If Walls Could Whisper, formerly named The Orphanage, is a not-to-be-missed masterpiece.
Much of Lisa's original 2018 review of this experience still applies. Yet, in the 5 years leading into my visit in July 2023, DarkPark had made a number of subtle yet significant upgrades. With these changes, If Walls Could Whisper not only still holds up; I'd posit it's still at the cutting edge of the Netherlands escape room scene.
DarkPark had leveled up many of the game's original strengths, particularly the lighting and sound design, since 2018. They transformed the ending — the main critique of the original review — from a weakness into a strong positive. The ending's puzzling, flow, and experiential context were now something special, though there was still an opportunity for the music to better fit the tone of a pivotal emotional climax.
While the individual elements of If Walls Could Whisper all demonstrated a high level of creativity and artistry, it was the ways in which they came together into a much greater whole that especially wowed us. The magic circle extended beyond the core gameplay, and there was an almost unprecedented level of cohesion that started before we entered the door and extended past the final puzzle. A lush original soundtrack not just set a distinctive cinematic tone for each new scene; it guided a continuous emotional buildup throughout the experience, ensuring that transitions were crescendoes rather than caesuras. Through key moments, theatrical spotlighting perfectly directed our attention, in real time reacting to — or perhaps guiding — our movement through the space.
Is the 2023 If Walls Could Whsiper a completely new game from the 2018 The Orphanage? No. The core gameplay is still mostly the same. Should you replay this experience if you played it 3+ years ago? Maybe. While you won't get a completely new game, DarkPark's approach to upgrading rather than replacing their older games can be an inspiration to enthusiasts and creators alike.
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