Lockdown - Parkdale
Lockdown - Parkdale
4
Escape Games
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About
Lockdown is Ottawa's premier live room escape experience! How it works: You and your team are locked in a mysterious room. Now you must put your deductive problem solving skills to the test and see if you can escape before time runs out (45 minutes). Does your team have what it takes? Each escape room can lock up 2 to 6 people, though we think 4 to 6 works best. Bring your family and friends and be prepared to get Locked Down! Now with two locations! Parkdale Escape Rooms: 'Area 51' and 'Toys' Ogilvie Escape Rooms: 'The Visitors' and 'Save the Rave'
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
21 reviews
Excellent
14
Very good
1
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
1
minidoughbear
Ottawa, Canada3 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
When Groupon offered the Lockdown promotion, I eagerly snapped one up. As a huge fan of escape rooms, Lockdown was one of the few companies left that I had yet to experience. Unfortunately, I don't think I will go back to experience their second room unless it is also with a Groupon.
My group of 6 tried the Area 51 room. I was wary of the Toys rooms only because it is described as a family friendly room and I wasn't sure if it would be challenging enough. I was previously warned that unlike other escape rooms, Area 51 consisted more of searching rather than solving puzzles.
The waiting area is quite small, with no games or puzzles to pass the time while you wait for the rest of your party. There are no coat racks or lockers in their front waiting area; however, there are hooks in the individual escape room to hang your jackets or bags.
The introduction to the room by the host was standard. The story can be found on their website so I was already familiar with it. Once inside Area 51, our group immediately began searching for hints and clues. We did have to call in for a hint about 10 minutes in. I honestly believe we never would have found the first clue without calling in for help at that point. I would be curious to know how many other groups struggle with the first part of that room.
The main difference I noticed in this room was exactly what I had been told: you will spend the majority of your time searching rather than solving puzzles. This might be okay if it was your first escape room; however, having experienced many others, I was hoping for more of a challenge. This room featured no real "wow factor" and while my group was successful in escaping, it felt anti-climatic as we didn't even realize it was the last "puzzle". Not to mention, the way we solved the last puzzle was either pure, dumb luck or actually clever, strategic thinking. I can foresee other groups completing the last puzzle in the same manner we did.
I do have to commend Lockdown on the decor of the room. It was well decorated for the theme and the room did feature some neat details. I think this room has potential and I would recommend to incorporate some actual puzzles.
My group of 6 tried the Area 51 room. I was wary of the Toys rooms only because it is described as a family friendly room and I wasn't sure if it would be challenging enough. I was previously warned that unlike other escape rooms, Area 51 consisted more of searching rather than solving puzzles.
The waiting area is quite small, with no games or puzzles to pass the time while you wait for the rest of your party. There are no coat racks or lockers in their front waiting area; however, there are hooks in the individual escape room to hang your jackets or bags.
The introduction to the room by the host was standard. The story can be found on their website so I was already familiar with it. Once inside Area 51, our group immediately began searching for hints and clues. We did have to call in for a hint about 10 minutes in. I honestly believe we never would have found the first clue without calling in for help at that point. I would be curious to know how many other groups struggle with the first part of that room.
The main difference I noticed in this room was exactly what I had been told: you will spend the majority of your time searching rather than solving puzzles. This might be okay if it was your first escape room; however, having experienced many others, I was hoping for more of a challenge. This room featured no real "wow factor" and while my group was successful in escaping, it felt anti-climatic as we didn't even realize it was the last "puzzle". Not to mention, the way we solved the last puzzle was either pure, dumb luck or actually clever, strategic thinking. I can foresee other groups completing the last puzzle in the same manner we did.
I do have to commend Lockdown on the decor of the room. It was well decorated for the theme and the room did feature some neat details. I think this room has potential and I would recommend to incorporate some actual puzzles.
Written March 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sabrina D
Ottawa, Canada16 contributions
Oct 2015 • Friends
We got a groupon and ended up doing the Toys Escape Room. The building was a bit run down as a previous user mentioned, but that didn't effect the actual escape room at all! The women were very friendly and gave us clear instructions on how the room worked as it was our first one. We were SO close to getting out! We definitely want to go back and do the Area 51 room and am looking forward to seeing what the "coming soon" room has in store. We went in the day time and found parking simple on a side street. Great experience! Recommend checking it out!
Written October 26, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mit C
2 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
Lockdown just completely renovated their new rooms at the Ogilvie location within the last month by professional puzzle and set designers, so don't trust any of the old reviews here by people who played them really early! The new Return to Area 51 was launched 2 weeks ago and Save The Rave was this weekend. I've played all the escape rooms in Ottawa and the ones at the new Lockdown Ogilvie location are among the best! Extremely high quality, set design, fun factor and no red herrings! Lots of fun surprises! You do not need to have played Area 51 at the Parkdale location to play Return to Area 51 at the Ogilvie location as they're completely different. Highly recommended!!! The rooms at the Parkdale location are a little rough around the edges but the owners told me that those rooms will soon be renovated as well. Can't wait!
Written July 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Breadcool
Ottawa, Canada184 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
We took the kids to do Toys. My 9 year old daughter thought it was fun as it was her first escape room. The rest of us had done escape rooms before and although we varied in our views of how much fun we had, we all agreed that we were not impressed with the quality and design of Toys and that the experience was not worth the $90 we spent to do it.
There were some interesting elements to the room. I really liked the focal point, but I felt it didn't fit the theme very well. I also liked the puzzle which is out of reach and the means of activating it. The giant puzzle was neat but it could have been much more user friendly instead of assembling it and then needing to disassemble parts of it. It could have been designed better.
The part that I absolutely hated was the over-abundance of red herrings! I could understand a "room full of toys" having some toys that don't need to be used to solve puzzles, but that is not the case here. First of all, it never felt like it was a "room full of toys" and secondly, the red herrings were designed to appear to be useful. And there were a lot of them! I am referring to items with numbers, designs, and sequences on them which were specifically put in there to throw you off. I wanted to help solve puzzles, not be lead down multiple wrong paths. The general rule of thumb I have encountered in all other escape rooms has been, if it appears to be useful somehow, it is. Definitely not the case here.
The other big issue I had with this room is it feels like it used to be a better room but that it has received zero attention in months. It seems like there used to be more items on the walls as you can see the holes and scrapes where items used to hang. And it really seems like those red herrings used to do something. Were puzzles ever removed from this room for some reason, leaving behind parts of them that no longer make sense? I don't know.
I recommend you to not do this room unless it gets a refurbishing or a complete overhaul. There are many other choices in Ottawa (Escape Manor, Jigsaw, and Room Escape are three I've visited and enjoyed) for a great escape room experience. I was eager to visit Lockdown - Ogilvie, but after this room, I'm a little unsure if I want to risk it.
There were some interesting elements to the room. I really liked the focal point, but I felt it didn't fit the theme very well. I also liked the puzzle which is out of reach and the means of activating it. The giant puzzle was neat but it could have been much more user friendly instead of assembling it and then needing to disassemble parts of it. It could have been designed better.
The part that I absolutely hated was the over-abundance of red herrings! I could understand a "room full of toys" having some toys that don't need to be used to solve puzzles, but that is not the case here. First of all, it never felt like it was a "room full of toys" and secondly, the red herrings were designed to appear to be useful. And there were a lot of them! I am referring to items with numbers, designs, and sequences on them which were specifically put in there to throw you off. I wanted to help solve puzzles, not be lead down multiple wrong paths. The general rule of thumb I have encountered in all other escape rooms has been, if it appears to be useful somehow, it is. Definitely not the case here.
The other big issue I had with this room is it feels like it used to be a better room but that it has received zero attention in months. It seems like there used to be more items on the walls as you can see the holes and scrapes where items used to hang. And it really seems like those red herrings used to do something. Were puzzles ever removed from this room for some reason, leaving behind parts of them that no longer make sense? I don't know.
I recommend you to not do this room unless it gets a refurbishing or a complete overhaul. There are many other choices in Ottawa (Escape Manor, Jigsaw, and Room Escape are three I've visited and enjoyed) for a great escape room experience. I was eager to visit Lockdown - Ogilvie, but after this room, I'm a little unsure if I want to risk it.
Written August 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ivyhartvalo
Toronto, Canada1 contribution
May 2016 • Friends
I read some reviews on this place about decor and not "measuring up" but i would have to disagree with them. We did Area 51 and it was good, I mean the ambiance was there, making us really feel like we were in that moment. We went to their new place and did Return to Area 51. So, that was positively cool! We has soo much fun and the puzzles have gotten WAY better. I would recommend checking them out.
Written May 16, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elie M
Ottawa, Canada1 contribution
May 2016 • Friends
First time doing an escape room
Highly recommend
Well designed rooms, with lots of surprises, area 51 is one of my favourite
Highly recommend
Well designed rooms, with lots of surprises, area 51 is one of my favourite
Written May 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
p-b1002
Ottawa, Canada2 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
So my friends and i went to lockdown on the east end of time and we were super impressed. Not gonna lie, the reviews had discouraged us a bit but the room that we played was so much fun. Not really complicated but it was a REAL puzzle and not a "hey lets just turn over rocks and look for a key". Yeah so this place exceeded all of our expectations 100 times over. We did the elevator one and are going back for the area 51 one. Its the small features like the video things that are pretty neat. I would highly recommend this place.
Written May 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
soreilly_13
Gatineau, Canada2 contributions
May 2016 • Family
This was our first escape room, and boy did we laugh! The Toys Room was hidden with surprises and upbeat. We will be going back for Area 5`!
Written May 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jetman
Miami, FL3 contributions
May 2016 • Friends
We are old school liking for a new school challenge. My partner and I have been following the Lockdown rage for awhile now. After an evening of relieving our stress at a local refreshment stand, we marched over, paid our loonies and took on the challenge.
Jackie and her assistant, (Bridget???) were downright awesome and full of infectious energy. I get easily embarrassed by unsolved challenges. We only needed one clue but all of our allotted time. We did it!!! Now I am a lockdown freak.
It was a totally swell experience, mind twisting (that fits me perfectly) and challenging.
When I am in Ottawa again, I will be locking down at Lockdown!
Jackie and her assistant, (Bridget???) were downright awesome and full of infectious energy. I get easily embarrassed by unsolved challenges. We only needed one clue but all of our allotted time. We did it!!! Now I am a lockdown freak.
It was a totally swell experience, mind twisting (that fits me perfectly) and challenging.
When I am in Ottawa again, I will be locking down at Lockdown!
Written May 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fedor
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada3 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
We did the toys room and I was really unimpressed. There was no narrative element, the decor was weak and the puzzles were muddled and felt random. Even in Ottawa, there are much better escape rooms - Escape Manor, for example.
Written April 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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