Review: 13th Gate Escape

RATING: 5 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 4:24

Rumor has it that the last convict in Cell Block E found a way out – one can only hope to find the same route to freedom before being executed in one hour.

Story

It doesn’t matter that you are innocent and were set up. The only thing that matters now is that you are inmates in Louisiana’s Maximum Security Prison and you are scheduled to be executed in less than one hour.

Due to overcrowding, the Warden has been forced to temporarily place you in the old E-Block.

The guards say that E-Block was closed over 40 years ago due to a continuous gas leak but some of the older inmates say that the closure was due to a prisoner who escaped and was never found. The rumors are that he vanished right out of his cell and since no one could figure out how he did it, the warden ordered the entire cell block closed… until now!

Are the rumors true? Is there a secret passageway out?

Can you escape before the guards return to bring you to your execution?

New felons are segregated into separate cells and must work together to engineer a liberation from their claustrophobic individual tombs. Hunting for the rumored path of egress taken by the last occupant of this wing proves to be a bit of a challenge. It becomes clear very quickly that getting out of the cage is but one small part of this adventure.

One by one, those sentenced to death must race the clock to decipher hidden clues leading down a path to freedom. Who could have imagined that the only exit from this hellhole is to face the very obstacle prisoners have worked so hard for the past hour to avoid?

Scenic

The fully immersive nature of the surrounding environment immediately transforms hopeful escapees into this story world. Taking a quick look around, it is apparent that this ward has long been abandoned. Aside from the fact that the dingy walls are crumbling, the contents of the chambers are sparse and filthy – a toilet, small sink, and twin bed with a single pillow occupy each holding area.

The only furniture sitting outside the cells is a solitary neglected desk holding a rotary phone and a few other objects. A hasty rummage through the drawers confirms that this must be where the guards once sat while monitoring the unlucky occupants of the old block.

Discovering the rumored hidden passageway reveals a haunted corridor filled with secrets. Did the former detainee really just vanish into thin air, or was his fate actually darker than originally surmised? The answer lies within the confines of this dungeon.

Moving into the final space is quite alarming. Various wires are hanging next to a large fuse box on the wall. Sitting in the center is the ominous electric chair, looking almost like a makeshift wooden throne (complete with shackles and a metal helmet). A grungy clock hovers above, warning of the countdown to a lethal end. Escaping this room involves special effects complete with sounds and atmospheric lighting straight out of a movie scene.

Puzzles

Death Row utilizes a variety of puzzle types to engage the condemned in their breakout, incorporating both traditional key locks when it makes sense in the story, as well as more innovative challenges that require physical manipulation. Each of the four jail cells contain scattered clues that force captives to communicate and collaborate to decipher the truth about vulnerability in the facility.

The riddles are well-woven into the context of a prison break. The majority of problems are logical and intuitive in nature, making them accessible to beginners and veterans alike, striking a perfect balance between satisfying ‘aha!’ moments and smooth narrative progression.

Overall

13th Gate Escape has successfully executed an exciting twist on a well-known theme. The mixture of realistic props and scenery, challenging tasks, and intriguing subplot leads to an exciting adventure that feels surprisingly different from the typical cliche of this genre.

Death Row transports inmates deep into the sights, sounds, and smells of a deserted penitentiary wing and entices them to stage an authentic jailbreak. The stakes couldn’t be higher – one way or another this is the last night in this correctional facility. The important question is, will the potential escapees walk away of their own free will, or leave in a body bag?