An ambitious concept with a disappointing execution


 

Table of Contents

Location: Singapore Science Centre

Date Played: Sept 2023

Team size: 7; we recommend 2 - 8

Duration: 1 hour

Price: ~S$25-30 on their website, depending if it's peak period

Premise

How does extreme fear affect the human brain? Xander, who goes by Dr. X, is determined to find out at any cost. A failed academic spurned by his peers for his unethical methods, Dr. X set up his own laboratory to continue his research.

Some unsuspecting targets, lured to his facility by the promise of never feeling fear again, have never returned. One of them is your friend. The only way to get him back is to venture into the facility yourself.

Are you afraid? Well, you should be…

Pro Tip

For those planning to embark on this escape room adventure, heed our advice and enter through the Science Centre itself before seeking out "Escape @ Science Centre." We learned this the hard way, wandering aimlessly before discovering the entrance.

Additionally, while Dr. X incorporates mild horror elements into the game, it should be suitable for children above the age of 12.

Gameplay

Diverging from the typical escape room setup, Dr. X introduces an intriguing mechanic: the observer. One member of your team is separated from the rest for most of the game, confined to the observation room. This player has their unique set of puzzles to solve and must occasionally communicate critical information to the rest of the team.

Regrettably, I was assigned this role during our playthrough, and it proved to be an underwhelming experience. Only a handful of puzzles facilitated communication between the two groups, leaving me perplexed as to why the team was divided in the first place. I spent a significant 80% of the game alone in the observation room, missing out on the excitement of exploring new areas and brainstorming with friends.

Story

One significant issue I encountered with the game was the absence of a proper briefing and debriefing. Without a story introduction, I was left bewildered about my objective and why I was confined to the observation room. It wasn't until after the game that I had to consult their website to piece together the narrative.

Furthermore, once we completed the room, we were promptly ushered out without any inquiry about questions or a photo opportunity. This rushed conclusion slightly dampened the overall experience, as it felt like they were hurrying players in and out of the rooms.

Puzzles

As mentioned earlier, there were puzzles for both the primary group and the observer. Given my role as the observer, I can only comment on the puzzles I solved. These puzzles could be categorized into two groups. The first involved conveying information to the primary group to aid in their puzzle-solving. These puzzles were few and far between and did not bring me the satisfaction your average puzzle would have.

The second comprised busywork puzzles aimed at consuming time until the main team required assistance once again. Alongside being isolated in the observation room, they felt dry and boring to accomplish.

Based on discussions with my group after the experience, the puzzles in the observation room paled in comparison to those encountered by the primary group. Nevertheless, the main team found joy in solving puzzles and exploring new rooms, akin to a traditional escape room.

Verdict

In my personal opinion, I would not recommend this room if you're assigned the observer role. However, I still had a moderately enjoyable experience, and my group seemed to have fun with it, so preferences may vary.

Fortunately, their other escape rooms, "Museum of Mankind" and "Shangri-La," do not feature an observer role, and I am looking forward to trying them out. Additionally, your admission includes free access to the rest of the Science Centre, so consider exploring it before or after your game!

Rating: 3/5

★★★✩✩

You can book now through their website