Exit (video game)

Did You Know?

• Mr. ESC is described as a very professional escape artist with an unparalleled eye for coffee.
• Jet, a rival escapologist with a jetpack, appears if the player brings companions to their doom or runs out of time.
• A sequel titled Kangaeru Exit (released elsewhere as Exit 2) was revealed in late June 2006 and released in September 2006.

Gameplay

Each level has a starting point for Mr. ESC and an exit point, with a time limit for completion. There may be one or more trapped individuals; in many cases Mr. ESC must rescue some or all of them to complete the level. Mr. ESC can swim, run faster, and jump higher than other individuals, but is prone to injury from hazards or falls. The individuals come in four types: Youngs, who can climb moderate obstacles and assist others; Children, who can only climb small heights but can traverse small passages; Adults, who can push large objects but need help to climb; and Patients, who must be carried or wheeled to the exit. Except for Patients, Mr. ESC can order these people to perform tasks, move, or use tools, but they remain panicked until he touches them. They will not willingly put themselves in danger but can be injured indirectly; if a survivor is injured, Jet carries them to safety. If too many survivors are injured or Mr. ESC is injured, the level must be restarted. Obstacles include crates, fires, water hazards, one-way doors, fallen rock walls, and electrical wires. Tools such as fire extinguishers and pickaxes can remove some obstacles. Some levels are dark and require a flashlight.

Reception

The PSP and Xbox 360 versions received generally favorable reviews, while the DS version received mixed reviews, according to Metacritic. Famitsu gave the PSP version 34 out of 40, and the DS version 33 out of 40. Charles Herold of The New York Times praised the PSP version as tremendous fun for logic puzzle fans but noted tricky jumping and cumbersome command controls. Detroit Free Press gave it three stars out of four, stating it has enough substance for hours of play. 411Mania scored the DS version 7.5 out of 10, calling it simple but hard to master. The Sydney Morning Herald gave the PSP version three stars out of five, calling it a good mental workout despite punishing quirks.