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◣ GAME'S SPECS
🕹️ In Person Experience » Escape Room
💪 Difficulty not specified.
⏲️ 60 minutes duration limit.
🔢 Accommodating 2-10 players, public/private booking (by choice).
💬 Hints provided at players' request. (If memory serves me correctly, hints are displayed on a monitor screen.)
🛒 If you BOOK GAME due to this blog, please give EscapeMattster.com a shout out! ;)
◣ MATTSTER'S TAKE
💪 Difficulty: For Matt's team of 4, extremely fun but not hard at all, 3 to 4/10.
🔢 Ideal Team Size: Though I brought 4, a team of 2-3 with good experience could arguably finish with ease.
🤷♂️ Best Fit For: I honestly think everyone who is even remotely interested in playing an escape game will be thoroughly impressed by "Whitmore Estate". If you're old enough, brave enough, and passionate enough to ride "The Haunted Mansion" at Disney Parks, then even all the more compelling to pay a visit to Whitmore residence.
🍵 Boils Down To: One of the best original escape room creations ever landed in the SoCal market. It checks off everything at the top of its class, engaging narrative, amazing visuals, immersive game play. An industry leader.
Ⓜ️ Overall Rating: I tend not to rate rooms with a numerical system, but I am pretty sure this is a bajillion out of 10. (This is not how it works? No? Well, that's why I don't rate my rooms with numbers, but my fervor for this game stands!)
...WHOA! LOVED IT.
THIS JOINS 🏆 "MUST DO!" 🏆 RANK!
◣ PREMISE
An award winning crime novelist inherits his family's mansion after their untimely demise. Soon after, he is reported missing. Residents throughout the local community are on edge as they witness strange events on the property. Can you uncover the secret at Whitmore Estate?
◣ ANALYSIS
Special Notes
This game play took place before pandemic announcement in the United States (before March 2020). This review reflects previous business standards & practice at the time. Your experience may follow new health & safety guidelines where and when applicable. Please contact business venue for operating hours, booking info, and other further inquiries.
The following is adapted from a Yelp review I've previously published.
The Detailed Read
Once in a while, I encounter an escape room so perfectly designed and executed, my mind is just completely at awe upon game completion. Today, I had to pleasure to try out Breaking Point's next entry "The Secret At Whitmore Estate", and this exact sentiment coursed through my entire body. My brain tried to completely process what I just witnessed in the past hour, while I literally held my cheeks in my two hands in disbelief.
This Disney's Haunted Mansion inspired addition had been almost a year in the making. Last I visited to play "Patient 17", this was already on owners Rick & Ryan's to-do. To finally witness their baby after a lengthy wait, one can only imagine how much hard work (painstaking considerations, meticulous designs, and laborious construction) this long time frame entails. And most fortunately, every bit of that effort shows... excuse me, shines through... wait, COMPLETELY EFFIN' BLOWS MY MIND.
The owners didn't want to release this unstoppable force of an escape room to the public until it's absolutely spotlight ready. They took their time, made sure everything was perfect, and they want this game to be among the leaders of the industry. And let me assure you, this room has surpassed their debut effort, will rightfully become their flagship attraction, and it's definitely something I'd continually recommend others!
The Secret At Whitmore Estate ▪ Breaking Point Escape Rooms
The main story behind the Estate involves solving the mysterious disappearance of the Whitmore family, and that's pretty much all I can divulge without spoiling the tale. However, this game fully understands what's good storytelling within the confines of a 60-minute escape room: 1) an intriguing but not over-complicated plot, 2) presented in small bite-size chunks for easy digestion, and most importantly, 3) without requiring players to read lots of text. For such an enjoyable experience that was story-driven, I loved every moment without feeling bogged down. Bravo.
Art direction continues to be the *absolute greatest strength* of Breaking Point. Players are treated to a professionally produced video prior to entry, and this appropriately sets the tone to what's to follow--the gorgeous set! From beginning to end, this is a Hollywood grade experience. Through the door frame, you exit Rancho Cucamonga, and enters a fancy villa interior. (My friend's one-word description sums it up: authentic.) Whatever that I've praised about "Patient 17" applies here, and then some more. And to find out this is up to 90% or more DIY by the two guys that run the place--all the more amazing. That also means, you'll only get this one-of-a-kind treatment at this location, so, another reason to play.
The Secret At Whitmore Estate ▪ Breaking Point Escape Rooms
The meat of the escape room, the puzzles, also received a significant overhaul. While I liked the puzzles from "17", there are some minor issues that required tweaking for better customer satisfaction. "Whitmore", however, had no such issue. 100% logical. But to nitpick, these challenges were on the easier side, and will most likely not trump any veteran players for long. But hey, that just means even beginners and kids could savor in the satisfaction of solving these brain teasers. With that said, the elegant presentation supported by a beautiful set breathed new life into some classic puzzle clues, and each completed puzzle resulted in delightful reveals...
...Some very unforgettable ones, even. (Omg!)
There's just so much I am dying to tell you guys, but can't, and that's exactly the type of takeaway that you want in a premium escape room trip. A fun time and memories made that you want to talk to your friends and peers about for hours, or even days, on end.
And just to inform any hardcore escape fans, this game employs both amazing automated technology and basic lock and key system, and the two blended flawlessly into one harmonious stay at the enigmatic manor. Majority of challenges are fully incorporated into the story, with only few exceptions that are more "puzzle-obvious". Quite negligible with all things considered.
The Secret At Whitmore Estate ▪ Breaking Point Escape Rooms
I sincerely & urgently insist all escape room enthusiasts to book this room, especially for those who overlap as Disney fanatics. The various quite-so-obvious homage to the iconic Disneyland attraction are the icing on this delicious cake, but "Whitmore" in its own individual right was more than enough to be a star of its own in today's competitive market.
Lastly, I want to formally thank the owners for their hospitality, (being the great hosts that they always are,) and I hope your stubbornness for high standard and dedication to your crafts will continue to fuel the longevity of your business, the industry, and this incredible hobby that I've come to love so, so much.
Signing off,
ESCAPE MATTSTER
Instagram @EscapeMattster ▪ Facebook.com/EscapeMattster
All media are sourced from and credited to rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. In certain cases, media materials are made available under fair use doctrine of copyright law. BPERWhitmore.