I skipped this once I noticed an actor outfitted as series star Vi entered the room.įor the remaining 70 minutes or so, my "Arcane: Enter the Undercity" experience became a more traditional immersive theater one - that is, I was following and conversing with an actor from space to space. Eventually, by squeezing myself into two different conversations, I was asked to go on the hunt for Shimmer by competing groups. I spent my first 25 to 30 minutes somewhat overwhelmed, wondering if I wanted to talk to the wizard-looking guy or the owner of the brothel (note: There is no actual fake brothel in the experience), or play my hand at being a little evil by going on fetch quests for the drug at the heart of the series - "Shimmer" - that has hooked so many of its denizens. Almost everywhere one turns is an actor ready to play. Ultimately, wish-fulfillment pop art in this late pandemic age of 2021 isn't passive, and "Arcane: Enter the Undercity" triumphs over its clublike setting because it has a large cast. It's minimal, but it works overall, allowing guests to feel as if they're in an alley in which a party or a fight can break out at any time. Still, it's entertainment that understands we don't just want to see our fantasy worlds come to life we want to be in them, to fight with - or against - Vi or to simply be a weirdo scoundrel trying to cheat at blackjack in a bar full of secondary characters from the "League of Legends" universe.Ī collaboration with the immersive firm Secret Cinema, which also worked with Netflix on "Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience," the so-called "undercity" of Zaun is outfitted as something of a warehouse-turned-rave, with a bar as its most notable building. But even here, "Arcane: Enter the Undercity" likely would feel abstract to the uninitiated since it simply sets up the familial conflict at the heart of the series. It's participatory entertainment, building upon a mix of theme parks, escape rooms and immersive theater, and it succeeds in that it downplays reenactments from the series in favor of communal moments - aside from an extended intro that serves as an onboarding scene. Recognizing its audience is game-weaned, "Arcane: Enter the Undercity" expects those entering its gates to come ready to play. Others I spoke with went on quests for objects I ended up in a modified game of duck, duck, goose in which guests shout "bang" at one another and try to dodge imaginary bullets. I choose to stick by Vi, following the path of one of the show's main characters rather than those of its villains or one of the random underground factions of the city. I saw a fraction of what "Arcane: Enter the Undercity" has to offer in my two hours with the experience. We played games in the guise of training for combat and once found ourselves trapped in a neon-scarred hideout with just three other players that doubled as a mini escape room. Aside from the boxing lesson, I found myself running in and out of the venue multiple times, following the character of Vi and the quest to track down her sister, Jinx. It's immersive theater of the most active, physical type at this real-life celebration of "Arcane," the "League of Legends"-inspired animated series that became a global hit for Netflix and has been renewed for a second season.Ī love letter to fans of the show, "Arcane: Enter the Undercity" wants to surround guests in the action of the series but puts a premium on playing with fans, rather than performing for them. In a span of about 15 minutes, I was propositioned, was asked to show off my boxing ability - my stance needs work - and threw exaggerated physical distractions in the face of multiple public-looking officials. Kit Meyering as Jinx at "Arcane: Enter the Undercity," an immersive theater game-heavy event inspired by the Netflix series "Arcane," which is based on "League of Legends." (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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