🎵 When you're a Girl Scout everything's gonna work out... 🎵

overview

For years there have been rumors of a shadow girl scout troop operating in the Boston and Cambridge area. Over the last week, you’ve been earning your Automotive Engineering badges in the local auto body shop. Little did you know that the auto garage is owned by the high council of this shadow troop, and they have been covertly watching you. They have hand-picked you and your team to have the chance to join their secret society, and last night, each of you received a rare invitation to meet there today.

You will have one hour to prove to them you have what it takes to earn the ultimate girl scout badge, and a coveted place in their troop. 

This incredibly unique theme works so well, and the story is incredibly present from the very start, as each player is given a Girl Scout sash to enter the room with. The entire setup is enough to put anyone in character and play along with the story.

And honestly, one of the most impressive parts of this game is the story. Even in high-quality games, I often feel like the story drops within the first few minutes of the game and it just becomes solving puzzles in a themed space. That wasn't the case with Body Shop. The story maintained itself throughout the entire game, from the beginning all the way to the very end.  That's not an easy feat to achieve, and Red Fox pulled it off perfectly, leading to the very best game they've ever produced. 

quick stats

gameplay time: 60 minutes

recommended team size: 3-4 players

difficulty: 4/5

scare level: 2/5

location: Cambridge, MA

website: https://redfoxescapes.com/

considerations: -contains gore -very loud tool used in a puzzle

scenery

Being Red Fox's best game, it should come as no surprise that the Body Shop looked the best out of all three. Stepping into the room, you're hit with a motorcycle centerpiece in the middle of a grungy looking (but actually clean and sterile) body shop. It looks incredible. 

Every detail on every single prop and wall was minded down to the last bit. Even the ceiling vents, which could easily have posed a problem, were incorporated into the set and fit right in. Combined with the amazing interactions and perfect soundtrack, the room felt alive and upbeat in just the right way. 

Of course, not everything is sunshine and rainbows in this body shop, and of course you'll find some darker secrets. Although the set change is different, it still works perfectly, adding its unique sense of humor to a dark theme. It succeeds where Trapology's Retreat did not, and although the first room is the best, the other space looks amazing too. 

Oh, and a quick disclaimer about the gore: it's nothing too bad. It's all fake plastic, and clearly fake plastic, but that just adds to the humor of the game. You can probably handle this one. 

I think the borderline message is that the whole game looked amazing. That's what's really important.

puzzles

The Body Shop's puzzles were some of the best I've ever experienced as a player. Due to the theme, Red Fox was able to incorporate items that most other escape rooms wouldn't dare involve in a puzzle: workshop tools. And they work so well. 

Every single interaction in this game is as clever as it is creative, and they're all just so much fun. I can't emphasize how happy this game made me feel. The playful interactions combined with the slightly grim undertone made this an incredibly memorable experience. The second act shifted slightly from the first, but the puzzles were just as clever and fun. 

The game is set up in a mostly nonlinear fashion, and trust me when I say it's good that you have the chance to split up. Not only can everyone have fun doing their own thing, but you'll need to split up if you want to win, because this game has a lot to do. Even with all the difficulty, each puzzle is enjoyable and fun. Every single detail is absolutely perfect, and as good as their other games are, they pale in comparison to the Body Shop. 

pros and cons

pro: some of the most fun interactions I've ever had in an escape room.

con: one puzzle involving audio was slightly difficult to hear.

pro: the story continues throughout the entire game, keeping the experience immersive and entertaining. 

con: one tool was overtly loud. I'm not sure how Red Fox could really fix this, but it was almost painfully loud. 

pro: the mix of horror and playfulness worked absolutely perfectly. I felt overjoyed while in this game. 

pro: there were multiple opportunities throughout the game to just take a break and play around a bit. 

pro: a piece of tech was broken during the game, but even this didn't damper our experience at all. 

pro: one of my favorite parts of this game is a little practical joke. Not only did it get me, but it also made for a great way to attempt to get my friends as well. 

pro: there's a very, very well done secret passage. This is one of those rare moments where I had no idea it was coming. 

pro: the soundtrack perfectly captures the vibe and theme of the game in the best way possible (it was an instrumental of the Girl Scout song from the Beetlejuice musical).

overall

By far, this is Red Fox's best game. They've improved their skills over time, and it really shows. The other rooms don't even feel like they're made by the same company. I can't overstate how fun this game was, from the interactions to the playful, entertaining vibe throughout the game. If you only have time for one game at Red Fox, play Body Shop. If you have time for more than one, play this last; it's gonna make the other two pale in comparison if you don't. Every single detail was meticulously planned in this game, and it shows: this is one of the most fun games I've played in my life. 

rating

10/10