Dreamscape Immersive presents Clockwork Forest

Dreamscape is back! Almost 2 years after their previous VR experience (MIB: First Assignment) comes a new one, Clockwork Forest. I’ve repeatedly said Dreamscape is the best introduction to VR a person can have. But I hadn’t considered one factor–what if someone’s introduction to VR gets in the way of someone else’s experience? I found out first-hand as I went through a beautiful, but frustrating, experience.

Just in Time

The official synopsis says “Uncover the secrets of a master watchmaker! When a mysterious clock malfunctions and the very cycle of nature is ruptured, it is time for you to climb into the machine. Explore a mechanical wonderland and meet the locals before everything comes crumbling down. Discover the truth behind a forgotten tale and restore its legacy. Oh, and listen carefully to the white rabbit’s advice, lest you become another prisoner of the Clockwork Forest…”

It’s a great premise. And no surprise, considering Dreamscape has partnered again–not with an entertainment company like Dreamworks this time, but with Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Audemars Piguet. Clockwork Forest was only available in Geneva since March 2023, but now Los Angeles is able to experience it for a limited time. The clockwork machinery blended with whimsical nature feels like a great fit, tapping into a kind of Steampunk vibe, but adding in lots of Alice in Wonderland imagery for bright colors and lots of life around your avatar.

Tick Tock

Clockwork Forest uses the space very well. There is a lot of walking and the world of the forest offers a good variety of landscapes, creatures, and scenery. It also uses the “scooters” from past experiences, as well as at least two types of levers to interact with. There is a vague semblance of a puzzle, but there’s nothing to really solve–you just have to do what’s instructed, although it’s fun to see it come together as everyone does their part.

As for the story, this was where I ran into the first problem. The left speaker of my headphones didn’t work, so the audio, especially the dialogue, was whisper-quiet. I could barely make it out, which was very frustrating. I managed to get the gist of the story, but as someone who really is passionate about soaking up all the lore and details, I did not get it. The audio is a big part of the story.

When I told the manager afterwards, he gave me passes to return, which I will certainly do. And next time I’ll be more forceful if I notice a technical problem. (I told someone this time that it was too quiet, but I didn’t exactly notice it’s because of only one speaker until the experience had started). However, even solving this would still leave the second problem…

Even a Broken Clock…

Here is the situation I alluded to in the opening paragraph. With me was a family, two parents and a young girl, for whom this was clearly their first time experiencing VR. They had a blast! Which is no surprise, Dreamscape is impressive for any newcomer. But they way they enjoyed themselves actively interfered with my enjoyment. They were joking and talking to each other while the experience’s dialogue was playing. They were having a little dance party that blocked where I wanted to walk. And they were also doing the usual newcomer thing of taking very slow, tentative steps when the scenery looks like you’re stepping across a gap. All of this shows how much fun they were having, and how immersed they were!

But boy did that hinder my own enjoyment. Even if my speakers were working, I doubt I could have heard the story over them. And when I wanted to look in all directions to soak in the visuals, I had to beware of flying limbs. Occasionally I had to stand still while they got up the courage to cross a virtual bridge or something. But of course I couldn’t say anything about this. I wasn’t about to ruin someone’s first time, especially when it was all purely innocent. So what to do? Well, nothing. I just appreciated what I could.

Watch Out

I’m not sure if there is an answer to this. Each timeslot has 6 spots. You can go with a bigger party and hope to make it full enough to deter others from joining. Or you can try to pick an odd time (I picked the last slot on a Tuesday night, but it didn’t work). If you’re flexible, you could just hang out at the mall until you find an empty time slot–they have a lot of great dessert kiosks!

Clockwork Forest is a visual stunner, and Audemars Piguet’s technical contribution is appreciated. At a price point of about $25, it’s a decent value, especially if you want your first VR experience to be high-quality. I do hope their next adventure is a little more adventurous. I don’t expect anything R-rated, but a step up in age from the family-friendly experiences would be great. It’s why Curse of the Lost Pearl is still the best one–it’s closer to Indiana Jones in tone. Dreamscape is open every day at the Westfield Century City, with departures every 20 minutes during peak hours. More information, including ticket purchasing, is available at their website here.