Break The Code+, a premium room escape theme park, recently opened its doors at One Utama with bigger, more exciting room escape themes. With its successful first outlet opened in Penang since November 2012, Break The Code+ requires players to solve puzzles, discover hidden clues and uncover mysteries to escape the well-thought concept rooms.
Originating from Japan, the reality escape games have gained the likes of worldwide fans before reaching Malaysian shores. With only 60 minutes given to the players, all the rooms in Break The Code+ feature modern, comprehensive technologies that offer the players a more surreal environment.
As of now, Break The Code+ has six different themes which are carefully designed by professionals: Alien, Avatar, Pontianak, Indiana Jones, Lost, Da Vinci and Mission Stealth. The players have to go through a minimum of three rooms for each theme, each with their own sets of challenging riddles and hidden clues. Each room requires a minimum of two players and may fit up to eight players per session.
I also got the opportunity to try out Break The Code+, so find out about my experience below! (NO SPOILERS)
The first theme we were given to try out was Da Vinci and there were five of us players. As we entered, we were only given two torch lights to guide us in the dimly lit room and the timer was set at 60 minutes. There was also a HELP button you could press if you needed guidance, but for each game, the players can only press HELP three times.
With clues to find and codes to unlock, each puzzle had a varying difficulty and there was ample space in all the rooms for us to roam around. I loved the brilliant use of props and space in each room as we had to look into every nook and cranny for possible answers. There was also music playing in the background.
Some of the puzzles were expected and mediocre, but there were a few technology-intensified puzzles that really surprised us. Most of the setups are similar to stuff you would only see in the movies, and I didn’t think that it could be made possible in real life. It was fairly challenging and we had to make repeated attempts to escape the room. The most memorable for me would be the final room as there were a few unexpected surprises in store for us.
After a 20-minute break, we were given the Pontianak theme to take on. Similar to the first room, we were given 60 minutes, a HELP button and two torch lights. This theme had an entirely different look and feel, and the puzzles were distinctive on their own. It required more thinking, and there were just as many challenges waiting for us.
However, one of the rooms was much smaller and at one point, my claustrophobia kicked in. There were only four of us but it already felt tight and constrained. I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like if there were eight players in that room. Perhaps, it would have been more comfortable if the room was well ventilated.
The rooms felt eerie and the props suited the theme very well. Although I expected it to be more horror movie-like, it really wasn’t. Yes, the music playing in the background did set the mood and there were a few props that frightened us, but that was about it. If you made me choose, I’d say that I enjoyed Da Vinci a lot better.
Overall, I admire the concept and the creativity that has been put into Break the Code+. Having said that, the mechanics in each room can be quite messy and a few things don’t function very well. Most of the props are also highly unsteady and would be destroyed easily if the players aren’t careful. For the price, I would expect more out of the rooms and for the installations to at least function smoothly.
Break the Code+ is definitely a fun and exciting activity for small families and groups of friends. I did enjoy myself and I would return to try out the other themes. Hopefully, my experience at Break the Code+ would be further enriched. Finally, I would like to commend the staff for being extremely kind and helpful while accommodating us.
Already experienced all the themes in Break the Code+? Don’t worry! New themes will be coming up very soon and the current themes would be switched out for new ones every nine months, depending on popularity.
Break the Code+
Unit S220, One Utama Shopping Mall,
Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya. (Beside Isetan, Level 2)
E-mail: 1utama@breakthecode.com.my
Phone: 03-7733 0684
Break the Code+ games are priced at RM34 (off peak) and RM38 (peak) per adult, and RM32 for students. Special packages are available for large groups or company team-building events. Kindly access this website for more information and updates.
*Prices may vary during promotional periods
