Escape Room Ennis - Under Siege Review (Non-Live Experience)

Hi all

Sorry for the hiatus.  Life has been busier than ever, but I’m finally getting around to writing up my escape room reviews.  There is nothing like the impending TERPECA deadline to focus one’s attention…

In June 2021, my wife and I played Under Siege, an online escape room based in Ennis, Ireland.  We beta tested the room for the owners (who were on Zoom with us while we played).  Usually, this is not a Live Experience game (but it was for us). 

Under Siege was my 189^th escape room experience.  The theme of the room is as follows:

It is Year 972: Brian Boru was one of the twelve sons of the King of Thomond (County Clare). YOU are a member of the Norse Vikings that have settled in Limerick under the leadership of “Ivar of Limerick”. Brian Boru and the Vikings had a strange relationship of both co-operation and of conflict. ​ You have heard rumours that Brian Boru is planning to attack the Vikings to gain full control of Limerick. You and your friends have stealthily crept into Brian Boru’s tower and found his war room. You discover evidence that he plans to attack your people in exactly one hour. You need to get back to your people, get onto your ship, and set sail before you are all killed. But Boru’s men have locked you into the tower!!​ You have only 60 minutes to escape the tower, get to your ship, and set sail before certain death at the hands of Brian Boru!

Here’s what I thought about Under Siege:

·         Under Siege is a photo-sphere room of a real life escape room (our first Irish room!);

·         the theming was strong.  All of the props and puzzle elements made sense in the space;

·        I would describe Under Siege as a strong beginner’s room.  The puzzles were all logical and solvable and there was an interesting variety of puzzles of varying difficulty levels.  I’m not entirely sure how long it took us to escape, but my vague memory is that it was around the 30-40 minute mark); and

·         all of the puzzles made sense and were satisfying once solved.  The game play is a point and click-style online game.  We had no technical issues and the room ran very smoothly for us.

I think Under Siege is a strong online point and click-style room, particularly for beginners and families.  The game master (and owner) was amazed that we managed to solve one puzzle out of order – we only had some of the information but it was enough to decipher what was required (apparently no other team had done so before us). 

Where:                          Virtual room (online)

Virtual Room Type:      Non-Live Experience

Duration:                      60 minutes

Themes:                       2 online rooms

Cost:                             19.99 Euro per player

Overall Rating:             Strong beginners point and click room

More details:                https://www.escaperoomsshannon.com/online-games