The Escapists 2 Reviews
For an open sandbox game that relies on the user to enjoy the experience utilizing their imagination, the journey to the goal just isn't enjoyable enough. My hope going in was that I would be spending time coming up with creative ideas to fool guards and bypass security. Instead, what I found was that I would often pray that my first plan would work so that I would have to go looking for more tape and files.
More of a refinement of the original than seeking to right its wrongs, The Escapists 2 on Nintendo Switch adds more of what fans enjoyed in the first place, whilst still not quite advocating enough time to entice a newer crowd.
Ultimately, The Escapists was such a success because it was fun, entertaining, and smart. You could perhaps argue that the sequel doesn't do enough to build on the foundations of the first, but that's only if you don't use the multiplayer options. Those alone breathe fresh air into the whole experience, and, as I said at the start, the Nintendo Switch hardware itself is just perfect for Mouldy Toof's endlessly entertaining vision.
The Escapists 2 is a well-made sandbox game and a fun continuation of the series. While the title gives you a good amount of freedom and tools to spend your time in fun ways, it can also get rather repetitive and overwhelming. The Nintendo Switch version mostly runs well, although the two-player limitation on local play is disappointing.
With a delightful pixel-style that fills the screen with details, it'll be hard to take your eyes off the screen as you make your way through all the different prisons on offer. Most of us might never have the, uh… joy… of breaking out of prison, but The Escapists 2 does a swell job of showing us just how entertaining it can be!
It's a game behind the times, from the way it plays to its awkward design choices, and its weak performance and optimisation on consoles is further cause for frustration. For those willing to put themselves through an unbalanced learning curve there is some enjoyment to be had on the far side, but beyond the fleeting charm of some of the levels, the rest of the experience falls flat.
The Escapists 2 has an undeniably solid premise for a game and features a downright charming visual style and soundtrack but the monotony of its restrictive gameplay will probably make you feel like a prisoner yourself whenever you play it.
Overall, The Escapists 2 was a blast, I had super fun. It was cute and challenging.
When it comes to movements and fluidity, nothing to say is really very good; the only "flaw" is perhaps the difficulty in using mouse and keyboard and, in this regard, even on PC we recommend that you take advantage of the pad. For the rest there are really good improvements compared to the first chapter, a lot of limitations less and better care of the mechanics and the technical level. Really good also the introduction of the multiplayer that gives that extra touch to the game, though perhaps, could have been slightly more cautious, especially in Versus mode. Generally, however, a great job, you must buy if you like this genre, even in relation to the low sale price!
Review in Italian | Read full review
For the amount of content and replayability that you get, The Escapist 2 is a fantastic game for new and old players, it’s a really fun puzzle game with a unique RPG twist and offers bags of fun for a reasonable price.
Fancy living out your Great Escape fantasies? Or maybe you reckon Alcatraz was for wimps? Either way The Escapists 2 is here to allow you to do just that as the prison escape sim returns, and this time you get to being a friend to do time with you.
The Escapists 2 offers gamers a chance to be creative in the way they approach challenges, and in the sequel you have a chance to tackle challenges with friends. It can feel a bit grindy, but that’s very much intentional considering it’s meant to reflect the life of a convict trying to slip out.
Once past the inital hurdle of learning the game and its myriad intricacies, The Escapists 2 offers a solid prison break vibe that lets you explore and try out multiple grand (or subtle!) escape plans in a solid variety of prisons. The addition of a fun multiplayer experience, much requested by fans of the original, is icing on the cake.
I think one of the keys to enjoying The Escapists 2 is understanding both what it is and isn’t. If you approach it like a sandbox game you’ll be able to have some fun for a while simply going through the daily prison routine, and it can be interesting for a while, but that won’t generally advance you towards escape. It all revolves around looking for anything unusual in the circumstances you find yourself in that will provide an opportunity, scanning your crafting list for anything that stands out, and then putting together your means of escape through trial and error. If the game would organically provide tips on what you’ll want or need to do through the grapevine, or as a reward for turning in favors (or even money) it may not have always been quite as aggravating. Without a doubt it is a unique title and for people who enjoy challenging themselves with something different it should deliver, you just may want to look at a strategy guide if you’re feeling lost.
The Escapist 2 mainly focuses itself on improving the series’ combat, giving more elaborate ways to escape and new items to mess and experiment with; it definitely feels as if The Escapist 2 is about refining the original formula and improving certain aspects to create a game that forces you to think strategically and outside of the box, acting very much more like “The Escapist 1.5” – That’s not a bad thing, however – If you want to feel as if you are part of the great escape or simply want to experience a truly challenging game with a twist, then this is the game for you.
The Escapists 2 is feature rich and runs a treat on Nintendo Switch
The Escapists 2 is a solid package that expands upon the concepts of the original game in meaningful ways and it performs very well on the Nintendo Switch.
SUMMARY The Escapists 2 has a fantastic premise and builds upon the original game, playing on the go is a great way to play and there are some great moments however I feel as though it gets a bit bogged down in menus and systems. The developer has missed the opportunity to give us a bit more back story for the character we play for each prison. Nevertheless its a creative and expressive game worth picking up if you like a sandbox game.
All in all, The Escapists 2 does a decent enough job in providing that Shawshank Redemption fix you’ve always dreamed of. So much so that when you do finally make it out, you will probably fall to your knees while staring at the stormy sky in relief. Naturally, this game isn’t going to be for everyone as it can be quite intimidating for beginners. It may also test the patience for those who lack it or are initially looking for a quick fix. In all fairness, it is prison after all. It was never going to be a walk in the park. Now shut up and eat your porridge.
If you think you are up for the learning curve, I definitely recommend giving The Escapists 2 a try. It has definitely made me feel like a genius when I have formulated the perfect escape strategy, but also foolish when I squander the perfect getaway and miss the easier route. All of that is part of the fun and makes for a rewarding experience.