Solving Riddles and Other Puzzles in Myrtle Beach
By Colette Connolly
 If
you’re looking for an activity that will put your kids’ problem-solving
abilities to the test ― and give them a physical workout as well ― you might
want to consider a neat fantasy game that my family and I discovered in the
Myrtle Beach area recently.
 It’s
called MagiQuest, and if your kids are anything like mine, they’ll be enthralled
with the fire-breathing dragons, goblins, pixies, unicorns, and all sorts of
other creatures that are part of this exciting interactive game.
This high-tech scavenger hunt is located in a
20,000-square-foot building in the Broadway at the Beach complex, known for its
variety of shops, restaurants and nightlife.
 Other
child-friendly attractions are also housed in this area, including Dragon’s Lair
Fantasy Golf, Ripley’s Aquarium, an IMAX theater, and much more.
The MagiQuest Kingdom, as it is known, is like stepping
into the world of King Arthur complete with castles, turrets and moats. The
primary goal of the game is to attain the level of Master Magi by solving a
series of Quests, which involves finding items hidden throughout the magical
kingdom.
To do this, each player receives a personalized magic wand
containing a motion sensor that activates screens and other objects. Each user’s
wand has the ability to make both simple and complex special effects come to
life, such as opening treasure chests, winding clocks and creating music. The
wands have the capability to activate more than 150 of these effects.
Be forewarned, however. This is no ordinary video game
experience, nor is it a solitary exercise, either. Successfully solving the
riddles is based on plenty of teamwork, so be prepared to work together.
Once we received our instructions, it was off to the Stone
Circle, the kingdom’s central location, to set the game in motion. Activating
our wands was easy. All we had to do was wave them before a computer monitor and
then choose a Quest.
It is the Quest Master, a white-bearded character with
flowing robes, who provides the on-screen clues necessary to begin the journey.
There are 12 Quests available, each with varying degrees of difficulty. They are
called Lightning, Enchant, Music, Healing, Distraction, Protection, Ice Arrow,
Portal, Reveal the Invisible, Dizzle, Freezing, and the Rune of the Master Magi.
Ideally, a player should aim to complete all of them to become the owner of the
“Runes of Power.”
My 11-year-old daughter had the most enthusiasm for the
game. With deftness and determination, she moved swiftly through dungeons and
chambers, activating lightning bolts, battling dragons, rescuing princesses, and
commanding magical creatures to life.
It was more difficult, however, for my six-year-old son who
is already an accomplished video-gamer but not yet a confident reader. Still, he
was enthralled by its engaging array of characters, which makes each journey
unique and enjoyable. Some of them include a fire-breathing dragon, a dreaded
Goblin Warlord and the beautiful Princess Candice who searches in vain for her
jewels.
To be truly successful, players should complete the 12
Quests and then embark on the five Master Magi Adventures. But don’t worry if
you can’t complete the game in the allotted 90-minute timeframe. Your personal
wand remembers your progress, so next time you visit Myrtle Beach, you can pick
up right where you left off!
If You Go….
MagiQuest
www.magiquest.com
843-913-9460
Broadway at the Beach
www.broadwayatthebeach.com
Colette Connolly is a freelance writer who loves to travel
with her husband and two kids. She lives in the New York area, and also runs a
copywriting business (www.conwrite.com). Photos by Colette Connolly. |
