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It's not like we're facing a shortage of escape rooms and immersive theater experiences for October, but this one warrants a closer look if you're into video games. Game publisher Capcom and Echo Park art gallery iam8bit have announced a Resident Evil-themed escape room that arrive in time for Halloween, reports Gamespot.
The room will run from October 21 to November 6, and will take place at iam8bit's space at 2147 Sunset Blvd. Tickets are going for $35 on Eventbrite. According to the event page, a team may be comprised of up to six people, though iam8bit says that they may be able to accommodate bigger parties if given a heads up. Organizers recommend that visitors be at least 17 years of age, though they fall short of naming an age restriction. They also make it very explicit that you should arrive 15 minutes before your group's start time, and that no refunds will be given to those who are tardy.
This kind of event is right up iam8bit's alley, as the space regularly hosts exhibits inspired by pop-culture notables. But why is Capcom (who's also responsible for classics such as the Street Fighter and Mega Man series) taking the time to do this? For one thing, 2016 marks the series' 20th anniversary. Also, the next installment of the game, Resident Evil 7, is slated to arrive in early 2017, along with the sixth and final Resident Evil film. So there's obviously a big PR element in the works here.
For those of you who know Resident Evil only through the movies, you're missing out. Sure, it's cool seeing Milla Jovovich mowing down zombies with heavy artillery. But the movies don't come close to replicating the mood of the classic "survival-horror" game (which is, generally, less about explosions and more about creeping through gothic mansions).
Fans of the series are familiar with all the accoutrements of Resident Evil, from the dreary piano soundtrack, to those cut-scenes of doors opening, to the ludicrous (but effective) notion that a typewriter can save your place in time. It all conspires for a creepy ride into zombieland. Here's a taste of what you (might) be getting at the iam8bit event:
