Exit - A Stylish Platformer For Sony PSP

"Exit" is a platformer style game for the PSP, but it's so much more than that as well. It's filled with mind bending puzzles, and some nostalgic gameplay. Those old enough to remember such games as "Out of This World" and "Flashback" for the 16 bit consoles of the nineties are sure to recognize the gameplay elements in this 2D platformer from Taito.

- Video Game Rating Scale -

**** - Graphics
***** - Style
***** - Fun
**** - Replay
***** - Music

I purchased "Exit" less than a month ago after reading a few favorable reviews online. I have been hooked since! The game is highly addictive and based on a very simple premise. In "Exit" for the PSP, you play the hero, but not just any here, you are MR. ESC (Mister Escape) a "Professional" escape artist. Armed with only his wits (no super powers) he must escape various dangerous situations and save innocent bystanders (referred to as "Victims") from certain doom. This game is a platform puzzler, and performs it's job quite adequately (be prepared to push boxes, press buttons, and above all... THINK.)

"Exit" is a game that requires players to think. By using strategically placed tools, such as, ropes, flashlights, pickaxes, fire extinguishers, and especially your companions (Victims) you must escape from many different situations and save lives along the way.

Elements of Gameplay

If you're old enough to remember the days of "Super Nintendo" and "Sega Genesis" you may remember a game titled "Flashback" or "Out of This World." Well, if you do then you'll probably be familiar with the way the character controls, as these games share some similar traits in this area. The action is very smooth, but some of the animation sequences take a little of the control out of the players hands. For instance, when climbing a stair case or ladder, the player must wait until Mr. Esc fully ascends or descends before they can change direction. This is a problem if for some reason you change your mind about the direction you need to head in.

Style Elements

"Exit" is a fun game, but part of the fun for me is the stylized graphics. Anybody that enjoyed the look of "Viewtiful Joe" will probably enjoy the graphics displayed in this game. The game has sort of a 1950's comic book style of art, very much like "Viewtiful Joe" in that it uses a cel-shaded style of computer rendering. (Cel-shading refers to a type of computer drawing which is non-realistic and mimics more of a cartoon or comic style of art.)

Let Me Wrap This Up

Beside being suitable for all ages, this game is addictively fun. The graphics and style are wonderful, the gameplay is more than satisfactory and the puzzles will have you racking your brains for quite some time. As an added bonus, if you get bored with the many levels already provided on the UMD disk, Taito and Ubisoft give you even more levels that you can download for free! With a price tag as low as $29.99 you can't go wrong. One last thing, if you do purchase this game, don't forget to check out the credits, you can do this at any time and it's totally fun! How many games can you say that for?