4/5 ★ – isolate_connect's review of The Artful Escape.

The Artful Escape isn’t much of a game. It’s more of an interactive narrative. Because of that reviewing the experience is more akin to watching a movie. In The Artful Escape you take control of Francis Vendetti -the nephew of folk legend, Johnson Vendetti, who is a caricature of Bob Dylan- on the eve of his debut show. The night before the show Francis finds his way to a night club he has never seen before in his very small Colorado town. That club transports him to space where he meets a musician and light technician who tour the universe. The story is very obviously inspired by Alice in Wonderland, but deals with more obvious thematic material for its 21st century audience. Francis is trying to find himself while trying not to conform to the expectations of the people he grew up with. His cosmic journey leads him to some coming-of-age revelations. It’s a sweet story and belongs in the top tier of adolescent literature. I haven’t even talked about the music yet. It’s amazing. Kind of jam bandy rock and kind of metal. It rules. My only complaints are that the gameplay levels drag on a but too long, and I feel like the game may be an hour too long.