While our Nursery game continues to thrill, stop hearts, cause panic, and ramp up anxiety, to this day, after almost 2,000 games run, we have only a handful of groups—literally a handful—that have gotten out, and maybe another healthy handful who got really close to completing the game. With the extended time and tasks that the game asks its players to partake in, and the entity inside that continues to haunt the Nursery, it is apparent that there must be a way to help our customers reach the epic ending that we spent so much time working on, and yet, have no one to show it to. We then had to think back during the review and ask ourselves a few questions:
1. Is it too scary? Perhaps.
2. Are people having fun? Absolutely.
3. Are the puzzles crazy hard? Absolutely not.
Then what could it be? Maybe there are few games with live actors waiting for you around the corner, or maybe people haven’t experienced a crawling-speed race with the entity, or maybe people just like being trapped with the spirits that haunt the room. With all the “maybes” out there, we decided to pray to the guardian spirits that still want to help our patrons escape the Nursery. So, we decided to add sacred items to help our guests best the room. With the addition of these items, we’ve been able to see a spike in how far our customers get. However, some still believe that using them at will enables them to escape—which is far from the reality. All groups must be careful when they choose to use each item, and not use them on impulse, because it can greatly increase their chances of survival from the entities that lie in wait within the Nursery.
Here is a brief explanation of all the items:
#1 - Joey’s Light: It’s interesting what our mind does to us when we hear movement and noise surrounding us, yet our eyes are not built to see through the darkness. Joey, the Nursery’s first guardian, left a spark of light for those who fear the darkness.
#2 - Simba’s Leash: Simba was Molly’s first pet puppy, who always saw through the darkness and helped defend Molly against the malevolent spirits that occupy the same space. With Simba’s Leash, no spirit will be able to break the boundaries to reach those protected by it.
#3 - Daniel’s Will: Daniel was the first victim of the Nursery, who vowed his life to protect the children inside. By the grace of the guardian spirits, those who don Daniel’s will can permanently remove one mark of death for the entire team.
#4 - Justin’s Essence: By far one of the friendliest spirits left to help the children of the Nursery, those who invoke Justin’s essence are able to bring a friend along to help them through the darkness.
#5 - Mox’s Gift: The greatest faith healer that roamed the land once helped to cleanse the Nursery of the entities. Battling for three days and three nights, the darkness was fought to a standstill, and for several years following, there was peace within the Nursery. He left behind an hourglass that will help all those with a pure heart stop time within a small, confined space, just enough time to escape the clutches of any predators within the Nursery.
#6 - Kwon’s Echo: Tales of a powerful shaman, who acted as a guardian to the land and husband to Annie, the Life Preserver, tell that he once entered the Nursery. Using his spiritual skills, he was able to give peace to all spirits within a 30-foot radius, which included the vile entities inside the Nursery. Before he left, he gave the Nursery a powerful tool that would ease the spirits and heal the living. It is a powerful tool that can aid players and give them a chance at redemption on any task.
#7 - Annie’s Rosary: Annie, known to the land as the Mother of Life and wife to Kwon the Shaman, was the most powerful guardian that ever graced the Nursery. Her aura alone suppressed all spirits in their place, giving peace, silence, and life back to everyone. This item is by far the most powerful item left behind to help those traverse the Nursery.
As I mentioned previously, the chances of success increase with the items above, but it remains up to the group to decide when and where to use each item. Carelessly using each item may be costly to your escape.
As always, we await your next escape… Are you game?