Mystery Manila: World of Wizardry Review

"Yer a wizard harry," I remember telling myself as the elevator opens up trying to get my mind conditioned at the task ahead. Sadly that's about as much I know about Harry Potter as I have yet to finish a single movie or read a single book about the franchise. I'm more familiar with the wizards in the D&D Arcade than I am with Rowlings much beloved franchise. And yet here I am with my partner in wizarding-ish escapades at Mystery Manila hoping to have a spell at Mystery Manila's World of Wizardry which was an escape room based out of the Harry Potter books. We booked an evening schedule after work as usual and had dinner before we head out to save the wizard world from the evils that plagues it.

Mystery Manila is the first live role playing game in the Philippines. Its idea is simple. One room, One mystery, One hour, One way out. 

They got a lot of mystery themed room to choose from and since me and my wizard partner is weak against scary stuff we decided to try the World of Wizardry which would be a good choice if any of us were familiar with the Harry Potter but sadly both of us knows very little of the franchise.

Before entering we were given a quick briefing by the assigned game master. They gave us a clipboard with an old newspaper cutout with an article about some escaped evil wizard named Sidious (not related to Starwars) and his plot to recover some magical time device and that its our task to find the device in the room before the one hour time runs out.

I like the part where they gave us black robes like the ones used in Harry Potter before starting the game. Sure it didnt gave us any magical powers like casting magic missile at the darkness but it does help in the emersion in the game. I kept a mental note to myself to buy one of those black robes for myself one day just for the kicks.

Eventually we were locked up and the magical investigation begin. In no time flat we were searching through every corner of the room doing magical research, deciphering magical puzzles, mixing potions and what not. Pretty much everything you would expect in dark wizard room.

A game master staff member monitors our progress through a hidden room elsewhere like a magical game master, so If we get stuck they can provide a hint in exchange for 5 minutes being added to the clock. So the more clues we ask the more time will added to your overall time. You can really feel the pressure specially if your not familiar with basic wizards lore.

I hate and love the idea that much of the answers are pretty much staring us in the face but had trouble understanding the clues so we didn't know. Its like seeing the number four but didn't know the question was two plus two. It was that sort of love and hate that made the challenge fun. Everything is there already. Its just finding out which one is which.

Your ability to work as a team will be will be tested and broken many times. Spells will be cast, magic potions will be mixed. Id even half expect a jolly giant to break open the door or maybe an owl to appear somewhere during the entire hour we were there. You really do feel your in a scene in the Harry Potter franchise

You get a price if you finish the room under 30 minutes but sadly in the end we only managed to get 85 percent of the room done with only one puzzle away from finishing the Room and getting out. One magical spell away from finding that magical time device and beating Sidious at his own evil magical games.

Overall Mystery Manila World of Wizardry is an awesome one hour fun to bring out the magical Sherlocke Holmes or Nancy Drew in everyone. I'd recommend this if your fan of fantasy and magic theme puzzles. A plus if your into Harry Potter fan. Its a bit pricey but its an experience worth having at least once.