Attic of the Underdogs

onEscapee

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Review by Jim9137:
Imagine... that you are abducted. Imagine... that they are planning to do various things from bad 50's B-class scifi movies. Imagine... that you don't like their plans. Imagine... that you escape.

Welcome to onEscapee, a game where you are the only escapee, a game which draws heavy inspiration from such titles as Out of This World and Flashback, a game which in fact is very similar to them. Perhaps too similar one might argue, and some might argue that it's similar in the wrong parts. First released on Amiga way back in 1998, onEscapee has been recently converted to our humble PCs for everyone to enjoy, without a cost! It won several awards back then, so all and everything is promising. Sadly, there are few gripes that take away from the enjoyment... No, it's not like bad 50's B-class scifi movie, honestly. I just like bad 50's B-class scifi movies. Honestly! I don't think repeating it will make the association go away now.

After the most spectacular intro with probably one of the most awesome intro tunes lately seen in games, it's even proper music with lyrics and all, heard in games lately, the game throws you in a junkyard. Aaand, besides the setting, pretty much everything is left for player to figure out. Ah, but I think I strayed. onEscapee, as I said, bears resemblance to aforementioned games. It has similar mechanism, each and everyone of them have a laser pistol but still focus on working out in puzzles which rarely involve items. However, I have to sadly admit that onEscapee is probably weakest game in that trio. Hats off for trying however.

The game's been retouched with additional effects, such as lens flares and apparently rain and shadows. Not game critical elements those. So, the game is off for a great start, I'm already kicked out and hyper about kicking some android/alien arse, and want my alien tequilas shaken, not stirred. And the game actually works for the first part very well, although the graphics are really, really obscure at times. I couldn't find my way out of the caverns until I realized that black patch in the wall wasn't just a shadow. And that's pretty much one of the bigger problems in the game, sometimes you just don't know whether that thing over there is a door, a dog, a ball, or just that green winged alien with the Staff of Alien Probing of Humanness (+7). The filter thing doesn't help this much either, few have been wondering why they even bothered with it.

At the start, you end up being in a jungle of sorts, with all these lovely plants and animals who'd like to take a bite or suck from you, classic puzzles for these type of games I suppose. Not very original I have to admit, but it was entertaining, but after that the game just went downhill. The puzzles weren't entertaining anymore, they were based too much on the reflex and a bit of masochism as you started running across minefields like a Duracell bunny on steroids, dodge guard dogs, winged aliens with the green probing staff and you even end up facing yourself at one point of the game. Very interesting things, but I'd be buggered if I'd knew how and why they were on an alien planet in the first place. The story part is really lacking from what I see, apparently because they want it to be international so there isn't much text or spoken dialogue in the game. I'm a Finn, I'm very international with my Nokia! Give me my Engrish, gosh darn thees!

The game is whopping 130 megs, but I have to wonder where they managed to waste that much of space. Most of the game is pretty much only, rather bland and confusing as mentioned, in VGA graphics with some rather neat music thrown in. (No, Windowed mode doesn't belong in the deal, nor does switching resolutions.) The best part of the game however, is the club in the city. That part seemed so out of place, but fitted the game like a nail in the head! Although it was really out of place, but still! An obscure club just for the sake of being there, you just have to love it!

Final verdict/judgement/pint: A good and interesting try, but falls because of recycling nearly every cliché of the genre and the developers didn't seem to have the guts or skill to take the game in the direction where it could have fully used the game's potential. Now the game is only barely above average, hampered by the sketchy controls and confusing graphics as well as the puzzles. I wish I could tell you I finished this game, but I honestly gave up when I encountered a switch hunting puzzle. (But it was still entertaining, really!)

Average Rating:7.13 [23 votes]
Genre:Adventure
Designer:
Developer:Invictus
Publisher:Freeware
Year:1996
Software Copyright:Invictus
Theme:Science Fiction
Multiplayer:
Related Links:Official site
More Info:Mobygames | The Web
System Requirements:Windows 95/98
If you like this game, try:Flashback: The Quest for Identity, Out of This World, Heart of The Alien
Thanks to... 
Technical Notes: