I'll start with the most damning: the music in this game is pretty bad. It's not enough to buoy a game with this many glaring, bone-deep, ever-present flaws.

It's not enough to buoy a There are some nice visuals, decent performances, and even a few moments of inspired writing in The Artful Escape.

This is a journey of self-discovery everyone should take.There are some nice visuals, decent performances, and even a few moments of inspired writing in The Artful Escape. It looks and sounds gorgeous, has wonderfully resonant themes and characters, and is a joy to behold and engage with. However and whenever you get around to trying The Artful Escape out, I think you're going to find it to be an experience that is patently worth it. It absolutely does help that the game will be on Game Pass at launch, so subscribers to that can check it out without any further cost. Now personally, I find the asking price to be fair, and the experience you get out of it to more than justify the cost – but that's ultimately a decision you need to make for yourself. But what it does mean is that there are those who might find it to be a hard sell.

It has the presence of mind to understand that its pitch perfect pacing, and the strength of the crescendo it achieves as the player nears its climax, would both be undermined if it ended up padding itself out (similarly, a shorter game wouldn't have the chance to properly flesh itself, its characters, settings, and conflict out enough for the resolution to land). The Artful Escape is a short game – it's actually the perfect length for what it is, and doesn't need to be longer or shorter.

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