The Creepy Store and the Lost Souls

Escapepolis has opened a second location! In Galatsi, a suburb in the north of Athens, 5 brand new, very different themed escape games will be created. Three of them (Dark Mirror, Gustav Eiffel and Creepy Store) are already playable, and the other two (Hellevator and The Butcher) are scheduled to open by the end of the year.

The Leof. Veikou, where the new building is located, is a busy street with many bars and restaurants. We have taken refreshments in a traditional Greek restaurant nearby, to be ready for the escape triathlon at Escapepolis, which was supposed to last 5 hours (105’+80’+120′).

The building, with its large white lettering and colourful posters that look like cinema advertising, is hard to miss. Already the spacious entrance and reception area, where also the effective team photos are taken, is pretty impressive. We were received very hospitably.

Even the outer facade of the Creepy Store, which was the first of our triathlon stations, was a real eye-catcher! A general store during the Halloween time in New Jersey in the eighties. When suddenly, as if by magic, the door swings open and we enter the shop, we are overwhelmed by the detailed, cinematic setting. Professionals were at work here! Huge shelves packed with toys, household goods, food. On the counter sweets and Halloween matching decoration objects. I was immediately captivated by the massive atmosphere and did not know where to look first.

But, we are not here to shop, we want to find out what the urban myths are all about that the hermetically sealed shop of John and Martha is haunted. Strangely enough, the doors of the shop open for a few hours only once a year, on a very specific day. Now we are standing in the so-called “Devils Store”. That’s what I call timing!

The Creepy Store is not huge, so I think three, maximum four players are suitable. The puzzles, just like sound and music, fit well into the theme. Some tasks can be solved in parallel, others require teamwork. I liked the help System. It’s very innovative.

As the story progresses, the store reveals more and more of its dark secrets in the second part, until the whole thing culminates in a really brilliant climax, which left a lasting impression on me, especially because of the spectacular audio-visual effects. The end really stressed me out (in a good way). Great!!!