Have you ever wanted so desperately to leave the shadow of someone else, no matter how difficult or fearful it may seem? That’s exactly how Francis Vendetti feels in this action-adventure musical game. The Artful Escape was developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive in November 2021. The Artful Escape is on different platforms, including PC, Xbox One, Xbox series X, and S. The game’s mobile version is available for download on MG store, Microsoft Store, Google Play store, and App store. 

Living in the Shoes of Another

The Artful Escape begins with Francis Vendetti – a teenage musician- sitting on a bench high up on a cliff. He is clothed in a leather jacket, a pair of big boots, and crazy-looking goggles. Francis is seen with a nice guitar, and your first task is to play a string of folk ballad on the guitar. You will immediately notice that the music is unoriginal, with little or no effort put in to make them sound appealing. The dramatic act makes it evident that Francis isn’t pleased about his current situation.

You will soon learn that Francis is a nephew to Johnson Vendetti – a music legend from Calypso. Francis is expected to be like his uncle, but he has his dreams, and Johnson’s style is not for Francis. Francis’ first musical performance has been scheduled for the next day, but he doesn’t want to be known for a false identity. 

The Perfect Escape Plan

While Francis looks lost and sad, he meets an annoying young girl called Violetta, who seems to understand his predicament. She then directs him to Lightman’s store, which Francis has never seen or heard about in the town. He then dismisses her advice and goes home to sleep. The following day, Lightman finds Francis and takes him to a spaceship. Unknown to the young boy, this was the beginning of an adventurous journey to self-discovery. 

The Artful Escape takes musical games to a whole new level, as gamers experience how intense self-actualisation could get. The adventure, the guts, and the excitement made me fall in love with the game. Annapurna Interactive allows you to enjoy the best artistic gaming experience by combining beautiful art and great music. You get to help Francis find his place in the competitive music world without compromising by following the step of his superstar uncle. 

Amazing Soundtrack and Game Design

Before playing the game, you should note that The Artful Escape was designed with music in mind. Hence, you’ll most likely enjoy it best with headphones plugged in or speakers turned on to enjoy a memorable musical experience. This doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy the game without headphones. I played it without headphones for the first hour, and my experience was just as exciting. Whatever means you choose, you could still enjoy the game’s unique soundtrack.

Apart from the unique soundtracks used in the game, I also loved every bit of the game design. I loved the colour palette, making the world look even more beautiful. The galactic sceneries were so captivating that I just couldn’t wait to explore the next galaxy.  You get to see it all, from the dark and moody forest scenes to the bright and lovely romantic beaches. There were also many scary cliffs and mountains, alongside fiery furnaces that constantly kept me on my toes. All in all, The Artful Escape provides an immersive experience for nearly anyone who wants to explore the world of beauty, art, music, and adventure.

Fantastic Characters with Life and Fun

I specifically loved interacting with the vivid characters in the game, including the villains and monsters. Each character made the game more attractive in a unique way. While the beasts across the galaxies were there to make a game more challenging and complicated, the friendly cosmic entity was always there to guide me and keep me entertained. On the other hand, Heady owns a lively jazz club that only ever speaks through a saxophone. I loved all the game scenes that featured Lightman, who happened to be Francis’ musical mentor. 

 No matter what game character I encountered, there were always some funny or exciting dialogue options.  Francis’ enthused character was the perfect match for the different characters in the game. The Artful Escape is about performance rather than precision, which means it’s crucial to interact with the game characters. You would better understand what riles up the game’s audience when you interact with the game characters. They are always available to help guide and direct you in your journey of self-discovery.

Unlimited Adventurous Gameplay Options

After playing legendary games from Annapurna Interactive like What Remains of Edith, Maquette, and Gone Home, the publishers expected nothing but perfection. Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed. Every part of The Artful Escape is captivating, whether you’re going on tours across the planets or escaping from some villain’s airship. Every new world has its challenges, wonders, and adventure. Players can join some characters in various music duels, which are all based on a call-and-response system.  

Although Artful Escape is a musical game, it doesn’t give you much chance to play the guitar. Instead, the game makes you play in sync with an already established tone. The point of the game is to make you enjoy good music as you move from one beautiful platform to another. The adventure in the gameplay comes mainly from the musical duels, interplanetary journeys, and escaping from evil villains. The game plays itself most of the time, with little help from you – but that’s okay because you won’t get bored with the game. There’s so much to explore in every galaxy, from the beautiful surroundings to the fantastic game characters.

Conclusion

This platforming game takes you on an adventurous journey across galaxies.  If you want a chance to escape from your boring daily routine, The Artful Escape provides the perfect opportunity. You can immerse yourself in Francis’ world all day as you explore the wonders of the galaxies. The most exciting part is that you don’t have to be a music lover to enjoy this game. You just can’t get bored with the game’s numerous features, from the intergalactic adventures to the beautiful scenery and intriguing storyline.