A witty and smartly devised virtual escape room that expands on the Agent November universe.
After a hugely successful mission at the 2020 Adelaide Fringe with the Major X Ploe-Shun escape room, Agent November and his crack team of spies have entered the work of lockdown and social distancing with a new, virtual escape room adventure that happens live in your living room.
With times allocated for Australian audiences, this UK-based outfit has done it again, bringing technology into the mix to allow teams of up to six players to see through the experimental cybernetic ocular and audio implants in Agent November. The mission is to help him escape from the clutches of his arch enemy, Marty Orri.
The situation builds on the imagined world of Agent November, with the dastardly Major X Ploe-Shun also returning to the story arc and international jewel thief Robyn Yew entering the fray.
Players log on via a Zoom meeting and interact directly with the groggy, kidnapped Agent, played again with tongue firmly in cheek by Nathan Glover. The mission is to solve a series of puzzles to let him escape, but the visual and audio implants will only last an hour before they burn out.
Red herrings and ‘COVID Gold’ both intensify the challenge which has been designed specifically to be played online. It’s a well-thought out concept that quickly dispels any misgivings and provides a solid hour of entertainment and exercise for the brain. Players interact with each other and the Agent, instructing him on what to do and where to look as each puzzle leads to another in a race against the clock across multiple rooms until the final door is reached. Teamwork is essential, and there’s no time to rest.
Much like their real-world mission at the Adelaide Fringe, Virtual X-Caper offers plenty of chuckles and a few bald patches from scratching your head, but Agent November is always able to nudge you along if you get too stuck. With that in mind, it’s suitable for any skill level but it is always advisable to have at least one experienced escape room artist in your team until you get your head around how it all works.
The cheaper ticket price when compared to real-world escape rooms adds to the appeal of this highly successful adventure. A number of Australian-friendly timeslots have been scheduled throughout October with future sessions being added for local audiences according to demand. Contact the company directly if none are listed.
Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet
Agent November: Virtual X-Caper
Where: Participate from home via Zoom
When: 6:30pm, 8:30pm or 10:30pm from 21 February to 21 March 2021
Duration: 75 minutes
Tickets: $28
Bookings: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/agent-november-escape-rooms-virtual-x-caper-live-from-london-af2021
This review was originally published on 7 October 2020. It has been republished because the virtual experience is being offered again in the 2021 Adelaide Fringe.
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