Escape from Paradise
Escape from Paradise (Windows/Mac) is a simulation/adventure game similar to Westward and Virtual Villagers where you lead shipwrecked castaways on a quest to build a tropical paradise. The interesting twist is the inclusion of minigames that help you earn supplies as well as distract you while your villagers work. It's an intriguing genre-bending concept that puts you in the role of resource manager and resident puzzle solver, and despite its not-so-polished presentation, pulls it off quite well.
The first question I found myself asking: if this is paradise, why bother escaping from it? Around fifty passengers of a cruise ship have been stranded on this island, so I guess they're pining to get back to their posh lives of pressed polo shirts and bits of things stacked on crackers served on shiny trays. You begin with just a few castaways and a couple of run-down huts. One of the tiki mask-clad natives appears to guide you, saying that if you harvest 50 wood you'll get a surprise. Axe in hand, select your villagers with the mouse and drag them to some trees to start chopping.
As you accomplish goals set by the tiki folk you'll uncover almost 20 minigames. Some are found by exploring the island, others as a natural progression of the game. While the villagers build and harvest, set your synapses on simple games like Word Jumble, Chinese Checkers, and Towers of Hanoi, all of which earn you a handful of food and wood. You also get skill points which can be used to upgrade your castaways' proficiency in carpentry, wood chopping, and providing for the village. In addition to managing resources and minigames, you'll also need to keep an eye on each villager's needs, such as hunger, thirst, and overall happiness.
Analysis: Ok, let's get this one out of the way: Escape from Paradise versus Virtual Villagers. The similarities aren't subtle, as both share a common story theme and setting, but these games really are two different animals. Escape from Paradise lays out challenges on a map, making progression smooth and linear by comparison. Its heavy emphasis on minigames makes it more varied than its counterpart, though it does break the immersion factor Virtual Villagers happily provides.
Standing on its own, Escape from Paradise pulls all of these disparate shards of casual genres together into a very entertaining final product. The interface and visuals are a little rough around the edges and could use some buffing up, but that doesn't detract from the game too much. The minigames are a nice addition to the village sim genre and are playable from the main menu, adding some replay value to the game. Unfortunately they're all rehashes of games we've seen before, but at least they weren't butchered beyond playability.
The game is a bit slow-paced, especially at the beginning, and relies on gathering materials to lengthen the overall experience. Fortunately the minigames allow you to pass the time, but even with the occasional word jumble you'll long for an in-game speed throttle.
A great addition to the village sim world and a light-hearted way for simulation newbies to ease into the genre.
Windows:
Download the demo
Order the full version
Mac OS X:
Download the demo
Order the full version
Escape from Paradise is available to download from these affiliates:
(Note: Mac version is only available through Big Fish Games)
I was wondering when a review for this would come out. It certainly is a change-up from Virtual Villagers. I found this game to be too confusing for casuals, and too boring for hardcore people. Overall, it's genuinely enjoyable though.
Good review JB.
Wow, I'm suddenly inspired to go back and replay it.
My main frustrations with this game:
-- the lack of collection sites in each of the four areas you unlock. Yes, you can build a place for your people to take food or wood to, but in the meantime they're trekking all over creation, which adds to the time factor. I would have preferred to see the food bowl and wood sled you start with available in all areas, and the built structures be solely for the purpose of increasing how much you can store.
-- the 'discard' factor. Because you move along the map, those huts you built in the first section aren't much help to you later, unless you feel like dragging people to them and wait, wait, waiting for them to get there... and then remember to scroll back later and put them to work!
-- the inability to skip a minigame you, quite simply, suck at. Shuffleboard, anyone? The controls on that one... argh.
Oh -- er, all that said, I did finish it. Twice, even. And enjoyed it. Just realized that all came off quite negatively, when I meant it as things that ought to be fixed in any potential sequels...
LS, actually all the minigames I've seen so far have had a Skip Game button in the top right corner.
"Trial Time Expired!"
But...I just downloaded it. That was an extremely quick trial game. O.o
Darn...Imagine my excitement turning into a quick letdown when I realized this is just a review for Escape from Paradise and not Escape From Paradise 2!!
I have been hoping for a 2nd installment of this game for some time now. It's one of my favorites from last year. I found Paradise to be fun, yet pretty challenging at times.
If you are a fan of games such as Virtual Villagers and especially Westward, then I recommend giving this game a try.
I tried this game and liked it so much I purchased it. I am loving it, but struggling keeping everyone happy, fed, etc. and I agree with the earlier comment about the time it takes to build each area and then sending everyone else all over the place. But, we'll see!
I just completed it, and a word of advice to those who intend to do the same. Unfortunately it spoils the ending, so don't read it until you're actually AT the ending.
Has anyone else had problems seating people at tables in the Diner Dash-style game? I've tried releasing my cursor at many different locations on both tables, but I cannot get anyone seated.
so am I the only one to get stuck? Anyways can't flipping build the fishing dock, have tried and deleted things , just don't know where it goes.. Help pls guys and gals. cheers
Oh yes while I remember, the spear to hunt, guess am not ready yet hmm? If other wise, let me know :-) still working on getting fishing dock hmmmmm. Heeeelp
Hi, Ok sorted out fish docking and spears for hunting, at the moment am stuck getting the last pink eye in the middle god, argghh.
Help me i am stuck on the last few radio peices. One of the clues from the game is what is return completed can bring big rewards, remember where because it wont always be there... i am so lost on that one. The other is so silly, you have to look in the right spot. sounds easy enough so why am i ripping out my hair??? Now i know for the l;ast peice i need 9 first, and i am assuming it takes the whole village and something with that circle thing and the foot prints but i just can't get it. Please, please please help me i am going crazy here
how do i build a well :(
To build well:
I dont get the beetle shape thing with the footprints on it..?
I just can't seem to find 1 radio peice - the one that says you have to look in the right spot....is it just finding the right x...or is there a place a question mark should form...?? Please help!!
Having trouble looking for the radio parts?
Here's a better discription for the radio parts..
2: Push rock in first area over with 4 or more castaways.
3: Right side of lake in second area near waterfall. Go fishing.
4: Crack in ground, second area right of Diner minigame. Cut down tree to reveal.
5: Fish in pond just over bridge in third area.
6: Stare at tiki in grove of trees located in third area.
7: Bottle on beach next to original crash site. Word jumble game.
8: In pond in fourth area south of volcano. It is almost all surrounded by rocks.
9: In 3 tikis between levels 3 and 4. One man and one woman maxed in respective skill.
10: Crab on ground in 4th area. One man and one woman maxed in each skill.
These are all the challeages
I dont get the beetle shape thing with the footprints on it..?
put all your people in there 30... then youll have a radiio part...
Hi.
I'm just confused. I don't understand how you build 5 huts. I've already built my 3 and now I have no clue what to do. Please help!
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