The Great Escape

Starting a Game

NOTE - The Great Escape does not have default controls when using a keyboard to play. To play the game using a keyboard, press the 0 key on the menu screen to begin assigning keys to movement and the fire key.

To begin playing the game using a controller, press the Select joystick button, then press the Start button.

Gameplay

Interaction

To pick up items on the floor, position the prisoner close enough to the item and press the Fire key and the Up key. The current item that the player has are displayed in the bottom left of the screen. The player can carry up to two items at once.

To drop an item, press the Fire key and the Down key.

To use an item or open a door, press the Fire key and press the Left or Right movement keys. Items can be used in various ways throughout the camp - a lockpick can be used to open locked doors for example.

Items can be hidden inside tunnels throughout the prison. Walk into the stove in the prisoner’s bedroom to move it and reveal a hidden tunnel.

Interface

1. Morale flag
2. Alarm bell
3. Inventory
4. News bulletin
5. Score

The Morale Flag

The morale flag is a representation of the player’s life. The higher the flag is on the pole, the greater the current morale.

Each time the player finds something useful, explores a different part of the camp, or a Red Cross Parcel is delivered, the current morale will increase.

Each time any contraband the player has found is discovered or the player is captured, morale will decrease rapidly.

If the morale flag reaches the lowest point on the mast, the player will lose control of the character as they become just another prisoner, unable to escape. If this happens, the game is over.

Alarms

The alarm bell can sound for two reasons:

• Daily events:
  • The alarm will play a short burst
  • For instance, meal times and roll calls. A news bulletin is shown briefly after the alarm sounds.
• Potential escapes:
  • The alarm will continually ring
  • Triggered when a guard detects a prisoner in a restricted area, signals to the guards that an escape is in progress.

News Bulletin

Throughout the day, various prompts are shown on the news bulletin at the bottom of the screen:

• Guards discovering stolen items
• Red Cross Parcel deliveries
• Key daily events (breakfast time, roll-call, etc)

Red Cross Parcels

Red Cross parcels are periodically delivered to the camp, providing a morale boost to the player. Red Cross parcels can be found and opened, containing different helpful items each day that the player can use in their escape - for instance, wire cutters.

Camp Security

The Commandant is a unique guard, who is less predictable. He determines the number of soldiers to place on particular patrols and observation positions. The more the player is caught out of bounds, stealing items, or captured, the more secure the camp will become. It is possible to see the Commandant around the prison in any position - try and determine his whereabouts to avoid encounters!

Guards patrol the map, sit in large observation towers, and stand alert as sentries. Patrolling guards circuit the prison in a predictable path - keep an eye on their patrol paths to plan your escape.

Guards can detect players in their line of sight - it’s possible to sneak behind a guard who isn’t looking in the direction of the player, if done quickly.

Story

War has broken out and you have been captured and placed in a high security jail. It is your duty to escape, but this will not be easy. It will take careful planning and much patience, culminating in a skilful and resourceful implementation. In the camp you are closely guarded but while you follow the daily routine you will need to slip away unnoticed to reconnoitre the situation and collect tools and materials necessary for your chosen escape route. There are many avenues of escape, some difficult, all certainly dangerous and each one requiring different skills or equipment.