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The Escapists

Video Game Review

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While its 16-bit art style would have not been out of place in gaming a decades or so ago, The Escapists manages to provide a satisfying sandbox / puzzle game experience which rewards creativity and a certain level of stubbornness to get past its more tedious moments. As the title suggests, The Escapists pits you as a prisoner who has only one goal: ESCAPE! To achieve this goal and escape from one of the six prisons in-game (Ranging from low-security paradise to a near inescapable high-security penitentiary), you must improve your stats RPG-style (Strength, Speed and Intellect), collect tools, form allies with other prisoners and ultimately chart your way to a successful escape.

As a prisoner, you are somewhat forced into a routine schedule of doing a roll call first thing in the morning (With random room inspections), free time to do whatever, meals and the somewhat mundane chores to earn a little bit of cash. The term “forced” is in a sense that these events and others routinely take place, and you have the freedom to either undertake them and the benefits associated with them, or alternatively do your own thing which may come with its own rewards / consequences. This is really the only sort of structure that The Escapists provides, and outside of the rudimentary tutorial which can be completed in a few minutes, leaves things up to the creativity of the player to plan out.

Do you bask in the menial quests proposed by your fellow prisoners with the goal of them your allies? Do you go down the lone wolf path and try to do everything yourself – including stealing uniforms and items when necessary? Do you come to a realization that you will never escape from your fate? Although this is not a game for those who want explicit direction in how to achieve a goal, there is nothing that beats the satisfaction of figuring out one of the several valid solutions for yourself.

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Leaving players to their own devices in my mind was a smart design choice, even if there is a risk of leaving players confused about what to do next. However, there are times when the developers expect a little bit too much creativity, which would have required either more explanation during the tutorial or even a nifty guide in the menu. One of the major issues is that The Escapists boasts approximately 200 items, around fifty of which can be crafted by combining objects either purchased / acquired from fellow prisoners or otherwise obtained through more creative means. The issue is that some of the craftable items do require a bit of creative thinking to produce, and without an initial indication of what the crafting system is capable of, can make it tricky at the start to properly plan an escape without following a guide.

The game features six distinct prisons which are more than just a mere texture and layout change, and the same escape strategy cannot be identically replicated for each one.  Each prison features a sizable section of navigable space, with the additional difficulty coming from the structure, personnel and other opportunities available to the player. While each prison may feature a different setting and are also introduced differently, the caper you undertake comes across as being heavily non-scripted and doesn’t try to hinder your progress in any form with some sort of plot.

Although top-down 16-bit visuals similar to most classic RPG’s may not appeal to all gamers, it was a very effective visual choice which contributed considerably to the gameplay. The minimalistic and in some ways retro approach meant that players shouldn’t find themselves bogged down by overly complicated menus. This also means that it is easier to navigate around the prison / make plans, with a wider field of view than what might have been available had they used a more traditional first or third person view with 3D visuals.

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While it may have a few nagging issues which makes it a bit less approachable when learning the ropes, The Escapists nevertheless provides a challenging experience which should appeal towards those who like to think with their heads rather than following a pre-determined outcome. Every escape attempt tended to be thrilling, and there is a genuine sense of satisfaction when you manage to escape from one of the higher level confines. That being said, the repetitive nature of some tasks and the lack of guidance in general may make this a game of frustration rather than satisfaction for some.

Developed by the team at Mouldy Toof Studios at Team17, The Escapists is now available for purchase on the PC and Xbox One gaming platforms. Do note that a PC review copy of this game was provided by the Australian-based company Surprise Attack Games.

Sam
Sam
Founder of The Otaku's Study. I have been exploring this labyrinth of fandom these last fifteen years, and still nowhere close to the exit yet. Probably searching for a long time to come.
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