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The Escapists 2 Switch Review

Ever wondered what it was like to be incarcerated in a maximum security prison and attempt a daring breaking using only the basic of everyday items? Now you can play out these scenarios with a friend in The Escapists 2.

The game starts with a flashback, narrated from a tropical beach. Which is where I would assume all people would flee to after a daring breakout. The flashback not only sets the tone for the game but also serves as a tutorial level in which you are shown how to successfully breakout of prison. It gives you a base understanding of how to escape using bedsheets, a pickaxe and a pair of wirecutters all tools you can easily craft with the right materials later on.

After the tutorial you’re on you own, no more hand holding. This is where the game gets tougher. You need to follow along with the usual routines in the prison whilst also gathering materials that you could use in your escape. There is a pretty large crafting system that allows you to turn things like 2 files and some duct tape into a pair of wire cutters. Different levels of tools require a higher knowledge which can be gained from heading to the library in the prison and getting your nose into a book. Strength is improved via the routinely schedules exercise time and energy is regained by eating or resting. These are all things required for the various escapes.

There are 10 different prisons for you to break out with solo or with your partner in crime. The prisons vary in location and style from planes to trains and from old timey to futuristic. Each prison allows for the standard walking off the edge of the map to escape but to do the others you really have to think outside of the box. There are also escapes that can only be done with a second player these ones are a little more advanced and require the second person to help get the materials needed. One of the more memorable escapes being mailing yourselves out of the prison, I’m not to sure this would be possible in real life but in the game it certainly is.

You will quickly learn to bide your time whilst playing as you do need to know the routines of the prisons like the set meal times and roll calls, along with guard patrols routes and various other elements like guard dogs. It’s not as simple as just grabbing the first thing you find and then heading for the exit. You’ll find yourself needed to buy items off of other inmates which requires coins that you gain from doing missions for other inmates like beating someone up, stealing some milk or causing a scene. There is a little something for everyone in the game especially when it comes to puzzles and the non hand holding approach the game takes.

With its sandbox style approach to escaping, sometimes you might find yourself flapping in the wind and unsure what to do next. The pacing of the game has been improved since the first one, with less time spent waiting around. The 16-bit style visuals have also been given a nice step up, with the game overall looking and playing great.

8 out of 10