The Artful Escape

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 667 reviews
  • music
  • story
  • gameplay
The Artful Escape Game Cover
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"The Artful Escape" is a musical adventure game where players guide Francis Vendetti, a young musician, on a psychedelic journey to find his stage persona and overcome family expectations. Through rhythm-based guitar playing and narrative exploration, players will encounter fantastical creatures and environments, all while unlocking new abilities and instruments. The game combines elements of story-rich adventures with rhythm games, resulting in a unique and visually striking experience.

  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 667 reviews
music161 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • Stunning visuals and art style that create a mesmerizing experience.
  • Fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • Engaging story about self-discovery and breaking free from expectations.
  • Gameplay is simplistic, primarily consisting of basic platforming and 'Simon Says' mechanics.
  • The story can feel predictable and lacks depth in certain areas.
  • Short playtime, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • music414 mentions

    The music in "The Artful Escape" is widely praised for its stunning and eclectic soundtrack, which beautifully complements the game's vibrant visuals and narrative themes of self-discovery. While many players appreciate the integration of music into the gameplay, some feel that the musical mechanics are simplistic and repetitive, lacking the depth expected from a game centered around music. Overall, the combination of captivating soundscapes and artistic design creates an immersive experience that resonates deeply with fans of music and art.

    • “The soundtrack of this game is phenomenal, with a range of genres on display, and the story was well-written and well-told.”
    • “The music, the colors, the actual characters all point to just masters of their craft.”
    • “The music is great, and the visuals are awesome.”
    • “If your game is going to be completely devoid of gameplay to have a music-focused experience, then you better be sure the music is good.”
    • “For being a music game, I didn’t find the music to be anything special.”
    • “The music becomes relentless in its stagnant, stale, boring, unchanging fervor.”
  • story274 mentions

    The story of "The Artful Escape" is a vibrant and heartfelt journey of self-discovery, focusing on a young musician's quest to find his identity beyond familial expectations. While the narrative is often described as simple and somewhat predictable, it resonates deeply with themes of personal expression and acceptance, enhanced by stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack. Players appreciate the blend of interactive storytelling and artistic presentation, though some note that the gameplay mechanics are minimal and may not appeal to those seeking a more traditional gaming experience.

    • “Once again, simple gameplay mechanics are used to tell a rich and surprising story—nothing like what I expected after watching the trailers, and I was pleasantly surprised by the twists in the narrative!”
    • “The artful escape's story, fundamentally, is about self-discovery and becoming who we believe we are meant to be.”
    • “Using the medium of music is perfect for a story of finding out who you are, not living up to what everyone thinks you should be and carving your own path, as music is probably the most expressive and personal art form there is, and this game pulled it off masterfully.”
    • “The story is what sold me on this game; overcoming one's self-doubt and embracing who you truly see yourself as hits very close to me.”
    • “The story wasn't going anywhere, and the setting, despite being a fantastical outer space, was highly underutilized.”
    • “The story tries its hardest to drive the point of 'making the music you wanna make' into your brain, only to then go on to limit musical expression to 'hold X to shred guitar' and 'play Simon says', while also omitting any rhythmic element from the music it forces you to play.”
  • gameplay221 mentions

    The gameplay in "The Artful Escape" is largely simplistic, featuring basic platforming and rhythm-based "simon says" mechanics that some players find repetitive and lacking in challenge. While the mechanics are minimal and often feel secondary to the game's stunning visuals and engaging narrative, many players appreciate the overall experience, emphasizing the game's focus on storytelling and artistic expression over traditional gameplay complexity. Overall, it caters more to those seeking a visually and aurally immersive journey rather than a challenging gaming experience.

    • “Once again, simple gameplay mechanics are used to tell a rich and surprising story—nothing like what I expected after watching the trailers, and I was pleasantly surprised by the twists in the narrative!”
    • “While the gameplay never really exceeds basic platforming and rhythm action, the story, characters, music, and visuals take these simple mechanics and turn the whole thing into a spectacle of cosmic proportions.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, but by no means is that a bad thing.”
    • “The gameplay is flat: platforming to the extent of holding buttons and performing basic combos; basic simon-says pattern copying.”
    • “The gameplay is very basic but the design and music are great.”
    • “The gameplay is simple and repetitive, but it's the most fabulous, gorgeous game of simon you will ever play.”
  • graphics180 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning, colorful, and psychedelic art style, which creates a captivating visual experience that enhances the overall gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the unique and vibrant aesthetics, often comparing them to a moving psychedelic rock album cover, complemented by an impressive soundtrack. While some note that the gameplay may be simplistic, the breathtaking visuals and immersive sound design make it a memorable and enjoyable experience.

    • “The visuals are a mesmerizing fusion of hand-painted landscapes, neon-infused sci-fi realms, and surreal cosmic vistas.”
    • “With its kaleidoscopic visuals, mind-bending narrative, and ethereal musical score, it crafts an experience that feels more like a surreal dream than a traditional game.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely stunning and the soundtrack and gameplay make it even more entrancing.”
    • “Other than the unique psychedelic art style, it's hopelessly mediocre.”
    • “If you look to the side or up and down, you'll see the entire off-stage production, which will have many graphical oddities.”
    • “Graphically, I cannot look closely at it; everything is 2D stuck into 3D space, and I can hardly appreciate it.”
  • emotional26 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling, stunning visuals, and immersive musical experience, often evoking strong feelings and even tears from players. Many reviewers describe it as a touching journey that resonates deeply, making them feel nostalgic and connected to their own artistic expressions. Despite some criticism regarding gameplay, the overall emotional impact and the ability to evoke joy and reflection are highlighted as standout features.

    • “In the vast and diverse realm of video games, it's a rare gem that manages to seamlessly blend visual artistry, musical prowess, and heartfelt storytelling.”
    • “And I can forgive the lack of strong gameplay in exchange for a story that really spoke to me, to the point where I had tears in my eyes at the end of this emotional journey.”
    • “The Artful Escape is a visual and sonic treat with an engaging, humorous, and heartfelt story.”
  • humor21 mentions

    The game's humor is characterized by clever and quirky dialogue, funny characters, and a vibrant art style that enhances the overall experience. While some humorous choices lack direct impact on gameplay, they contribute to a lighthearted and engaging narrative. Players appreciate the blend of humor with emotional depth, making it a visually and musically stunning journey filled with laughter and inspiration.

    • “First of all - it's impossible not to mention the great humor this game provides.”
    • “The writing is clever and hilarious.”
    • “The artful escape is a visual and sonic treat with an engaging, humorous, and heartfelt story.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users suggesting it could be improved, particularly in terms of performance during challenging segments. While the game features stunning visuals, excellent voice acting, and a unique rhythm mechanic, players noted a lack of creative freedom and repetitive gameplay that can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the engaging narrative and strong performances help maintain interest throughout.

    • “In a game that is all about escaping into different dimensions and flying through countless gorgeous worlds while putting on an incredible performance with your guitar, you have no creative freedom whatsoever over what the music does, what you do, or the choices that it makes you choose, which don't amount to anything different; all choices result in the same guitar playing that gets mind-numbing way faster than you'd initially think.”
    • “Maybe a bit better optimization as well.”
    • “The artful escape is mostly a walking simulator through some interesting locations with the ability to do guitar wails and a very basic rhythm game mechanic at performances.”
    • “Putting aside its stunning, wondrous art style - which is sustained from start to finish, impeccable voice acting, and an outstanding soundtrack, we got a 2D platformer/exploration with some respective stage 'bosses', played as stage performances that can be summarized in a musical Simon Says game.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many describing the gameplay as boring and lacking variety. While the environments are visually appealing, the mechanics, such as the "jump and strum guitar" sequences, quickly become monotonous and detract from the overall experience.

    • “Boring and tedious.”
    • “That's how tedious this crap is, that ranting about it is more fun than playing it.”
    • “4 hours of tedious 'simon says' gameplay.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Overall, the game lacks significant replayability due to a flat story and the absence of difficulty settings, leading many players to feel that there is little incentive to revisit it. While it may offer a unique psychedelic experience, it does not cater to those seeking a game with high replay value.

    • “The game offers a unique experience each time, making it highly replayable.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that every playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
    • “With multiple paths and endings, this game encourages players to dive back in for a new experience.”
    • “The story falls flat, and the game does not have much replayability value.”
    • “There is no difficulty setting, which is a shame because this drops its replayability to pretty much zero.”
    • “I feel like there really isn't much left for replay value either.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive and beautiful environments, complemented by a stellar soundtrack that enhances the experience. While the gameplay is simple and linear, the environmental storytelling and the opportunity for replayability contribute to a captivating overall ambiance.

    • “Reminded me of a higher production, musical version of Limbo or Inside; where the gameplay is simple but the atmosphere and environmental storytelling is incredible.”
    • “This is an immersive experience that is focused on interacting with its beautiful environments while enjoying a stellar and atmospheric soundtrack.”
    • “It's short, simple, and linear, but it's very atmospheric and you could spend a lot of time going back and replaying each level trying to get (and perhaps record) a graceful, fun-to-watch perfect run.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
    • “Despite the beautiful visuals, the atmosphere fails to evoke any real emotion or connection with the characters.”
    • “The game tries to create a haunting atmosphere, but it ends up feeling more tedious than engaging.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Reviewers praise the game's character development as engaging and compelling, highlighting its beautiful design and stunning art direction. The combination of an amazing soundtrack and interesting environments further enhances the overall experience, making the characters memorable and integral to the story.

    • “Beautiful design, killer soundtrack, and engaging character development.”
    • “An amazing soundtrack, interesting environments and character design, and a compelling story make this game a very enjoyable and memorable experience.”
    • “Stunning art direction and character design.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game has appealing graphics and aesthetics, but users frequently report stability issues, with frequent freezing and crashes that disrupt gameplay. While the overall experience is enjoyable, these technical problems significantly detract from the enjoyment.

    • “Kinda seems really cool, but sadly it freezes every single time I play it. I get a tiny bit further and then it freezes, forcing me to relaunch it. I'm majorly bummed about this; I wish I could get it to run without freezing and crashing.”
    • “The game offers some nice graphics and environments, although there are some ugly glitches here and there. It is pleasant all the same, but the stability issues really detract from the experience.”
    • “I really want to enjoy this game, but the constant crashes make it nearly unplayable. It's frustrating to invest time only to have it freeze and lose progress.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

7hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
6-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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