Exit 2 PSP Review

With some citing problems with control response and others enjoying the lateral thinking and unique comic book graphics. It‘s fair to say that Taito’s Exit polarised opinion and since the sequel is so similar to its predecessor, it’s going to happen all over again.

Exit 2 once again has you controlling the caffeine addicted escapist, the aptly named Mr. ESC as he attempts to rescue people from dire situations and apart from one short segment for each different themed stages, that’s your lot for story. Metal Gear Solid it’s not, hugely satisfactory puzzle game it is.

If you’ve played the original game, things are largely familiar, so don’t go expecting any huge innovations over its overlooked predecessor. Exit 2 is merely a refinement over what has gone before.

Like the original game, this sequel features one hundred levels (and amazingly even more with downloadable content) of increasingly elaborate stages, with your task being to rescue the hapless citizens trapped around each stage and guide them to the emergency exit, whilst taking into account their differing strengths and weaknesses.

Again, companions can be ordered around by a pleasing cursor system, allowing you to request them to push and pull objects or just move to a particular location.

Joining the companions from the previous game are the brand new dogs, these can leap an impressive distance and can get under things that Mr. ESC and his other companions can’t. On the other hand, the new beefy adults can push large boxes themselves, but due to their large frames, they need the assistance of two adults to get up to higher places.

Earlier levels rarely require the skills of Mr. ESC’s companions, though later on things take a turn towards the serious head scratching, with the skills of multiple companions being required and stages becoming ever more complex (it almost makes our heads ache simply just writing about them) bringing into play weight classes and just general cruel level design that will, upon conquering have you patting yourself on the back.

Like the previous game, one of the largest problems of Exit 2 is its sometimes reliance on trial and error gameplay and the fact that levels that are impossible to complete, due to a mishap, don’t simply just automatically end. The constantly repeating comments of your companions also soon begin to grate, you may very well be tempted to just let them die just to shut them up.

One of the highlights of Exit was its appealing comic book visual style and we’re pleased to see it back here. The bright, bold colours and convincing animations are a sight to behold. So it turns out games are art after all, end of argument.

Exit 2 may have nothing that will win over those who didn’t get on with the previous game, but if you enjoyed it, and don’t mind the familiarity, then you’ll cherish it, Us? We say it’s a brilliant piece of portable escapism.

8/10