ESC
- May 15, 2020
- Lena Raine
- 14h median play time
Get on Steam"ESC" is a single-player Horror Visual Novel game, immersing players in the text-based world of VerdaMUCK within the cerebrally-interconnected network of the future. As Raine, explore memories and uncover a conspiracy alongside The Navigator, while experiencing a spectacular story and beautiful soundtrack by Lena Raine & Christa Lee. With glitch art visuals and dynamic sound design, "ESC" explores themes of identity and roleplay in a 4-6 hour simulated typing gameplay experience.
Mac OS
PC
Reviews
- The writing and storytelling are phenomenal, offering a deeply engaging and thought-provoking experience.
- The soundtrack by Lena Raine enhances the atmosphere and emotional depth of the game, making it a standout feature.
- The game is unique and immersive, drawing players into its complex narrative and encouraging multiple playthroughs to fully appreciate its layers.
- The game has limited interactivity, feeling more like reading a book than playing a traditional game, which may not appeal to everyone.
- Some players found the story confusing and difficult to follow, especially in the early stages, which could deter those looking for a straightforward experience.
- The gameplay is linear with no branching paths, which might disappoint those seeking more traditional gameplay mechanics or choices.
- story50 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story is described as complex and thought-provoking, often requiring multiple playthroughs to fully grasp its intricacies. Players appreciate the engaging narrative filled with twists, memorable characters, and a strong emotional resonance, enhanced by excellent music and visuals. While it is a linear experience without branching paths, the depth and quality of storytelling make it a compelling journey worth experiencing.
“The story is a huge rabbit hole; it's amazing how much the developer can convey through just text. It's truly remarkable—don't believe me? Try it yourself.”
“A story so thought-provoking and full of intrigue, told in a meaningful way.”
“This story is beautiful, a truly enrapturing exploration of identity and social experience.”
“Another notable thing is that this story is extremely complex, and you'll most likely have to replay certain chapters or the entire story a few times to understand it.”
“It's a linear story, so know that going in.”
“Therefore, you cannot make a difference in this story, you can only read what happens and try to make sense of this crazy world Lena Raine has put together.”
- music33 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game, composed by Lena Raine, is universally praised for its outstanding quality and ability to enhance the narrative experience. Reviewers highlight its immersive and emotional impact, describing it as moody, captivating, and integral to the game's atmosphere. Many recommend playing with headphones to fully appreciate the soundtrack, which is considered a significant draw for the game.
“Lena's soundtrack is amazing, as any sane person would expect.”
“The music is moody in the best possible way, obviously.”
“It's incredibly immersive and captivating with music that fills you with so many emotions.”
“When I went into this game as a fan of Lena Raine's music in other games, I felt I would be surprised if someone so incredibly capable at composing was able to show similar expertise when it came to other, similarly difficult to master fields of game design and storytelling.”
“However, the music, visuals, and its presentation as a video game serve to enhance the narrative.”
“ESC's music is alternately spooky and endearing.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their ability to beautifully enhance the narrative, creating a captivating visual experience that complements the story. Users describe the visuals as "wallpaper-worthy" and "super cool," contributing to an overall stellar presentation that hooks players from the start.
“The visuals beautifully accompany and enhance the story.”
“However, the music, visuals, and its presentation as a video game serve to enhance the narrative.”
“Great soundtrack, visuals, story, just everything is stellar.”
“The graphics are outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“The character models look stiff and lifeless, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The environments feel bland and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its enthralling combination of exceptional writing, a captivating soundtrack, and immersive backdrops, which together create a beautifully eerie and engaging experience. Reviewers highlight how the music and visual elements work in harmony to enhance the storytelling, making the overall atmosphere both awe-inspiring and fitting for the narrative.
“This was amazing, left me completely enthralled from start to finish with an incredible soundtrack and atmosphere to complement it all.”
“First off, the writing, music, and atmosphere are phenomenal.”
“With only text, beautifully scary music, and ominous backdrops, the atmosphere slowly establishes, and it's awe-inspiring the way it does.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for its lack of interactivity and choice, as it primarily involves pressing keys to advance text, leading some to feel it lacks depth. However, despite its simplicity, some players still find it to be a highly enjoyable experience, highlighting a divide in expectations regarding gameplay complexity.
“The gameplay is no more than pressing keys to progress the text and yet, despite this simplicity, it's still one of the best experiences I've had in gaming in a long while.”
“It isn't much of a game; there's no gameplay or any kind of choice here.”
“I should probably have looked up some reviews or looked more into the gameplay before I bought it, but it's too late for that.”
“- you are specifically looking for non-linearity and gameplay and couldn't set that aside for a very nice experience.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by witty and engaging dialogue filled with references to various tropes, complemented by a captivating narrative style. Players appreciate the blend of humor with elements of world-building and discussions about roleplaying games, enhancing the overall experience.
“Amazing music, amazing visuals, funny and interesting dialogue with plenty of references to popular tropes.”
“Gripping, mysterious, funny, and beautifully scored.”
“If you enjoy stream-of-consciousness writing, world-building, cyberpunk, and humor about roleplaying and pen & paper games, this is for you.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional impact of the game to be significant, with many highlighting a bittersweet ending that evokes strong feelings, including tears during pivotal moments.
“The ending was bittersweet, and the chapter right before the epilogue made me cry because I'm just that sort of person.”
