Once upon a time..
I have been a longtime fan of the early Paper Mario games, and very clearly the developers of Escape from Ever After can join me in that party. It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and if that’s true the OG Paper Mario team is somewhere feeling extremely well and unsure of even why. Escape from Ever After tells the (fairy) tale of one Flynn Buckler; who is on a quest to defeat the mighty dragon Tinder. After being defeated Flynn returns for a rematch with Tinder only to find that her castle has been taken over by the new corporate offices of Ever After Inc.
MSRP: $24.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $24.99
Confused, Flynn is quickly introduced to Mr. Moon, from the fairy tale about a ‘Goodnight’. Here he learns that Tinder has been imprisoned and the rest of the realm has been corporately enslaved. Flynn is offered a job but initially refuses but is jailed. Here the game starts and Flynn is forced into an uneasy alliance with the now de-powered Tinder in order to escape the dungeon. The duo ultimately decides to accept the job with the true objective being able to warp into the *real world* and defeat the company. The writing in Escape from Ever After is top-notch, each mission will see players enter a different book ala Pagemaster. The comedic writing adds to the enjoyment, and while there are some darker themes; thanks in part to HO Lovecraft sections, this is a game that every can enjoy.
But I gotta say, what initially drew me to the game was the bright and colorful graphics. These storybook worlds lend themselves beautifully to the vibrant colors and sharp character designs. But these aren’t just looks alone, the games various environments actually offer a lot of interaction. Even though the world is presented in 3D, players will move and jump a lot of it in the 2-D plane. Players who enjoy exploring every nook-and-cranny will be pleased to know that there are some environmental puzzles and extra goodies off the beaten path.
Anyone who has ever played Paper Mario will be immediately comfortable with the combat in Escape from Ever After. The game is a turn-based RPG with real-time elements that are a part of the combat. Similarly to indie darling Clair Obscur from last year the player will have to properly time button presses to get higher damage, extra attacks or block damage completely. As players make their way through the various environments, they will of course earn XP and level up. Using attacks and MP, which stands for ‘Mocha Points” as our heroes, much like myself are powered by caffeine. One of the nice features in game is how even though players can only have two characters in a fight at a time but they can use a turn to call in one of the other characters on the bench, it’s a neat feature.
So, I have waxed poetic on the things that I enjoyed about Escape from Ever After and with good reason, there is genuinely a lot to love here. But I did feel that the pacing was a bit off, especially in the back half of the adventure. And while there is no spoken dialogue in the game which I really hate; the game gets some points back with a banging soundtrack.
For players looking for an action adventure/RPG that blends style, substance, and a healthy sense of humor, this is an easy recommendation. It may wear a fairy tale costume, but underneath that bright cloak is a sharp, confident experience that knows how to fight, how to entertain, and how to keep you turning the page.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
