It’s us again…and this time we’ve got something we’re super excited to show off. So far, most of the content we’ve shown in our Steam blogs has been of the first 2 chapters for Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School, showing off what the early foundational story looks like as well as how exactly the open-world mechanics will operate. However, as the story begins to unravel, you’ll find yourself in more and more tense places. So without further ado, let us introduce you to…
Just like last time, there won’t be any big narrative spoilers in this one, so if you want to see the full context of this scene, make sure to wishlist and maybe even sign up for a playtest? 👀
Things start off pretty spicy in DET. If you’re allergic to memory gas, you might want to hold off on this one. (But then again, if you were allergic to memory gas I guess you’d never make it in to the Academy…)
In the other cells are 3 of your other dearest classmates, who mustn’t fall victim to the memory gas! Using your wits and the tools available to you through the room, you’ll either have to devise a clever way to get out, or forget you were ever here.
After you’ve found your way out of your cell, you’ll have to reconvene with your classmates who haven’t been so lucky.
One of the ways that we feel this level really shines is in the player-NPC interactions. In Escape Academy 1, it didn’t feel like there was a whole lot of room for using NPCs to move along the level/interact with the level itself aside from simple dialogue. In DET, the NPCs interact with the level itself alongside the player, allowing you to interact with the story more directly during this level.
More yapping with/between NPCs in general was one of our biggest narrative feedback points (although some of you went as far as wanting to date Jeb…) so we’re very happy to be introducing dialogue as a compelling, moving force in levels like these.
The Warden’s Key just might be you and your classmates' only ticket out of here - if you can come up with a solution clever enough to reach it!
A mechanic we’ve been leaning on more heavily to make puzzles like this possible is the Assemble Items Interface. It may sound small, but this is a custom puzzle interface built into the Escape Academy engine that allows the player to insert multiple items into a puzzle in order to receive another item. So, if you were stuck in the Detention Dungeon, how might you cleverly get the Warden’s Key and make your escape? Let us know in the comments!
If the concept of a “Detention Dungeon” sounds a little too familiar to be the first time you’ve heard of it, then you’d be correct!Before we began fleshing out the story (and even before it was organized into chapters!😉) the Detention Dungeon was one of the very first levels we conceptualized. And as you can probably tell, it looked a little….different back then. Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School was basically just 2 images and a handful of prototypes!
This prototype would slowly become a founding basis for the story - something about the concept of a “Detention Dungeon” felt both great not only in alliteration, but within the thematics of The Academy and its (many 👀) secrets as well. 🔑
Over time, the context of the level changed and right now it sits very comfortably within the early parts of Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School’s story. Of course, there’s not too much we can give away about the story just yet. (although we’re very excited for you to see more!)
Want to read more about how Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School got here? Check out Devlog #2!
We hope you’ve enjoyed this sneak-peek into what’s to come in Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School 👀! Do you have your own ideas for anything else you think a Detention Dungeon should include? Anything you would change? Let us know in the comments! Lastly, don’t forget to….
and we’ll be back with more.With Love,Coin Crew Games💛💜