When comparing Overwatch - Origins Edition vs The Escapists 2, the Slant community recommends The Escapists 2 for most people. In the question“What are the best couch/local co-op games for the Nintendo Switch?” The Escapists 2 is ranked 14th while Overwatch - Origins Edition is ranked 43rd. The most important reason people chose The Escapists 2 is:
There is no right or wrong way to do anything, and it's entirely a risk vs reward scenario for anything you want to try. You are only limited by your creativity in escaping, as each prison has almost endless possibilities and encourages the player to make the best use of their inventory and be creative in handling every situation. Bed sheets can be used to cover cell windows from the prying eyes of guards, desks can be moved to reach out of reach vents, crafted tools can be used for various purposes such as breaking through walls or doors, and shovels can be used to dig holes. You can try to sneak around guards, or opt to hide in vents until they're out of sight. If you're feeling especially brave, you can even attempt to fight the guards and take their keys allowing easier access around the prison.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Solid presentation
Developed by the world renowned Blizzard Entertainment, they are quite familiar with what it takes to create a game with solid gameplay and polished looks. The gameplay itself feels very satisfying as a responsive first person team based shooter. On top of this the presentation feels quite polished as the graphics are vibrant and clean, which gives the player a more immersive experience due to the high level of design. The animations found in the game are done well, which makes each weapon feel realistic. The sound design also fleshes these weapons out thanks to the unique sounds each one has when using them, Overall this is a game that will not disappoint when it comes to the overall presentation
Pro Good variety of maps
Each game mode in the game features three separate maps to play on for a total selection of 12 maps. This ensures the player does not get too bored with the looks and gameplay of each as there is another to play when one feels too played out.
Pro Simple and easy to understand
The gameplay itself is quite simple, it is hero on hero first person shooting. There is little to keep track of other than the main goal of defeating the other team, which makes the game easy to pick up and play.
Pro Unique progression system
Each character in the game can have upwards of 90 different unlocks, which will take a lot of time invested from the player in order to use the majority. This gives incentive in order to keep the player coming back. Unlockables include things such as emotes, skins as well as victory poses. These can all signify a more advanced player, which makes for great bragging rights.
Pro Beautiful graphics
The graphics are very clean as well as brightly colored. Characters n the game each have their own individualistic appearance and exist in a world that looks futuristic as well as beautifully animated. Much of the game stands out in standard Blizzard form as a game that will age well much like World of Warcraft, but still exudes its own style.
Pro Unique and fast paced FPS gameplay with character depth
Overwatch combines team-fortress style game modes, traditional FPS gameplay and MOBA-esqe abilities. There are a variety of characters that play completely differently from each other, for example one is a melee basher with a charge ability while another is a super agile character with the ability to zip around the battlefield.
Every character also has an ultimate ability that re-charges throughout the match and can single-handedly change the outcome of a fight.
Pro Encourages experimentation and creativity
There is no right or wrong way to do anything, and it's entirely a risk vs reward scenario for anything you want to try. You are only limited by your creativity in escaping, as each prison has almost endless possibilities and encourages the player to make the best use of their inventory and be creative in handling every situation.
Bed sheets can be used to cover cell windows from the prying eyes of guards, desks can be moved to reach out of reach vents, crafted tools can be used for various purposes such as breaking through walls or doors, and shovels can be used to dig holes. You can try to sneak around guards, or opt to hide in vents until they're out of sight. If you're feeling especially brave, you can even attempt to fight the guards and take their keys allowing easier access around the prison.
Pro Good balance of game systems make for a rewarding simulation
Taking action in the game uses up your stamina, so you'll still have to make time for things like eating and sleeping if you want to have energy for things like digging through walls, fighting other inmates, or cutting through vents and gates.
Items such as shovels and cutters have limited durability, so they can't be used endlessly. Raw materials can be found around the prison to craft items, or you can buy items from fences using money earned by running fetch quests for other inmates. No matter how you acquire them, crafting materials and finished goods are limited so you'll have to use your items wisely.
Time is an important factor that has to be managed too, with certain activities having to be done at certain times. This limits the amount of time you have to roam the prison, since you have to show up for meal times and roll calls. Free time can be used to craft, roam the prison to determine the guard patterns, or finally put your ultimate escape plan into action.
Juggling each and every one of the various aspects of the game results in a very deep and rewarding simulation experience.
Pro Solid progression of difficulty
The difficulty increases as you progress, with each prison becoming just a little more intricate and more challenging to escape from than the previous. The prisons themselves get more complex with more obstacles to overcome such as tougher guards which results in more ways things can go wrong. The progress feels good and natural, as you're always building on what you learned in previous prisons to escape from the newest one.
Pro Great pixel art style for retro fans
If you enjoy a more retro style, then this game is pure eye candy. Simple but charming, the pixel art is colorful, with the sprites having a nice variety in animations when they're shoveling, searching, running around, fighting, or partaking in any kind of activity that would require movement. The tile sets for the game world are nicely detailed, colored and shaded. You won't get tired of looking at the same tiles over and over due to the sheer amount and variety of the art assets created for the game.
Pro Lots of replayability
No two games will play out alike. Each prison is an open sandbox, so it's definitely not a linear experience with a defined escape blueprint. Prisons can be replayed over and over to beat your previous time, measured in how many in-game days it took you to escape, which leaves plenty of room for trying new things on each successive playthrough.
Pro Co-Op multiplayer mode adds a new depth to gameplay
Working together creates a whole new experience with loads of possibilities. In co-op mode, you play with up to 3 teammates either online or locally as you work towards escaping the prison together. This adds a whole new dynamic to gameplay as working together creates experiences that just aren't possible when playing solo. Someone could distract the guards, while another searches rooms for crafting materials. One player could run around collecting items, while another scopes out the guard's patrol patterns. Some can complete quests to collect money while others are working on digging tunnels.
Pro A couple of alternative prisons add a change of scenery
Tired of bricks, cold floors, and cement cells? For those who want a change of scenery, there is a prison set in the wild west, and even a futuristic space prison. This adds a little bit of variety to the look of the game while keeping the same gameplay mechanics. It's a nice touch and gives your eyes a break from staring at the same tilesets over and over.
Cons
Con Being successful requires a good amount of teamwork
For those that are more interested in solo play with little cooperation the game may not be a good choice as winning often requires a team that communicates well. For those that don't have an easy way to communicate or are just not interested in team play it may not be as fun as it should be.
Con Lacking in story
There is no campaign mode in the game meaning there is not really any story to learn about. While there are some clues dropped here or there by NPC chatter between team mates, really there is not much to learn about the game, its world or the characters within.
Con Getting caught by guards can be overly punishing
It's frustrating when you spend several hours grinding quests for other inmates, collecting items, crafting, and carefully planning your escape, only to get caught by guards and lose all your items or killed. This effectively means you have to start over, wasting hours of your own time and days of in-game time.
Con Can feel grindy at times
Running around doing fetch quests for other inmates, or searching for crafting materials for hours on end can get stale after a while.
Con Tutorial doesn't cover much
The tutorial will only walk you through the barest of basics, resulting in the player having to learn the game's various mechanics on their own.