Both the Agent November events are being presented as “view from home” experiences throughout the Adelaide Fringe.
In the interactive comedy Virtual X-Caper, players must rescue Agent November, who was kidnapped while investigating a heist. In Crisis of Conscience (a prelude to the events of Virtual X-Caper), you must manipulate your suspect into working with you to stop a dangerous enemy.
Played via Zoom, both games unfold in real time, with Agent November team members acting as the title characters and your avatar – so players are literally seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. This adds a unique level of difficulty to both games, as players are limited to what the characters can see and must act as puppet masters, guiding them through the adventure and directing their focus appropriately.
For Agent November, this is no easy feat, as the lovably scatterbrained agent is easily distracted. However, his sunny disposition and quick wit brings a refreshingly entertaining sense of hilarity to the game.
Crisis of Conscience raises the stakes with a series of complex puzzles that challenge not only players’ intellect but also their morality. Every decision has the potential to alter the course of the game and this means players can revisit Crisis multiple times and reach a different conclusion each time.
Get InReview in your inbox – free each Saturday. Local arts and culture – covered.
Thanks for signing up to the InReview newsletter.
As with most escape rooms, players have just one hour to escape and must work together to discover the clues and solve myriad challenging puzzles designed to test their observation, creativity, problem-solving and analytical skills. Each cleverly designed puzzle perfectly complements the theme of the games and both avatars are there to offer clues should players find themselves stumped.
Prior to each mission, players are given hints regarding game preparation and set-up; following those instructions is highly recommended, as both games require you to split your attention between several sources at once.
Hilariously imaginative, Virtual X-Caper is a fun-filled adventure that the whole family can enjoy, while Crisis of Conscience is a challenging game best suited to older players.
Virtual X-Caper – ★★★ ★ ½
Crisis of Conscience – ★★★ ½
Agent November: Crisis of Conscience and Agent November: Virtual X-Caper can be played from the comfort of your own home from February 21 to March 21.
Read more Adelaide Fringe reviews and previews here.
Support local arts journalism
Your support will help us continue the important work of InReview in publishing free professional journalism that celebrates, interrogates and amplifies arts and culture in South Australia.
Donate Here