May 26, 2018 – After staying overnight just southwest of St. Louis, I started early toward Kansas City, double and triple-checked my map to confirm Tick Tock Escape was in Kansas, not Missouri, and mentally prepared myself for day two of my whirlwind journey across the midwest.
I had been to Kansas City once before, spending more time on the Missouri side. My previous trip was memorable because I had the pleasure to watch the “1” in the Green Bay Packers 15-1 season, with the one loss being to the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City. It was still a really fun trip, and I recommend a trip to Kansas City for any football or baseball fan- the stadiums are next to each other in a giant bowl in the ground, which makes for a great pregame atmosphere.
My booking at Tick Tock was for the Beasley’s Billions room. The premise of the room is to earn a portion of Uncle Beasley’s estate by solving the challenges. The room appears simple enough upon entry, but as I progressed through the challenges, it became increasingly elaborate.
Tick Tock’s site pitches Beasley’s Billions as a good mix of fun and challenge and a perfect introduction to anyone new to escape rooms. I agree with their assessment. The puzzles are accessible, and there are quite a few references to pop culture that would be recognizable across multiple generations. There’s a good mix of seek & find and puzzling, so there’s something for everyone.
I can vouch for the advertised challenge level, as I was not able to complete Beasley’s Billions within the limits. I actually finished the room in under an hour, but I had to use an extra hint which deducted minutes off my final time and caused me to take a loss. Though I didn’t win, I still had a fantastic time. I like when escape rooms offer unlimited hints with a time penalty to adjust the final score, because it gives players the best possible chances to experience all the puzzles in under an hour. I also give credit to the game masters for giving hints that offered just enough of a nudge to get me going in the right direction.
I had a little bit of time to spare before hitting the road again (I hadn’t decided yet if my next stop was to be Oklahoma or Nebraska), so I jumped into another of Tick Tock’s escape rooms, the Pyramid Paradox. The Pyramid Paradox room offered even more advanced technology and theatrics, and I was eager to check it out.
The room was just as advertised. I was especially impressed by the one-of-a-kind puzzle mechanics, where Tick Tock’s designers built completely original ways of inputting answers to the puzzles which fit perfectly into the pyramid theme.
I also appreciated all the touches of showmanship in the room. Each time I made a significant discovery, the room would reward me with some kind of lighting or sound cue which really built upon my little triumphs. While I’m a puzzle guy at the end of the day, I also appreciate the theatrical touches escape rooms add, and Tick Tock did a wonderful job of that here.
I escaped the pyramid with only seconds to spare and kept up my streak of having at least one victory in each state I visited. I was thrilled with my time at Tick Tock Escape, and the game masters were nice enough to recommend a few local BBQ joints to check out before I left town. (I ended up missing out on those due to my timetable, but I’ll be back…)
I appreciate the fact that you have shared. Which of the two escape rooms at Beasley’s—the Pyramid Paradox and Billions—most piqued your interest among the special challenges? I’m interested in trying them out.