VIDEO. Toulouse. On a tested Zone 101, an immersive and frightening game in the former military zone of Francazal
By Lucie Fraisse
Published on
From June 23 to July 23, 2022, the former military base of Francazal, located astride the municipalities of Toulouse and Cugnaux welcomes Zone 101, a game combining live action, escape game mechanism and immersive theater, with an apocalyptic scenario, worthy of a horror film.
Scary experience
A frightening experience that I was able to test in preview for the writing ofToulouse News. To situate my level of resistance to creepy experiences, let’s say that I play in the small nature category. The last horror movie I saw was Scream (in the 90s, I haven’t repeated the experience since). I’m over forty, I know there are no ghosts in my cellar, but I still prefer someone to go there in my place. And if I read a thriller that’s a little too scary, I’m able to read the last page before I’ve finished the book, because I can’t stand the suspense.
In short, on paper, I am clearly not the best element to face the terrible Zone 101. But hey, it seems that sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone and it is therefore the trouillometer close to zero that I goes on the former Francazal military baseto try the experiment.
Fear unites the team…
Zone 101 is discovered in teams of eight. I know two of the members of my group, but very quickly it’s as if we’ve all known each other forever: the fear of what awaits us unites us in no time! The organizers of the 101 zone also estimate that 40% of the teams participating in the game are made up of co-workers. the funky team building somehow.
The experience begins with a briefing: soldiers have disappeared from the base, a dangerous virus is circulating. It’s up to us to find the soldiers without being contaminated by the sick people who roam the site. We are equipped with a belt with two scratched strips. And we are warned that if we have them torn off during the game, we lose life expectancy. Vibe…
The places are amazing
We are then released on the site of the former military base. The places are amazing. The base has not been in service since 2010, the buildings are disused, covered in tags. The Momento Event teams, creators of the game, have obviously secured the place: we are not going anywhere, the course is marked out.
But the game takes place in nine different areas and still a good insight into what the base was like in its heyday: urbex fans will enjoy the ‘ride’.
Fifteen actors
As the game progresses, our team must solve puzzles to progress. The fear of seeing an infected patient arrive at every corner of the corridor does not help us to have clear ideas. Honestly, we’re not super good at it, but what are we kidding !
The big plus of this immersive game are the actors. Military, mad scientists, sick… There are about fifteen of them – all excellent – and frankly add flavor to the experience. When they chase you through the floors of an old barracks, vociferating, although we know they are actors, we keep a low profile. Special mention for the one present in the last building of the route: clearly the most casual!
A participant abandoned during the game
For one of my team members, the experience is too intense: she prefers to give up in the middle of the game. What gives rise to this brilliant moment: the team who warns the patient who terrorizes us two seconds earlier and this one who immediately leaves his role to warn the organizers to come and recover the panicked participant. Funny… and reassuring!
After two hours, the game ends. In my group, we are all delighted by the experience. Despite my initial fears, I loved the 101 area. Go ahead and tell me about it. For me, the thrills are over: tonight I’m staying on my sofa and watching a Pixar…
Some images of the video game (without spoiler!):
Practical information :
Zone 101, immersive game organized on the former military base of Francazal, in partnership with Toulouse Métropole and the town hall of Cugnaux.
Seven days a week, from 5:30 p.m. to midnight.
Price: 39 euros per person. Reservation on the dedicated site.
Refreshment bar on site.
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