Review by Daz Gale
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There are two types of people in the world – those who know and love Phantom Peak, and those that don’t have a clue of what it is. You may have heard people talk about or even seen an advert pop up and are still none the wiser. I myself wondered what it was all about after hearing many people discuss it like it was a cult for years – I finally discovered it for myself when I made my first visit to the Peak for Wintermas late last year. It is a testament to how much I enjoyed it that I wasted no time in returning for their next season, JonaCon. Would it prove just as enjoyable on a repeat visit or would I find it peaked too soon?
For those who have not entered the world of Phantom Peak as yet, it is a living, breathing town with their own rich history and a love for platypuses. Wandering around the town, you will meet a variety of residents there and be free to strike up a conversation with any one of them, either to help you on your trail or just for a chat. This is where Phantom Peak really comes into its own – there are no real rules or agenda about how you spend your time there. It is an open-world, immersive experience with elements of video games and theme parks and you are free to come and go as you please.
There is plenty to fill your time in the four hours you get to spend at the Peak. In-between opening and closing ceremonies, you can take part in any number of trails (or quests) that will help you explore the town and give you prompts for conversations with the townsfolk in a bid to get you closer to completing it. It isn’t a race though and you can start and stop each as you wish, also giving you more reason to come back for a repeat visit to attempt the trails you haven’t done yet. Those who would opt for a more leisurely pace can explore the sites, go to the bar for a drink or twelve, grab some food, head to the arcade to play a game or venture through the maze that looms above.
Phantom Peak refreshes four time a year, launching a new season each time. Each season has with it it’s own theme and 10 new trails, giving regular visitors ample excuse to come back again and again – and they do, with many of them roleplaying as they wander around. This current season is called JonaCon, a convention being hosted in celebration of all things JONACO. Originally planned to be the final season at their current home in Canada Water, the Peak is here to stay a bit longer with plans for the next season to be announced in due course.
Of the ten trails you can attempt, they are a mix of adventure and mystery and will select based on prompts you give on the app you are directed to while inside the Peak. Though copyright means these themes are in no way affiliated with any coincidentally named shows, some of the trails you can experience may remind you of Doctor Who or The Great British Bake Off with a completely original character called Todrick the Toad in no way reminiscent of any other amphibian. If you are reading this website, there is a good chance you are a theatre fan – and for that, I have to recommend you check out the ‘Unpopular’ trail where you will be treated to several musical numbers that can only be described as Wicked…
Though this wasn’t my first trip to Phantom Peak, I found myself in awe of the scale of it and how expertly realised every detail was. An entire town with a bar, theatre, general store and pretty much anything else you can think of, I found myself discovering locations and aspects of the site I had completely missed on my first visit. With each location being refreshed each season, there are always new elements to explore in each with new games, videos, posters dotted around and mysterious props that may or may not help you along the way. Creatively and visually, Phantom Peak is an absolute feast with its technical aspects setting it apart from anything else out there.
The other strength in Phantom Peak is in its townsfolk. Contrary to what they may tell you, I’m not convinced these people actually have lived there all their life – instead, you have a cast of actors who are incredible in how much they have to remember and improvise. Not just familiar with the trails they are directly involved in, you can ask them any number of questions from around the peak and they will give you the answer… perhaps long-windedly or reluctantly, but an answer nonetheless. The improvisation is also faultless as they are so in tune with the characters, they won’t break even for a second, even if you try telling them you’re reviewing and are after a tip!
JonaCon comes with it some extra challenges, with the Jonalympics taking place throughout, and an added competition element as each person gets given a wristband of one of three colours upon entry. I’m not saying my colour wristband won the day because I was in it, but those two tokens I contributed surely pushed us over the edge! The closing ceremony ties things together beautifully with some of the plot points you would have uncovered from the trails coming to life to give a conclusion that could be satisfying, weird or both. Obviously if you didn’t do one of the trails that particular plot point was on, you might be a bit perplexed, but just go with it – it’s all meant to be a bit surreal anyway.
Phantom Peak is an impressive feat that seems to get better with every visit. Now more familiar with the world after my first visit last year, I got stuck in and found myself loving it even more. They say you get more out of the experience the more you get involved and it really is true. A world full of riches, the endless possibilities and creativity lead to an experience like no other in what is the gold standard of immersive experiences. You are unlikely to ever find anything else quite like Phantom Peak and nor should you – brilliantly unique and just brilliant in general, this will appeal to a wide range of people, no matter how much you think you like or dislike immersive experiences. Take my advice and explore the peak – once you’re in, you’ll be hooked!
Phantom Peak: JonaCon is booking until May 11th at www.phantompeak.com