will definitely encounter some along the way. The combination of an enigmatic story and awesome set design places you in the middle of your own movie. You are now the star of “Now You See Me 3,” and since you are the star of your own movie, you need an audience… the game master. When we were stuck on a puzzle or close to an answer but not quite able to get the answer, the game master would offer a hint. Once again they really are focusing on immersive theatrics. They want you to feel as if you are locked in an illusionist’s creative den.

Every 15 minutes, an audio clue would inform you of the time. Some of us liked this and some did not. On one hand, you don’t have the timer constantly staring you in the face. On the other, you don’t know how long you may be spending on one puzzle. It all comes down to personal preference.


Entertainment & Value: 9.75

We were so close, but yet so far from escaping this one. Regardless, we still had an amazing time. Overall, this is a one-of-a-kind, immersive experience with theatrical sets pieces and unique storytelling.

The cost is $31.99 per person (less if you book the whole room) up to a total of 10 people. This may be two dollars above average, but this is far above your average escape room.

At a success rate of 25%, which is slightly easier than the Inventor’s Paradox room that we tried, Chamber of Illusions is still one of the most challenging and immersive rooms we have experienced. It is definitely a great time out with friends!


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