Not being detected is key to success, and there are some genuine moments of suspense, with guards seemingly discovering you before dismissing it as the wind. And if you are spotted, there is always the option to make a comic bid for freedom, punching armed guards in the face and running for it.
You are almost always shot or caught, but it at least provides some entertainment amid the constant skulking. That said, there are a few action-oriented missions, featuring vehicles, weapons and, impressively, strangling dogs. Interface-wise, it is a bit clunky, utilising a pseudoadventure game inventory that effectively pauses the game whenever it is opened.
And only having a limited number of saves per level may irk quick-save happy PC gamers, although it does ensure that you give it your full attention rather than running in gung-ho. But despite the game's shortcomings, there is a stiff-upper-lip charm that encourages you to continue, if only to see what happens next.
And it will take you a while to get through the 18 missions, culminating in the famous motorbike scene. Providing of course that you're still awake. Browse games Game Portals. The Great Escape. Install Game. Click the "Install Game" button to initiate the file download and get compact download launcher. Locate the executable file in your local folder and begin the launcher to install your desired game. View all 49 The Great Escape Screenshots.
Settings range from the burning airplane to a castle, a train, mountainous and rural terrain and, of course, the climactic motorbike chase. Even though we see signs of "consolitis" a disorder plaguing the PC versions of many multiplatform games , the condition is not at all severe, only presenting the occasional control glitch. Playing in a third-person, over-the-shoulder viewpoint first-person look-around view available , we find the following camera does a nice job, and it rarely obscures our point of view by, for example, putting us in a visually obstructed corner.
Each mission has multiple objectives, brought up by the Tab key. With the mouse fully employed, you can punch, peek, engage in special stealth moves, speak to NPCs, drive vehicles, and use weapons.
There are items to be located, trades to be made, thievery to be done, conversations to be accomplished. An onscreen compass with health bar, danger meter guards coming close and action icons helps to guide you. Further, you are allowed a range of two to four saves per mission, depending on selected level of difficulty, which selection can be altered at the beginning of each mission. Thank you, developers! The graphical renderings of the PC version may seem dated to some - certainly not up to the level of the Unreal II or even Quake 3 engine, for example.
There's a move on now to be ultrarealistic with water effects and facial features. The Great Escape is not in the forefront of this technology. Yet I found the depictions of the varied settings fully satisfactory. The camp, farms and other arenas for your activities look as they should look.
Character modeling, except for McQueen's Hilts, is generic. But the overall goal of creating a believable and immersive alternate world is met, from this reviewer's point of view. Generally, audio is one of the strengths of The Great Escape - from the ambient environmental sounds to the fine voice acting. During one episode, you can hear a rippling stream, with the sound rising and fading depending on your precise location.
Even moving in a stationary circle changed the level of noise. Bernstein's rousing theme from the film is reprized, along with melodies appropriate to the settings. As mentioned, voice acting is convincingly done, including the McQueen remastered lines.
The producer of The Great Escape describes his creation as a "stealth-action" game, one he hopes will bring suspense, adventure and excitement to the player. Indeed, there is a good deal of sneaking about, though not nearly as much as with Prisoner of War. But there are also opportunities to man a bomber machine gun, drive a truck and half-track, engage in sniping and, of course, ride the motorbike.
There are objectives to be achieved, but often there are multiple ways to proceed down those paths. It's fun, after all levels are unlocked, to return to a favorite episode and see if sneaking by or distracting a guard may work better than a choke kill. Oh, by the way, Tom, Dick and Harry are names of tunnels. The artificial intelligence in The Great Escape seems inconsistent, even faulty, at times. Some of this varies with easy to hard settings, and some may relate to the kind of guard encountered.
Yet, as in many games, you may find yourself standing next to a guard at night who doesn't notice you at all and a long way from another who suddenly and unexpectedly sounds an alarm! I guess this all adds to the tension, but the apparent inconsistency can sometimes be frustrating.
The Great Escape is an enjoyable, thrilling and suspenseful accompaniment to the classic film.
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