Escape from Ever After is a humour-filled satirical beast that will amuse lovers of the Paper Mario series. It bounces from one tongue-in-cheek element to another with ease. Moreover, the chapters flow nicely as the silly story is wonderfully paced. However, the latter game is a little rinse-and-repeat, which tarnishes the endgame. Yet, this shouldn’t put you off, as the overall presentation and core elements are enjoyable.
This action-adventure platformer was developed by Sleepy Castle Studio and published by HypeTrain Digital. This single-player affair incorporates turn-based combat as you explore each unique location and tackle an array of weird and wonderful monsters. Additionally, there are environmental puzzles as you use each character’s special powers to open new pathways and overcome plenty of hurdles.
Escape from Ever After tells an amusing but oppressive tale.
A hero taking down an all-powerful dragon in its castle is pretty well-trodden. Yet, the twist to Escape from Ever After is something that no one could predict! You play the role of Flynt Buckler, a cheery hero who wants to thwart the deadly dragon, Tinder. As the protagonist enters Tinder’s castle, things don’t seem right. There are storybook characters everywhere, and the global conglomerate, Ever After Inc., has taken over. Furthermore, Tinder has been imprisoned. Consequently, Flynt cannot complete his mission, and all hell breaks loose.
The plot may seem irrelevant, but it isn’t. It helps to form the most unlikely of pairings. Flynt and Tinder decide to work together to take down the evil corporation while reinstating the balance. If they complete their quest, they will regain control of the castle and their feud can continue. If they fail, every storybook character will become a pawn in the conglomerate’s game of global domination.
A fun and witty experience.
As the 5 core chapters unfold, you’ll laugh and smile as you discover new pathways, attack monsters, and find an array of collectables. Moreover, there are new heroes to recruit as you visit the 3 little pigs, trek through a frozen library, or visit some pirates. Each location has its own interesting elements and characters to help or overcome. Yet, at its core, the action remains the same.
Semi-open world exploration is punctuated by turn-based combat. Furthermore, there is character progression and a trinket system similar to the badges in Paper Mario. This passive skill buff was a great way to add some tactical nuance to the madness. Additionally, each extra hero added tools and the chance to explore each level differently. This kept me thinking as the puzzles evolved and things became slightly harder but still manageable.
Alongside this, there is a hub world to explore between the different chapters. This was the weakest part of Escape from Ever After. Although it offers enough to keep you coming back, it didn’t capture my attention as the story did. Instead, I used this to grab some side quests and occasionally check my weird and wonderful emails.
Unlike other turn-based games, this relies on reactions and timings. Your characters can add power or additional attacks if you time things right. Moreover, if you time your defence correctly, you’ll reduce the incoming damage. This sounds great in practice, but in reality, the timing window is tough to get right and often unfair. Subsequently, it’s a mechanic that falls short more often than not.
Escape from Ever After looks razor sharp.
The combination of 2D and 3D imagery works extremely well. The characters rotate on the spot to generate the sense of 3D depth. However, the background is wonderfully flat. This juxtaposing style is reminiscent of the ever-popular Paper Mario series. Sadly, though, the developer didn’t put too much thought into the character models. The latter game has repetitive monsters with slightly different colourways. This was unfortunate because it tarnished the fun and interesting work up until that point.
The audio is filled with energetic, fun, and dramatic songs: the jazzy, big-band vibe flows and shifts to suit each chapter’s theme. Furthermore, there is a sinister corporate edge that generates a sense of frantic madness. The developer has incorporated some voiceover work and fun nonsense sounds. This adds a layer of humour and personality to each hero and the plot.
Excellent controls.
I was impressed by the simple control system and the clean UI. The tutorial is nicely paced, and understanding the fundamentals was a walk in the park. As the game evolves, new mechanics are introduced. Thankfully, these are well explained, and you are rarely left guessing what is required.
This 20 to 25-hour RPG adventure has some replay value. There is a 100-level Stairs of Success option that will keep you playing for hours. However, if this isn’t your thing, you can find every secret and collectable in around 30 hours. Therefore, it offers great value for money.
Escape from Ever After is a whimsical and fun game.
Escape from Ever After came to me out of nowhere. I hadn’t researched it, and I didn’t know its satirical edge. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised by its art style, fun mechanics, and amusing story. However, the turn-based timing elements and the repetitive monsters should have been much better. Despite these complaints, it is great, and I recommend buying it here! Can you defeat the corporation? Work together, master your skills, and show the conglomerate who is the boss.
