Escape the Game

Being a character in a video game may seem like something exciting, but only if you are the main character. Otherwise, life may not be very kind to you, especially if you are some lowly NPC trying to get by in a world where dragons, huge robots, and various kinds of demons roam freely. Hence, you might wonder whether escape is an option for them.

Escape the Game is an arcade platformer in which your goal is to help Kevin escape the video game he finds himself in. In short, this is a fast-paced retro platformer with simple gameplay mechanics and not so simple levels, in which speed and quick reflexes are rewarded more than your ability to solve puzzles or pay attention to the story.

Your character has a number of special abilities that come in handy when you are exploring the levels, such as a grappling hook that can latch onto certain objects and flings you around. This is a mandatory tool that has to be used to reach otherwise inaccessible areas of each stage. On top of that, you can also use the gun to shoot enemies or to give yourself a slight push whenever you need to jump higher.

There’s plenty of humor in the game to make you laugh and change your mood for the better, which is always great to see. Naturally, this is still a challenging platformer at its core, so frustration can still take over every now and again, especially when the levels require you to perform a couple of precise jumps in a row. On the other hand, it’s certainly not as difficult as many other games in the genre.

As for the graphics, they are nothing to write home about, but they are certainly not ugly either, despite their simplicity. Each level features a different layout and some kind of new challenge, so you always have something interesting to look at. The soundtrack is pretty interesting as well, and so are the sound effects that spice up the gameplay.

When it’s all said and done, Escape the Game is actually a pretty great platformer, even if it looks rather simple at first. In essence, the gameplay is fast-paced and addictive, not to mention the fact that the humor keeps you invested in the story.