

As they conversed, we were treated to some lovely folk music courtesy of a local folk artist. This grabs the attention of a mysterious girl, who takes a shine to Francis, and tells him his time has come to find his star persona. We get to hear him halfheartedly play the folk music his Uncle is lauded for, before unexpectedly getting into a jam session. Francis Vendetti, a precocious teen in the early ’70s, is stuck in the shadow of his uncle Johnson. The first of these sections took place at the start of the game and showcased the premise. I was shown three sections of the game that illustrated the tone, lore and mechanics of the title. If you’re not and you enjoy warm fuzzies, either get on board or buy it outright as you won’t be disappointed.I was fortunate enough to have attended a hands-on demonstration hosted by the director of the game, Johnny Galvatron, and folks, this is not one to miss. This one’s a no-brainer The Artful Escape is on Xbox Game Pass and you absolutely, positively have no reason to miss it if you’re a subscriber. It’s more of a concept album than it is a game and that’s fine, because, with so many set-pieces, such well-realized vignettes, and such awe-inspiring talent behind it, you’re more than happy to sit down and take in the journey as your fingers dance on the pad from time to time to keep the game moving forward. The Artful Escape is beautiful, sad, compelling, and mind-blowing in equal measure.



Fox, Rushmore), Mark Strong, and Carl Weathers.
