Exit DS (2008). Play Free Online

Summary

Exit DS takes the original Taito puzzle‑action concept and twists it for the Nintendo DS’s touch screen. I guide the escape‑artist Mr ESC by tapping the direction he should run or by drawing the exact route with the stylus, which feels surprisingly precise. Each of the 100 stages — 70 of them available right away — is a race against a timer, packed with hazards such as fire, floods, earthquakes and even meteor showers that force you to think fast. You can pick up tools like fire extinguishers or pickaxes, use flashlights for darkness and rescue four classes of civilians whose abilities affect how you navigate the obstacles. Scores reward both speed and how many people you bring to safety, encouraging repeat runs to beat your own best. The DS version drew mixed opinions; it earned a respectable 33/40 from Famitsu but didn’t win over all critics. Still, the stylus‑driven puzzles make it a distinct and memorable portable challenge.

Storyline

In Exit DS you control Mr. ESC, a quick‑thinking escapologist tasked with getting out of hazardous locations such as hospitals, underground labs, offices and other buildings before the clock runs out. Along the way he must dodge or mitigate dangers like fires, earthquakes, floods and even meteor showers while planning routes for himself and the people he rescues. The survivors fall into four groups—Youngs, Children, Adults and Patients—each offering a unique ability; they stay panicked until Mr. ESC touches them, after which you can command them to move, use tools or clear obstacles. Mr. ESC is more agile than any survivor—he can swim, run faster and jump higher—but he can still be hurt by hazards or a bad fall, and any injury to him or too many injured survivors triggers a level‑over. Injured survivors are whisked to safety by a helper named Jet, giving you a chance to keep the evacuation going.

Edited by Maya Carter