A Totally Honest Review of the Assassin’s Creed VR Escape Room: Beyond Medusa’s Gate

So, you’ve probably heard about virtual reality escape rooms, right? Well, this one, Beyond Medusa’s Gate, is actually based on the giant video game, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. The whole idea is that you and a few friends, like, literally get to step right into Ancient Greece, which is a pretty cool concept to be honest. I was a little bit excited to give it a try, you know, because putting on a headset and leaving the real world behind for an hour sounds like a really good time. In some respects, it promises an adventure that’s sort of more interactive than just sitting on your couch. Anyway, my friends and I booked a session, sort of not knowing exactly what we were getting into, which was basically part of the fun.

Honestly, the promise of seeing those beautiful Greek locations from the game up close was a really big draw for me. It’s almost like you get to be the hero in your own movie, which is a feeling that’s pretty hard to beat. You kind of get to pick your own avatar, so you can see your friends in the game as these ancient Greek figures, and that’s just hilarious from the start. We were all laughing as we, you know, looked at our virtual hands and funny outfits. I mean, it’s a completely different kind of group activity compared to, like, going bowling or something. This is like your whole group gets teleported to another time, pretty much.

First Impressions: Suiting Up for Ancient Greece

Okay, so getting started was actually very straightforward. The staff at the location were, like, really helpful and showed us how all the gear worked, which was a bit of a relief. You just put on a headset, which is sort of lighter than you’d think, and then you get a controller for each hand. At the end of the day, it’s not super complicated gear. But, frankly, the moment they turn the simulation on is completely mind-blowing. One second you’re, like, in a normal room, and the next you are basically standing on a cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea. Seriously, the change is just so sudden and total.

The first thing you notice is the size of everything; I mean, the scale is just huge. The statues and buildings are, you know, absolutely gigantic, and you feel really small standing next to them. The colors are incredibly bright, and you can, like, hear the wind and the distant sea, and so on. It’s almost like you can feel the sun on your skin, it’s that convincing. You kind of spend the first few minutes just looking around with your mouth open. Honestly, we all did, just sort of pointing out different things to each other, like, “Whoa, look at that ship!” or “Can you believe how high up we are?”. That first taste of the world is a really powerful part of the whole thing.

The Core Experience: Puzzles, Teamwork, and… Archery!

So, what do you actually do in this thing? Well, basically, you and your group have to solve a bunch of puzzles together to move forward. Unlike a lot of other things, it’s really not something one person can do alone. For instance, I might be standing on a platform where I can see some symbols, but my friend across the room has to, you know, turn a wheel to the correct ones. You are constantly talking, like, “Okay, now turn it to the snake! No, the other snake!” which obviously leads to some funny mix-ups. The puzzles are sort of clever, but not so hard that you get completely stuck, which is a good balance, right?

As a matter of fact, the puzzles often require you to use your body in interesting ways. You might have to physically duck under something, or reach up to grab a ledge, or even work together to, like, carry a heavy object across a room. This is sort of what makes it feel so different from a video game. But, you know, the absolute best part for nearly everyone is the archery. You get a virtual bow, and you have to physically mimic the action of pulling back the string and aiming. Frankly, hitting a target with an arrow you just fired feels incredibly satisfying. We honestly spent a few moments just shooting arrows for fun because the mechanic felt so good and natural.

Just How ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Is It?

For fans of the games, you’re probably wondering if this really feels like Assassin’s Creed, and that’s a fair question. Well, the look and feel are definitely spot-on. The artists, like, absolutely nailed the appearance of ancient Greece, with the white-stone buildings and the big, dramatic statues and stuff. You just feel like you’ve been dropped right into the world of Odyssey, you know? You’ll even see some things you recognize from the game, which is a pretty cool little nod for people who have played it.

To be honest, the atmosphere is there, one hundred percent. You are sort of sneaking around, climbing things, and looking out over these incredible vistas. It just has that grand, adventurous feeling that the games do so well.

On the other hand, it’s pretty much a different kind of experience from the main series. Those games are often about solo action, like, sneaking around and fighting enemies by yourself. This experience is really all about teamwork and communication. There isn’t any of the complicated combat you might be used to; instead, the whole challenge comes from, you know, figuring out puzzles with your buddies. So, in short, it has the skin of Assassin’s Creed, but the heart is a totally cooperative puzzle adventure. And you know what? That actually works really, really well.

Is This VR Adventure for You? My Honest Recommendation

So, who should try this? Honestly, I think it’s for almost anyone looking for a unique group activity. It’s a fantastic choice for a group of friends, for example. You’ll be laughing and shouting instructions at each other the whole time, and it’s just a really great bonding experience. It could also be a surprisingly good idea for a family with teenagers, as a matter of fact. The puzzles require thinking, but they’re not so tough that they become frustrating. It’s just a really engaging way to spend an hour together, you know?

People who are new to VR would probably have a great time too. Since you are mostly stationary or just walking in a small, defined area, the chance of feeling any motion sickness is, like, really low. It’s actually a perfect introduction to what virtual reality can do. Hardcore gamers might find it a little on the simple side, but I mean, the pure fun of being in that world with friends kind of makes up for it. Basically, if you want an activity that’s more than just sitting around, and you want to feel like you’ve been on a little trip to another world, this is absolutely for you. It’s a pretty memorable thing to do.

A Few Quick Tips Before You Go

Alright, if you do decide to book a session, here are a few little pieces of advice from me. First, you might want to just follow these to make your time a little bit smoother. It’s really nothing major, just some simple things to keep in mind.

• Seriously, wear some comfortable clothes and shoes. You’ll be standing for about an hour and, like, moving your arms around quite a bit, so you want to be comfy.

• Okay, communication is everything here, for real. You literally have to talk to your teammates nonstop, describing what you see and what you’re doing.

• Don’t be afraid to experiment, you know? If you have a weird idea for solving a puzzle, just try it. Sometimes the answer is pretty much not what you would expect at first glance.

• Finally, remember to look around! The world is really beautiful, so take a second here and there to just soak in the view from the top of a cliff or the inside of a massive cave. It’s almost a shame to rush through it.

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