Fire Escape

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Fire Escape is a narrative-driven game that simulates voyeurism through its point-of-view gameplay. Players follow the life of a tenant in a New York City apartment complex, observing and eavesdropping on their neighbors as they uncover a series of dramatic events. The game explores themes of surveillance, community, and identity in the digital age.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 62 reviews

story12 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and immersive storytelling experience, allowing players to control the camera and replay scenes from different angles to uncover various story elements.
Voice acting and character motives are well-crafted, adding depth to the narrative and enhancing the overall experience.
The concept of viewing different apartment windows to piece together a murder mystery is intriguing and provides replayability to discover missed details.

The gameplay is overly passive, with minimal interactivity, making it feel more like a cinematic experience than a traditional game.
The story lacks depth and coherence, with many elements introduced but not fully developed, leading to a disappointing conclusion.
Technical issues, such as unresponsive controls and bugs that disrupt gameplay, detract from the overall enjoyment of the experience.

story
48 mentions
25 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its immersive, asymmetrical storytelling approach and the ability to explore different perspectives, while others criticize it for being poorly written and unrealistic, often feeling rushed towards a non-ending. Despite its engaging performances and replayability, many feel that the narrative lacks depth and coherence, making it more akin to a novel than a traditional game. Overall, it offers an interesting VR experience, but opinions on the quality of the story itself vary significantly.
- “Such a fun way to tell a story in VR, with excellent performances and writing.”
- “I loved how observing one situation could mean missing something going on elsewhere; this adds to the suspense and lets you come back for a replay, watching for different things and how knowing something else could change how you perceive the story as a whole.”
- “Immersive storytelling experience.”
- “But it's more like a novel than a game, and the story seems a little unrealistic.”
- “The game presents elements and then abandons them to the ether, to push forward a story that is rushing towards a non-ending.”
- “You play no role in the story other than as an observer, and the reveal isn't based on any action from your side.”
graphics
10 mentions
40 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally considered acceptable but not impressive, with many users noting that they feel somewhat outdated. While the character models are decent, there are complaints about clipping issues and a lack of interactivity. Overall, the visuals do not detract significantly from the gameplay experience, but they leave room for improvement.
- “I played in VR using my HTC Vive. The game is played through 3 chapters which are time-stamped, so if you miss anything, you can go back to it. I enjoyed it very much; the graphics, while the character models are nothing to shout about, are not too bad. The storyline is good, and the voice actors are amazing. Overall, I would recommend this game.”
- “Graphics were good, but I wish there was more interactivity.”
- “Graphics are okay.”
- “However, the graphics are a bit outdated and it was annoying to see clipping from some of the characters as they moved around.”
- “The graphics are ok but not great.”
- “Graphics are ok.”
gameplay
8 mentions
13 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The gameplay experience varies significantly, with some users noting a lack of interactive elements, as they primarily watch and listen to events unfold. In contrast, others appreciate the refreshing yet limited mechanics in VR, describing the gameplay as immersive and relaxed. Overall, the gameplay is characterized by a mix of passive observation and engaging VR interactions.
- “Very immersive, chilled gameplay.”
- “There is no actual gameplay element to this, and you just watch and listen as the events unfold.”
- “The gameplay mechanics on VR are quite refreshing, although limited.”
- “The gameplay mechanics on VR are quite refreshing, although limited.”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Replayability is limited, primarily revolving around the desire to collect achievements and experience missed scenes, as there are only two endings to the story. Players may find themselves grinding and reloading chapters to fully explore the narrative, but the overall incentive to replay is somewhat constrained.
- “There is replayability to see which important scenes you missed play out, allowing for a more thorough view of the story.”
- “The game encourages multiple playthroughs to uncover different outcomes and character arcs.”
- “Each playthrough reveals new details and choices, making it rewarding to revisit the game.”
- “Ultimately, there are only two endings to the story, with replay value heavily depending on how badly you want to collect all the achievements (meaning endless grinding and reloading of chapters).”
- “So there is replayability to see which important scenes you missed play out to get a more thorough view of the story.”
optimization
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide specific feedback on optimization, focusing instead on the storytelling, performances, and writing quality in VR. Therefore, there is no clear consensus or information regarding the game's optimization.
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Players note that the game features limited endings, which leads to significant grinding for achievement completion, often requiring repetitive chapter reloading. This aspect can diminish overall enjoyment, as replay value hinges on the player's desire to engage in this tedious process.
- “Ultimately, there are only two endings to the story, with replay value heavily depending on how badly you want to collect all the achievements, meaning endless grinding and reloading of chapters.”
- “The game forces you into a repetitive grind to unlock content, which can feel tedious and unfulfilling.”
- “Grinding for resources takes away from the enjoyment of the game, making it feel more like a chore than an adventure.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is likened to a VR theater experience, allowing players to immerse themselves in the drama while subtly influencing the plot. This creates a rich and engaging environment that enhances the overall narrative experience.
- “This is like VR theatre where you can nudge the plot along while soaking up the drama and atmosphere.”