The Artful Escape
Review

The Artful Escape (2021) is a narrative adventure with running and jumping sections that combine platform action with music-playing. You are Francis Vendetti as he traverses the universe, jamming on his guitar and harmonising with the various bizarre creatures he encounters on his journey. You use your guitar to aid your jumps and interact with different characters.

Francis is a musician on a quest to create his stage persona. He is the nephew of Johnson Vendetti, who is the equivalent of someone like our world's Bob Dylan and, in the opening chapters of the game, you begin to understand his legacy and the impossible expectations his fans place on him because of it.

You craft his persona, choosing his stage name and backstory and help him navigate bright and colourful worlds that react to his guitar playing, all while searching for a mysterious jazz club.

You explore the exotic and alien landscapes, guiding him up cliffs, down hills and across gorges. You can use his guitar to increase the distance of your jump, knee slide down hills and float in beams of light. Along the way you meet characters and creatures that you can talk to and interact with, choosing what Francis says to them from a selection of different responses.

The Artful Escape is a playful exploration of the love of music and rhythms. The musicality and beauty in nature and fulfilling your cosmic destiny. One for lovers of rock opera and air guitar flourishes.

Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked The Artful Escape 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 4 months ago.