If there’s one thing that is used as a level in games more often than not, it’s being locked up in a jail of some sort. Whether it be the start to a game (Elder Scrolls), or a strategy to take everything away and create a type of escape/stealth mission where you must not only escape your cell, but also must reacquire your gear, it’s a common trope you’ve no doubt seen in video games. One of the reasons this is used over and over is because it’s a fun change from the rest of the game, and an easy way to switch things up. But what if you were tasked with escaping from multiple prison cells as an entire game?

The Escapists 2 expands on the gameplay and options provided in the first entry, while adding a lot of content and features. On top of a more polished game, you’ll be tasked with escaping moving prisons and having the option of doing so along other players. The latter of these two options was especially important to me, as my wife and I are always looking for something to play together, and it seems most games don’t offer the option anymore. This not only allows for local co-op, but online co-op and versus modes. Will you work together to escape the prison, or will you use the other for personal gain and leave them in prison? In versus you will be competing against the clock to escape the fastest, while there isn’t really a time limit with the co-op. All the local modes involve a split screen down the middle, and four squares if you’re popular enough to have three friends.

For those unfamiliar with The Escapists, this offers a tutorial prison in which everything is told in the form a flashback from the comfort of a beach. It teaches you the basics of what to expect in the actual game, but there’s still a lot that you likely won’t pick up from completing that alone. As you explore the first real level by yourself, you’ll come to understand the game proper. You’ll do favors for other inmates, which will earn you money that you can use to pay for items, purchase hints, and use for bribes.

One of the more interesting features of the multiplayer is the different sections/escapes that appear to be exclusive. Of course, I didn’t find every facet the game has to offer, and I’m 99% certain all of these have single player ways of approaching them, but it was a great addition to the game having to work together to get into certain areas. Simply teaming up to build certain items for your daunting task is exceedingly fun – especially when you’re playing together in the same room and can communicate directly. The game also offers emotes with the D-Pad, letting you communicate online for those that don’t have two systems set up next to each other. However, playing online also means doing so with someone that may not be as friendly, and end up using you to get away. It’s a gamble you’ll face while playing online – albeit a fun one.

As mentioned, there are multiple methods for escaping the various prisons you’ll be faced with. Do you take the quick civilian route, perform the classic dig, pummel your way to victory, or follow some other means that may remind you of Metal Gear? These are only a handful of the escapes you’ll discover in your time prison-hopping. How do you choose to escape a moving train? Can you simply walk into space and be done with it? The previous entry was a sandbox as well, but this adds so much to the table.

If you’re new to the series, it’s important to know that the game doesn’t wait on your every whim. Far from it, as you are in a prison full of routine. Miss something like lunch or exercise time, and your heat goes up. Get in a fight; expect to be put down quickly, by guards or the inmate you decided to give a wallop. If the place goes into lock-down, expect to get knocked out and wake up to peeling potatoes, along with losing all of your gear you spent so much time collecting and crafting. While you have a stash in your cell, it can be raided at any point, so you will want to hide your most valuable items in the secret compartment you are provided.

Beyond that, there are some minor changes that are welcome. What is at first a very minimalist character creator soon becomes a robust creation tool as you unlock new options through gameplay. The graphics got a bit of an update, so it certainly looks nicer. The prisons have many layers to explore, opposed to just one or two levels. It also features leaderboards for each level, with filters for everyone that plays the game, yourself, and friends you know – additionally, you can see whether they were playing Singleplayer, Multiplayer, or Versus.

It’s important to note that if you’re not overly familiar with the game, boosting your stats such as strength and intelligence will help you in the long run. That may seem obvious, but there isn’t a designated library time in the daily routine, so it may not occur to you that spending your free time reading is all that important. But if you have any inclination to craft the items available to you, this is an absolute must, unless you’re insistent on only using the lower tier gear. Of course, as the multiplayer is drop-in/drop-out, you can always have a friend hop in and build something for you, then leave. Not the most upstanding way of acquiring equipment, but then again, you are in prison – you aren’t a model citizen.

The Escapists 2 has this draw for success, despite likely involving lots of failure your first or fifth time through. I found myself telling my wife how we’d be breaking out of jail while eating, showering, and while she was sleeping. With multiple escapes to accomplish, competitive multiplayer, leaderboards, and co-op jailbreaks, it’s hard to not love everything this game has to offer. The dialogue can be completely overlooked, but you’d be missing out on a lot of great humor. Especially in the later levels when things become a big unhinged (okay, more than a bit). This entry takes the original and puts it in overdrive, and it’s everything you could want from it.

10 out of 10

Pros

• Multiplayer
• Competitive/Co-op
• Ridiculous Levels

Cons

• Not Enough Prisons

The Escapists 2 was developed by Mouldy Toof Studios and published by Team17. The game launched on PC, PS4, and X1 August 22nd, 2017, and on Switch January 11th, 2018 for $19.99. The game (two copies for online testing) was provided to us for review on PS4. If you’d like to see more of The Escapists 2, check out the official site.

 

Here at GBG we use a rating method that you are more than likely familiar with – a scale of 1 to 10. For clarification, we intend on using the entire scale: 1-4 is something you should probably avoid paying for; 5-7 is something that is worth playing, but probably not at full price; 8-10 is a great title that you can feel confident about buying. If you have any questions or comments about how we rate a game, please let us know.

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