Our report card on Bandra's new luxury gaming lounge

The space has an easy-going vibe and offers nearly 700 games for users; (right below) a collection of games. Pics/Aishwarya Deodhar

One minute, we are on Linking Road in Bandra at 11.30 am on a Saturday, dodging shoppers as they buy their last-minute Diwali essentials; the next minute, we are Spider-Man, fighting Sandman, who is wreaking havoc across New York City.

Our destination - Olympus Gaming Lounge - is in the dimly lit basement of Link Corner Mall. While the mall is still waking up to the day, the new space that opened in August this year, is already buzzing with gamers - mostly, students. Nearly 15 consoles line up in the perimeter, and in front of every console we spot at least two bean bags. The centre is reserved for a common table, while the projector screen on the wall across is screening highlights from the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup.

The writer tries a game of Mortal Kombat 11 on the console

When we meet the co-founders, 21-year-old Avirat Kampani and 35-year-old Chaitainya Kampani, the siblings insist we first try the games before we chat about the space and its experience. This writer and her friend chose to start with the beginner-friendly Mortal Kombat 11. They hand us the controller and let us figure the rest by ourselves. "Just smash the buttons. It's the only way to learn," the brothers suggest. This writer loses the first round, but makes a comeback in the second. By the third round, we get a hang of the game, but our zombie-like character still loses the finals. It takes another game to finally earn a victory. Now, we're ready for a chat.

Amid some grunts and groans from two groups of boys playing FIFA in the backdrop, we head to the common table near a mural of Zeus with his gleaming thunderbolt, as the other Greek gods pose flamboyantly with their weapons beside him. Following our eyes, Chaitainya tells us that his favourite game is God of War - an APRG (Action Role Playing Game) that follows the life of Kratos, based on Greek and Norse mythology. "We have currently over 700 games installed on the PlayStations," he reveals. "These include single player games which are either beginner-friendly, shooting/fighting oriented, or follow a story format [APRG] which can take up to 20 to 40 hours of game time. Then, there are multiplayer games, the most popular one is FIFA," he says, pointing towards two groups of boys engrossed in a match. "Each console has different games installed, and you'll find the latest and most popular ones here."

The writer plays Spider-Man 2, a popular choice with gamers

The idea for the space stemmed from the brothers' shared love for gaming, and the different types of games they prefer. "In most gaming centres, you'll find hubs for specific games like Counter Strike or Valorant. We wanted to create a space that gives a differentiated experience. My brother likes the shorter format - shooting games, while I like the long-format ones, with stories you can be part of," Chaitainya tells us. And hence, they created the best of both worlds. His wife, Varisha Kampani, who designed the interiors, chimes in, "The best way to do that was to make the place feel like a lounge instead of a centre; where you're comfortable and willing to experiment. The diversity of the games is inviting to girl gamers. In fact, at times, the female ratio [in the lounge] exceeds the male
ratio here."

Our companion rushes to a console when she sees GTA. "It brings back old memories," she admits, and goes on to play for 20 minutes. We signed up for Spider-Man 2, an APRG game, where we play Peter Parker, and shoot webs all around New York City. We love it because, towards the end, we manage to save a few citizens!

The writer plays Spider-Man 2, a popular choice with gamers

The gaming lounge gets a thumbs up, especially for its easy-going vibe, and options for beginner and expert games. The vending machine is a bonus, because whether one loses or wins, snacking is key. There are hourly packages and monthly subscriptions called eternity passes, which give you access to unlimited games for a month as well.

Chaitainya and Avirat Kampani

Olympus Gaming Lounge
On All days; 10 am to 1 am
at Upper Basement, Link Corner Mall, Bandra West (under Starbucks). log on to @olympusgaminglounge call 8591279971
Cost RS 200 onwards