Tips for Playing Shadow Quest at Great Wolf Lodge:Travel Tips Tuesday

Any kid will tell you that a trip to Great Wolf Lodge is all about the waterpark, but my kids will argue that a Great Wolf Lodge experience is never complete without trying your Master Magi skills in a game of MagiQuest.  MagiQuest is a unique, live action, interactive gaming adventure that has been enjoyed for several years at Great Wolf Lodge Resorts. Now, a new experience is coming to the family entertainment resorts that takes players on quests through new worlds and offers fun for everyone with the wave of a wand. Shadow Quest is an entirely new set of elements, quests, and characters that challenges players to embark on a journey to save the light.  

The Story of Shadow Quest

In the mist of the long winter night, it is the job of the Magi to save the light of the sky before it vanishes. With the help of the Lumina and Ivan, conquer new quests, collect runes, battle creatures from the dark worlds and save the light. In the end, if you’ve accomplished your goal, receive the Medal of Light for completing this courageous adventure.

~Game on~

Tips for Playing Shadow Quest

Many of the tips that work for MagiQuest are also true for Shadow Quest, but there are some unique instructions just for the new Shadow Quest elements.

~Start game here~

Starting the Game Requires an Extra Step

All Magiquest and Shadow Quest games begin at the Quest Tree located in Dragon’s Hall and Pixie’s Perch. Start the game by waving your wand at the screen and wait for the yellow circle to illuminate. VERY IMPORTANT: To play ShadowQuest, you must touch the yellow and purple arrow at the bottom of the screen and choose Shadow Quest from the list. If you do not choose the yellow and purple arrow first you will only see Magiquest game elements and be very confused.

~New game elements are located throughout the Lodge~

Expect All New Elements

If you have any experience with Magiquest, you know that elements are located throughout the hotel that you can enchant with the wave of your wand. Shadow Quest does not use any of these existing elements (with the exception of the talking screens), so you will want to look for the elements that are specifically noted with the Shadow Quest label. Your wand will still activate many of the Magiquest elements while you are on a Shadow Quest, but they are not a part of the game.

~This is not the Crystal you are looking for~

Not All Crystals are Created Equal

There are multi-colored crystals that blink at a slow, medium and fast speed. You must find the correct color and the correct speed to accurately complete the quest. If you have chosen the correct crystal for your quest, the crystal will illuminate and say “You have found the slow blinking yellow crystal.”  If you cast your wand at the wrong crystal, it will illuminate, but it will play some high pitched tones, rather than speaking. BE SURE you are illuminating the Shadow Quest crystals that are located on the wall, and not the Magiquest crystals that are located in clear boxes.

~Cast wand at morning or night~

Timing is Everything

The video screens throughout the game cycle from morning to night every 20 seconds. The quests are specific about whether you cast your wand at day or night. Check the Shadow Quest Guidebook to determine what time of day the picture needs to show in order for you to cast your wand at the correct time.

~Getting instructions for the Final Battle~

Understanding and Conquering the Final Battle

The final battle to beat Malaki and return the light to the kingdom occurs after you have collected all ten runes and journey to the Shadow Quest portal, a video screen located in Pixie’s Perch. The key to defeating the Final Battle is to choose the correct rune at the correct time based on the attacks chosen by Malachi.

Runes are chosen at the correct time by clicking on the icon on the touch screen and the cast the wand at the video screen. Supposedly, playing the game teaches players which runes to choose at which time, but we found that we needed some trial and error to figure out which rune to choose for which attack. Some of the clues given by Malaki were visual and some were audio, but after much trial and error we discovered which runes to use at what time.

Guide to Beating the Final Battle of Shadow Quest

There are four different attacks given by Malakai during the Final Battle. They are used in random order, but all of our battles began with the weird twinkly smoke. For this, use the Agon rune that is noted by the fire. Think smoke and fire go together.

If you see green, glowing goo, look out; the minions are being assembled. This attack actually has an audio clue. Malakai will say something about minions which is the clue to counter-attack with the Snowman Rune. Snowman always beat minions, of course.

The next appearance of the green glow also has an audio clue, but don't expect any minions. The attack of the green, grass monster is accompanied by Malakai threatening to bring down the hammer. When you hear hammer, you stop it with the stone rune and a big ol' door will stop that hammer in it's track.

The trickiest attack to detect is the vague smoke that swirls at the feet of Malakai. There is not a clear audio clue, but in the absence of any of the other attacks, assume the vague smoke and counterattack with the avalanche rune.

The final three runes on the bottom row are not used until the end of the battle. The Banish Creature Rune and Lock Portal Rune are used simultaneously for the final blow, but the screen will prompt you when to use those runes. The Ice Crystal rune is never used in the final battle.

~Great Wolf Lodge provided us with two Shadow Quest wands and games for the purposes of review. They did not require that I express a particular viewpoint and all opinions are my own.~